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

THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. WHILE DRIVE 55 MPH THE STEERING WENT OUT THE CAR CROSSED CENTER LINE ALMOST HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. FORD HAS A RECALL ON THE SAME VEHICLE MODEL YEARS AS MINE 2011-2013 RECALL L#14S06. THIS CAR WAS MADE AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME PLANT IN CHICAGO, YET THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS $2,000 PROBLEM.

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STEERING STICKS AS YOUR TURNING, IN ANY DIRECTION OR SPEED INCLUDING STATIONARY. THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO STEER SMOOTHLY AND FREQUENTLY CAUSES IT TO CROSS THE CENTERLINE AND OFF ROAD! NOT SAFE!

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POWER STEERING DOWN. WARNING MASSAGE SAID 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT' 'SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC' 'TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT'. IT IS TOO HARD TO STEER. CONTROL MODULE INTERNAL FAILURE, CODES U3000-49, U3000-96, U3000-71.

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PURSUANT TO NHTSA INVESTIGATION # EA 17-002 OPENED ON 7/27/17, I AM EXPERIENCING THE PERIODIC EXHAUST ODORS IN MY VEHICLE DETAILED IN THAT REPORT. ALL RELEVANT RECALLS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED, WHICH HAVE NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM.

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FAILURE OF STEERING GEAR. STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT AND ATTEMPTS TO HANG AFTER A TURN. THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2013 EXPLORERS FOR SIMILAR REASONS, BUT ONLY CERTAIN VIN NUMBERS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS ON LINE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY FORD DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND HAS REFUSED TO EXTEND THE RECALL. REPAIR COST $1850.

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WHEN I START MY VEHICLE I GET A WARNING THAT SAYS, "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND I CAN NOT TURN MY STEERING WHEEL WHATSOEVER. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH THIS TIME THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO TURN AT ALL ANYMORE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND AFTER 3-5 ATTEMPTS OF STARTING AND STOPPING THE ENGINE THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE TO LEAVE, AS I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN AND MY VEHICLE WENT STRAIGHT BACKWARDS. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR SEVERAL HOURS THE ISSUE WAS SELF RESOLVED. THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED WHICH WAS THE MOST RECENT I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND GOT THE WARNING AGAIN AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND THEY WOULD NOT TURN AT ALL. THE VEHICLE IS NOW STUCK IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WILL ONLY GO FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AS THE WHEELS DO NOT TURN AT ALL. NOTHING SEEMS TO BE RESOLVING THE ISSUE NOW. NOT EVERY TIME IT HAPPENS DO I GET THE WARNING ON THE DASH FIRST, ONLY AFTER IT HAPPENS DO I GET A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH. I AM JUST GLAD THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. STEERING WHEEL WAS REALLY HARD TO TURN. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN ALSO. ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR. THE DASH DISPLAY SAID 'POWERING STEERING FAULT'. DROVE TO DEALER LIKE THIS AND PAID $2279 TO GET FIXED. WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO RECALLS. ALSO, CALLED FORD CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME AFTER I TOLD THEM THIS SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL. THEY SAID HOLD ON TO RECEIPTS IN CASE IN THE FUTURE THERE WAS A RECALL SO I COULD GET REIMBURSED. MILEAGE 77,033.

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POWER STEERING BECAME VERY INTERMITTENT NO LIGHTS COME ON NO WARNING THEN NO POWER STEERING STILL HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL WHEEL TO TURN ALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE

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OXIDIZING ON FRONT OF HOOD CAUSING THE PAINT TO PEEL

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RACK AND PINON IN THESE MODEL VECHILES AS WELL AS INNER AND OUTER TIRE RODS ARE FAULTY. THE RACK AND PINION CAN SIEZE MAKING THE STEERING WHEEL IN OPERABLE.

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I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012. I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THERE WAS A RECALL #14S06 IN 2014 THAT DID NOT INCLUDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE SAME YEAR. THE CARS STEERING ISSUE IS A MECHANICAL MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I AM TOLD THAT "BECAUSE MY CAR WAS NOT LISTED WITHIN THE DATES LISTED WITHIN THE YEAR 2012 THAT THE RECALL WAS ISSUED". DESPITE NOTICES, THERE IS STILL A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT I WAS TOLD THAT FORD WOULD NOT RESOLVE. THIS DEFECT IS THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 100K ON IT. I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE IT JUST SUDDENLY LOCKED UP AND WOULDN'T EVEN TURN AND BECAME INOPERABLE. I WOULD JUST LIKE FORD TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT OR REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE REPAIRS. I AM NOT TRYING TO GET THEM TO BUY ME A NEW CAR. THE DEALER IS CHARGING $2500+ TO REPAIR IT. I BELIEVE THAT FORD KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT ONLY BE LIMITED TO CARS THAT WERE WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME, RATHER, THEY KNEW OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT THE ISSUE COULD EXTEND TO OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME TYPE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITHIN THE SAME YEAR.

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MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL (RECALL # 14S06) FOR OTHER 2013 FORD EXPLORERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED 5 MONTHS EARLIER. AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHILE TURNING, THE VEHICLES STEERING STICKS AND IS NOW MAKING A ROARING SOUND THAT'S COMING FROM THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY.

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I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, PREPARING TO STOP. I WAS TRAVELING BETWEEN 65/70 MPH. WHEN PRESSING ON THE BREAKS THE VEHICLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I PUMPED THE BREAKS. THE CARS IN FRONT OF ME WHERE AT A STOP AND GETTING CLOSER VERY QUICKLY. I PUSHED AS HARD AS I COULD ON THE BREAK AND THEN TRIED TO PUSH ON THE EMERGENCY BREAK LOCATED ON THE FLOOR. IT ONLY KICKED BACK. SECONDS LATER I HAD A DIRECT IMPACT WITH THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AIRBAG DEPLOYED! THERE ARE NO SKID MARKS ON THE ROAD! THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP!!!

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POWER TRANSFER UNIT "PTU" BEGAN LEAKING SPONTANEOUSLY; LOOKS LIKE LEAKING MOTOR OIL ON THE GROUND. CAUSED GRINDING NOISE AND DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHEN DRIVING. SOLUTION WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE PTU WHICH COST $1650 BY FORD SERVICE.

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CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. I WAS DOWNHILL ON A SNOWY ROAD AND THE TACHOMETER WENT TO 4000 RPM AND MY CAR STARTED TO SKID. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTED AS IF IT WAS ON AND DOWNSHIFTED. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GAIN CONTROL.

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WHILE DRIVING ON MODERATELY BUSY INTERSTATE ALL TERRAIN SENSOR WARNING SIGN AND ORANGE WRENCH APPEARED ON DASH AS THE CAR LOST POWER AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS IN SHUTDOWN MODE. LET ME PULL OVER TO ACCIDENT LANE AT ALMOST 0 MPH. TERRIFYING. TURNED OFF MOTOR AND UPON RESTART CAR WAS FINE. DROVE TO DEALER THAT INTERROGATED COMPUTER AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES. HAVE BEEN A FORD DRIVER FOR 20+ YEARS AND UNDERSTAND ELECTRONICS CAN BE FAULTY, HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING BUT NO RECALL. NOT HAPPY THAT THERE IS NO IDENTIFIED CAUSE

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THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED IN PARK. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THIS TIME IT ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S VEHICLE. OUR VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY FOR NEARLY 2 HOURS BEFORE THE PERSON PARKED BEHIND OR VEHICLE. THEY WHERE AT OUR HOUSE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, WHEN THEY WHERE LEAVING WE NOTICED THAT OUR VEHICLE HAD DISENGAGED FROM PARK AND ROLLED 15' DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO THEIR VEHICLE. THANKFULLY, THERE WERE ONLY A FEW SCRATCHES ON EITHER VEHICLE. OUR DRIVEWAY IS FAIRLY FLAT, IT HAS A 1-3 DEGREE SLOPE TO IT. LEADING TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT THERE IS NOT A LARGE INCLINE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FORCED OUT OF PARK. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED INTO PARK OR THERE IS YET ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT LINKAGE. THE SHIFT LINKAGE WAS ADJUSTED THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE SECOND TIME THE SHIFT LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER TODAY TO SEE WHAT THEY FEEL NEEDS REPLACED THIS TIME.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER MANUFACTURED 02/13. I WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. THE STEERING BECAME JERKY WHEN TRYING TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT. DEALERSHIP FOUND FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL GEARS OF RACK AND PINION AS WELL AS THE STEERING CONNECTING SHAFT. $2200.00 NOT COVERED BY A RECALL. OTHER MANUFACTURE MONTHS OF 2013 MODEL YEAR ARE COVERED FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. NO PRIOR WARNINGS THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG AND NO DASH WARNINGS GIVEN WHEN POWER STEERING FAILED. ONLY 81,000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN HAD NO AFFECT ON THE ISSUE. THIS MODEL WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CAB WHICH IS NOW WORSE AFTER THE RECALL FIX. OTHER ISSUES ON THIS VEHICLE THAT CANT BE FIX: WINDSHIELD WIPERS START/STOP WORKING RANDOMLY, PIN HOLE RUST SPOTS ALL OVER THE BODY OF THE CAR.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. MAKING THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT OTHER DRIVERS ALSO. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE JUST NOT MY VIN. PLEASE EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE MY CAR BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS. THANKS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SECONDS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANDERSON FORD (124 S SANGAMON AVE, GIBSON CITY, IL 60936, (217)784-4119) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN 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 MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,200.

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TAMARA RECALL VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE DOWN SHIFTING AND GETS STUCK NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF ROAD I'M ON

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,420. *TT CONSUMER STATED A MECHANIC HAD TO REMOVE AND REPLACE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY. *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, THE STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO UPPER MARLBORO FORD (5701 CRAIN HWY, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772, (301) 627-5600) WHERE THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

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I SHOW FORD HAS A RECALL #14V286000 DATED 5/29/14 FOR STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM FAILURE. MY VEHICLE HAS HAD THE STEERING ASSIST FAIL TWICE WHILE I'VE BEEN DRIVING AND THIS RECALL DOES NOT SHOW UP UNDER MY VIN. I FIND IT IRONIC THAT THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL VEHICLE HAS THIS RECALL ISSUED, AND THE FAILURE HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE, YET THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. I JUST SPENT $1,700 AT NORTH COUNTY FORD IN VISTA CA TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED, THE PARTS ALONE WERE $1,350. I ASK THAT THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS RECALL FURTHER AND ASSES WHETHER THERE WERE VEHICLES MISSED IN THIS RECALL. I'D BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE FURTHER. I CAN BE REACHED VIA CELL PHONE [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CAR. STARTED WHEN PARKED WITH ENGINE TURNED ON, CONTINUED WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET AND HIGHWAY. AT THE BEGINNING WAS NOT SURE IF IT IS FROM MY CAR, OPENED WINDOWS, THEN CLOSED THEM AGAIN COUPLE TIMES AND THE SMELL CONTINUED. HAD TO DRIVE WITH OPEN WINDOWS TO GET HOME. MY DAUGHTER, ME ,DOG AND CAR SEATS AND BLANKETS SMELLED VERY BAD, HAD TO WASH EVERYTHING. PLUS STARTED TO HAVE LIGHT HEADACHE WHILE DRIVING.

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