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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE SUV SHUDDERED AND I HEARD SOMETHING BOUNCING DOWN THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SUV, WHICH ISSHUDDERONG EVERY BADATTHISPOINT SO I STOP SEEIF I COULD TELL WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS... INDEED I DID THERE WAS A LARGE PIECE OF MY TRANSFER CASE/ PTU MISSING I TRIED FINDING IT WITH NO LUCK .. I TRIED MOVING THE SUV OFF THE HIGHWAY BABYING IT JERKED AT 5 MPH MIND THEN AWD LIGHT FLASHED AND WENT RIGHT BACK OFF GOT OUT TO LOOK AGAIN YEAH WHOLE DRIVESHAFT HANGING DOWN.... NOW OUTSIDE MY SAFETY THANK GOD THIS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED BUT THINK ABOUT THE VERY LARGE CHUNK OF METAL THAT SHOT OUT FROM UNDER MY SUV THANK GOD NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY VERY BAD PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS IF YOU WOULD EMAIL ME I WILL TAKE PICS NEXT TIME I'M AROUND THE EXPLORER AND EMAIL THEM BACK ...APPROXIMATELY 45MPH WHEN PIECE CAME OFF AND 5MPH WHEN DRIVESHAFT FELL DOWN

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MY EXPLORER LIMITED 2013 HAS THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM DAMAGED, LOCKED AND I ALMOST HAD A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT WHEN IT LOCKED WHILE DRIVING. I LEARNED ABOUT A RECALL FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE, HAD A CHAT SESSION A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL INTO THE RECALL DATES RANGE FOR BARELY 6 MONTHS. I CONTACTED FORD AGAIN FOR RECONSIDERATION? IT IS EVIDENT THAT MY PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I HAD READ A LOT OF INFORMATION ON LINE AND THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IS IDENTICAL TO MINE. NO DOUBT THAT MY CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL DATES.

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BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR FORD CARBON MONOXIDE CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM #17N03. WAS CALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SWAY BARS AND LINKS. I SEE THAT MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN LODGED REGARDING THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. FOR THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND HOW LITTLE IT IS DRIVEN THESE SEEM LIKE PRICEY REPAIRS. I DRIVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH 74,000 MILES ON IT. PLEASE ADVISE.

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THE FRONT HOOD PAINT HAS BUBBLED AND PEELED OFF THE FRONT EDGE. APPEARS TO HAVE BUBBLED IN MORE PLACES, NOW AWAITING EVEN MORE PEELING. OBVIOUSLY A PAINT DEFECT. ALTHOUGH I WILL ENTER A DATE - IT'S BEEN A CONSTANT DEFECT. (SPEAKING WITH OTHER FORD EXPLORER OWNERS - A COMMON COMPLAINT.) #2 ALSO, FOR SEVERAL YEARS THE CAR DRIVER DOOR SENSOR (?) LIGHT (HENCE THE CEILING LIGHTS) STAY ON (ALTHOUGH THE CEILING EVENTUALLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING). THIS INDICATION THAT THE DOOR IS AJAR / NOT CLOSED IS FREQUENT AND OFTEN AND HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN VIRGINIA SEVERAL TIMES - WITH NO REPAIR / FIX. IT IS NOT CONSTANT BUT FREQUENT.

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THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH IN A PARKING GARAGE, THE STEERING LOST POWER AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE POWER STEERING RESUMED ONCE IT WAS RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAY PEARMAN LINCOLN (256- 536-7451 (LOCATED AT 2501 BOB WALLACE AVE SW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35805) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 112,000.

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I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO FROM LIBERTY FORD. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN SERVICED WITH THEIR COMPANY SINCE I BROUGHT THE CAR. NOW TODAY I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY TRANSFER CASE. I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK WAS STALLING, I COULDN'T DRIVE OR GIVE IT GAS IN THE MOTION WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO MY MECHANIC SHOP. IT SOUNDED LIKE MY TRUCK WAS DRAGGING. THE COST OF A TRANSFER CASE IS OVER 1,000 NOT INCLUDING LABOR AND I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND WITH A TRUCK ALMOST 6 YEARS OLD. I THINK IT'S A DEFECT AND ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON FOR NO REASON AT ALL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CLAIM AND OTHER VEHICLE AS MINE. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AGAINST FORD.

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EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE DETERIORATED, ALLOWING EXHAUST GASES INTO THE CABIN WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING. PROBLEM CONFIRMED BY REPAIR SHOP, WHICH ESTIMATES $2,000 TO REPLACE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND THE ATTACHED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT IS KNOWN TO FORD, BASED ON NEWS ARTICLES.

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FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED MAY 17, 2010, THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2012. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INTERMITTENT CONNECTION IN THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GEAR, WHICH CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF THE MOTOR POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL RESULTING IN A SHUT DOWN OF THE POWER STEERING ASSIST. UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS TIMEFRAME BUT I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE READ MANY OTHER FORD DRIVERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE BUT FORD DENIES TO FIX VIA RECALL. CAN YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND EXTEND THE RECALL TO OTHER 2013 VEHICLES AS I OWN ONE AND THEY ARE DENYING ME TO FIX MY VEHICLE AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE AND GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA FOR OVER THIRTY MINUTES, THE CONTACT FELT DIZZY AND LIGHT HEADED. THE SYMPTOMS RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WELSH MOTORS FORD (330-549-3925, LOCATED AT 13760 WOODWORTH RD, NEW SPRINGFIELD, OH 44443) WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S SYMPTOMS RETURNED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER LATER DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AGAIN, THE CONTACT'S SYMPTOMS RETURNED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING A FOUR HOUR ROAD TRIP, ONE OF HER FAMILY MEMBERS SUFFERED THE SAME SYMPTOMS. NO ONE RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DUCT TAPE ON THE EXHAUST FELL OFF. THE DUCT TAPE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE SYMPTOMS CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,700.

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EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE CAUSING NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. HAPPENING CONSISTANTLY FOR THE LAST 3YRS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (LINDSAY FORD, 11250 VEIRS MILL RD, SILVER SPRING, MD) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. *TT*JB

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ABOUT A YEAR AGO I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO GET MY EXPLORER 'FIXED' WITH THE EXHAUST SMELL ISSUE. AND I THOUGH ALL WAS WELL. THEN THIS YEAR ONCE I STARTED USING THE HEATER IN MY VEHICLE IT BECAME MUCH WORSE THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. MY TODDLER COMPLAINS OF HEAD ACHES AFTER CAR RIDES AND I GET LIGHT HEADED AND VERY NAUSEOUS. IF THE CAR IS LEFT RUNNING FOR EVEN 30 SECONDS WITH 50 FEET OF CLEARANCE BEHIND IT THE CABIN IS FILLED WITH AN UNBEARABLE AMOUNT OF EXHAUST SMELL. I'M SCARED FOR THE LIVES OF MY CHILDREN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOW THAT IT'S WINTER AND I NEED TO BE ABLE TO RUN THE HEATER. IT IS FINE AS LONG AS I HAVE THE CLIMATE CONTROL TURNED COMPLETELY OFF. BUT THAT'S UNREASONABLE WHEN IT'S 19 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN. I BOUGHT A CAR WITH A HEATER I SHOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT. LIKE I SAID IT IS MUCH WORSE WHEN THE CAR IS JUST SITTING PARKED AND RUNNING BUT THE SMELL IS PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE THE HEATER IS IN USE.

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A TURN OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNING OUT OF PARKING LOTS. MAKING THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR ME BUT OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME

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PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. POWER STEERING WAS FROZEN, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. PULLED BACK INTO DRIVEWAY WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY DUE TO NO STEERING ASSIST OR POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY, NO WARNING LIGHT OR PROBLEM. TOOK TO LOCAL GOODYEAR, THEY DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AFTER RUNNING AND DRIVING IT FOR A FEW HOURS. THERE WAS NO LIGHT OR CODE THAT SHOWED UP FROM PREVIOUS DAY'S ISSUE. ONCE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE RACK N PINION THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

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THE CABIN SMELLS OF EXHAUST WHILE DRIVING. IT SMELLS THIS WAY ON CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY. THE SMELL GETS WORSE THE LONGER THE CAR IS RUNNING. WE HAD THE WORKAROUND THAT FORD SUGGESTED DONE AND IT HAS NOT HELPED THE ISSUE.

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WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE A SYSTEM ERROR COMES UP 'POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILER' AND 'AUTO TRACTION SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICING'AND MY TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS TINTED IN AS WELL. I'VE TRIED TURNING MY VEHICLE IN AND OFF AGAIN AND EVEN TRYING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE AND I HAVE NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. THERE WAS A FACTORY RECALL FOR MY MAKE AND YEAR MODEL VEHICLE IN 2014 BUT I DO NOT KNOW IF IT WAS CORRECTED AS I LURCHED THE VEHICLE USED FROM A FORD DEALER IN 2017.

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SMELL OF EXHAUST WITHIN CAB OF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION AND STATIONARY. SMELL CAN BE OVERPOWERING AND THE EFFECTS CAN MAKE THE OCCUPANTS FEEL NAUSEOUS. FORD HAD BEEN NOTIFIED SEVERAL TIMES OF THIS MATTER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

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THE ROOF OPERATING PANEL MODULE IS BAD. MY MOON/SUNROOF IS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. WE STOPPED AT THREE DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THEY COULD SHUT IT SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITH IT OPEN THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT PLASTIC ON TOP OF IT BUT NOW IT'S JUST SITTING IN MY GARAGE UNTIL WE CAN COME UP WITH MONEY TO FIX IT

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. KRAPOHL FORD & LINCOLN (1415 EAST PICKARD ROAD, MOUNT PLEASANT, MICHIGAN 48858, (800) 772-5974) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE POWER STEERING WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. *DT *JB

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, EXHAUST FUME ODOR WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER QUIRK FORD (540 SOUTHERN ARTERY, QUINCY, MA 02169) WHERE THEY DETERMINE THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,239. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WE RECENTLY BEGAN SMELLING A PUNGENT 'SULFUR' OR 'ROTTEN EGG' LIKE SMELL THAT COMES AND GOES IN THE INTERIOR CABIN OF OUR EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TYPICALLY THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR WHILE OR JUST AFTER DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS/ACCELERATING. WE BELIEVE THIS IS IN LINE WITH OTHER INSTANCES PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN EXPLORERS OF POSSIBLE EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE INTERIOR CABIN SPACE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE 83,000 MILES ON OUR 2013 AWD 3.5L EXPLORER LIMITED. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER UNDER CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION PROGRAM SERVICE # 17N03, BUT THEY STATED OUR SPECIFIC VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS SERVICE & THUS WOULD NOT COVER THAT SERVICE FIX FOR THIS ISSUE.

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2ND TIME THE TRANSFER CASE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED. 115K MILES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BUT FAILED TO RESET THE POWER STEERING. COURTESY LINCOLN (4010 AMBASSADOR CAFFERY PKWY, LAFAYETTE, LA 70503, (337) 504-7341) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DECLINED TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,475. *TT *JB

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WHEN IT RAINS, WATER POURS IN FROM DRIVER SIDE 3RD ROW SEAT BELT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD EXPLORERS DUE TO POOR WELDING ISSUES, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE MOLD AND MILDEW ISSUES IN THE CAR. I DRIVE AROUND 3 YOUNG CHILDREN AND DO NOT WANT ANY HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THIS FLAW. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL SO IT CAN BE FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR WELDING MISTAKES.

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