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

ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW FORD THE TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING BAD AFTER A MONTH I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE AND I HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED MY AIR BAG SENSORS WERE CHANGED CAUSE THEY WERE DEFECTIVE MY TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED AGAIN AND WAS REPAIRED AGAIN AND THE FUEL WAS ALSO RECALLED MY FORD STILL GIVE ME A VERY BAD SMELL WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE IT STILL HAS DAMAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION ALSO WHEN I WENT TO GET MY CAR BALANCED WITH FORD THE POWER STEERING PIECE THAT WAS ELECTRIC THAT COST ME ALMOST 1,000.00 PLEASE I CAN TAKE ANY HELP I CAN GET

NHTSA ODI 10882650

I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH 44,000 MILES AND SENT IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THE POWER STEERING GEAR BOX IS NOT FUNCTIONING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A RECALL ON FORD EXPLORER'S FOR THE 2011-2013 MODELS FOR THE "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT", WHICH DID COME ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED IN MY VEHICLE. I CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY WERE OF NO HELP AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE.

NHTSA ODI 10872971

DRIVING APPROX 45MPH THROUGH TOWN ON A MULTI-LANE ROADWAY, STEERING BECAME VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE, NEARLY LOCKING UP. WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT DAMAGE OR INJURY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY TOWING COMPANY TO NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AWATING EVALUATION/REPAIR AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10864971

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SLOW SPEEDS AND TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864467

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND VERIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 10862952

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. I MOMENTARILY FELT PANICKED INSIDE, MY CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR AND WE WERE GOING 70. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AND IT DROVE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT SEEMED FINE. 9 MONTHS LATER (APRIL 2016) IT HAPPENED AGAIN DRIVING 45MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALM DOWN. THE CAR WOULD BARELY STEER. IT WAS HARDER TO MANEUVER THAN DRIVING AN OLDER VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING. IT WAS JUST SHORT OF BEING LOCKED UP. AGAIN IT RESET AFTER TURNING ON AND OFF ABOUT 5 TIMES. IT WAS EVENING AND I DECIDED IT HAD TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY IT WAS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND NOT DRIVABLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND UNSAFE. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND TRACTION ASSIST ALERTS STAYED UP- BOTH FUNCTIONS SHOWING OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10860249

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING A TURN AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 10855408

TAKATA INFLATORS, I BOUGHT MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER IN JULY OF 2015. BY NOVEMBER 2015 MY CAR HAD BEEN MAKING VERY LOUD SCRAPING NOISES EVERY TIME I TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL. IN RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT SOME 2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE COVERED UNDER AN ACTIVE RECALL. MINE STILL IS NOT!!! I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED TO GET FIXED ASAP OTHERWISE MY STEERING WHEEL COULD FREEZE UP, WHICH WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND PUT OUR LIVES IN DANGER. I AM VERY UPSET WITH THIS AS I HAD TO PAY $1561.00 OUT OF POCKET AND OUR LIVES WERE IN DANGER!!!!

NHTSA ODI 10853160

WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE STEERING SEEMS TO "STICK" AND WHEN YOU APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE JERKS AND DARTS YOU INTO THE OTHER LANE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OTHER VEHICLES SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION ZONES OR NARROW RURAL ROADS WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 10852222

PAINT BUBBLES ON HOOD INSIDE AND OUT WITH CORROSION, 2) POWER STEERING FAILING, RECALL FOR ISSUE IN EFFECT, BUT, NOT MINE HAVE TO PAY $2000 FOR REPAIRS, UNABLE TO STEER WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEED

NHTSA ODI 10845977

THE "POWER STEERING FAULT" LIGHT WAS ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING. AND I LOST STEERING ABILITY AT ALL. I MANAGED TO DRIVE TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER, AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $1800 FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS BECAUSE SOMEHOW I WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR POWER STEERING. THIS IS ABSURD!

NHTSA ODI 10838919

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND IT BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000. UPDATED 04/22/2016*LJ UPDATED 05/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10837855

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI 10836784

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DISABLE WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTION AFTER IT WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 10836387

WAS DRIVING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY HARD TO TURN AND THEN ON MY SCREEN OF MY TRUCK A WARNING POP UP SAYING ( POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT) SO NOW MY STEERING IS VERY HARD TO TURN

NHTSA ODI 10836541

LOSS OF POWER STEERING. AFTER EXPERIENCING LOSS OF POWER STEERING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS I PERFORMED ONLINE RESEARCH AND BECAME AWARE OF SAFETY RECALL 14S06. I CONTACTED FORD FOR RESOLUTION AND THEY INFORMED ME MY VEHICLE IS NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WITH SOME 19,000 MILES IS OUR OF WARRANTY (>36 MONTHS). FORD INDICATED THAT ANY REPAIRS FOR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION WOULD BE AT OWNER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PRODUCED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN CHICAGO WHICH WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE VEHICLE DEFECT WHICH PROMPTED THE RECALL. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER THE RECALL CUT-OFF. I CONTEND THAT THE DEFECT WAS STILL PRESENT AND THE RECALL SHOULD BE BROADENED. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT WITH POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING CONSEQUENCES. FORD HAS BEEN UNRECEPTIVE IN EVEN INVESTIGATING THE MATTER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON THE OCCASIONS WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHILE NEGOTIATING A CURVE. MY PROFESSIONAL DRIVER INDICATED THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE STOPPED AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. NO DRIVER FEEDBACK OF A TROUBLE CODE.

NHTSA ODI 10826108

POWER STEERING FAILURE. FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, UNABLE TO REPLICATE AT DEALERSHIP. HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED WHILE IN A PARKING LOT. PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT AND STEERING FAILED CAUSING MINOR COLLISION WITH PARKED VEHICLE IN NEXT SPACE. DEALERSHIP STILL UNABLE TO REPLICATE.

NHTSA ODI 10825995

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 04/04/16*LJ UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10825137

STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I CRANK MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND WON'T TURN WHEN I TRY TO LEAVE A LOCATION. I HAVE TO SWITCH THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESET.

NHTSA ODI 10824085

POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING AND DISPLAYED POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD. WAS UNABLE TO TURN WHEEL AT LOW/SLOW SPEED. CAR WAS BEING PARKED AT THE TIME THE FAULT OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI 10823407

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND THE STEERING RACK MIGHT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 03/18/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 10821228

AS REPORTED TO FORD: WHAT IS YOUR VEHICLE SALES OR SERVICE ISSUE?:VIN: IFM5K8D85DGA40422 2013 FORD EXPLORER - I RECENTLY SHIPPED MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER TO AZERBAIJAN WHERE I AM SERVING THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. I HIRED A DRIVER WHO CONVEYED A PROBLEM TO ME REGARDING THE POWER STEERING AND SYNC SYSTEM. AFTER DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I BECAME AWARE OF THE RECALL FOR POWER STEERING PROBLEMS WHICH SEEM TO FIT THE SYMPTOMS RELATED TO ME. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY TYPE OF NOTICE FROM FORD REGARDING THIS SERIOUS CONDITION. ALSO, THE SYNC SYSTEM IS BUGGY. I WAS INFORMED SOME TIME AGO OF A FUEL SYSTEM RECALL (I BELIEVE). THE VEHICLE HAS 19,750 MILES. A VEHICLE TIRE SENSOR FAULT HAS RECENTLY DISPLAYED. THERE IS A FORD DEALERSHIP IN BAKU AZERBAIJAN WHERE I LIVE. THE EXPLORER IS PART OF THEIR PRODUCT LINE. PLEASE INFORM ME WHAT I CAN EXPECT FROM FORD TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES DISCLOSED HERE EITHER UNDER WARRANTY, RECALL OBLIGATION, OR CUSTOMER CARE (WITHOUT EXPENSE TO ME). FURTHER, I WOULD APPRECIATE IF FORD U.S. WOULD COORDINATE THOSE RESOLUTION EFFORTS. WHAT ACTION HAS YOUR DEALER TAKEN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE?:HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALER. SUSPECT LANGUAGE BARRIERS WOULD COMPLICATE RESOLUTION EFFORTS. WHAT ASSISTANCE ARE YOU SEEKING FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY?:COORDINATE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS TO BE PERFORMED BY THE BAKU AZERBAIJAN FORD DEALER. PROVIDE A LOANER CAR WHILE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. BE MORE PROACTIVE IN INFORMING CUSTOMERS OF POTENTIALLY SERIOUS DEFECTS THAT HAVE RESULTED IN RECALL. ARE YOU THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE :YES VIN : IFM5K8D85DGA40422 MILEAGE : 19,748 WHERE IS YOUR VEHICLE NOW : INPOSSESSION HAVE YOU CONTACTED THE DEALER :NO DEALER NAME :FORD BAKU AZERBAIJAN

NHTSA ODI 10820600

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING SHUTDOWN AND THE VEHICLES STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF TO THE POINT YOU COULD HARDLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL.I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FORD TO HAVE IT INSPECTED , THEY INFORMED ME NOTHING WAS WRONG AND ALL IT NEEDED WAS TO BE RESET. WITHIN 10 DAYS OF LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE THE VEHICLE AGAIN STARTED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FORD ONCE AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY HAD ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED . WITHIN DOING RESEARCH 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAVE THIS SAME POWER STEERING ISSUE, UNDER RECALL. FORD REFUSES TO FIX MY VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN RESTRICTIONS. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND NEGLIGENT TO SAY THE LEAST.

NHTSA ODI 10819303

I WAS BACKING UP FROM PARKING SPOT IN A CITY GARAGE AND WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN DRIVE MY POWER ASSISTED STEERING (EPAS) FAILED. I GOT THE POWER STEERING FAULT ERROR, ADVANCETRAC ERROR AND TERRAIN MANAGEMENT ERROR. THE CAR WAS TOO DIFFICULT TO MANUALLY STEER ACTUALLY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. IT TOOK ALMOST 1 HOUR AND 2 GROWN BIG MEN TO MANUALLY STEER IT OUT OF THE GARAGE SO THAT IT COULD BE PUT ONTO A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK. FORD CLAIMS THAT MY VIN# NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL (14S06) FOR THIS ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD IT TOWED TO HAS QUOTED ME AROUND $2,000 TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD AND FORD NEED TO TAKES RESPONSIBILITY AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10790170

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN THE POWER STEERING LOCKS UP WITH AN ERROR CODE STATING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" IN MY EXPERIENCE THIS HAPPENED WHEN BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND NOW IT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION. THE ONLY THING THAT RELEASES THE STEERING IS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL HOWEVER, IT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM YET, FORD "HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT" I HAVE CHILDREN AND I FEAR THAT FORD WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM OR DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE AND WE ARE IN A FETAL ACCIDENT. I REFUSE TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AS IT'S UNSAFE AND I WILL NOT PUT MY KIDS LIFE AT RISK. HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 10789784