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

STARTED WITH A LOAD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED TO OCCASIONALLY LOSING POWER STEERING. LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS, THE CURRENT RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VIN, ONLY MODELS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED JUST A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE WAS NOT REMEDIED ON LATER MODELS (2013, 2014 AND EVEN 2015'S). SHAME ON FORD! THEY MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND EXTEND THE CURRENT RECALL OF THEIR FAULTY PART TO LATER EXPLORER MODELS.

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WINDSHIELD TRIM RANDOMLY FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ST 70 MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME.

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STEERING FROZE UP AND DIED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPOT. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR REPORTS JUST LOOKING AT THE LAST FEW DAYS WORTH. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ABILITY SEIZED AND THE POWER ASSIST FAULT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (CURRIE MOTORS FORD OF FRANKFURT, 9423 W LINCOLN HWY, FRANKFURT, IL 60423) ON AUGUST 19, 2018 FOR THE SAME FAILURE, AND THE DEALER UPDATED THE SOFTWARE FOR THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. .*DT *JB

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING. STARTED WITH A LOAD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE PROBLEM WORSENED TO THE POINT OF WHILE DRIVING, WE LOST STEERING CONTROL. AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CURRENT RECALL OF THIS EXACT ISSUE APPARENTLY DOES NOT APPLY TO OUR VIN NUMBER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE RECALL MUST BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE VIN NUMBERS. HELP!

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN FROM PARKING SPOTS THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT WARNING CAME ON. LOST ALL POWER STEERING.THE DEALERSHIP SAID ITS THE EPAS, ELECTRIC POWER ASSISTED STEERING.

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THE WELD SEAM SEALANT USED ABOVE THE TAILGATE HAS FAILED AND BEGUN CRACKING, ALLOWING RAINTO ENTER THROUGH THE POORLY DONE WELDING, AND DRIPS INTO MY CARGO AREA THROUGH THE REAR SPEAKERS, DOWN THE SEATBELT, AND ONTO MY SEATS. LUCKILY I HAVE A CARGO LINER WHICH HELPS AVOID MY SEATS FROM GETTING SOAKED. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OR MOVING.

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CARBON MONOXIDE ODOR HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. EVERY TIME I DRIVE I BEGIN TO FEEL NAUSEOUS AND GET A HEADACHE. I HAVE 2 BOYS, MY 11 YEAR OLD AGREES IT'S A STRONG ODOR AND HE BEGINS TO FEEL DIZZY. I FEAR TO EVEN HAVE MY CHILDREN ESPECIALLY MY 1 YEAR OLD IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE AND THEY WERE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE IN A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW SINCE I PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS AGO HAS EVER MENTIONED THIS ISSUE! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I FINALLY LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND OF COURSE IT IS! PLEASE FIX THIS, AN INVESTIGATION OVER A YEAR NOW AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. YOU HAVE A REPUTATION TO UPHOLD.

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METAL BODY CRACKING ON UPPER AREA PANEL WHERE LIFTGATE HINGES ARE. CREATING WATER DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR PART OF THE THIRD ROW. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS AND THE CRACKS ARE GETTING BIGGER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING ABILITY BECAME DIFFICULT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FAILURE APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AND A HALF AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS-50964197. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED REPAIR WAS DONE. UPDATED 11/30/18 *JB *TT*JB

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WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHETHER ON HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS MY REAR BRAKES KEEP DRAGGING CAUSING SMOKING HOT BURNING METAL SMELL . THIS STARTED BACK ON 09/09/2014 AND HAS HAPPENED 7 TIMES SINCE. ACTUALLY IT HAPPENED MORE THAN 7 BUT I ONLY HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR 7. IT WAS HAPPENING SO MUCH BUT INTERMITTENTLY SO I BOUGHT A INFRARED GUN TO MEASURE THE HOT BRAKES. THE HIGHEST TEMPS RECORDED WAS 505 DEGREES. TWICE THE SQUEALING AND SCREECHING AND CRACKING SOUNDS OF METAL TO METAL WAS SO LOUD THAT I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE AND HAD TO TAKE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. TWICE THE BRAKES WENT DOWN TO BARE METAL WHERE EVERYTHING HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE OTHER TIMES I WAS ABLE TO CATCH IT BEFORE THAT BUT STILL HOW MUCH BRAKE WAS WORN OFF I COULDN'T KNOW. TWICE THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED CALIPERS , TWICE THEY REPAIRED RESTRICTIONS IN BRAKE HOSES TWICE THEY CLAIMED THE SLIDES WERE RUSTING UP AND HAD TO BE CLEANED ( NOT UNDER WARRANTY ) AND THE BRAKES WERE ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD WHEN THEY SAID THE SLIDES WERE RUSTED.THREE SETS OF BRAKES WERE INSTALLED. I AM NOT HARD ON BRAKES AS I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL BRAKES ON THE FRONT. SOMETHING HAS CHANGED WITH FORDS DESIGN OF THESE BRAKES THAT'S CAUSING THIS . I HAVE OWNED A FORD EXPLORER FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM NOR HAVE I HAD TO CLEAN THE SLIDES BETWEEN BRAKE JOBS. HOPE YOU CAN HELP AS I FEEL THE NEXT TIME THE BRAKES MAY FAIL COMPLETELY ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING ALL THE TRAUMA MY BRAKE SYSTEM AS GONE THROUGH SO FAR.

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FORD ANNOUNCED A POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT RECALL ON CERTAIN 2011-2013 FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES. MY 2013 HAD THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT GO OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND WHEN SEARCHING UNDER MY VIN, NO RECALL... TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH RECALL AND THAT IT'S GOING TO COST $2,200 TO FIX. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE CONSIDERING THE ISSUE AND IT BLOWS MY MIND THAT THE SAME EXACT ISSUE CAN OCCUR ON A VEHICLE THAT HAS A RECALL ISSUED AND MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE DOESN'T APPLY.

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DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD DRIVERS SIDE MOLDING BECAME DETACHED, STARTED SHREDDING (CAUSING A DENT IN THE DOOR) AND BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER, FLEW OFF THE EXPLORER. PART OF THE MOLDING IS STILL ATTACHED (ABOUT 1/4 PIECE). VERY GLAD IT DID NOT HURT ANYONE, BUT WHAT IF A MOTORCYCLE WAS BEHIND ME? THIS DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL THROUGH FORD. WHEN I ORDERED MY PART, ESTIMATED AT #450.00, 3 OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THE SAME DAY, ACCORDING TO THE PARTS COUNTER PERSON.

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I HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS. AT LOW SPEED, I RECEIVED A POWER STEERING FAULT AND LOST ALL POWER STEERING IN THE VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED WITH FAMILY IN CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM WAS HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (REUTHER FORD, 1325 MCNUTT ST, HERCULANEUM, MO 63048, (636) 931-9393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKETS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS UNABLE TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE DEALER (FAIRWAY FORD, 1350 E YORBA LINDA BLVD, PLACENTIA, CA 92870, (877) 476-8261) WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PRODUCE A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE RELATED TO THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING BOTH WHEN IN MOTON ON A STREET (TWICE)AND WHEN FIRST TURNING ON IGNITION IN DRIVEWAY. OCCURED THREE TIMES IN ONE WEEK.

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THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS I'VE HAD EITHER GASOLINE OR EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ACCELERATING ON EITHER A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY UPHILL AND THE A/C WAS ON.

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2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT, FACTORY SEAMS NOT SEALED UNDER POWER LIFT GATE IN REAR CAUSED WATER LEAKING INTO THIRD ROW SEAT FROM SEATBELT, CARPET HAD MILDEW AND MSEATBELT WAS DRENCHED, TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WITHOUT RESOLVE AND HAD TO SELF PAY BECAUSE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER WATER LEAKS. WOULD NEVER HAVE NOTICED THIS FIRST OCCURRENCE IF I HAD NOT PURCHASED CUSTOM WEATHER TECH FLOOR MATS THROUGHOUT VEHICLE WHICH ALLOWED ME TO SEE THE POOLING OF WATER. HAD TO TELL THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHAT TO FIX AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH AND MULTIPLE FORUMS WITH SAME COMPLAINT. NOW HAS SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER LEAKING FROM RIGHT DRIVERS SIDE INTO FLOORBOARD, BELT SQUEALS WHEN ACCELERATING IN RAIN CAUSING LIGHTS TO DIM AND VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. MILDEW SMELL VERY STRONG COMING FROM AIR VENTS CAUSING HEADACHES WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS LEAK OCCURS AFTER AFTER EVERY RAINSTORM WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WILL LEAK INTO CABIN ONTO LEG WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, LEAKAGE ENTRANCE POINT UNKNOWN, BUT EXITS INTO VEHICLE UNDER STEERING WHEEL. FORD CORPORATE CONTINUES TO BLOW ME OFF AND WANTS ME TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS WHICH I HAVE ALREADY DONE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL WHICH FIXES ALL LEAK POINTS WITH PROPER SEAM SEALANT AND ALL CARPETS AND AIR SYSTEM IN VEHICLE BEING REPLACED AS MOLD CAUSES RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CAS15367203. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT UPDATED 12/18/18*JB

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DRIVING VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING SCRATCHING NOISE WHEN TURNING WHEEL. EVERY TIME WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT IT MAKES SAME NOISE.

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IN SUMMER 2015 WE BEGAN SMELLING EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. IT STARTED OUT AS A MILD SMELL AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. WE MENTIONED IT TO OUR SERVICE ADVISOR MULTIPLE TIMES WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS, WE GOT THE DEALERSHIP TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND ADMIT THERE WAS AN ISSUE BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. AS TIME WENT ON, THE SMELL WAS PRESENT ALL THE TIME WHETHER OR NOT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. IN EARLY 2018, WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM THE FORD AUTHORIZED FIX FOR THIS KNOWN ISSUE (SEALING HOLES, REPROGRAM THE A/C, ETC.). HOWEVER, THE SMELL NEVER WENT AWAY AND WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TWICE TO HAVE IT VERIFIED. THIS LAST TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT FORD WOULD DO AND THAT WE HAD TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS 95K MILES ON IT CURRENTLY.

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GOODYEAR FORTERA HL TIRES SHOWED CRACKING AFTER ONLY 19,540 MILES ON 2013 FORD EXPLORER PURCHASED NEW IN JANUARY 2013. AFTER THIS DISCOVERY, I NEED TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES.TIRE NUMBERS ARE DOT 4B8T MANUFACTURED IN CANADA ON 3/2012.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS LOST. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FORCE AND COASTED THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROSSROADS FORD (2333 WALNUT STREET, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, 27518, (919) 335-4612) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY GEAR (PART NUMBER: DB5V3504NE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

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THE VEHICLE SPUTTERS AND SHAKES UPON ACCELERATION. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO GET TO THE NEEDED SPEED, ESPECIALLY WHEN MERGING ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY. I KNOW MULTIPLE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2013 EXPLORERS. FORD HAS ALSO BEEN HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THEIR FOCUS. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN INTO THEIR MECHANICS YOU ARE TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE FOUR CHILDREN IN MY CAR DAILY, FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

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