What 2,224 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

I WAS PARKED CAME BACK TO MY CAR STARTED IT AND STARTED TO BACK UP TO PULL MY CAR OUT OF PARKING SPOT AND STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AFTER BACKING UP AND PULLING FORWARD. A FEW SECONDS LATER A LIGHT CAME ON AND BLINKED POWER STEERING FAULT I SHUT CAR OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN SAME THING. I LOOKED IT UP AND CAME ACROSS A RECALL FOR 2013 FORD EXPLORERS BUT BUILD DATE ONLY RUNS THROUGH FEB 2012 RECALL NUMBER 14S06 AND MY CAR WAS BUILT IN DEC 2012 SO I DON'T FALL IN THE RECALL. RESEARCHED A BIT AND THERE ARE TONS OF CONSUMERS WITH 2013 FORD EXPLORERS WITH SAME FAULT AND THEY DON'T FALL IN THE RECALL JUST LIKE ME. I'M NOT SURE HOW WE ALL GOT LEFT WHEN WE ALL HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND PROBLEMS AS THE PEOPLE IN THE RECALL. I CALLED FORD CORPORATE AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER AND EVEN THOUGH ITS THE SAME ISSUES AS RECALL THEY SAY FORD CORPORATE WONT COVER IT AND IT COSTS $1600 TO REPLACE THE RACK AND PINON. VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT FORD TREATS THEIR CONSUMERS THIS WAY WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND THE SAME YEAR CAR BUT CUT THE BUILD DATE OFF EARLY. THERE ARE A TON OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE ALONE NOT TO MENTION CAR COMPLAINTS SITE. NHTSA SHOULD REOPEN THE CASE AND HELP OUT THE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THANKFULLY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT GOING SLOW WHEN IT OCCURED CAUSE I COULD HAVE GOT INTO A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT WITH ALL THE KIDS IN THE CAR IF I WAS ON THE MAIN STREET. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD NOT GO OVERLOOKED! AND A VERY EXPENSIVE ONE AT THAT! I WOULD HAVE NEVER PUT MYSELF AND CHILDREN IN THE JEOPARDY OF DRIVING A CAR WITH A FAULT LIKE THAT IF I KNEW FORD 2013 HAD SUCH A BIG SAFETY PROBLEM SUCH AS THIS AND I AM SHOCKED AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE LEFT OUT OF THE RECALL AND HAVE COMPLAINED AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI 11018895

I LOST POWER TO THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WHILE PARKED. IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN COST.

NHTSA ODI 11014147

FORD EXHAUST I AM GETTING A STRONG ROTTEN EGG SMELL AND A BURNING SMELL EVERYTIME I DRIVE MY CAR WHICH IS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4WD IT HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN I AM JUST DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I AM NOT SURE IF IT GETS PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS GOING FASTER BECAUSE IT SMELLS ALL THE TIME. I JUST HAD THE CAR TOED TO DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT WILL NOT START. IN ADDITION I NOTICED THAT I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM HEADACHES, DIZZINESSAND AND FATIGUE WHILE DRIVING WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE. FINALLY I NOTICED THAT WHEN THERE IS NO POWER IN THE CAR THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE BACK TAILGATE TO LET PEOPLE OUT WHEN YOU ARE SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW OF THE CAR SO YOU ARE TRAPPED BACK THERE WITH THE SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11011573

THE SERVICE POWER ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNINGS COME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. NO PROBLEM IF CONTINUE DRIVING, HOWEVER IF TURN OFF POWER IT BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER WHEN TURNED BACK ON. THE BLINKERS WILL ALSO NOT WORK WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. BOUGHT BRAND NEW RACK AND PINION FROM FORD DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE ADVANCE TRAC SYSTEM AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTO PLAZA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW STEERING COLUMN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 11003960

DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE SEVERELY VIBRATE WHEN CLOSING DOOR WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. . DIAGNOSED VEHICLE AT ALL AMERICAN FORD IN PARAMUS NJ. TECH ADVISED THAT THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE IN STEERING GEAR MOTOR AND IT MAY FAIL AT ANY TIME. STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. AFTER EXPENSIVE REPAIR NO MORE VIBRATION IS PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI 11003912

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE POWER STEERING BECAME LOOSE, AND THE SERVICE ADVANCETRAC AND SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED AT A NEARBY RESTAURANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (PALM SPRINGS MOTORS LOCATED AT 69200 CA-111, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234; (760) 328-2102) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS-12599770. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,988.

NHTSA ODI 11001689

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO QUARK AND QUINCY LOCATED IN QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY RECALL PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11000626

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND WOULD NOT STEER LEFT OF RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BAYTOWN FORD OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS WHERE THE POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE SOFTWARE WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), WHICH WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000. UPDATED 08/03/17*LJ *TR

NHTSA ODI 10995619

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN THE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE ENGINE BECAME DIFFICULT TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE LOCAL DEALER (LORENZO FORD LOCATED AT 30725 S FEDERAL HWY (US1), HOMESTEAD, FL 33030 888-454-9476) WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-392-3673 AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

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IT'S MAKING REAL LOUD NOISE. TRYS TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, UNSAFE TO DRIVE.

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BEGAN EXPERIENCING SOME LIGHT BINDING IN STEERING WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED. EXERCISED THE STEERING BACK A FORTH A LITTLE. ADVANCETRAC STABILITY CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF BY THE VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM AND STEERING SERVICE WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASH. VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. VEHICLES FROM MY MODEL YEAR WERE RECALLED FOR STEERING GEAR FAILURE (14S06), BUT MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AFTER THE RELEVANT DATE. FORD IS MAKING ME PAY FOR THE REPAIR (NEW STEERING RACK) FOR $1520 (PARTS AND LABOR).

NHTSA ODI 10992878

THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING RUBBING/GRINDING NOISES WHEN STEERED (BOTH DIRECTIONS) IN NORMAL OPERATION. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SLUGGISH STEERING. AT ONE POINT THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM REQUIRED SERVICE "NOW!". UPON PULLING OVER AND STOPPING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. MY FORD SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS "BAD". THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART AT THE EXPENSE (TO ME) OF $1,700.

NHTSA ODI 10984291

DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE TURNPIKE AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUVEUR. IF THE STEERING WOULD'VE FROZE, IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH GOING 80 MPH. TAKE TO DEALERSHIP AND IT NEEDS A NEW POWER STEERING RACK WHICH COSTS $1,800. IT APPEARS CERTAIN VINS FOR MY YEAR, MAKE, MODEL WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY WAS NOT AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE BUT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY FORD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983122

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 06/13/17 *BF *AS

NHTSA ODI 10979599

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE WHEEL FROZE WITHOUT WARNING. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

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THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE SUV WAS HARD TO STEER. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON A LOT OF 2013 FORD EXPLORERS BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT MINE WAS NOT ONE ON RECALL. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND EVIDENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE FORD EXPLORER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COST TO REPLACE IT WAS $1800. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ON THE RECALL FITS EXACTLY TO THE PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING.

NHTSA ODI 10971719

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING HOME, I GOT A YELLOW CAUTION MESSAGE TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING SOON. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO MAKE A REST STOP AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE SAME MESSAGE POPPED UP, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A RED WARNING MESSAGE TO SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING ON THE REMAINING DRIVE HOME.

NHTSA ODI 10971478

VEHICLE HAS BECOME HARD TO STEER & TAKES EXTRA EFFORT. WAS DIAGNOSED BY FORD DEALER AS HAVING A FAULTY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE STEERING RACK. FORD SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE STEERING CAN COMPLETELY LOCK UP WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING IF STEERING RACK NOT REPLACED. STEERING RACK MUST BE REPLACED AT APPROX. COST OF $1500.

NHTSA ODI 10968718

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO USE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI 10958935

BACK IN OCTOBER 2016 I MOVED MY EXPLORER IN MY DRIVE WAY EVERYTHING WAS FINE NEXT DAY COULDN'T DRIVE OR MOVE IT THE POWER ASSIST WAS BEEPING ON THE DASH STEERING WHEEL DON'T EVEN MOVE WHEELS DON'T MOVE .... $2000 AND UP TO FIX IT NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THAT AND IT HAS TO BE TAKING TO A FORD DEALERSHIP!!SO IT STILL SITS IN MY DRIVE WAY TODAY I HAVE ASK FORD MOTOR TO HELP THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN .......

NHTSA ODI 10957716

TOTAL LOSE OF STEERING IN 2013 FORD EXPLORER 2/26/17 WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 55 MPH, NO WARNING LIGHTS. ENGINE STAYED ON BUT VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT (YES WE WENT INTO THE MEDIAN) VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISE (SITTING WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL) A FEW DAYS BEFORE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FORD DEALER. I LOOKED UP THE RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE ELECTRONIC STEERING, THERE WERE NONE LISTED.

NHTSA ODI 10957138

POWER STEERING FAULT MESSAGE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING, WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE HAS APPROX 46,800 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER, AND LEFT ON STREET OVERNIGHT. WENT TO START NEXT DAY AND ERROR MESSAGE GONE. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL INVOLVING THE POWER STEERING PROBLEM. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO FURTHER. TO LOSE YOUR STEERING ON A HIGHWAY WOULD BE CATASTROPHIC.

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THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15MPH AND STARTED TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND CAME TO STOP. VEHICLE DASHBOARD SAID 'POWER STEERING FAILURE' THE VEHICLES IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF BY THE DRIVER AND THEN WAS RE-STARTED. THE POWER STEERING THEN CAME BACK AND WAS FUNCTIONING.

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