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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST DEFAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. SUBURBAN FORD OF FERNDALE (21600 WOODWARD AVE, FERNDALE, MI 48220, (248) 399-1000) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CAME TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2013 FORD EXPLORER FOR POWER ASSIST POWER STEERING FAILURE. MY VEHICLE BASED ON VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED(IT IS A 2013 AS WELL) I HAVE A POWER ASSIST POWER STEERING FAILURE AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH FORD: CAS - 24449952

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ON THE EVENING OF 04OCT,2019 MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OUTLINED IN NHTSA RECALL #14V286 (POWER STEERING FAILURE). FORD NEEDS TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL AS THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FAILURE THAT COULD RESULT IN INJURY, LOSS OF LIFE AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A POLICY OR PROCEDURE ON FILE TO DEAL WITH VEHICLE OWNERS LIKE MY SELF I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS HIGHLY REGRETTABLE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANKS (XXXX) DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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LOST POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK AND YOU WILL GET A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT NOTICE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE (15S11) BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS EXPLORER WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE MANUFACTURE DATE. I BELIEVE THAT RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO COVER ALL OF THE VEHICLES AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNSTEERABLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.

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CRANKED UP CAR THIS MORNING AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL. TRIED AGAIN LATER AND COULD DRIVE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP 1.5 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THERE'S NO RECALL. AND IT'S $2300 TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR. HAS 107000 MILES ON IT

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SINCE I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE IT JERKS BACK AND CLICKS AS THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHES GEAR. NORMALLY BETWEEN 3 AND 4TH GEAR IT SEEMS. MORE IMPORTANTLY ITS OVERHEATING AND LEAKING COOLANT! SAME ISSUE AS FUSIONS AND OTHER SUV FORD OFFERS. THIS SEEMS TO ME LIKE A FIRE HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED IN ALL FORDS. IT LEAKS WHEN PARKED. AND OVERHEATS IF THE AC IS IN USE. THE LEAK WAS OUT OF NOWHERE AND SUDDENLY. THE FUEL SENSOR IS ALSO WEAK. *TT*JB

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WHEN IDLING CABIN FILLS UP WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE SMOKE FROM MUFFLERS. FELL ASLEEP IN THE CAR WHILE IDLING, WOKE UP DIZZY AND THRU UP SHORTLY AFTER, STRONG HEADACHE AFTER. RUST AROUND THE LOCK ON THE TRUNK LID.

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THE CAR STEERING STOPS TURNING AND STIFFENS WHILE I AM STILL IN MOTION. IT IS THE MOST TERRIFYING THING EVER.

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ON AUGUST 30TH, HAVING DRIVEN TO THE POOL A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY HOUSE, I WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE STEERING WHEEL TO DRIVE HOME. I MANEUVERED THE WHEEL A BIT AND IT UNLOCKED. THE NEXT DAY WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. I COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED TO DRIVE HOME FROM THE POOL NO MATTER WHAT I INITIALLY TRIED. I FOUND IN THE OWNER'S HANDBOOK THAT I SHOULD TURN OFF THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN. IT DID WORK, HOWEVER THE BOOK WARNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING AND COULD "CAUSE AN ACCIDENT"...NO JOKE. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST AUTO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2012 AND 2013 FORD EXPLORERS THAT WERE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. MY FORD DEALER SAID THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT MY "VIN NUMBER" WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. SHOCKED, I HAVE TRIED EVERY VENUE TO GET MY $1,973.13 BILL FROM FORD AND MY CAR RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE FOR $624.71 PAID BY FORD WITH NO AVAIL. SINCE MY VEHICLE, 2013 FORD EXPLORER, HAD THE SAME ISSUE OF THE RECALL, I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY MINE WAS NOT COVERED.

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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, TO INCLUDE THE MORNING OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2019, WHEN THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER WAS TURNED ON, AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD SCREEN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE ERROR MESSAGE. THE POWER STEERING WAS DISABLED AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WE WERE TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' FOR THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED BASED ON THE VIN. EVEN THOUGH THE ISSUES WE ARE EXPERIENCING ARE IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL, WE MUST INCUR OUR OWN EXPENSES TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 105,000 MILES

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WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED, MY POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE CAR BECAME IMMEDIATELY UNABLE TO DRIVE.

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POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW FROM FORD AND THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT. THIS FAILURE IS CAUSED BY OVERHEATING OF THE ELECTRONIC ASSEMBLE IN THE STEERING RACK. I WILL SUE FORD IF THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS COMPLAINT.

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INITIAL COMPLAINT TO FORD DEALERSHIP RE: EXHAUST ODORS IN CABIN, POSSIBLY RELATED TO USE OF AIR CONDITIONING (INSPECTED 5/4/16, MILEAGE 47,450, NO REPAIRS COMPLETED). PERFORMANCE RECALL 17NO3 COMPLETED 10/22/18. EXHAUST ODORS WORSE AFTER RECALL. FORD DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AGAIN ON 10/30/18. RECOMMENDED USING RECIRCULATION OF CABIN AIR AT ALL TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING HAS SINCE STOPPED WORKING. PER DEALERSHIP REAR A/C LINES NOW NEED REPLACEMENT, EXT. COST OF $2,100. CABIN EXHAUST ODORS CONTINUE AND INSIDE OF WINDSHIELD IS FOGGING. ODORS WORSE WHEN STOPPED AT STOPLIGHTS. MULTIPLE OCCASIONS OF CO DETECTION IN CABIN WHILE IN MOTION IN RURAL AREAS. ELEVATED COHB WITH VARIOUS HEALTH SYMPTOMS AND CHILDREN NOW COMPLAINING OF CAR SICKNESS. VARIOUS AREAS OF RUST ALSO REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AND NEW AREAS APPEARING (I.E. NEAR DRAIN VALES OF THE LIFTGATE). *DT *AS

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WINDSHIELD INNER AND OUTER TRIM SEALS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF WINDSHIELD .VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. RUBBER HAS DISINTEGRATED. TRIM COMING LOOSE ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.

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WHEN TURNING THE TRUCK MAKES A ROARING NOISE AND DOES NOT RETURN STEERING BACK TO STRAIGHT DIRECTION. HARD TO TURN WHEEL MANUALLY. FORD DEALER DIAGNOSTIC CLAIMS STEERING HAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE AND MUST BE REPLACED FOR SAFETY. ELECTRIC RACK AND PINION STEERING POSSIBLE DELAYED DEFECT!. EXPLORER HAS LESS THAN 66,000 MILES ON IT.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING AFTER TURNING ON CAR AND PUTTING IT IN DRIVE. . I HAD NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF CAR THEN RESTARTED AND THEN I COULD DRIVE.

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MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND THROW THE "POWER STEERING FAULT" ERROR MESSAGE ON MY DASH MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN EITHER I AM BACKING UP, STARTING TO TAKE OFF, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT DID IT ONE TIME ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE BUT NOW IT IS HAPPENING ALL THE TIME. AND I HAVE GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THERE IS A RECALL ON ONLY CERTAIN MODELS BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THERE SHOULD BE SEVERAL MORE LISTED THE MORE I LOOK AT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS I AM.

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VEHICLE'S WATER PUMP BEGAN LEAKING DURING A NORMAL PATROL SHIFT. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OF THESE FAIL AT VARIOUS MILEAGES AND EACH REPAIR THAT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY HAS COST US AROUND $2000.00 EACH TIME. I KNOW THESE ARE NOT ISOLATED INCIDENTS AND THAT THESE WATER PUMPS FAIL OFTEN. I RECALL BEING AT A FLEET CONFERENCE THIS PAST AUGUST AND SEEING A SLIDE DURING A PRESENTATION FROM FORD AND IT SHOWING THE CASTING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD STYLE AND NEW STYLE PUMP. THE OLD CASTING WAS THINNER NEAR THE SEAL AREA AND THAT ALLOWED FOR EXCESSIVE HEAT WHICH CAUSED THE SEAL TO FAIL. THE NEW STYLE PUMP HAS A THICKER CASTING TO PREVENT THIS FAULT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A WARRANTY EXTENSION OR RECALL ON THE THESE PUMPS JUST LIKE FORD ENDED UP DOING FOR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER LTD STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH POWER STEERING. WARNING ICONS CAME UP ON LOWER RIGHT DASHBOARD, SHOWING LACK OF TRACTION CONTROL, THEN TEXT WARNINGS "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" AND "SERVICE ADVANCED TRAC". AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO USE IT AGAIN FOUND STEERING ESSENTIALLY LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED WITH A LOT OF EFFORT, BUT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE DRIVEN. CONTACTED FORD TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT. THEY MAINTAIN THEIR OFFICIAL LINE THAT VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER, HAVING BOUGHT THE 2013 MODEL AROUND OCT 2012. HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 177,000 MILES, BUT IS CURRENTLY USELESS, AS I CAN'T EVEN SELL IT IN CURRENT STATE. FORD REP'S ONLY RESPONSE (AT 1-866-436-7332) WAS TO HAVE IT TOWED TO NEAREST FORD DEALER, WHOM WILL THEN CHARGE ME $135 TO "DIAGNOSE" A PROBLEM THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH AND DEMAND AROUND $2K TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE'S A CHANCE FORD WILL DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET KILLED DRIVING THEM. I WOULD HAT TO HAVE TO THROW AWAY OVER $40,000 INVESTED IN THIS CAR.

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SMELL OF SMOKE, AND TAPPING NOISE PRIOR TO FIRE. SMOKE CAME FROM NEAR THE CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT. FIRE STARTED. MADE A COMPLAINT PRIOR ABOUT SMELL OF SMOKE AND NOISE.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER, FRONT (HOOD) IS DETERIORATING, AND HOLES IN THE METAL ARE STARTING TO ROT THRU PAINT IS PEELING AND GETTING WORSE. MY BODY AND FENDER MAN TELLS ME IT CAN ALSO AFFECT THE SPRING LOADED AND LOCKING DEVICE OF THE HOOD, WHICH IN TIME CAN CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE HOOD BEING DISLODGED AND BLOCKING YOUR VISION. HE ALSO EXPLAINED THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCTS AND THERE REALLY IS NO FIX. THEY HOODS ARE ALUMINUM AND ARE INSTALLED ON A STEEL BODY. ITS NOT THE PAINT JOB, ITS A DISSIMILAR METAL ISSUE THAT ONLY CAN BE CORRECTED BY INSTALLING A NEW HOOD. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF FORD PRODUCTS. HELP

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TAPPING NOISE AFTER TURNING CAR OFF. BURNING SMELL BUT NO VISIBLE SMOKE.

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I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND BEGAN TO FEEL AS IF I WAS ABOUT TO PASS OUT. I PULLED OVER A FEW TIMES BUT I KEPT FEELING WORSE. I PARKED AND CALLED A FRIEND TO TAKE ME TO EMERGENCY. ALTHOUGH I WAS SHAKING AND FELT FAINT, THE DOCTORS COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. HOSPITALS DO NOT TEST FOR CARBON MONOXIDE LEVELS UNLESS REQUESTED - AT THE TIME IT WOULDN'T HAVE CROSSED MY MIND. THE FOLLOWING DAY I DROVE MY CAR AND THIS PHYSICAL REACTION HAPPENED AGAIN. I THEN REALIZED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY CAR THAT WAS CAUSING THIS. I TOOK MY CAR TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY FOUND THAT I HAD CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO THE CABIN. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE MANDATORY RECALLS FOR THESE CARS, NOT CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAMS. THEIR LETTERS STATE THAT 'THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE', AND CLEARLY THAT IS MISLEADING AND UNTRUE.

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I WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING. IT GOT TOO LOUD AND TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RACK AND PINION HAS TO BE REPLACED. IT GOT SO BAD THAT I COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE STEERING CONTROL WHEN DRIVING. I'M CONCERNED THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND THIS FAILURE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN IN THIS LOW MILEAGE. I ONLY HAVE ABOUT 77K MILES ON MY EXPLORER AND I'VE BEEN DRIVING IT GENTLY.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY BECAME INOPERABLE.THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION AND THE "POWER STEERING ACCESS FAILURE" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAOLI FORD (100 WEST LANCASTER AVE, PAOLI, PA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SCCM MODULE AND STEERING GEAR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER (CAS-24160629) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,480. *AS*DT *TR*JB

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