Home · 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,224)Crash / fire / injury (78)Steering (832)Body & structure (436)Engine (224)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (153)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Suspension (79)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (62)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (45)

Newest first · 2,224 complaints · page 38 of 89

Nov 3, 2020SteeringSuspensionWheels

MY CAR STARTED MAKING A POPPING NOTICE EVERY TIME I TURNED MY WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE RACK N PINION AND ALSO SUSPENSION ON MY FORD.

NHTSA ODI 11372795

Oct 29, 2020Steering

MY VEHICLES POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ABRUPTLY. THE SCREEN READS POWER ASSIST FAULT. I CAN'T TURN THE WHEEL WHATSOEVER. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST OVER 2K TO REPAIR. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH IT IS NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE EXPLORERS.

NHTSA ODI 11366985

Oct 27, 2020Steering1 injury

VEHICLE STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE IN MOTION NEARLY CAUSING A HEAD ON COLLISION. VEHICLE IS 2 MONTHS OUTSIDE BUILD DATE OF PREVIOUS RECALL FOR STEERING FAILURES. VEHICLE STEERING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN WHEELS IN ANY DIRECTION

NHTSA ODI 11366649

Oct 24, 2020Electrical systemBody & structure

LEAKS FROM POOR QUALITY WELDS ABOVE REAR TAILGATE. CREATES MOLD IN CARPET ABS SPARE TIRE INSULATION. KNOWN PROBLEM ON VEHICLE. ADDITION LEAKS IN SUNROOF DUE TO POOR DRAINAGE CAUSING MOTOR TO FAIL. PAINT BUBBLE FAIL ON HOOD (KNOWN ISSUE ON EXPLORERS AND EXPEDITIONS)

NHTSA ODI 11366145

Oct 24, 2020Steering

WHEN STARTING CAR THE STEERING WILL LOCK UP MAKING IT HARD TO TURN STEERING WHEEL: THE FEAR THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY I CAN TURN OFF ENGINE AND RESTART CAR. TODAY HAPPENED TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11366147

Oct 24, 2020Fuel system

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT QUIT RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING . SHE WAS ON CITY STREET. SHE PULL OVER AND LEFT IT SIT. WE WHEN BACK AND RE-STARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM AND DROVE IT HOME. IT HAS DONE THIS A SECOND TIME A COUPLE DAYS LATER,SHE SAID IT CHUGGED AND QUIT. IT SET FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. BEFORE I RE-STARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE WRENCH LIGTH COMES ON BUT NO CODES ARE SHOWING.

NHTSA ODI 11366151

Oct 22, 2020

THE CEILING AROUND THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER STARTED DRIPPING WATER DURING A RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD OVER AN INCH OF STANDING WATER IN MY CAR. IT HAD DRIPPED ALL OVER THE FRONT CENTER OF THE SUV. NOW MY FLOORBOARDS ARE GOING TO BE MOLDY AND MUSTY DUE TO FORD'S POOR SUNROOF DESIGN. ALLOWING ONLY A FEW SMALL HOLES FOR WATER TO DRAIN OUT OF THE SUN ROOF AREA IS IGNORANT. AFTER THESE HOLES GETS CLOGGED THE ENTIRE THING IT GETS FILLED WITH WATER AND SHORTS OUT THE MOTORS.

NHTSA ODI 11365772

Oct 22, 2020SteeringCrash

EXPLORER VEERED OFF THE EDGE OF THE ROAD WHILE IN MOTION ON US ROUTE 322 AND COULD NOT BE STEERED BACK ONTO THE ROAD. IT WAS REPAIRED AT CORNELL AUTO BODY. CHIP CORNELL NOTICED A SUSPICIOUS BREAK AND A CRACK IN THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AS DID MY BROTHER, TOM GREEN, WHO IS A RETIRED WELDER AT JOY MANUFACTURING WITH (42) YRS. EXERIENCE. TOM TOOK THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO GRIFFIN-PHILLIS FORD, 2582 PA-257 SENECA, PA 16346 FOR THEM TO SHOW IT TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11365783

Oct 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

ALL TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM CONTINUOUSLY FAULTS EVEN AFTER BEING IT REPAIRED IN 2016, IT WAS OKAY FOR 2 YEARS STARTED AGAIN FAULTING EVERY NOW AND THEN IN 2019. THIS YEAR THE ALL TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM STOPPED WORK COMPLETELY IN MARCH. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE IN MOTION FOR IT TO FAULT BUT NOW IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER STARTING THE SUV. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE AS IT SEEMS TO LOOSE GRIP OF THE ROAD NO MATTER THE WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 11365836

Oct 21, 2020Steering

UPON STARTING MY CAR AN ALARM CAME ON AND SAID MY ELECTRIC POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND I COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL. SO I SHUT THE CAR OFF THEN RESTARTED IT AND THE ALARM WENT AWAY. TWO DAYS LATER THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE I DID THE SAME THING , SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11365548

Oct 14, 2020Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING, THE STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS AND SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUNCAN SUZUKI (1001 E MAIN ST, PULASKI, VA 24301) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING RACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11364269

Oct 14, 2020Suspension

WHILE STATIONARY OR AT SLOW SPEEDS, WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL NEAR THE MAX, THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT MOUNT GIVES A CLANGING SOUND. THIS IS DUE TO A LOOSE STRUT MOUNT THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS. THIS OCCURS ON CITY ROADS WHERE SPEEDS ARE LOW ENOUGH TO ALONG NEAR MAXIMUM TURNING RADIUS.

NHTSA ODI 11364315

Oct 13, 2020Body & structure

THE DRIVER CAR DOOR LATCH BROKE OFF AND DRIVER DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DOOR FLYS OPEN WHILE IN MOTION ESPECIALLY ON TURNS AND I HAVE TO HOLD IT CLOSED WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE WITH MY ONLY OTHER HAND. CANNOT GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE! I HAVE TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE PASSENGER OR BACK SEAT TO PUSH THE DOOR FULLY OPEN SO I CAN GET IN TO DRIVE. THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE IN MOTION. FORD SAID THE RECALL HAS EXPIRED 7/2020 AND REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR DOOR HANDLE, VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AND THE NEW OWNER WILL THEN BE IN DANGER HOWEVER FORD REFUSES TO COVER THIS DEFECT WITH THEIR DOOR HANDLES THAT ALREADY HAD A RECALL ON IT. PLEASE HELP ME MAKE OTHERS AWARE OF THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION AND ANY NEW CAR OWNERS WHO WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR FORD EXPLORER AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT AND COVER THE EXPENSE TO FIX WHEN IT WAS PART OF A RECALL THAT 'EXPIRED'. I'M SCARED I MAY FLY OUT OF THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING AND GET HURT OR RUN OVER BY ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE THIS DOOR WON'T CLOSE SECURELY.

NHTSA ODI 11364174

Oct 11, 2020Visibility & wipers

RANDOM REAR WINDOW EXPLODING. CAR HAD NO CHIPS OR DAMAGE TO REAR WINDSHIELD. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NOT RUNNING, BACKED IN AWAY FROM STREET FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODING. THE CENTER OF THE WINDSHIELD AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE EDGES HAD HOLES BLOWN OUT. WEATHER WAS AND HAD BEEN BETWEEN 58' AND 70' FOR THE PAST WEEK.

NHTSA ODI 11363836

Oct 9, 2020Electrical systemFuel system

I HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WAS TOLD IT WAS THE FUEL LID.IT NOW CHUGS AND SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION . WHEN IT RAINS WATER GETS IN CAR. WHICH GOES INTO OUR ELECTRICITY SYSTEM. OUR USB DOESNT WORK ALL THE TIME. MY CONTROLS FOR SUN ROOF DOES NOT WORK THE SCREEN IS STUCK OPEN. I AM ON MEDICEIN THAT I CAN NOT BE EXPOSED TO LIGHT. GAS PROBLEM STARTED RIGHT AFTER OIL CHANGE

NHTSA ODI 11363557

Oct 2, 2020Steering

IN 2018 I REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR AND 5 DAYS I HAD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. MY CAR LOST THE STEERING COMPLETELY. BOTH TIMES WE USED ORIGINAL PART FROM THE DEALER. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I NEED A SOLUTION. MY CAR IS NOT DRIVEABLE. THE PSCM HAS A CODE U3000-61 AND P07AE-09

NHTSA ODI 11362387

Oct 2, 2020Steering

GOING AROUND A CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED I WAS TURNING MY WHEEL L BUT MY CAR WAS NOT TURNING. I TURNED MY WHEEL CLOCKWISE AND THE MY STEERING WHEEL WAS ALMOST UPSIDE DOWN BY THE TIME MY WHEELS TURNED

NHTSA ODI 11362466

Oct 1, 2020Steering

THERE ALREADY A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WITH FORD STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM ON MY YEAR 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND MY CAR IS HAVING TROBLE TURNING, CUTTING IN OUT WHILE DRIVING ( LIKE GETS HARD TO TURN THEN BACK TO EASY OVER AND OVER) I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD I HAVE TO HAVE MY VIN NUMBER PUT ON THE RECALL LIST ( WHAT EVER THAT MEANS) AND EVEN THO THEY KNOW ITS A KNOWN ISSUE THEY CANT HELP ME...SO PLZ LEAD ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GETTING MY CAR ON THIS RECALL LIST THANKS.

NHTSA ODI 11362205

Oct 1, 2020SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

DRIVING THE CAR AND WARNINGS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SHOWING POWER STEERING AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILED. I COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THANK GOD I WAS ON A SIDE STREET NEAR HOME. IF THIS HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY OR EXPRESSWAY I WOULD LIKELY HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE STEERING RACK.

NHTSA ODI 11362250

Sep 30, 2020Seat beltsBody & structure

HAVE LEAK AT 3RD ROW SEAT BELT AT ROOF ON LEFT HAND SIDE.SEAT BELT GETTING WET LEAKING DOWN ON SEAT AND FLOOR. FIRST NOTICED WHEN TILTING 3RD ROW SEAT ON SEPT. 29/2020. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT MOVING . HAD RAIN THE NIGHT OFSEPT. 28/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11361979

Sep 28, 2020Steering

THE POWER STEERING IS NO LONGER WORKING. PREVIOUS VEHICLE THAT ARE THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALL WAS LISTED FOR MY VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11361595

Sep 24, 2020Steering

I WAS LEAVING THE GROCERY STORE AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY EXPLORER. THERE WAS A POWER STEERING DEFAULT AND THE SERVICE TRAC ADJUSTMENT WARNING CAME ON AS WELL. I HAD TO MANUALLY STEER THE CAR HOME DRIVING LESS THAN 25 MPH AND IT HAPPENED OUT OF NOWHERE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2011-2013 EXPLORERS BUT APPARENTLY MINE ISN'T COVERED AND THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE MODEL, NOT JUST ONES MANUFACTURED AT THE CHICAGO FACILITY.

NHTSA ODI 11360904

Sep 23, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MSA ALTAIR FLOOR XR GAS DETECTOR WHICH SHOWED HIGH LEVELS OF CARBON MONOXIDE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PER ONE HOUR OF DRIVING THE DETECTOR SHOWED14 PPM (PARTS PER MINUTE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONSTANT ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WAS CALIBRATED ON A DAILY BASIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SUSTAINED SEVERE HEALTH ISSUES AND HAD HEART ABLATION SURGERY FROM THE CARBON MONOXIDE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT CONTINUAL DRIVING PRESENTED A GRAVE DANGER TO HEALTH AND SAFETY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHENOWETH FORD INC (1564 E PIKE ST, CLARKSBURG, WV 26301, (800) 344-1108) AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER BUT, WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,625.*DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11360735

Sep 22, 2020Steering

CAR JUST STARTED SHAKING AND LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11360423

Sep 22, 2020Steering

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING BOX APPEARS INDICATING " POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT". ONCE THIS MESSAGE APPEARS THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING COMPLETELY AND YOU HAVE TO STEER THE CAR MANUALLY. THIS WARNING MESSAGE HAS APPEARED MULTIPLE TIMES. AS OF 9/22/20 I HAVE NO POWER STEERING. I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY INDICATED THE PROBLEM IS A FAULTY STEERING GEAR BOX WHICH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON EARLIER MODELS. THAT RECALL NUMBER IS THE FOLLOWING 14S06.

NHTSA ODI 11360578

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Working with the data? Download all 2,224 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 23, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →