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

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, THE NOT IN PARKING WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION IS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE PARK DETECTION SWITCH IS FAULTY. ACCORDINGLY TO OWNER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD SUVS LIKE EXPLORER, EDGE AND LINCOLN MKC AND MKX.

NHTSA ODI 11165131

I GET SICK; HEADACHE, NAUSEA, FEELING REALLY TIRED AND BLURRY VISION AFTER TRIPS MORE THAN 2 JOURS

NHTSA ODI 11164994

TWICE BRING TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK IN CABIN? MAKING SICK NAUZIA FEELING I'LL? NOW LOOK LIKE MY LUNGS ARE SWALLOWING? PLEASE TELL ME WHAT TO DO

NHTSA ODI 11165305

SUDDEN POWER STEERING LOSS WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. NEED TO REPLACE THE RACK.

NHTSA ODI 11165356

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT A SLOW SPEED MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11165182

SMELL EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AND ODOR IS REALLY STRONG

NHTSA ODI 11165184

WINDSHIELD WIPERS GO OFF AT RANDOM ON THEIR OWN OR DON'T WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11165185

WHILE TRAVELING AT NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AT RANDOM, WORK ON THEIR OWN WHILE POSITIONED ON OFF OR NOT WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11165198

THE PTU HAS GONE BAD. THE BEARINGS INSIDE ARE RUING AND THE ENTIRE CASE MUST BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11165575

THE PTU HAS FAILED. THE BEARINGS INSIDE DISINTEGRATED

NHTSA ODI 11165580

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. POWER WASH TURNED ON AND VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE. THERE WAS A SUDDEN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND A MESSAGE APPEARED SAYING POWER STEERING ISSUE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE CAR NEEDS A NEW POWER STEERING RACK. THERE IS A POWER STEERING RACK RECALL #14V286000 BUT I AM TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH THAT IS FOR VEHICLES BETWEEN 2011-2013, MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THIS IS A SCARY ISSUE SINCE WE TRAVELLED OVER 9 1/2 HOURS THE DAY BEFORE, ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS AT AN AVERAGE SPEED OF 65-70-MPH. THANKFULLY, THIS DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL THE NEXT DAY, WHEN WE WENT TO START OUT AND HAD NOT EVEN BACKED UP OUT OF OUR SPOT YET.

NHTSA ODI 11165704

ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. I BELIEVE THE DATES OF THE 14V286 CAMPAIGN GO BEYOND 02/28/2012 DATE OF MANUFACTURE AT THE CHICAGO ASSEMBLY PLAN. I CALLED FORD, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE'S STEERING. MY PROBLEMS MATCH EVERY PROBLEM I SAW OTHERS REPORTING ONLINE. I BELIEVE THAT FORD IS ATTEMPTING TO LIMIT THE DATES OF THE ISSUE. BECAUSE MY STEERING IS LOCKING UP AND ACTS TIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN WHEN STATIONARY, I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING UNIT SHOULD BE COVERED. THE FORD RECALL WAS 14S06. TO REITERATE, WHEN IN MOTION, THE STEERING IS TIGHT AND FEELS LIKE IT IS LOCKING UP. IT TAKES FORCE TO SET FREE. I FEEL LIKE I COULD DIE ON THE ROADS. FORD WILL NOT HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11164562

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SEVERELY INADEQUATE ,IF IT IS RAINING IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ODI 11163912

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LAFONTAINE FORD (5103 S CEDAR STREET, LANSING, MI 48911) FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT THE SUN ROOF WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-16709021. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11163413

WHEN DRIVING DOWN I-75 HEADED TO WORK, DOING 65 MPH BOTH MY WINDSHIELD TRIMS FLEW OFF MY CAR AN STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME! HOW HAS THIS NOT BEEN RECALLED?

NHTSA ODI 11162886

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE MY VEHICLE SWAYED INTO ANOTHER LANE INVOLUNTARLY. I WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS INITIALLY TOLD MY ALIGNMENT WAS DUE. I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND ASKED IF IT WAS THOROUGHLY CHECKED. I WAS TOLD YES. I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY TO HAVE MY VEHICLE ALMOST FLIP OVER WHILE TURNING. I WENT BACK IN AND AFTER CHECKING I AM TOLD THE STEERING GEAR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 11162899

HAS THERE BEEN ANY REPORTED CASES OF A 2013 FORD EXPLORER SLIPPING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WITH THE SHIFTER? I HAVE NO SPECIFICS OTHER THAN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR WAS PHYSICALLY SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK OR REVERSE (ACCIDENTALLY) AFTER PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT IN HOUMA, LA.. PERSON DROVE CAR INTO PARKING LOT AND POSSIBLY WANTED TO GET OUT AND SEE HOW FAR THEY WERE FROM CURB. CAR WAS STILL RUNNING AND PERSON EXITED VEHICLE AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY RUN OVER. BYSTANDER WHO HEARD/SAW ACCIDENT SHIFTED CAR TO PARK (WAS PHYSICALLY IN REVERSE WHEN THEY GOT IT). I HAD HEARD THAT OLDER EXPLORERS MAY HAVE HAD AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11162920

SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF WATER IS LEAKING INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WHEN PARKED OR IN MOTION. WATER INTRUDES THU THE FRONT DOME LIGHT, THE SIDE, THE REAR SEAT BELT, AND OTHER AREAS. WATER WAS STANDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FEET AREA AND IT FILLED THE REAR SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE FORD DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHO CLEARED THE TWO REAR DRAINS ON THE SUN ROOF, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS IN A WATER CLOSET THEY HAVE IN THEIR SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC REPORT NOTES "WATER IS FOUND COMING IN FROM THE TAIL GATE BODY SEAMS" DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE SEAM SEALER IS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY DURING MANUFACTURING PRIOR TO THE PAINTING. APPARENTLY THIS FACTORY SEALER HAS FAILED. UNCLEAR IF SEALER COMPOUND WAS DEFECTIVE, OR WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED. BOTTOM LINE IS THE FACTORY SEAL HAS FAILED, THE SEAMS ARE NOW COMPROMISED RESULTING IN THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD SOLD ME IS SUPPOSED TO COVER SEALS AND GASKETS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS FINE PRINT DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE CONTRACT THAT EXCLUDES BODY ISSUES EVEN IF THE ROOT CAUSE IS POOR MATERIALS, POOR QUALITY, OR WORKMANSHIP BY THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER INDICATED THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS MODEL. SIMPLE WEB SEARCHES SHOW A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND ADJACENT MODEL YEARS BUT YET RECALL YET FOR THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD'S SUPPORT LINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO RESOLUTION AS OF THIS WRITING. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A BODY SHOP.I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP OWNED BY THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF $738. THEY EMPHASIZED "PRELIMINARY" AS THEY'RE UNSURE HOW EXTENSIVE THE SEAM SEAL FAILURE MAY BE. THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY (WATER AND ICE IN INTERIOR) BUT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM MOLD, MILDEW, SICKENING SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11162574

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT AND REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO TURN LEFT AND RIGHT. SUNSET FORD (11700 GRAVOIS RD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63127, (314) 843-4431) WAS NOTIFIED AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS THE SAME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11162319

TIMING CHAIN STRETCH. $3,000 TO FIX IT

NHTSA ODI 11162349

LOSS OF POWER STEERING AT LOWER SPEEDS, REQUIRES ME TO WORK HARDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11161874

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT AND MADE NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT 30 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11161702

OVER THE SUMMER, I BEGAN SMELLING FUMES IN MY VEHICLE CABIN. THE LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO THE RECALL, AND I HAD NO REASON TO BE WORRIED. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO HOUSING ISSUES, THE RECALL GOT PUSHED TO THE BACK BURNER. SO, I HAD AN APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED FOR YESTERDAY, 12/11 TO HAVE THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FIXED. THEN LAST WEDNESDAY, 12/5 MY CAR KEPT SEIZING WHEN I WAS BRAKING OR ACCELERATING, AND I ALMOST WRECKED MY VEHICLE MULTIPLE TIMES. AFTER RULING OUT THE U JOINT OR DRIVE SHAFT, WE THEN FOUND THE GLISTENING LEAK ON THE PTU, AND WERE ABLE TO DEDUCE THE SMELL AS BEING DIFF FLUID DRIPPING DOWN ONTO THE EXHAUST AND COMING THROUGH THE CABIN. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVEABLE, THE NEXT MORNING, I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER, WHO PUT ME INTO A RENTAL, AND WE GINGERLY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THAT AFTERNOON. YESTERDAY, I GET A PHONE CALL CONFIRMING WHAT WE SUSPECTED THE PROBLEM TO BE. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, HE CONFIRMED THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE FORD MODELS, AND HE IS COMPLETELY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM. 24 HOURS INTO THIS, FORD IS SAYING IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM, AND THAT THERE'S NO "PROMOTIONS" THAT I'M ELIGIBLE FOR. I'M ABOUT AT MY WITS END. I HAVE ONE CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, AND I'M A SINGLE MOM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET THIS RESOLVED AND GET FORD TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM THAT IS NOW COSTING ME CLOSE TO $2,000. TO FURTHER DESCRIBE THE ISSUE, WHEN IT FINALLY GOT TO ITS WORST, WHEN COMPRESSING THE BRAKE, YOU WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE AND THE CAR WOULD JUMP AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO STALL. THE SAME WOULD OCCUR AS YOU WERE ACCELERATING, AND CONTINUE UNTIL YOU GOT TO ABOUT 2000 RPM AND STEADILY COASTING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE GEARS WERE SO DAMAGED THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. I WILL UPDATE THIS THREAD LATER WITH PICTURES OF THE TRANSFER CASE THAT THEY TOOK OFF MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11160924

MY VEHICLE KEEPS GIVING ME A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE AFTER IT'S ALREADY IN PARK. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN THE SUMMER OF 2012 AND IT'S A 2013. WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH OF HAVING IT THIS ISSUE BEGAN. I'VE MENTIONED IT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I'VE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. I EVEN TOOK IT IN JUST FOR THAT ERROR MESSAGE AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE ISSUE COULDN'T BE DUPLICATED I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT BACK WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND I STILL HAD TO PAY THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE OF $150 PLUS TAX.

NHTSA ODI 11160844

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO SIGNS OF IMPACT. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE APPROXIMATELY 32 DEGREES, INSIDE APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES. THE TEMPERED GLASS LITERALLY EXPLODED. NO OTHER PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR APPARENT. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND THIS IS NOT UNIQUE TO ME, AND THAT SUNROOFS AND WINDOWS OFTEN SHATTER SPONTANEOUSLY DUE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECTS THAT CAN BE LATENT FOR YEARS. SPECIFICALLY NOTED WAS FORD; IN PARTICULAR, THE F150. THIS CAR IS A FORD EXPLORER. THE ENTIRE WINDOW REQUIRES REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11160534