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

I NOTICED THE OUTSIDE TRIM AROUND THE SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD APPEARED LOOSE ON THE DRIVER BUT MOSTLY PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. A FEW WEEKS LATER WHEN I STARTED DRIVING OVER 10 MPH DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A NOISE LIKE SOMETHING BEATING AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD. I NOTICED THE RUBBER SEAL AROUND THE WINDSHIELD AND BETWEEN THE TRIM AND THE WINDSHIELD HAD COME OFF AND WAS FLAPPING IN THE WIND AGAINST MY WINDSHIELD AND CAR. THE BODY TRIM IS NOW LOOSE AS WELL. I HAD A LITTLE WATER EVEN LEAK INTO THE CAR. IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND ALMOST CAUSED MY WRECK. I HAD TO TEMPORARILY TAPE THE RUBBER TRIM DOWN AS IT KEEPS COMING LOOSE AND GETS WORSE AS YOU DRIVE (WHICH YOU HAVE NO CHOICE WHEN YOU ARE NOT CLOSE TO HOME OR CAN'T GET YOUR VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS UNTIL WEEKS LATER).

NHTSA ODI 11217355

MY 2013 EXPLORER HAD COME BUBBLES COMING UP ALONG THE EDGE OF THE HOOD. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BODY WORK ISSUE BUT THE BODY SHOP SAID IT IS ACTUALLY CORROSION FROM THE ALUMINUM HOOD. THE CORROSION IS PROGRESSING AND GETTING WORSE. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY LEAVE MY HOOD STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND AND EXPOSE ALL THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS TO THE ELEMENTS FOR DEGRADATION.

NHTSA ODI 11217356

2013 FORD EXPLORER PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR ONE HOUR AFTER BEING DRIVEN 2 MILES AT 9:30 A.M. ON FIRST START ON A 95-DEGREE DAY. ON STARTING ONE HOUR LATER, 10:30 A.M., THE CAR STARTED, IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, BUT ON HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A SLIGHT TURN WHILE BACKING UP FROM THE PARKING SPACE TO LEAVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY FROZEN AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND LET THE CAR DRIFT BACK FORWARD INTO THE PARKING SPOT. STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY FROZEN, WOULD NOT MOVE. SHIFTED THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD ON ITS OWN, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR AGAIN MOVED A LITTLE, BUT I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL. THIS ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASH: POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURE. TURNED OFF ENGINE, LEFT IT OFF 5 SECONDS, RESTARTED, AND POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILURE CODE DID NOT COME ONE. I DROVE THE 2 MILES HOME, PRAYING THE POWER STEERING WOULD NOT GO OUT AND FREEZE UP AGAIN WHILE BEING DRIVE. 3 HOURS LATER THE CAR IS OPERATING NORMALLY SO FAR, BUT A COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE IS LIFE THREATENING AND COULD REOCCUR IN THIS VEHICLE AT ANY TIME, RESULTING IN INJURY, DEATH, AND DAMAGE TO THE CAR. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM IN 2011 FORD EXPLORERS AND ISSUED A RECALL. AS MY 2013 EXPLORER HAS THE SAME EPAS PROBLEM, FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. I HAVE READ ONLINE OF OWNERS HAVING THE POWER STEERING FAIL DURING TURNS, RESULTING IN INJURIES. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11210656

HI I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 67,000 MILES ON IT. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST IS NOT WORKING AND I HAVE NO STEERING AT ALL. I HAVE LOOKED ON LINE AND THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE BUT UPON CALLING A FORD DEALER, THEY SAID MY VEHICLE VIN# IS NOT LISTED IN THE RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW MY CAR SPECIFICALLY IS NOT LISTED AS PART OF THE RECALL WHEN I HAVE READ ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME EXACT ISSUES AND THEIR VEHICLE IS IN RECALL. I ALSO HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE VERY SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND HIS EXPLORER WAS RECALLED. I THINK THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT FROM FORD BUT FAIL TO LIST ALL 2013 EXPLORER WITH THIS SAME RECALL WHICH CAN BE FATAL DURING DRIVING AND HAVING YOUR STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP ON YOU. MY EXPLORER ONLY HAVE 67,000 MILES AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN UNLESS ITS A DEFECT. ANY ASSISTANCE IN THIS MAJOR ISSUE WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATED OR ANY DIRECTION YOU CAN ADVISE ME WOULD BE GREAT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11210717

POWER STEERING FAILURE. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FOAD.

NHTSA ODI 11210113

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SARASOTA FORD (707 S WASHINGTON BLVD, SARASOTA, FL 34236, (888) 349-4989) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,226. *BF *JB

NHTSA ODI 11209646

WATER LEAK IN BACK OF VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURER'S WELDED SEAM. EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE COMES IN CONTACT WITH (I.E.: RAIN, CAR WASH) WATER LEAKS HEAVILY INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE THIRD ROW SEATBELT HOLE. THE WATER LEAKS INTO VEHICLE WHEN PARKED AND WHEN DRIVING. LEAK WAS NOT NOTICED AT ONSET OR WHEN VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11209675

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH GULLO FORD OF CONROE (925 INTERSTATE 45 S, CONROE, TX 77301, (281) 367-0000). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11209473

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT ENGINE SHUT OFF UNDER ALL DRIVING CONDITONS WHICH EXHIBITS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN THE VEHICLE ABRUBTLY LOSES TOTAL POWER WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS RECENTLY BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP ONCE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP. THIS SCENARIO OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY, IN TOWN DRIVING AND WHILE STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. CONTACTED LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND ALL THEY SAID WAS TO BRING IT IN. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE ANY ENGINE CODES WHILE RUNNING AN ECU SCAN. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS NOTED ONLINE WITH OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WHO HAVE ATTRIBUTED IT TO A "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT" FAULT. THIS IS THE SAME DIAGNOSIS MY LOCAL MECHANIC CAME UP WITH. THIS RESULTS IN THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE TO RECEIVE A THROTTLE POSITION IN THE WIDE OPEN INDICATION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING OPERATED IN OAHU, HAWAII. I AM CURRENTLY DEPLOYED TO THE MIDDLE EAST SO I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHILE THIS IS THE ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE TO THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11209395

I WAS DRIVING ON SUNDAY, MAY 19TH. MY STEERING WAS FINE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASH STARTED TO LIGHT UP. POWER STEERING LOSS AND THEN IT SAID ADVANCED TRACTION FAULT. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. SO I TRIED TO PULL OVER AND NOTICED I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL IS WAS SO HARD TO TURN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE STREET AND WAS ABLE TO GET MY VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE REPAIR SHOP DOWN THE STREET. THEY TOOK ONE LOOK AT IT AND SAID THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL FAULT WITH IT AND IT IS A RECALL ON THE FORD EXPLORER. SO HE GAVE ME THE RECALL NUMBER AND I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL! EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE FALLS WITHIN THE DATE RANGE OF BEING ASSEMBLED AND IT IS A 2013. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER IT AND NOW THEY WANT $2,430 TO REPAIR. I READ THE WHOLE RECALL AND MY TRUCK DID WHAT THE RECALL SAID IT WAS DOING. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. IT WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND I HAD TO BRING IT BACK A WEEK LATER AS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. ONE & A 1/2 YEARS LATER I HAD TO REPLACE THE CC AGAIN AND JUST LAST SUMMER IT IS NOW ON IT'S THIRD CC. I AM SO TIRED OF POURING MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE BUT I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE BECAUSE IT IS BLEEDING ME DRY. PLEASE HELP ON THIS AS IT SEEMS THERE ARE MANY FORD OWNERS IN THE SAME BOAT AS ME. I HAVE TO PUT THE $2,430 ON MY CC AGAIN AND HOPE TO GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS RECALL. IT'S SO SAD THAT THEY WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THIS TRUCK IS NOT WHAT IT WAS SOLD TO BE, A RELIABLE VEHICLE. I WILL NOT BUY A FORD VEHICLE EVER AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI 11209078

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND ADVANCETRAC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11209081

MY CAR EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING. THE POWER STEERING MODULE DID NOT ALLOW MANUAL INPUT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED IN PLACE AND WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE PROBLEM STARTED GRADUALLY MAKING A POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. IT THEN CHANGED TO A GRINDING SOUND AND THE STEERING WOULD GET STUCK AND THEN POP LOOSE. I EXPERIENCED THIS ON A TRIP OUT OF TOWN WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVING BACK HOME. I STOPPED FOR GAS AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR IT SAID "SERVICE POWER STEERING" THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER SAID "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW". BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED THERE WERE NO ERROR MESSAGES OR SERVICE MESSAGES DISPLAYED. THE FORD DEALER IN TOPEKA, KS IDENTIFIED THE RACK AND PINION AND WORM GEAR AS THE FAULT AND NONE OF THE TECHNICIANS KNOW WHY NO MANUAL INPUT WAS BEING ACCEPTED BY THE CAR TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN A LITTLE BIT. I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE RECALL 14S06 FROM 2014 BUT APPARENTLY MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE DATES THAT FORD DEFINED IN THAT RECALL. I AM OUT OVER $3000.00 FOR THE REPAIR, TOWING, RIDE TO GET TO THE RENTAL CAR 100 MILES AWAY, RENTAL CAR, AND SHIPPING OF MY TRUCK AFTER REPAIR TO MY HOME. ALL I WANT FORD TO DO IS ADMIT THAT THE DATES THAT THEY PUT ON THE RECALL WERE NOT INCLUSIVE OF ALL VEHICLES THAT WERE AFFECTED.

NHTSA ODI 11209089

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND "SERVICE POWER ASSIST" LIGHT ALONG WITH ANOTHER WARNING LIGHT. BUILT IN JUNE, I'M NOT COVERED BY RECALL #14S06.

NHTSA ODI 11209090

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. DEALERSHIP SAYS THROWING OUT CODES FOR FORD RECALL # 14S06. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN RECALL SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN MAY OF 2012. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11208657

ON 5/19/20I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPLORER DOWN THE ROAD 45 MPH POSTED LIMIT WAS DRIVING FINE THEN IN MOTION MY MESSAGE CENTER ALERT CAME ON SAYING POWER STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW MY TRYCK HAS LESS THEN 80000 MILES ON IT I MANAGED TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD TO A PARKING LOT AFTERING STRUGGLING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL ONCE I PARKED IT I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF THEN WAITED 2 MINUTED BEFORE STARTING IT WHEN IT CAME ON THE MESSAGE ALERT CAME ON BUT THIS TIME IT SAYING POWER STEERING FAULT SERVICE NOW WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS VERY HARD I MANAGED IT HOME AND PARKED IT TILL THE NXT DAY MONDAY 5/20/19. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THERE TELLING ME MY VIN IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR 2011 TO 2013 FORD EXPLORER WHICH IT IS EXPERIENCEING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET OVER 1000 DOLLARS WHICH I DONT HAVE PLEASE HELP MY MANUFACTURE DAT WAS 3/2012 FORD MY 2013 EXPLORER.

NHTSA ODI 11208775

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING JUST GAVE OUT AND CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURED, BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING OR MESSAGE FROM THE VEHICLE JUST LOSS OF CONTROL. LOOKED UP PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND FOUND RECALL 14S06. HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11207714

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER (HEAVY RAIN), WATER AFFECTED THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE. BOWDITCH FORD (757-595-2211, LOCATED AT 11291 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23601) KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A SECOND DEALER (HALL FORD NEWPORT NEWS, (877) 398-2216, LOCATED AT 12896 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23608) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER SHORT CIRCUITED THE SWITCHES AND THE SUN ROOF MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI 11207832

POWER STEERING LOSS FOR THE 2ND TIME, EVEN AFTER DEALERSHIP INSPECTION. CLAIMED TO NOT BE A APART OF 2013 RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI 11207853

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT CAMPGROUND AND AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING LOST POWER. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED ON THE FRITTS FORD DEALER (951-687-2121, LOCATED AT 8000 AUTO DR, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504) AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

NHTSA ODI 11207587

STEERING IS HARD TO STEER. FEELS LIKE YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING. DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME JUST WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN DRIVING SLOW. ALSO PAINT ON THE HOOD PEELING OFF. TOOK TO A GARAGE FOR THE STEERING AND THEY SAY IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NO RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11207354

WE HAVE NOTICED A CAR EXHAUST ODOR IN OUR VEHICLE WHILE AT A STANDSTILL. THE ODOR COMES AND GOES AND WE ARE NOT SURE WHAT IS CAUSING IT. IT SEEMS THAT CAR EXHAUST IS COMING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CAR'S VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE DEALER SHIP COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE DID HAVE THE FORD CARBON MONOXIDE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11206859

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT.. WHILE OPERATING A VEHICLE FAULT COMES ON STEERING GETS HARD HARD TO CONTROL CAUSING MY WIFE TO ALMOST GET TO AN ACCIDENT. IT ONLY COMES ON ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE TO RESET ITS YOU HAVE TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON IT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE MORNING WHEN SHE'S TAKING THE KIDS TO SCHOOL IT'S RARE BUT IT'S HAPPENED FOUR TIMES ALREADY

NHTSA ODI 11205960

THE FORD EXPLORER COMES WITH ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. MINE IS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND QUITS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SLOW TURNS. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THESE VEHICLES AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL...HOWEVER, MY VIN IS NOT ONE THEM... AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. FORD NEEDS TO EXPAND ITS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11206042

DOOR AJAR NOTIFICATION REMAINS ON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALERT TONE WILL SOUND WHEN VEHICLE STARTS MOVING OR COMES TO A STOP. AUTO DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT FUNCTION OR DOORS WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNTIL VEHICLE STARTS MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY FORD AND SENSORS CLEANED UNDER WARRANTY AT 25K MILES. FIX LASTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS. CURRENT MILEAGE 67K.

NHTSA ODI 11205816

STEERING GEARBOX FAULTY AND CAN FAIL IN MOTION, BASED ON INTERNET SEARCHES, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND THERE ARE RECALLS FOR SOME 2013-2014 VEHICLES. LIKELY SHOULD BE EXTENDED. GEARBOX ISSUES ARE OCCURING NOW, WILL PROBABLY REPLACE BEFORE THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 11205733