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

PAINT IS CHIPPING AND FLAKING OFF FROM UNDER THE PAINT. BUBBLES ARE FORMING ALONG THE EDGE OF FRONT HOOD AND TAIL HATCH.

NHTSA ODI 10985589

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH CARBON MONOXIDE ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS A MARKED POLICE DEPARTMENT PATROL VEHICLE, A 2013 FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY SUV (EXPLORER). WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 5 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM, AND IT STILL HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EQUIPPED WITH AN AFTER-MARKET CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR. WHEN THE DRIVER QUICKLY ACCELERATES WHILE THE HVAC SYSTEM IS IN "RECIRCULATE" MODE, THE DRIVER CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES. THE CO DETECTOR ALSO GIVES AN ALARM. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL FIRE STATION, WHERE THEY USED AN INDUSTRIAL GAS DETECTOR, AND THEY HAVE DETECTED UP TO 35 PPM OF CO IN THE FRONT SEAT AREA. (THE FIREFIGHTERS TOLD US THEY ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A RESPIRATOR AT 35 PPM.) THE DRIVER'S BLOOD LEVEL OF CARBON MONOXIDE ALSO HAS BEEN TESTED, AND 5 PPM OF CO WAS FOUND IN HIS BLOOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE (HE IS NOT A SMOKER). TWO PRIMARY REPAIRS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. THE FIRST WAS TO REPAIR A "PINHOLE" LEAK IN A GASKET ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE SECOND WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, WHERE THE REAR BUMPER WAS REMOVED AND SEALANT WAS APPLIED AROUND SOME VENTS. NEITHER REPAIR WAS SUCCESSFUL. WE ARE PREPARING TO RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE 6TH TIME. WE HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT-OF-POCKET FOR ALL REPAIR ATTEMPTS SO FAR. RIGHT NOW, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED AND WE CANNOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 10984763

THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING RUBBING/GRINDING NOISES WHEN STEERED (BOTH DIRECTIONS) IN NORMAL OPERATION. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SLUGGISH STEERING. AT ONE POINT THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM REQUIRED SERVICE "NOW!". UPON PULLING OVER AND STOPPING, THE STEERING LOCKED UP, MAKING THE VEHICLE UNABLE TO DRIVE. MY FORD SERVICE TECH ADVISED THAT THE STEERING GEAR BOX WAS "BAD". THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART AT THE EXPENSE (TO ME) OF $1,700.

NHTSA ODI 10984291

DRIVING 80 MPH ON THE TURNPIKE AND STEERING BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO MANUVEUR. IF THE STEERING WOULD'VE FROZE, IT COULD'VE RESULTED IN A FATAL CRASH GOING 80 MPH. TAKE TO DEALERSHIP AND IT NEEDS A NEW POWER STEERING RACK WHICH COSTS $1,800. IT APPEARS CERTAIN VINS FOR MY YEAR, MAKE, MODEL WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY WAS NOT AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE BUT IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BY FORD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT AND DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 10983122

WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT REGISTER THAT CAR IS IN PARK. I.E. THE P WILL NOT LIGHT UP AND IF YOU TURN CAR OFF IT WILL BEEP TELLING YOU TO SHIFT TO PARK. IN MY 2001 EXPLORER IT WOULD GET STUCK SHIFTING TO PARK AS WELL. SEEMS TO BE A VEHICLE ISSUE BECAUSE BOTH VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT SHIFTING MECHANISMS. HAPPENED 6 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT IN 2015 AND TILL DOES IT TO THIS DAY.

NHTSA ODI 10981226

MY DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. MY BACK PASSENGER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN AT ALL. I'VE HAD THE FRONT LOCKS GREASED AND THEY STILL ONLY OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. SO TO GET IN THE VEHICLE, YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK IT, OPEN BACK DRIVER SIDE DOOR, REACH IN AND OPEN DRIVER DOOR AND THEN PASSENGER FROM INSIDE. NO MECHANIC I'VE SPOKEN WITH OR TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR INCLUDING THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 10980948

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. UPON ACTIVATING THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT, THE EXHAUST ODOR BECAME STRONGER AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 10980107

PAINT BUBBLES PUSHING UP ON HOOD

NHTSA ODI 10980004

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 06/13/17 *BF *AS

NHTSA ODI 10979599

I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER WHEN I WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND THE WHEEL FROZE WITHOUT WARNING. THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 10978827

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE SUV WAS HARD TO STEER. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I FIRST STARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON A LOT OF 2013 FORD EXPLORERS BUT THE DEALER SAID THAT MINE WAS NOT ONE ON RECALL. I BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND EVIDENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE FORD EXPLORER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COST TO REPLACE IT WAS $1800. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM ON THE RECALL FITS EXACTLY TO THE PROBLEM THIS VEHICLE IS HAVING.

NHTSA ODI 10971719

WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING HOME, I GOT A YELLOW CAUTION MESSAGE TO SERVICE THE POWER STEERING SOON. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY TO MAKE A REST STOP AND WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE SAME MESSAGE POPPED UP, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY A RED WARNING MESSAGE TO SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW. VEHICLE HAD NO POWER STEERING ON THE REMAINING DRIVE HOME.

NHTSA ODI 10971478

I BOUGHT CAR MAY 3013 STARTED SMELLING EXHAUST INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND KEPT ASKING THE DEALER TO PLEASE CHECK IT OUT AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME. THEY ACTED AS THOUGH I WAS CRAZY NEVER CHECKED IT OUT AND I REQUESTED IT EVERY TIME TOOK IT IN FOR OIL AND TIRE ROTATION. AFTER A WHILE WHEN I WOULD BE IN THE VEHICLE AND EXCELERATE IT WOULD SMELL AS THOUGH SOME ONE DUMPED A CAN OF GAS IN THE BACK OF THE CAR. WHEN TOOK IN THE LAST TIME DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TOLD ME WOULD COST ME TOO MUCH TO FIX AS IT WAS A BIG JOB JUST DON'T USE YOUR REAL AIR CONDITIONER. WE LIVE IN FLORIDA AND MY GRANDCHILDREN RIDE WITH ME THAT IS NOT AN OPTION. THE FUMES HAPPENED WHEN EXCELERATION AT LOW AND HIGHER SPEEDS NOT DURING SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE LAST TIME WHERE AS IT HAD BEEN ON THE OPEN HIGHWAY I WAS SIMPLY DOING A LEFT TURN AND THIS TIME THE EXHAUST WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AREA. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS I REPORTED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE THE GAVE ME CLAIM NUMBER HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. CASE NUMBER IS CAS10895619

NHTSA ODI 10970939

RUST AND PAINT BUBBLED ALONG FRONT EDGE OF HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 10970981

THERE IS A CONSISTENT SMELL OF SULFUR OR GAS COMING INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE VENTS. I WAS LIGHT HEADED AND DIZZY WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED AND ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN. THIS WAS NOT JUST ONCE BUT FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I SEARCHED FOR RECALLS AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY FORD EXPLORER FOR THIS ISSUES. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT I AM TO DO?

NHTSA ODI 10970670

SINCE PURCHASING OUR FORD EXPLORER NEW EXHAUST FUMES FILL THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING (INCREASE IN RPM). AFTER LONG TRIPS CAUSES HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS. IT'S BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR 4 YEARS. WE HAVE HAD THE FORD SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS ISSUE PERFORMED AND PROBLEM REMAINS.

NHTSA ODI 10970454

I HAVE BEEN EXPERINCING EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN I ACCELLARATE AT A HIGH R.P.M.

NHTSA ODI 10969992

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT PIG TAIL TWICE AS IT MELTED TO THE BULB

NHTSA ODI 10969844

WHILE DRIVING MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER DURING ACCELERATION I NOTICED THE SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT THAT SAME TIME I STARTED TO FEEL DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS. I HAVE MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS MATTER IN THE PAST WITH NHTSA AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY FEED BACK FOR THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ODI 10969661

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, I HAVE BEEN GETTING A FOUL ORDER EMANATING FROM MY VEHICLE. I SMELL IT INSIDE THE CABIN AS WELL AS THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AFTER STOPPING. THE ODOR BECOMES STRONGER WITH LONGER ENGINE RUN TIMES OR HARSHER DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE ODOR DOES NOT SMELL LIKE OIL OR GAS. I CAN BEST DESCRIBE IT AS ACIDIC OR CHEMICAL. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR RESOLUTION. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE CAN SMELL THE ODOR AS WELL. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY COULD FIND NO SPECIFIC CAUSE FOR THE ISSUE. THE ACTION THEY TOOK WAS TO POWER WASH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT UNDER THE BELIEF THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DEAD ANIMAL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SMELL HAS NOT DISAPPEARED AFTER THAT DEALERSHIP ACTION. I AM OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT IT IS POSING A SAFETY RISK.

NHTSA ODI 10969295

PAINT BUBLING AT HOOD FRONT EDGE

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'TAKATA RECALL' STRONG SMELL OF SULFUR,ENGINE OIL AND GASOLINE.

NHTSA ODI 10969107

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AS A USED CAR COMING OFF OF A LEASE AT A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 31000 MILES. THE FACTORY WARRANTY ENDED 10/2016. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM LATE 12/2016. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IN THE PASSENGER CABIN DURING ALL TIMES OF OPERATION. THE ODOR IS MUCH STRONGER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY (I.E., IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT) AND IS VERY STRONG DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER HARD ACCELERATION. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE EXHAUST ODOR IS ACTUALLY COMING THROUGH THE VEHICLES VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE EXHAUST ODOR OFTEN LEAVES ME FEELING SICK IF I DO NOT CRACK OPEN THE WINDOWS FOR FRESH AIR. I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP (MILLER FORD, MOUNT HOLLY, NJ) AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED HAVING PREVIOUS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, SINCE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I NOW HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MONTHS, ENDURING THESE EXHAUST FUMES. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT MY HEALTH AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS IF I WERE TO BECOME OVERWHELMED BY THE EXHAUST'S CO. I CANNOT AFFORD TO JUST STOP OPERATING THIS VEHICLE AND BUY ANOTHER.

NHTSA ODI 10969178

VEHICLE HAS BECOME HARD TO STEER & TAKES EXTRA EFFORT. WAS DIAGNOSED BY FORD DEALER AS HAVING A FAULTY ELECTRICAL COMPONENT IN THE STEERING RACK. FORD SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE STEERING CAN COMPLETELY LOCK UP WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING IF STEERING RACK NOT REPLACED. STEERING RACK MUST BE REPLACED AT APPROX. COST OF $1500.

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