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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING TWO UNKNOWN RECALLS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHICH REQUIRED ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 178,000.*DT

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WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE MY POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING ALMOST CAUSING ME TO SCRAPE THE SIDE OF MY CAR ON THE WALL. I HAD TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, AS THE CAR HAD BEEN LEFT AT A SLIGHT ANGLE WHEN PARKED THE DAY BEFORE, AND COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN IT OUT. I HAD TO STOP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING AGAIN. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2013 EXPLORER ON MODELS MADE A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. FORD IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM IT APPEARS. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER BUT I WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT. AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON MY DASH BOARD THAT TIME. I DON'T RECALL SEEING AN ERROR MESSAGE WHEN IT HAPPENED WHILE BACKING UP IN MY GARAGE. THE PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED WHEN MY WIFE WAS IN A PARKING LOT A FEW DAYS LATER. SO A TOTAL OF 3 INCIDENCES OF FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11320954

MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER . I'M EXPERIENCING A LOT PROBLEMS WHEN I DOING TURNS LEFT/RIGHT STEERING IS VERY HARD SOMETIMES AND IT MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS I FEEL LIKE I WILL CRASH THE VEHICLE ONE IF THIS DAYS. *TR

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I EXPERIENCE A ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHEN ACCELERATING. WHEN I TOLD THE FORD DEALERSHIP DURING ROUTINE SERVICE, THEY STATED "IT'S NORMAL". I LOOKED FOR RECALL 19N05 WITH MY VIN BUT IT STATED THERE ARE NO UNRESOLVED ISSUES. SO IT SEEMS PERHAPS THE RECALL 19N05 WAS PERFORMED. BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE DURING ACCELERATION.

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TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED HER SON NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE CENTER OF THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HER SON NOTICED THE ROOF SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BODY COLLUSION SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11320303

THE CAR WILL NOT START AFTER DRIVING IT . SOMETIMES IT HAS TO BE JUMPED . I HAS HAD 3 BATTERIES IN IT SO FAR, IT HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT AND WHEN I CLOSE OR OPEN THE DOORS SOMETIMES IT WILL START!

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WATER LEAKING INTO REAR AND INTO THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. ABOUT AN INCH OF WATER FOUND IN THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. UNSURE WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING.

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FULLY MARKED POLICE PATROL VEHICLE LOST HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. INSPECTED AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED INSIDE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES TO STOP WORKING. THIS IS THE 4TH ONE WE HAVE HAD IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. 1ST ON 5/15/2018, SECOND ON 1/15/2020, THIRD ON 2/10/2020, AND NOW 4TH ON 3/17/2020..

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COMPUTER VOICE COMAND 80 MPH GOVERNOR

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THE VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAULTS WHICH CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS

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POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND THE VEHICLE LOSES THE ABILITY TO STEER. I ALMOST RAN INTO THE CURB BEFORE I FORCEFULLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO MISS IT. I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 5MPH AS I HAD JUST STARTED IT.

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THE POWER STEERING JUST STOPPED WORKING MY VEHICLE IS A 2013 BUT IT ONLY HAS 68800 MILES

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THE POWER STEERING RACK AND EPS SHUTS DOWN AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND HAD THE EPS RESET TWICE AND IT STILL POPS UP THE SENSOR FOR THE EPS AND SHUTS MY POWER STEERING DOWN. I'VE ALMOST CRASHED MY VEHICLE TWICE AND HAD IT TOWED 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS.

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STARTING THE CAR FROM PARK CAUSES AN ERROR TO DISPLAY STATING POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING FOR THE VEHICLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING CEASED WITH THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MANUAL STEERING MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PAULI FORD LOCATED AT 2380 OLD U.S. 27, ST JOHNS, MI 48879, (989) 224-6711, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE STEERING GEAR OR A STEERING MODULE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,854.

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HAD JUST PICKED UP MY MAIL FROM MAILBOX AND STARTED CROSSING ROAD TO ENTER MY LANE/PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WHEN HEARD A LOUD CLUNK AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER CAR. KEPT PUSHING GAS PEDAL TO TRY TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET ACROSS THE ROAD AND BARELY DID BUT COULDN'T CONTROL DIRECTION THE CAR WAS MOVING. WHEN FELT WAS SAFE I GOT OUT AND WALKED AROUND CAR TO SEE IF I COULD SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. NOTICED FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TURNED IN WHILE OTHERS WERE STRAIGHT. I GOT BACK IN CAR TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AND SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE BUT IT DID NOT. I CALLED FAMILY TO COME HELP AND UPON FURTHER LOOKING DISCOVERED WHEEL HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TIE ROD. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND UPON THEIR INSPECTION I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A NEW INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD AND THAT THE AXLE CENTRE BRACKET HAD BROKEN. I GOOGLED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FOUND A WEBSITE CARPROBLEMZOO.COM WHERE 29 REPORTS WERE LISTED OF SIMILAR INSTANCES WITH A MOST RECENT DATE OF 7/12/2019. THIS DRIVER DID CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER CARE AS DID I BUT HAD NO ASSISTANCE OR RESOLUTION FROM THEM. IN FACT FORD TOLD ME THEY CAN'T MONITOR EVERY WEBSITE AND I TOLD THEM THIS WASN'T ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE ONE COMPLAINT SAID A MOTHER'S NECK WAS BROKEN. THESE PROBLEMS MUST BE FURTHER INVESTIGATED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 15 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). GREG SWEET FORD, INC. LOCATED AT 4011 E CENTER ST, CONNEAUT, OH 44030, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED NOR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY THE POWER STEERING CEASED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OWATONNA FORD-LINCOLN LOCATED AT (1001 HOFFMAN DR NW, OWATONNA, MN 55060 507-451-7860 ) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND CAM BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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GETTING OFF RAMP TURNING TO MY RIGHT THE CAR WAS HARD TO TRUE STEER LOST CONTROL

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ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO THE STEERING WAS GETTING TOUGH WITH LITTLE NOISE LIKE CLUNKING, TOOK THE EXPLORER TO A FORD DEALER WAS TOLD MY FRONT STRUTS NEEDED CHANGED. HAD THAT DONE, DID NOT FIX MY STEERING PROBLEM. SAID MY VIN WAS OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL FORD HAD ON THE STEERING RACK. NOW JUST YESTERDAY I START MY CAR AND MY STEERING WHEEL IS STUCK NO MOVEMENT. TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AND GOT MOVEMENT BUT NO POWER STEERING IT'S A MANUAL. WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON 1. "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" 2. "SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC". ALSO NOTICED MY TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED MUST HOLD IN PLACE TO SIGNAL.

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VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING CAN LOSE SIGNAL TO THE ELECTRIC GEAR BOX FOR THE POWER STEERING. CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. CAR DISPLAY READS "POWER STEERING FAULT".

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. VEHICLE HAD DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING WOULD SUDDENLY FAIL CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. DURING THE FAILURES THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY. TRI CITY FORD(1348 FOUR LOCUST HWY, KEYSVILLE VA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

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FULLY MARKED POLICE PATROL VEHICLE LOST HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. INSPECTED AND FOUND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED INSIDE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES TO STOP WORKING. THIS IS THE 3RD ONE WE HAVE HAD IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. 1ST ON 5/15/2018, SECOND ON 1/15/2020, AND THIRD ON 2/10/2020. SO FAR THE VEHICLES INVOLVED ARE 2013 POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITIES. ALL HAVE BUILD DATES BETWEEN 4/19/2012 AND 6/19/2012.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING HIS VEHICLE AND BACKING OUT THE DRIVEWAY, HIS POWER STEERING CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ADVANCED TRACK WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED SEVERAL MANEUVERS, SUCH AS RESTATING THE VEHICLE AND RESETTING THE BATTERY, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); THE CONTACT WAS THEN REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,405.

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STEERING BECOME HARD CANT MOVE THE WHEEL OR MAKE ANY TURN... AND THE LIGHT OF SERVICE POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC CAME ON. I ALMOST HAVE A ACCIDENT DO TO THIS PROBLEM.

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