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

TRANSFER CASE LEAK AND FAILURE AT ~76000 MILES. NO APPARENT CAUSE. LEAK CREATES BURNING SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11244300

I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE BEEN RECENTLY EXPERIENCING RANDOM, DANGEROUS STALLS DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED TWICE AND IT CONTINUES TO FAIL, LEAVING OUR CAR IN A "LIMP-HOME MODE" IN DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS. IT USUALLY STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A LOW IDLE POSITION, SUCH AS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT AND THEN ACCELERATING. HOWEVER, IT HAD ALSO STALLED WHILE TRAVELING HIGHER SPEEDS AND THEN ACCELERATING. ONCE I PULL OFF THE ROAD, THE CAR ENGINE SHAKES VIOLENTLY UNTIL I'M ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND THEN TURN THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE WILL USUALLY RESTART AT NORMAL IDLE AND PROPER ENGINE FUNCTION IS RESTORED UNTIL THE NEXT THROTTLE BODY FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11244051

VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATING UP HILL OR ON FLAT SURFACE. TAKE OFF POWER IS DIMISHED AND VEHICLE WILL SOMETIMES DIE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11243578

FRONT MANIFOLD CRACK THAT IS ALLOWING EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11243215

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED. COOK COUNTY FORD (1000 S HUTCHINSON AVE, ADEL, GA 31620, (229) 896-7411) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WOULD BE NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11243281

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE WINDSHIELD MOLDING SEALANT DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11242744

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11242202

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL TEMPERATURE REMAINED AT THE HIGH HEAT SETTING. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO APPLE FORD OF LYNCHBURG (2113 LAKESIDE DR, LYNCHBURG, VA 24501, (434) 385-5012) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT CONTROLS INTERFACE MODULES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS223-28019. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 149,121. CONSUMER STATED IN MY ATTEMPTS TO CUT OFF THE HEAT (IT WAS A 95* DAY) FROM BLOWING, I ALMOST HIT A CEMENT GIRDER. THIS WAS ONLY 1 OF MANY TIMES THAT THIS HAPPENED. THE HEAT WOULD CUT OFF. ____ THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION _____. SINCE-FORD GAVE ME A COMPARABLE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AND THE REPAIRS HAVE NOW BEEN MADE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ODI 11242306

WHILE DRIVING THE CARE BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN EVEN THOUGH I AM HITTING THE ACCELERATOR AND EVENTUALLY COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WHERE I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART. THEN I WILL START DRIVING AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. IN A 10 MINUTE DRIVE THE OTHER DAY IT TURNED OFF 3 TIMES. HAVEN'T DRIVEN THE CAR IN OVER A WEEK BECAUSE I'M SCARED IT WILL HAPPEN TO ME AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11242362

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY WIFE TO STEER THE CAR. POWER STEERING ASSIST LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND THE SECOND TIME SHE WAS PARKING IN THE GARAGE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO PARK THE CAR STAIGHT IN THE GARAGE. WE TOOK THE CAR TO HERMAN FORD IN LUVERNE, MN TO BE REPAIRED. WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM IN THE STEERING GEAR. THROUGH MY RESEARCH FORD HAS RECALLED OTHER EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD IS TELLING ME THAT MY CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. THIS PROBLEM CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IT OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI 11242016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. FERRARIO AUTO TEAM (LOCATED AT 2472 CORNING RD, ELMIRA, NY 14903, (855) 468-5337) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

NHTSA ODI 11242070

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 60 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSE TO HER RESIDENCE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEACH FORD (2717 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452, (757) 486-2717) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK WHEN THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND SHOOK. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEACH FORD, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11241695

WHEN TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES, USUALLY OVER AN HOUR, THE WARNING FOR POWER STEERING AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC COMES ON. THE POWER STEERING WILL LOCK UP AND WILL BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AND ONCE ITS STARTED BACK UP AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11241701

DOES NOT SHOW UP IN PARK WHEN IN PARK. IF THE IN PARK IS NOT LIT UP IT WILL LEAVE RELAYS WILL BE LEFT OPEN AND RUN DOWN BATTERY.HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THIS ISSUE ON MULTIPLE DIFFERENT VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11241391

THE MOLDING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY DETACHED AND FLEW OFF DURING TRAVEL. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED 2 YEARS AGO AND WE REPLACED THE PART ($200) AND INSTALLED IT OURSELVES. WELL GUESS WHAT HAPPENED AGAIN? THE PASSENGER SIDE MOLDING DETACHED AND FLEW OFF DURING TRAVEL THIS TIME. BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. NOW I KNOW FOR SURE IT'S A FAULTY PART AND NOT A FLUKE. I AM SUPER FRUSTRATED THAT I HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THIS A SECOND TIME. ALSO TO HAVE PIECES OF YOUR VEHICLE FLYING OFF AND POTENTIALLY HITTING OTHER VEHICLES WHO ARE ALSO TRAVELING FREEWAY SPEEDS IS A HUGE SAFETY RISK. NOT TO MENTION IT MAKES THE VEHICLE LOOK REALLY UGLY. I AM FILLING THIS FORM OUT AT WORK AND AM UNABLE TO UPLOAD A PHOTO, BUT IF YOU GOOGLE FORD EXPLORER WINDSHIELD MOLDING ISSUES YOU WILL SEE EXACTLY WHAT I AM REPORTING IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11241043

TRANSFER CASE LEAK AND FAILURE AT 82755 MILES. NO APPARENT CAUSE. CAR LURCHED FORWARD TWICE AND ALMOST HIT VEHICLES IN FRONT OF CAR

NHTSA ODI 11241132

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS BLANK AND INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MEL HAMBELTON FORD (11771 W KELLOGG AVE, WICHITA, KS 67209, (316) 462-3673), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,343.

NHTSA ODI 11241152

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WAS CRACKED AND FUEL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CAUSEWAY FORD LINCOLN (375 NJ-72, STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ 08050, (609) 597-8083) CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11240583

MY BLUTOOTH PAIRING WITH IPHONE WAS COMPROMISED BY SOMEONE OTHER THEN ME. IT WOULDNT LET ME LISTEN TO BLU TOOTH ON MY PHONE. WHEN IT DID LET ME LISTEN THE MUSIC THAT ONCE SOUNDED GOOD NOW NO MATTER WHAT I DID IT SOUNDED HORRIBLE. ANOTHER THING I NOTICED WAS THE PERFORMANCE SEEMED TO BE GREATLY INCREASED WITH POOR MPG AND THEN AFTER AWHILE AND STILL IS THIS WAY THERE IS A LACK OF PERFORMANCE AND THE MOTOR HAS A COMPLETELY WEIRD SOUND SINCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING. I FORGOT TO MENTION I HAD PREVIOSLY HAD MY PHONE CONNECTED THRU THE SYNC APP AND IT HAD SOME NICE FEATURES I WAS USING UNTIL ALL THIS UNEXPLAINABLE THINGS STARTED HAPPENING. ONCE I NOTICED THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO WAS ALL THE WAY UP THE NEXT TIME I HAD ENTERED MY VEHICLE. AND IT SEEMED LIKE IN 2017 IT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN I WAS NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE AND AS TIME WENT ON IT SEEMED LIKE THEY COULD CHANGE SETTINGS NO MATTER WHERE I WAS. I WOULD PROGRAM SYNC SETTINGS AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT SYNC IS DOING EXCATLY WHAT I HAD TURNED OFF. THERE WAS A COUPLE OTHER THINGS I WROTE DOWN BACK WHEN THEY HAPPENED THAT I NEED TO FIND AND THEN I CAN REPORT BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11240692

DRIVING THE CAR SATURDAY THE 20TH OF JULY, RUNNING REGULAR ERRANDS, THE CAR WAS FINE. WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING TO GO TO CHURCH AND THE STEERING STARTED GRINDING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE STEERING GEAR AND ONLY FORD CAN FIX THAT, BUT WHO HAS 1600.00.

NHTSA ODI 11240307

PILLARS FLYING OFF CAR AND POWER TRANSFER UNIT NOT WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11235332

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. SHORTLY AFTER THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE EPS WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, INDICATING A POWER STEERING FAILURE. WILSON FORD LINCOLN (328 MAIN ST, LOGAN, UT 84321) SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 5, 2019. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ODI 11234229

WHILE TRAVELING IN A FORWARD DIRECTION ON A CITY STREET, AN ALERT FOR POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION APPEARED. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. A QUICK RESEARCH OF THE FORD EXPLORER POWER STEERING RESULTED WITH A LARGE FORUM OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STATED I WAS THE SECOND ONE IN A WEEK. A RECALL WAS DONE FOR THIS SPECIFIC ITEM WAS DONE, BUT FOR ALL WHEEL/4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY. I FEEL THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT IS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11234309

OVER THE PAST YEAR OR SO, THE PAINT ON THE HOOD OF MY EXPLORER HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND PEELING ALONG THE PERIMETER. WE BROUGHT IT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK PICTURES AND CONTACTED THE FORD HEADQUARTERS. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD, BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY CAN'T HELP. AS I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE TO SEE IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS, LAWSUITS PENDING, AND ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I WENT THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS, CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLINE AND THROUGH MESSENGER, BUT STILL HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS NOT FORD'S FAULT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED VEHICLES FROM FORD. MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LOOKS LIKE NEW FROM THE INSIDE. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS FINE, AS WELL, EXCEPT THE HIDEOUS HOOD PERIMETER. THE HOOD IS EMBARRASSING, PERIOD. I DON'T DESERVE THE POOR SERVICE I AM GETTING FROM THE ENTIRE FORD COMPANY. THE FACT THAT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTLY SHOULDN'T MATTER WITH THIS ISSUE. THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE BUBBLING AND PEELING LIKE THIS. SOMEONE AT FORD IS TO BLAME OR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THE HOOD/PAINT/MATERIAL TO MAKE THE HOOD. I WILL KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL FORD PAYS TO HAVE MY HOOD REDONE. I HAVE CONTACTED ZESTAR, THE FORD CEO, PRESIDENT, ETC. AND A DETROIT FREE PRESS JOURNALIST WHO WROTE ABOUT FORD'S TRANSIMISSION DECEITFUL COVERUP. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE THE HOOD OF MY CAR FIXED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. **IN THE UPLOADED FILE BELOW, IT ASKS FOR A DATE IN WHICH THIS OCCURRED. I DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DATE. IT HAS BEEN ONGOING AND IS OBVIOUSLY GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON.

NHTSA ODI 11233967

WHILE OPERATING 2013 FORD EXPLORER ON HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE RIGHT WHEEL SUDDENLY TURNED 45 DEGREES RIGHT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY VEER TO RIGHT TOWARDS CURB AND PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY. A VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWED THE OUTER TIE ROD DISCONNECTED FROM OUTER TIE ROD CONNECTOR WITHOUT WARNING. MECHANIC DETERMINED THE MALE THREAD ON OUTER TIE ROD "WORKED" IT'S WAY OUT OF THE FEMALE OUTER TIE ROD CONNECTOR. THE METAL THREADS ON THE END OF THE TIE ROD WERE STRIPPED ALLOWING OUTER TIE ROD AND TIE ROD CONNECTOR TO SLIDING IN AND OUT FREELY WITHOUT ANY ROTATION(LOOSENING/TIGHTENING) OF TIE ROD END. FORTUNATELY NO PERSONAL INJURY WAS SUSTAINED BY ANYONE INVOLVED. AT TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES AND WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION RECEIVING REGULAR SERVICE. I BELIEVE THE OEM EQUIPMENT ON THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND RUNS THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IF IT WERE TO FAIL AT HIGHWAY SPEED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO EXPLAIN INCIDENT AND THEY SIMPLY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY DID NOT SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN THE DETAILS OF MECHANICAL FAILURE AS THEY DID NOT CONNECT ME WITH A TECHNICIAN. CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME IF THEY WOULD MARK IT AS A SIMPLE TIE ROD FAILURE AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE "COMPLAIN" THEY WOULD CONTACT ME. OUT OF ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION I REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS AND TIE ROD ENDS TO PREVENT FURTHER FAILURE. REPAIRS COST INCLUDING LABOR EXCEEDED $750 PHOTOS OF FAILED PARTS ATTACHED PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION/QUESTIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11234000