Home · 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (2,224)Crash / fire / injury (78)Steering (832)Body & structure (436)Engine (224)Electrical system (160)Fuel system (153)Transmission & drivetrain (119)Suspension (79)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (62)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (45)

Newest first · 2,224 complaints · page 60 of 89

Apr 4, 2018Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND CHANGING LANES TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND CAUSED THE CAR TO GO OFF RIGHT SIDE OF FREEWAY. LUCKILY I WAS HEADING IN A REALATIVELY SAFE DIRECTION. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MODULE HAD LOST ITS POSITION AND FAILED. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD MAY COVER REPAIR. HOWEVER THEY DID NOT. THIS VIN IS OUTSIDE OF THE CURRENT RECALL PERIOD FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11083316

Mar 28, 2018Fuel system

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE EXHAUST FUME ISSUE WHERE THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST FUMES AND IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DUE TO THE SMELL. YOU HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IN ORDER TO TOLERATE DRIVING. THE RECENT RECALL WAS DONE - VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE THE AC REPROGRAMED AND TAILGATE SEALS INSPECTED. THIS DID NOT WORK. WE WILL BE TRADING THE VEHICLE IN AND PURCHASING ANOTHER VEHICLE SOON. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. FORD HAS HAD TOO MANY SAFETY AND QUALITY ISSUES THAT GO IGNORED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS THE PEELING PAINT ISSUE THAT FORD REFUSED TO ADDRESS AS WELL. POOR QUALITY - UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11081753

Mar 28, 2018Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THERE WERE ANY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DAVE LITTLETON FORD DEALER (1098 US-169, SMITHVILLE, MO 64089) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS RELEVANT TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,419. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11081785

Mar 23, 2018Steering

ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE . WHILE DRIVE THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL

NHTSA ODI 11081047

Mar 23, 2018Steering

2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIN NOT LISTED UNDER POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER HAS PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON ANOTHER VEHICLE IN ARTEMIS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION ON INITIAL START UP. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A STEERING RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10938288

Mar 22, 2018SteeringBody & structureLatches & locks

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING ABILITY RETURNED TO NORMAL THE NEXT DAY. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AGAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT BECAME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT CHAPMAN AUTO STORE (6744 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08234, (609) 646-2000), BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11080868

Mar 21, 2018Engine

THERE IS AN EXHAUST LEAK ON THE VEHICLE ALLOWING TOXIC FUMES INTO THE CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11080406

Mar 20, 2018Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BONDY'S FORD LINCOLN, 3615 ROSS CLARK CIR, DOTHAN, AL 36303, (877) 858-3522) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NUT BECAME DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE PART AND INSPECTED THE STEERING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE12017 (STEERING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,517. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11080344

Mar 19, 2018

MY FORD EXPLORER 2013 BACK TAILGATE WINDOW SHATTERED. IT WAS COLD OUT ABOUT 30 DEGREES BUT MY REAR DEFROST WAS NOT ON AT ALL THAT DAY. I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK WHICH IS ABOUT A 15 MINUTE DRIVE. I GOT IN THE LEFT HAND TURN LANE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN INTO MY WORK AND IT SHATTERED. NO CAR BEHIND ME. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. I THEN TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11080199

Mar 18, 2018Seat belts

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NO PREVIOUS ISSUES NOTICED. TRIED TO LATCH SEAT BELT BEFORE DRIVING AND LATCH WILL NOT HOLD BUCKLE IN PLACE TO SECURE SEAT BELT FOR DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI 11080045

Mar 15, 2018Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO MOVE AND THE DEFAULT STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,157.

NHTSA ODI 11079679

Mar 11, 2018

THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED SENDING OUT COOL AIR AFTER A LONG DRIVE BACK IN FEBRUARY 2018 IT THEN STARTED SMELLING LIKE EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS LATER UNTIL IT WAS CONFIRMED WITH MY HUSBAND WHO ALSO SMELLED IT, I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, THEY HAD ALREADY PERFORMED THE RECALL INSPECTION AND THIS TIME DID AN ADDITIONAL STEP IN PATCHING. CURRENTLY THE CAR VENTILATION WHEN AC OR HEATER IS TURNED OFF WHEN DRIVING BLOWS OUT WARM AIR AND THERE IS STILL A LIGHT SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE VEHICLE THAT WAS RECENTLY NOTICED AFTER A MONTH AFTER THE ADDITIONAL PATCHING. WE NOW REALIZE BACK IN JULY 2017 WE ALSO TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE SAME REASON THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING AFTER A LONG DRIVE OUT OF THE CITY, WE DO NOT REMEMBER THERE BEING A SMELL OF EXHAUST THEN LIKE THERE IS NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11078548

Mar 9, 2018Steering

STEERING GOT REALLY HARD WHILE DRIVING, COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL. FELT LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE POWER STEERING. DID IT SEVERAL TIMES ON WAY HOME TRYING TO TURN. NEXT MORNING STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY LOCKED. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND DELIVERED TO FORD DEALER. THEY SAID THE STEERING RACK (POWER ASSISTED) IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I TOLD DEALER THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, AND THAT I WANTED THE DEFECTIVE PART BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11078403

Mar 8, 2018AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11076864

Mar 8, 2018Fuel system

TAKA TA RECALL I AM SMELLING GAS FUMES INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE ITS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN I HAVE MY HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING ON. I ONLY SMELL IT WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11076896

Mar 8, 2018Steering

SAME PROBLEM THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER FORD OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT, THE POWER STEERING STOPS WORKING, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, THE WARNING POWER STEERING FAULT LIGHT COMES ON. HAD CHECKED AT CLASIC FORD IN SMITHFIELD, NC SAID THERE WERE 99 FAULK CODES LISTING THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF MOTOR POSITION SENSOR SIGNAL, WHICH MENT THAT THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VERY SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 14S06 FORD RECALL IS FOR, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS BUILT AFTER THE APPROVED DATES ,BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT CHICAGO, FORD DOES NOT CARE ENOUGH ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMER SAFETY THEY JUST WANT YOUR DOLLARS. DEALSHIP SAYS IT WILL COST $2500.00 TO FIX. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 59,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11078251

Mar 6, 2018Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY STEERING STARTED TO STIFFEN. I HAD TROUBLE TURNING AND CORRECTING MY STEERING. THERE IS A RECALL SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY TRUCK IS NOT COVERED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11076568

Mar 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT 3.5L TRANSMISSION STARTED LEAKING FLUID BEFORE 27,058 MILES ON JUNE 14,2016 AND AS OF TODAY MARCH 3,2018 AT 44,678 MILES THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL LEAKING. THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY DEALERSHIP'S ATTENTION DURING A REPAIR OF BLISTERING PAINT ON THE HOOD. DEALER STATED THEY FIXED LEAKING OIL PAN RATHER THAN LEAKING TRANSMISSION. AS OF TODAY VEHICLE HAS 44,678 MILES AND TRANSMISSION HAS SHOWN SEVERAL PROBLEMS WHEN IN OPERATION: GEARS TAKE TOO LONG TO TRANSFER POWER FROM 2ND TO 3RD, 4TH TO 5TH, SEVERE OVER REVVING OF ENGINE, JERKING FEELING COMING FROM TRANSMISSION WHILE TRANSITIONING THROUGH THOSE GEARS, ABNORMAL LOUD SOUNDS EMITTING FROM TRANSMISSION DURING THESE GEAR CHANGES, LEAKING AND DRIPPING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID ONTO HOT TRANSMISSION CASE, BURNING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID AND VAPORS ENTERING VEHICLE CABIN, AND PASSENGERS COMPLAINING OF NOXIOUS OIL SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11076183

Mar 2, 2018Steering

AFTER STARTING I NOTICED THE STEERING VERY HARD TO TURN. ALMOST LIKE IT HAD LOST POWER STEERING. WHEN TURNING, AT FIRST IT IS HARD TO TURN, THEN BECOMES EASY AND THEN GOES BACK TO BEING HARD TO TURN. CALL MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WA STOOD SOME 2013 MODEL YEARS ARE COVERED AND SOME NOT. IF NOT COVERED, THE COST TO REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC MODULE WOULD $1,800.00. VERY VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. HOW CAN SOME MODEL YEAR 2013 BE COVERED ON A RECALL AND OTHERS NOT>

NHTSA ODI 11076018

Mar 1, 2018Steering

SHORTLY AFTER MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY I STARTED TO FEEL RESISTANCE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS "STICKING". WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL IS FELT AS IF IT STICK, THEN BREAK FREE. IT FELT LIKE I LOST FINE CONTROL OF MY STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DRIVING AT SLOWER SPEED I FELT THE SAME SENSATION. I COULD ALSO HEAR WHAT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING NOISE WHEN TURN THE WHEEL BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. THE PROBLEM ALSO GENERATED ALOUD GRINGING NOISE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT E STEERING RACK WAS FAILING AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1900. THE VEHICLE IS 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH 72,000 MILES. I DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON MY MAKE AND MODEL YEAR BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11075700

Feb 28, 2018

CARBINE MONOXIDE DETECTOR GOING OFF WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11075436

Feb 26, 2018Parking Brake

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO ENGAGE. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11074928

Feb 24, 2018SteeringSeatsFuel system

DOOR PANELS OUT OF LINE. RPMS DROP TO 0 WHILE SITTING, CARBON MONOXIDE, FRONT END NOISE, SEAT BROKE, BACK VENTS POURED WATER IN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED, MODULAR REPLACED, BACK UP CAMERA SYSTEM REPLACED. FRONT END WORKED ON MORE THAN 7 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11074639

Feb 22, 2018Body & structureElectronic Stability Control (esc)

VEHICLE IN MOTION WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A CRAWL AND LOSE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. YELLOW WRENCH WARNING LIGHT WOULD THEN LIGHT UP. HAPPENED TWICE AND ALMOST HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENT. ALSO WOULD EXPERIENCE BURNING SMELL WHEN ACCELERATING UP A HILL. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED TO DEALER BUT THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE.

NHTSA ODI 11074216

Feb 22, 2018Crash1 injury

ONE CAR ACCIDENT HIT GUARD RAIL THEN RAN IN THE NEUTRAL GROUND ALL FOUR TIRES BLOWOUT. BLURRED VISION COULD NOT FIND THE INTERSTATE. GULOSE LEVEL 34 NOT A DIABETIC. NEED TO INVESTIGATE SUV TOTALED. ON HIGHWAY, IN MOTION

NHTSA ODI 11074218

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →