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

THE POORLY PLACED WATER PUMP. 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH THE WATER PUMP INSIDE ENGINE. JUST GOT THE CAR 6 MONTHS AGO HAS 107900 ON IT. YESTERDAY STARTED LEAKING COOLANT. HAVE TO TAKE TO THE FORD DEALER TODAY.

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I FEEL VERY NAUSEOUS, DIZZY AND HAVE A HEADACHE AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE A SHORT DISTANCE. VEHICLE ALSO SMELLS LIKE FUEL STRONGLY INSIDE THE CAR.

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DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD A-PILLAR MOLDING FLEW OFF, I BELIEVE WE WERE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT NO TRUE WAY TO KNOW WHEN. THE INNER PILLAR MOLDING APPEARS TO BE CRACKED ON A FEW PLACES AS WELL.

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TL* THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS REVERSING FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER BILL FICK FORD (737 I-45, HUNTSVILLE, TX 77340, (800) 559-4295) WHO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V675000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED DERROW SHIRKEY FORD LINCOLN (1248 E MAIN ST, MONTPELIER, OH 43543, (419) 485-3181) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.*DT CONSUMER STATED RECALL WAS RECEIVED ON NOV. 2020 REGARDING TOE LINK FRACTURES DUE TO FAULTY PARTS. I WAS REPAIRED AND INSTALLED IN 2019 AND NOW AGAIN IN 2021.*JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSON BROTHERS FORD (7455 S. GENERAL BRUCE DR, TEMPLE, TX 76502) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING) WHICH SHE LINKED TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. *BF

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IT APPEARS THERE ARE MAJOR ISSUES AND RECALLS ON THE EXPLORER WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST THAT IT COMPLETELY GOES OUT. I HAVE CALLED BOTH THE DEALERSHIPS AND FORD BOTH AGREE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO HONOR THE RECALL BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. THERE HAVE BEEN MILLIONS OF RECALLS ON THIS BUT THEY WANT ME TO PAY $2500 TO FIX THE ISSUE. VEHICLE UNABLE TO MAKE TURNS AT LOW SPEEDS AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. NOW I AM STUCK IN GA WITH NO MONEY AND A BROKE CAR 4 HRS FROM HOME.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V675000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE STATED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER ED KOEHN FORD OF WAYLAND (1159 W SUPERIOR ST, WAYLAND, MI 49348, (269) 792-2205) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED HOWEVER, THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED A LETTER WHICH STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT IN ERROR AND THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR HAD TO BE PAID FOR OUT OF POCKET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

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FORD HAS A RECALL CASE 14S06 FOR THE POWER STEERING ON 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORERS. IN THIS RECALL IT NOTES THAT INDIVIDUALS WILL EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. MY 2013 EXPLORER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL BUT, IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. AT SLOW SPEEDS YOU CAN HARDLY TURN THE WHEELS...MAKING IT A HAZARD ON THE ROAD. MY WIFE CAME GOT OUT OF WORK AND WENT TO MAKE THE 5 MILE DRIVE HOME WHEN SHE NOTICED SHE COULD HARDLY STEER THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. A MESSAGE CAME ON NOTING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. MY WIFE IS A VERY SMALL AND STRUGGLED TO TURN THE WHEEL BUT, MANAGED TO GET IT HOME. IN TALKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE, THEY NOTE THE RECALL DOES NOT INCLUDE HER VEHICLE AS IT WAS MADE AT A DIFFERENT TIME OR IN A DIFFERENT BATCH AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY THOSE THAT HAD LOSS OF STEERING IN THE RECALL. FRUSTRATED THAT FORD IS ALLOWING VEHICLES THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TO BE ON THE ROAD. AT THE TIME OF FILING THIS COMPLAINT, THERE WERE 1339 COMPLAINTS ON THE 2013 EXPLORER AND 481 OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON THE STEERING, THE MOST OF ANY CATEGORY, AND YET FORD IS NOT STANDING BEHIND WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE IN THAT YEAR AND MODEL. MY VEHICLE HAS 86,000 MILES ON IT. MANY OTHER VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SIMILAR ISSUE AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE FROM WHAT I CAN GATHER.

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WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND TURNING A CORNER, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY. THE POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING. I HAD TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND RESTART THE VEHICLE TO ENGAGE THE POWER STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE BUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THIS ISSUE WAS SUBJECT TO NHTA RECALL 14V-286 REGARDING 2013 EXPLORERS (RECALL NUMBER 14S06), BUT MY EXPLORER WAS NOT INCLUDED WITH THE ONES THAT WERE RECALLED. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR ANOTHER MONTH SO I WILL TRY TO LOCATE AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT CAN FIX THE PROBLEM.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO TS&S FORD (1733 US-97, MADRAS, OR 97741) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING MODULE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND SHE WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,646.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CEASED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

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THERE'S A POPPING SOUND WHEN I HIT A BUMP AND MAKE TURNS. IN ADDITION TO THAT IT STARTED SOUNDING LIKE METAL GRINDING AND WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER HAD A BOUNCE AND WOULD SWAY WHEN HITTING BUMPS AND TAKING CURVES. A VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY FEELING. IT'S MAINLY IN THE FRONT BUT THE REAR END MAKES CRACKING SOUNDS ALSO. IT'S WORRISOME.THE POPPING OCCURRES AS SOON AS I TURN THE WHEEL AFTER I START IT. THE SWAYING AND BOUNCING HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY.I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NOVEMBER 2020, AND NOTICED IT A DAY OR TWO AFTER WHEN IT WAS TO LATE TO RETURN TO CAR LOT.

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I STARTED MY CAR AFTER WORK (THIS IS AFTER A 12 HR SIT TIME) AND SEEN I HAD A FAULT ON MY DASHBOARD, POWER STEERING ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE FAULTS. SO IN SHORT, I DO NOT HAVE POWER STEERING, NOR DO I HAVE MY 4WD, AND FOR SOME REASON MY TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT WORK FOR STEADY ON. THE TURN SIGNAL WORKS FOR LANE CHANGES BUT NOT FOR STEADY ON TURNING.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE MESSAGE "POWER ASSIST ERROR" WAS DISPLAYED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER MULLINAX-LINCOLN AUTOMOTIVE LOCATED AT 550 1ST ST NW, CLEVELAND, TN 37311 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INDICATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

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I AM A 100% DISABLED VETERAN AND I NEED A RELIABLE VEHICLE. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY OPTIONS RELATED TO MY SAFETY RECALL. I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 19S17/NHTSA RECALL 19V-435 IN JUNE 2019 FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINKS. THE WORK WAS COMPLETED ON JULY 2, 2019. I RECEIVED ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 20S62/NHTSA RECALL 20V-675 FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINKS (SAME ISSUE) IN DEC, RECALL DATED NOV 2020. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR DEC 7, 2020. MY ADVISOR STATED TO ME THAT MY CAR HAD FAILED INSPECTION AND MY VEHICLE WOULD BE KEPT OVERNIGHT. SHE ALSO STATED THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER. I WAS TAKEN TO ENTERPRISE TO OBTAIN A RENTAL VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO EXPLAIN TO THE AGENT MY VEHICLE HAD FAILED INSPECTION AND WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE AGENT STATED THAT FORD HAD CANCELLED THE RECALL AND ONLY CERTAIN MODELS WERE AFFECTED. I WAS STILL PERPLEXED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION. MY ADVISOR SENT ME A TEXT ON DEC 9, 2020 STATING THE ETA IS DEC 11 WHEN THE PART WOULD BE SENT, AND SHE WOULD PROVIDE ME WITH AN UPDATE ON DEC 11, 2020. SHE CALLED ME ON DEC 10 OR DEC 11, 2020 AND STATED THAT FORD HAD CANCELLED THE RECALL AND THAT I COULD PICK UP MY VEHICLE. I TOLD HER I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION. SHE STATED THAT FORD HEADQUARTERS WAS CALLED, AND SHE WAS ALSO CONFUSED AS TO WHY FORD HAD CANCELLED THE RECALL. THE INVOICE NEVER STATED THAT THE PART(S) FAILED ONLY THE RECALL WAS LISTED. IF I HAD NOT PROMPTLY CALLED WHEN I RECEIVED THE SAFETY RECALL I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE THE APPOINTMENT, NEVER HAD KNOWN THE PART(S) FAILED AND NEVER CONTACTED FORD HEADQUARTERS. IF THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE PART DID NOT FAIL, THEN WHY WAS I PROVIDED A RENTAL FOR A WEEK? ALSO, WHEN I TYPED IN MY VIN ON OWNER.FORD.COM AND NHTSA.GOV ZERO RECALLS CAME UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION FOR MY CONCERNS.

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REAR CAMERA KEEPS SHUTTING OFF INTERMITTENTLY DURING REVERSING AND WILL NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL YOU TAKE IT OUT OF REVERSE AND BACK THIS HAPPENS BOTH AT A STAND STILL AND IN REVERSE MOTION.

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HYDRAULIC FAILURE MY STEERING WHEEL GETS STUCK AND VERY HARD I CANT MOVE THE VEHICLE I NEED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON THEN IS DRIVABLE BUT IT HAS DONE THIS TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY KIDS I'M SCARE WHEN THIS HAPPENS I NEED TO STOP AND IN THE HIGHWAY EVERYONE IS DRIVING HIGH SPEED I DONT HAVE TIME BECAUSE I CANT EVEN TURN THE WHEEL BECAUSE IT GETS VERY HARD AND IT HAS HAPPEND TO ME COUPLE OF TIMES

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VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY HARD TO TURN. WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL BECOMES STUCK IN THAT TURNED POSITION ALMOST CAUSING ME TO HIT THINGS. VEHICLE DRIVES LIKE IT HAS MANUAL STEERING AND NOT POWER STEERING. NO WARNING LIGHTS SO FAR ON DASH. ISSUES HAPPEN DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY STREETS.

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THE SEALS FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR FAIL CAUSING WATER TO LEAK INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND DOWN THE BACK SEAT BELTS AND POOLING IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA OF THE TRUNK. THIS ALSO CAUSES MILDEW AND MOLD IN THE CARPETING.

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CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED AT 137,000 MILES

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT'S SON WAS ABLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT'S SON SPOKE WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ABOUT THE FAILURE WHO INFORMED HIM THE FAILURE WAS A RACK AND PINION ELECTRONIC STEERING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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SMELLING A WEIRD SMELL COMING FROM THE CABIN LIKE CARBON MONOXIDE SMELL .

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WATER LEAKING FROM HEADLINER ONTO THE RADIO/CD PLAYER CAUSING IT TO SHORT OUT. SEATS & FLOOR RUG GETS FLOODED EVERY TIME IT RAINS. IS THERE A RECALL FOR WATER LEAKING INTO THE CAR EVERY TIME IT RAINS. THIS 2013 EXPLORER DOESN'T HAVE A SUNROOF BY THE WAY. IT'S PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY ON FLAT SURFACE WHEN LEAKING WHEN RAINING.I CAN'T DRIVE WHEN RAINING BECAUSE OF WATER DRIPPING ON TO THE DASH BOARD RIGHT OVER THE RADIO/CD PLAYER.

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