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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER POLICE INTERCEPT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ABNORMAL EXHAUST ODOR AFTER EXTENDED OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10943782

UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENED WHEN REVERSING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. NO WARNINGS ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 10944008

WE DROVE FROM AUSTIN TO FORT WORTH, NO PROBLEM, STOPPED A FEW HOURS AT OUR HOTEL,THEN GOT BACK IN CAR, STARTED IT AND COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL OR MOVE THE CAR. THANKFULLY WE WERE STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 10940098

FEW MONTHS AGO , AS I WAS BACKING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON, COULDN'T MOVE. I TURNED ENGINE OFF AND ON LIGHT CLEARED AND WORKING FINE. THIS HAPPENED FEW TIMES PAST 4 MONTHS,. 2 DAYS AGO I WAS BACKING UP LIGHT CAME ON , 46800 MILES . COULDN'T MOVE STEERING LOCKED UP , , TURNING ENGINE ON AND OFF. 2 HOURD LATER SAME THING PANICKED I WAS AT A STORE PARKING LOT.. HAD TO LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT NO WAY TO MOVE. GOT IT TOWED TO CLOSEST FORD. GOT IT CHECKED OUT, AND ITS EPAS REPLACEMENT 1500 WHAT A NICE WAY TO END THE YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 10938891

THE "DOOR AJAR" SENSOR ON MANY FORD PRODUCTS IS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSES THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT TO COME ON EVEN WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT NIGHT AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE DOORS TO BE LOCKED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT IS DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO LOCK THE DOORS AS CHILDREN COULD OPEN THE DOORS ACCIDENTALLY AND FALL OUT. IT IS ALSO DANGEROUS HAVING THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS REMAIN ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED A SERVICE BULLETIN IS AVAILABLE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR AJAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10937904

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND EXITING THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" DISPLAYED ACROSS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 10936219

LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING. TRACTION CONTROL FAULT AND TERRAIN CONTROL FAULT CAME ON. THE STEERING BOX NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE CODES C1B00-62, U2001, U0415, AND THE SAME ISSUE THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF RECALL 14S06, BUT MY VIN IS NOT IN THE DATA BASE FOR THIS. THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY CALLS OUT VEHICLES FROM THE CHICAGO PLANT. 11TH LETTER IN MY VIN SHOWS IT CAME FROM THE CHICAGO PLANT. FORD AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSE TO CONSIDER THIS A RECALL ITEM, I STRONG DISAGREE WITH THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10934842

DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON RANDOMLY IN MY PI EXPLORER. IT GOES AWAY AFTER A WHILE. IT COMES ON WHILE IN MOTION AND WHILE STILL. MAY BE A FAULTY SENSOR IN THE DOOR. THIS NEEDS A RECALL. LOOKED HIGH AND LOW FOR A FIX AND NOTICED THAT MANY HAVE THIS ISSUE. MOST PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW TO POST THIS INFORMATION/ISSUE HERE. THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY BE A VERY SERIOUS ONE IF NOT ADDRESSED/RECALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10930224

THE POWER TAKE-OFF UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS OF PURCHASE AT A COST OF $14781.11, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE THE COST HAD IT BEEN TAKEN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THIS IS AN ENDEMIC PROBLEM THAT IS NEITHER SUBJECT TO RECALL NOR PRIOR NOTICE FROM FORD. I SPOKE TO A FORD REPRESENTATIVE WHO WAS CAREFUL TO SAY THAT SHE HAD NO STATISTICS ABOUT THE PROBLEM; WHEN I ASKED HER IF FORD DID, SHE REPEATED HER PRIOR STATEMENT, AS IF COACHED. THE TAKE-OFF UNIT LEAKED FLUID EVERYWHERE, AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AT STREET AND HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGER TO MY FAMILY AND ME. STALLING OCCURRED EVEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. AGAIN, I WAS SURPRISED THAT THERE IS NO NHTSA RECALL ISSUED, NOR DOES FORD NOTIFY DRIVERS OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. YET PER THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF THESE UNITS ROUTINELY FAIL WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS DUE TO THEIR DESIGN. A GREAT WAY FOR FORD TO LOSE CUSTOMERS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10930228

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,900.

NHTSA ODI 10930031

CONTAMINATION OF THE METAL IN THE HOOD AT THE FACTORY IS CAUSING THE PAINT TO BUBBLE AND FLAKE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10928893

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD EXCESS DEPOSITS, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 10928523

CARBON MONOXIDE SMELL IS COMING OUT OF VENTS WHEN A/C IS USED. IT USUALLY STARTS HAPPENING AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG I OFTEN HAVE TO TURN OFF AIR CONDITIONING AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS TO ALLOW THE AIR TO BE CLEARED OUT. OFTEN GET HEADACHES FROM THIS SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 10928047

MY TRUCK HAS ALMOST 120000 MILES. AND WE WERE DRIVING AND NOTICE THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. WE WENT TO ADVANCE AUTO AND HAD THE TRUCK SCANNED TO SEE WHAT CODE WOULD COME UP. IT SAID THERE WAS TWO CYLINDER MISFIRED. AND THAT IT PROBABLY CAME FROM BAD FUEL. AND THEN THE ENGINE STARTED JUMPING AND SKIPPING. WE FINALLY GOT IT TO FIRESTONE AND THEY SAID THERE'S TAPPING AND KNOCKING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT NOW THE TRUCK NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THEY QUOTED ME A ROUGH ESTIMATE OF $10,000. WE'VE KEPT UP WITH ALL THE OIL CHANGES ALONG WITH HAVING THE A/C COMPRESSOR REPLACED BECAUSE IT WENT OUT AS WELL. THE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A USED OR REMANUFACTURED ENGINE FOR $3700. THERE IS NO WAY A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WITH LESS THAN 120,000 MILES NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. AND WE ALSO SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES THROUGH THE VENTS INSIDE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10926069

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN FOR INSPECTION TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT INDICATE A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 10926067

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A STRONG FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET WAS LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FUEL ODOR TO EMIT INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10925773

DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO A DEFECT SWITCH ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. FORD FIXED IT ONCE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I BEGAN ACTING UP AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER IT WENT OUT OF WARRANTY. IT'S AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THEIR DIME AND NOT THE CUSTOMER'S.

NHTSA ODI 10925684

POWER STEERING GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING. 2013 FORD EXPLORER, 86,000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE, GOING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR ON A HIGHWAY, WHEN IT FIRST WENT OUT. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED ITSELF BACK TO THE CENTER AND MY WIFE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND FORCE THE WHEEL TO STEER SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SCREEN SHOWS ATC NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. CODES SHOWN ARE : C1B00-STEERING ANGLE SENSOR U0131- LOST COMMUNICATION WITH POWER STEERING MODULE MY VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR EARLIER MANUFACTURE DATES CONCERNING WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10924963

EXHAUST SMELL IS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE AND DISTURBING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE I AM TRAVELLING WITH A 3 YEAR OLD. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY? I HAD A SIMILAR ISSUE WHEN THE GAS LINE HAD A LEAK AND THAT IS ALL I COULD SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 10925017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD NOT HOLD WHEN IT WAS PUSHED DOWN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A PLASTIC PART THAT FAILED. UPDATED 01/05/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10924852

VEHICLE PARKED OVERNIGHT. STARTED VEHICLE TO LEAVE GARAGE. POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT CAME ONTO SCREEN. STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN, LOCKED UP. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN 3 WEEKS. THIS IS A KNOWN STEERING GEAR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10924872

DURING HEAVY ACCELERATION ... FOR EXAMPLE WHEN I'M ENTERING A HIGHWAY... REALLY STRONG SMELL OF ENGINE FUMES ENTER THE CABIN... EVERY TIME. I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER XLT - VERY HAPPY WITH MY FORD OTHERWISE.

NHTSA ODI 10924480

POWER STEERING ASSIST NOT WORKING PROPERLY. RECALL DOESNT COVER MY VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 10923918

THERE IS CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 10920547

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT AND HIS CHILDREN BECAME ILL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 10920203