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 MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO TURNOVER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM CLICK FORD LINCOLN 6244 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85711 WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONTACT, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOST MOTIVE POWER AND THE POWER STEERING CEASED. THE INFORMATION SCREEN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS SINCE TOWED FROM THE DEALER TO THE RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11307275

ON THE 14TH OF JANUARY 2020, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, MY TRUCK BEGAN TO SWAY AS IF MY ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. A SHORT WHILE LATER, THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND AS I STRUGGLED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO A STOP IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT, THE WARNING CHANGED TO SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW! THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND I ALMOST SIDE SWIPED A COUPLE OF CARS. AFTER I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO A STOP, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NEAR BY FORD DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11307343

I HAVE RECEIVED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM DRIVING MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE FRONT END LOOKED AT AND REPAIRED HAD TO PAY MOST OF THE COSTS (EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID FOR SOME) FOR THE FRONT END POPPING SOUNDS WHILE TURNING. THE SOUND IS STILL THERE AND ON BOTH SIDES NOW. SO MONEY WASTED TOWARDS FORD!! THE VEHICLE ISNT DRIVABLE AT THIS POINT AND THAT LEAVES ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11307079

COMPLAINED OF FAULTY POWER STEERING ERROR MESSAGE COMING ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE FOR 1.5 YEARS TO FORD DEALERSHIP WITH NO EXACT RESPONSE REGARDING THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THEY RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD WORK FINE AFTERWARDS. THE NEXT DAY I STILL HAD THE ISSUE. I THEN COMPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT IT BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR NUMEROUS ISSUES AND THAT WAS OVERLOOKED/IGNORED. MY POWER STEERING HAS NOW GONE OUT COMPLETELY AND THE RECALLS FOR THE POWER STEERING ENDED FOR EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED AFTER FEB. 2012 AND MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN DEC. 2012. I ASKED IF THE DEALERSHIP WAS REQUIRED TO REPORT ISSUES WHEN CUSTOMERS BRING THEIR VEHICLE IN TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID NO. THEY ARE ONLY REQIURED TO REPORT THEM WHEN THEY REPAIR IT OR DO WORK TO IT, NOT JUST ASSESS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. LESSON LEARNED, ALWAYS REPORT YOUR ISSUES HERE. MY POWER STEERING COULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING BUT THANK GOD IT DIDN'T. IT WENT OUT AS I WAS PAYING A BILL AND HAD TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN FORD ISSUE AND THAT MY CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. MUCH LESS, I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT BY LETTING ME KNOW THE POWER STEERING FAULT IS COMMON AND TO GET IT REPAIRED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER TO PREVENT A WRECK.

NHTSA ODI 11306642

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND SOMEHOW THE CAR STOP STEERING. VERY HARD TO TURN IN CURVES AND WHILE DRIVING SLOW. MESSAGE CAME UP ON DASH BOARD ABOUT STEERING DEFAULT.

NHTSA ODI 11306652

2013 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED 4WD 3.5L BECAME UNDRIVEABLE IN A MATTER OF 4 DAYS. IT STARTED AS A SQUEAL AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP AND QUICKLY ESCALATED TO LURCHING, PULSATING AND BUMPING AT ALL SPEEDS. MECHANIC INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A CALIPER THAT WAS LOCKED UP BUT WHEN I BROUGHT IT BACK 2 DAYS LATER AFTER THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND WORSENED HE REALIZED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FAULTY. HE NOTED THAT FORD IS NOTORIOUS FOR FAULTY TRANSFER CASES AND HORRIBLE WARRANTIES THAT END BEFORE THE PARTS GO. I'M TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE COULD LOCK UP AT ANY MOMENT AND CAUSE ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO REACT PUTTING MY FAMILIES SAFETY AND THOSE AROUND ME IN DANGER. HELP PLEASE! I'M TOLD THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NOT ISOLATED TO MY VEHICLE. MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS TO FORD HAVE ME ON HOLD FOR 15+ MINUTES WITH NO SOUND AND THEN PHONE CALL ENDS WITHOUT THE CHANCE TO TALK TO A REPRESENTATIVE. MY VEHICLE HAD ROUGHLY 94,000 MILES AT THE TIME. REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $3,000 - $5,000.

NHTSA ODI 11306477

I RECENTLY HAVE NOTICED WATER ON THE 3RD SEAT BELTS. TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO THOUGHT THE WATER WAS COMING FROM A PLUG IN THE REAR. SEALED IT BUT STILL HAD ISSUES. TOOK THE PANELS OFF IN THE TRUNK AND RAN THE WATER TEST AGAIN. FOUND THE ISSUE WAS COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE TAILGATE AT THE TOP WHERE THE WELD APPEARS TO BE CRACKING LETTING WATER IN ON BOTH SEATBELTS AND INTO THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMMENTS TO THE SAME ISSUE. HAPPENS ANYTIME WATER IS HITTING THE CAR LIKE RAIN OR CAR WASH.

NHTSA ODI 11302516

ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE TRUCK LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS EFFECTS THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT USES POWER. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH AND 35-40MPH. ONE TIME IT HAPPENED ON A STREET, THE OTHER TIME WAS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11301803

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V812000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

NHTSA ODI 11301698

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISMS FAILED SHOWING CAR DOOR IS AJAR WHEN DOOR IS ACTUALLY SHUT. DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND PASSENGER LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AROUND 135000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OF CAR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF UNTIL SPEED REACHES APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LIMITS DRIVER VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF CAR DUE TO GLARE.

NHTSA ODI 11300558

I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME STEERING PROBLEMS AS THE EXPLORERS IN THE RECALL, YET MY 2013 EXPLORER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE RECALL IS- NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000. I BELIEVE THE POPULATION OF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

NHTSA ODI 11300413

3 DIFFERENT OCCURRENCES WHILE DRIVING MY POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING AND AN ERROR MESSAGE COMES UP TELLING ME POWER ASSIST FAILURE. ONCE WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, TWICE WHILE TURNING IN TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. I CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY IN REGARDS TO THE RECALL FOR THIS MATTER TO BE TOLD SINCE MY VIN DOESN'T SHOW ANY OPEN RECALLS THIS HAS TO BE PAID OUT OF MY POCKET. I AM UPSET DUE TO THE FACT I DIDN'T OWN THIS VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS WAS INCLUDED OR EVEN RESOLVED IF IT WERE. I FIND IT HIGHLY IRRESPONSIBLE TO BE TOLD I CANNOT GET A MATTER REPAIRED THAT IS HAPPENING TO MY VEHICLE THAT WAS SPECIFIC TO A RECALL AND I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF IT BEING REPAIRED OR NOT. I CAN ONLY HOPE THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AS MY FAMILY IS TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11300492

MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE - SO MUCH FUEL THAT IT HAS SOAKED THE COVER ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE COVER ACROSS THE TOP OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOOD. IT IS ACTUALLY DRIPPING DOWN WHEN I LIFT THE HOOD. IT IS SO STRONG ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THAT I CAN TASTE IT IN MY MOUTH/LUNGS WHEN I SAT IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11300326

VEHICLE LOST HYDRAULIC BRAKES. FOUND RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED INSIDE OF PROTECTIVE SLEEVE CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT AND HYDRAULIC BRAKES TO STOP WORKING.

NHTSA ODI 11299196

THE POWER STEERING FAULT ASSIST BUTTON CAME ON IN THE SUV. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON ME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. I WAS IN ANOTHER CITY OTHER THAN WHERE I LIVE. THIS WAS BY FAR ONE THE SCARIEST THINGS THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. THE WHEEL COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. THIS IS BEYOND UNSAFE FOR ANYONE TO BE STEERING A VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC SHOP. THE STEERING RACK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WAS CHARGED FOR THE PET AND LABOR. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1,931.18. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE BUT BECAUSE MY VIN DOESN'T MATCH I WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. THIS IS NOT RIGHT! THERE IS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. I WILL UPLOAD A COPY OF MY RECEIPT FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS SO DISAPPOINTING!

NHTSA ODI 11299153

WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST DOES NOT WORK. I HAVE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE 1-3 TIMES TO GET THE STEERING TO WORK. THIS HAS HAPPENED APROX. 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR AS VIN DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL THAT AFFECTS 2013 EXPLORERS AND THE STEERING GEAR. UPON INSPECTION THE TECH FOUND THE POWER STEERING RACK TO BE FAULTY. THE STEERING GEAR WAS REPLACED ON 1/8/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11298591

POWER STEERING GEAR FAILED AS A RESULT OF CORROSION DUE TO POOR COATING

NHTSA ODI 11298076

IT OCCURS 1 TO 4 TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING. ALL OF A SUDDENLY THE THE GAS PEDAL DOESN'T WORK AND THE TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM IS OFF. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER FOR IT TO WORK AGAIN. ALSO, THERE'S A WEIRD SMELL COMING COMING OUT WHEN ALL WINDOWS ARE CLOSED AND THE AC IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11297545

MY FORD EXPLORER HAS A DISTINCT ODOR WHEN I ACCELERATE. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD A CONTINUAL STRONG SMELL FROM THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, GENERALLY ON AN UPHILL INCLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11297151

ENGINE FAIL MAKE NOISE

NHTSA ODI 11292515

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 313,286.

NHTSA ODI 11296667

STEERING ASSIST FAULTED WHILE DRIVING NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11296752

WHILE DRIVING 70MPH WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR THE POWER ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A SAFE SPOT USING MUCH STRENGTH TO DO SO. 2013 FORD EXPLORER 74,700 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11291747

MY CAR BEGAN LURCHING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND BEGAN LEAKING OIL. WHEN I TOOK IT IN, I FOUND OUT THE PTO NEEDED REPAIRED. THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FILLED WITH METAL AND COVERED IN METAL SHARDS. MECHANIC SAID THE CAR WASN'T DRIVEABLE AND WOULD BE DANGEROUS TO HAVE ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11291237

MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE NOT SURE IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A RECALL WITH THE POWER STEERING OR NOT.

NHTSA ODI 11291135