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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, the passenger’s side rear wheel detached from the rear suspension causing a loss of steering control. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with the rear lateral links needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 20V675000 (Suspension). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 74,540.

NHTSA ODI 11419929

As I was driving down the interstate the steering got hard to control. It was hard keeping the car in my lane. The warning light came on and told be to check power steering. I had to drive on the side of the interstate for 2 miles to the next exit. Then had to wait 8 hours for someone to come get my family. There are some recalls on this but not on my car. Dealer told me the part is over 1500 dollars. I don't understand why mine is not on recall list. I have lost all trust in Ford products.

NHTSA ODI 11419839

Power Steering Assist Fault message appears randomly at start up. Generally restarting the vehicle will clear the fault. Recalls were issued for the model year of my vehicle, but it seems my vin falls outside of the recall, but this very serious safety issue is still effecting it.

NHTSA ODI 11419297

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 mph, he started to smell exhaust fumes inside of the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated while inspecting the vehicle, he noticed the exhaust manifold was faulty and leaking. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 169,234.

NHTSA ODI 11419381

The contact owns a 2013 FORD Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel ceased. The contact stated while taking the vehicle to the dealer, about 5 to 6 miles later the power steering warning light disappeared. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,920

NHTSA ODI 11418654

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, an abnormal grinding sound was coming from the steering wheel while turning in either direction, without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the steering gearbox was defective and that if not replaced, the power steering would fail to operate. Months later, while driving 55 mph, the "service power steering" message appeared on the instrument panel. Upon leaving a bank, the contact started her vehicle, and the "service power steering now" and "lane-keeping system, services required" messages appeared on the instrument panel. Due to the complete loss of power steering, the vehicle was towed to her home. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed her that her vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (steering) and referred her to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

NHTSA ODI 11418457

Loss of power steering. Hard to turn. Took it to dealer. Dealer couldn't find the problem. It worked fine for a month then went out again while trying to turn. No warning lights have ever came on.

NHTSA ODI 11417997

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated upon opening the front passenger’s side door, the contact noticed that the front passenger’s side door would not remain closed. The contact stated that the door ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer nor an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 112,843. The consumer stated the driver's door was recalled for the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11417909

I was driving down the road and the electric power steering failed and almost resulted in an accident

NHTSA ODI 11417937

STEERING STARTED FEELING LIKE IT WAS GETTING STUCK WHEN TURNING LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT COME BACK TO CENTER THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF ROAD THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE OVER SEVERAL DAYS UNTIL I FELT IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER AND TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP.

NHTSA ODI 11416100

HEADLIGHTS ARE WAY TO DIM FOR NIGHT DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11415771

OUTSTANDING RECALL SINCE 2019 NOT FIXED. VEHICLE MIGHT HAVE A FRACTURED REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK.

NHTSA ODI 11414768

DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED US TO CRASH.

NHTSA ODI 11414025

I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE REAR END. WITHIN 30 SECONDS I LOST CONTROL OF MY STEERING. MY CAR BEGAN FISHTAILING AND THE REAR TIRES WERE SQUAWKING. THE ONLY WAY I COULD STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE WAS TO TURN WHEEL COMPLETELY TO THE LEFT. I WAS DOING 35 MPH AND DROPPED DOWN TO 15 MPH UNTIL I COULD PULL OVER TO SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI 11408437

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER PACKEY WEBB FORD LOCATED AT 1815 W. OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515-2615, WHO INDICATED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINKS WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOE LINKS HAD FRACTURED WHILE BEING TESTED AT THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V675000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI 11407004

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY CEASED. THE DRIVER TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESET AND REGAIN POWER STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE MOSTLY OCCURRED AT START-UP. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BLUEBONNET FORD (351 IH 35 S, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130, (833)505-0245) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO THE NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11407013

THIS VEHICLE HAD ONLY 50,216 MILES ON IT WHEN THE STEERING STARTED TO FAIL. ON THE HIGHWAY. FIRST THERE WAS A GRADUAL LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH ULTIMATELY GOT WORSE. MANAGED TO GET IT HOME SINCE I WASN'T FAR AWAY AT WHICH TIME POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED. DIAGNOSIS REVEALED A FAILED STEERING RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY. REPLACEMENT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. AN INTERNET SEARCH REVEALED THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND IN FACT APPEARS TO BE QUITE COMMON. I CONSIDER THE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS ASSEMBLY A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE. IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS FOR THIS APPLYING TO OTHER YEARS/VIN/MANUFACTURING LOCATIONS. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION IT TOOK A MONTH TO GET REPLACEMENT ASSEMBLY WHICH TELLS ME FORD CANNOT KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND. THANKYOU.

NHTSA ODI 11407026

2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 20S62/NHTSA RECALL 20V-675, AND IS MAILING IN THE ORGINIAL COPY. *AS *JS

NHTSA ODI 11406593

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BELL FORD LOCATED AT 2401 W BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85023, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ODI 11406103

AIRBAG IS COMING APART ON PASSENGER SIDE

NHTSA ODI 11406040

WHILE IN MOTION, THE POWER STEERING QUIT OPERATING. I WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD NEAR MY HOUSE. NO ACCIDENTS BUT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A DEADLY CRASH IF FAILED IN A DIFFERENT SITUATION. TURNS OUT THERE WAS A RECALL, 14S06 ON THE FORD EXPLORER BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. $2700 IN REPAIRS BY FORD DEALER. OBVIOUSLY, THE SCOPE OF VEHICLES THAT FAIL WAS UNDERESTIMATED FOR THIS ISSUE OF STEERING FAILURE. FURTHERMORE, IN READING THE OWNERS MANUAL, IT REFERENCES THE FAILURE IN THE MANUAL AND HOW TO RESET IT BY CYCLING ENGINE POWER. THIS OBVIOUSLY WAS UNDERSTOOD BY FORD AS AN ISSUE FROM THE BEGINNING.

NHTSA ODI 11405801

VEHICLE HAD A FAULTY PSCM ALONG WITH THE POWER ASSIST STEERING RACK. CAR SHOP RECOMMEND I FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEEN THE SAME ISSUE IN THESE SAME EXACT VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11404996

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND WATER CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN UNKNOWN FORD RECALL REGARDING THE WATER PUMP HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11405060

MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER HAS ONE RECALL FOR SUSPENSION. MY VEHICLE IS MAKING CRACKING NOISES BOTH ON FRONT AND REAR WHEN I TURN OR WHEN I GO ON TOP OF A BUMP. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I'M DEPLOYED TO COLOMBIA AND MY VEHICLE WAS SENT DOWN HERE TWO MONTHS AGO. CAN I HAVE A FORD DEALERSHIP LOOK AT MY VEHICLE AND FIX THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IN COLOMBIA? FORD HAD DONE WORK ON MY CAR IN TEXAS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THEY CHARGED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11404755

FAULTY POWER STEERING ASSIST

NHTSA ODI 11403363