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

HAVING A ISSUE HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF. MOSTLY ONE BUB AT A TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS THE SAME BUB OR BOTH BUDS GO OFF BUT ALWAYS TURN BACK ON ONCE I PLACE SWITCH BACK IN OFF POSITION AND TURN THEM BACK ON. AFTER BEING PULLED OVER BY LOCAT SHIERFF IS WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE FOR MY HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. TROUBLE HAD GOTTEN WORST OF TIME. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL STATE TROOPER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH NEWER FORD HEADLIGHTS. I WENT DEALERSHIP AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT SEEM LIKE A ELECTRICAL POWER ISSUE. I WAS THAT THE HARNESS OVER TIME GETS MOISTURE IN IT AND HAD TO GREASE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING. HE SAID IT WILL BE OVER $1000 TO GET IT FIX WITH THE SYMPTOMS I PROVIDED HIM. ON LONG STRAIGHT TRIP AT A STEAD SPEED THE LIGHT DO NOT GO OUT, BUT DRIVING AROUND TOWN IT HAPPENS NOW ON A REGULAR.

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RANDOMLY HONKS WITH AND WITH FOB IN OR NEAR CAR AND WITHOUT THE CAR RUNNING. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AFTER GETTING FUEL, AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT STOP THE GAS WHEN PUMPING.... SEND A CODE FOR SENSOR IN FUEL COMPARTMENT.... DOOR PANELS CRACK

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TAKATA RECALL. MY CAR STARTED MAKING AN AWFUL GROWLING SOUND. SHORTLY AFTER, I WAS HAVING TROUBLE STEERING. IT DOESN'T TURN WELL. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY STEERING RACK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE COST IS AROUND $1700 TO BE REPLACED BY FORD. I AM ALSO STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED IN OTHER EXPLORERS, WOULD WHY NOT ALL?

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RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, I HAVE BEGUN NOTICING A ROTTEN EGG/SULFURIC SMELL. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPROXIMATELY THE PAST 6 MONTHS. THE ISSUE WILL HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING, AND ALSO IF I AM SITTING AT IDLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME (AT A RED LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC). I HAVE NOTICED FEELING FATIGUE WHILE DRIVING AS WELL, AND THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE SMELL MAKES ME NAUSEOUS OR GIVES ME A HEADACHE. I WORK IN EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WITH THE SMELL THAT IS ENTERING MY VEHICLE.

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MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT . LUCKILY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT. OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAJIC.

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW FROM THE FORD DEALER IN 2013. FIRST ISSUE, FRONT EDGE OF HOOD THE PAINT HAS BEEN BUBBLING AND COMING OFF. RUST IS UNDERNEATH. FORD REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SECOND ISSUE AND MOST IMPORTANT, WE HAVE BEEN LOSING THE POWER STEERING FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING, THIS HAS CAUSED ERRATIC STEERING AS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SEEMS TO TURN ON AND OFF. THE STEERING WILL BIND AND WHEN YOU TRY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND OVER COMPENSATE AND THE ELECTRIC STEERING RE-ENGAGES, I'M ALL OVER THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND FORD REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE OTHER THAN FIX IT FOR $1900-$2300.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AND MADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUFFENBERG FORD O'FALLON, 115 REGENCY PARK, O'FALLON, IL 62269, (618) 632-0090), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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I ENTER THE HIGHWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP AND I SLIGHTLY TAP THE BREAK TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. I THEN FEEL THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATING. I SEE MY RPMS ARE HIGH. I NOTICEL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY ENGAGED TO THE FLOOR. I TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE WITH NO SUCCESS. I HAD TO USE MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRY TO CONTROL MY SPEED AND USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO GET UNDER THE PEDAL TO LIFT IT. I SUCCESFULLY WEDGED MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT RELEASED, RETURNING TO NORMAL POSITION.

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SHIFT TO PARK WARNING AOFTEN COMES ON-CAR IS ON PARK!

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THROTTLE POSITION. FUEL PEDDLE DOESN'T ALWAYS ACCELERATE WHEN BEING PUSHED. AS I PULL OUT THE CAR MAY ACCELERATE OR MAY NOT. SOMETIMES IT SUDDENLY LURCHES. VERY SCARY WHEN CROSSING THROUGH TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC SAID IT'S GOING TO BE ME T-BONED.

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THE FRONT A-PILLAR MOLDINGS SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS IN TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE WAS LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR FOR THE DRIVER'S DOOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNNYSIDE MOTOR CO., INC. (944 MAIN ST, HOLDEN, MA 01520, (508) 829-4333) AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. *TT

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EXHAUST FUMES WHEN RUNNING AC STILL A PROBLEM AFTER THE FIELD SERVICE ACTION PERFORMED BY THE FORD DEALER. CAUSING HEADACHES AND LIGHTHEADED AFTER DRIVING WITH AC ON MY COMMUTES DUE TO LONG TIME EXPOSURE TO FUMES IN THE CABIN. HAVE TO TURN OFF AC AND OPEN MY WINDOWS. FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CANNOT USE AC AND CALIFORNIA TEMPERATURES IN THE SUMMER OVER 90 DEGREES

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED ON OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PACKEY WEBB FORD (1815 OGDEN AVE, DOWNERS GROVE, IL 60515, (630) 598-4700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,754.

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WE HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IN LATE LAST YEAR AND HAD THE CARBON MONXIODE PROBLEM ADDRESSED AND WE ARE STILL HAVING ISSUES AFTER THE RECALL. WE STILL SMELL IT WHEN WE ACCERLATE THE GAS. I TRY NOT TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF IT. NOW WHEN I RUN THE AC AND STEP ON THE GAS THE COMPRESSOR FOR THE AC DROPS DOWN. IF I RUN THE AC ON 5 AND I ACCERLATE ON THE GAS IT SOUNDS LIKE I JUST TURNED IT ON AND RUNNING IT ON LOW AND THEN IT FINALLY KICKS BACK UP TO 5. IF I CAN GET RID OF THIS VEHICLE I WILL NOT GET ANOTHER FORD AND WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW THAT FORD DOESN'T CARE ABOUT SAFETY JUST THE MONEY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ITS THE SAME AS HAVING CARBON MONXIODE IN YOUR HOME. IT IS DANGEROUS. YOU WOULD NOT PUT YOUR FAMILY IN IT , BUT YOU SAY YOU WOULD TO KEEP FROM RECALLING THEM. ALL OF THE EXPLORERS NEED TO BE TAKEN OFF THE ROAD THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. FORD AND THERE CEOS ARE PUTTING EVERYONES LIVES IN DANGER BUT FORD IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY/GREED. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TAKE TO PUT THE SAFETY OF PEOPLES LIVES FIRST. PEOPLE GETTING KILLED DUE TO THIS ISSUE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE!!

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST EXIT. WE ARE BEING TOLD BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A "COMMON OCCURRENCE" HOWEVER, OUR VIN IS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL "YET". THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND TO NOW KNOW THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT FORD IS NOT ADDRESSING IS EVEN MORE UPSETTING. WE ARE NOW NEEDING TO TOW THE VEHICLE SEVERAL MILES HOME AND ATTEMPTING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED DURING A HOLIDAY WEEK. VACATION HAS BEEN CANCELLED, BUT THANK GOODNESS WE ARE STILL ALIVE. WAY TO GO FORD....

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WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (PARKING), ERROR POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT AND SERVICE ADVANCETRAC ERROR ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. NO LONGER ABLE TO STEER CAR, THE CAR DID NOT DEFAULT INTO MANUAL STEERING MODE. THE CAR WILL ONLY GO STRAIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE MODULE IN THE STEERING GEAR LOST COMMUNICATION AND THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING GEAR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT. NHTSA ISSUED RECALL ID #14V286000 ON SOME FORD EXPLORER VEHICLES FOR SOME STEERING GEAR FAILURES, HOWEVER THE FORD DEALER STATES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL IN THEIR OASIS SYSTEM.

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LOST THE POWER STEERING AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THE STEERING STARTED FEELING INCONSISTENT AND THEN THE WARNING LIGHT TO SERVICE POWER STEERING CAME ON ALONG WITH TRACTION CONTROL WARNING. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AFTER TALKING TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THIS IS WHAT THEY RECOMMENDED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 1900.00 TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FIXED IN MY EXPLORER. THIS SEEMS INSANE TO ME SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO SO MANY FORD EXPLORERS AND ESCAPES. I FEEL THAT MY EXPLORER ALSO WAS GIVEN A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY FORD AT NO CHARGE TO ME.

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ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHILE DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL.I WAS DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING ME TO STEER OFF THE ROAD.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST.

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WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AN ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT WILL APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEN THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKS. ALL YOU CAN DO IS ATTEMPT TO SAFELY SLOW DOWN AND GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE AT A COMPLETE STOP, YOU CAN TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN. THEN THE CAR SEEMS TO BE BACK TO NORMAL AND THE WRENCH LIGHT GOES AWAY. IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING FOR THE CAR TO JUST SHUT DOWN AT ANY SPEED, LET ALONE HIGH SPEEDS.

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MONOXIDE CARBON ODORS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE ARE ENTERED INTO THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN I DRIVE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME I FEEL NAUSEOUS AND DISORIENTED AND I HAVE TO LOWER THE WINDOWS EVERY 20 MINUTES

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MY VEHICLE (2013 FORD EXPLORER) LOST IT'S POWER STEERING, WHICH BASED ON THE OWNER'S MANUAL IS ELECTRIC POWER STEERING AND DOES NOT HAVE A MECHANICAL UNIT WITH FLUID. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND A RECALL OF 1.1 MILLION VEHICLES FOR POWER STEERING UNITS EXISTS WHICH INCLUDES THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AS MY VEHICLE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR AS MY VEHICLE, THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WAS CHARGED $223 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL ME THAT THE POWER STEERING UNIT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1600. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND PROBLEM. I FEEL LIKE ANY VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR AS THOSE THAT WERE RECALLED FOR POWER STEERING SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, I FOUND THROUGH MY RESEARCH THAT THE RECOMMENDED $1600 REPAIR DOES NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I CURRENTLY HAVE A LOAN ON MY VEHICLE AND I'M NOT SURE I'M INTERESTED IN PAYING FOR SUCH A REPAIR THAT I BELIEVE SHOULD BE COVERED BY FORD, SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. I ALSO FEEL LIKE THE DEALER WHICH I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC OVERCHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC WHEN THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE. IN THE RECALL NOTICE THAT I READ IT STATES THAT "LOSS OF POWER STEERING IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SINCE IT IS HARDER TO STEER AT LOWER SPEEDS THERE IS AN INCREASED CHANCE OF GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT". I FEEL LIKE SUCH A SAFETY CONCERN SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE DEALERSHIP SINCE IT IS OCCURRING WITH SO MANY VEHICLES AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH INCLUDES VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR.

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I BOUGHT THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER IN MAY 2013. I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST POWER STEERING LOSS ABOUT 6 MONTHS BACK. ALMOST WRECKED IT WITH FAMILY IN MY CAR. IT WAS PRETTY SCARY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. WHEN I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO FORD FOR AN OIL CHANGE I MENTIONED THE ISSUE WITH THEM AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG, I EVEN CALLED FOR TO LET THEM KNOW THE ISSUE BUT DID NOTHING. ALSO, KEEP IN MY MIND I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY POWER STEERING WOULD CONTINUE TO GO OFF AND ON EVERY NOW AND THEN BUT ON MAY 2018 THIS POWER LOSS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES AND I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE OVER $2600 TO FIX IT. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE FOR 2013 EXPLORERS BUT FORD SAID MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL I CALLED FORD TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOR DID THEY CARE . I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON POWER STEERING BEFORE BUT THEY SAID MY EXPLORER WAS NOT PART OF IT.

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MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER STARTED MAKING A SCRUBBING SOUND WHILE TURNING, IT SLAP FELT 'STICKY' WHILE STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE NEXT DAY AN ALERT BADGE CAME ON TO 'SERVICE POWER STEERING.' MY HUSBAND STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION AND AFTER CRANKING THE CAR BACK UP THE STEERING IS LOCKED DOWN AND WILL NOT TURN EITHER WAY. I CHECKED MY VIN ON THIS WEBSITE AND IT SAYS IT IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

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TAKATA RECALL: WHEN DRIVING 75MPH TRY TO PASS ANOTHER CAR, THE MOTOR AND AC CUT OFF AT 79 MPH, NO POWER. THIS IS ON THE HIGHWAY

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