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

WHILE DRIVING AN ERROR MESSAGE WITH WRENCH SYMBOL CAME ON AND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I PRESSED GAS PEDAL AND STILL WOULDN'T GO. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN HEAVY TRAFFIC..

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WHILE DRIVING OUR 2013 EXPLORER ON I 95 WE LOST POWER STEERING, WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND DRIVING BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. WE WERE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH AND REDUCED SPEED. MADE IT HOME, PARKED AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. RESTARTED VEHICLE AND HAD TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED COMPLETELY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POWER STEERING GEAR HAS INTERNAL FAULT. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD OUR VEHICLE VIN # IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE RECALL LIST.

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT, UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE ANYWHERE. VERY DANGEROUS, COULD HAVE CAUSED A WRECK.

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WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF MY FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY OPENED FOR NO REASON WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE SUDDEN DOOR OPENING CAUSED ME TO SWERVE AND I HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR ON A SIGN POST. UPON EXAMINATION AFTER PULLING OVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE APPEARED TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT HAD FALLEN APART, A SMALL LATCH IN THE HANDLE WAS BROKEN CAUSING IT COME LOOSE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE DOOR FOR NO REASON. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR, AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW ENDED UP HAVING TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO RESOURCEFULNESS OF MY HUSBAND, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS AND REPAIR THE DAMAGES OURSELVES BUT THE COST OF THE PARTS ALONE TOTALED IN EXCESS OF $400.00.

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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER STEERING ON THE CAR. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. RESTARTED THE CAR AND POWER STEERING CAME BACK.

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VEHICLE IS A 2013 EXPLORER XLT THAT WAS PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS 69K AND IS OUTSIDE THE 5YR/60K POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. MY WIFE COMMUTES TO WORK AND DRIVES THE KIDS TO SCHOOL. WE DO NOT TOW OR HAUL ANYTHING WITH IT. A FEW DAYS AGO SHE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HIT ABOUT 20MPH WHEN IT LOST POWER AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE (LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL). SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO TURN AROUND, BUT THERE WAS NO REVERSE. WAS ABLE TO GET HOME WITH HELP FROM A NEIGHBOR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY OR AT AN INTERSECTION THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. I DROVE IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. IT THROUGH A FEW CODES P0756, P2701, AND U3003. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY ULTIMATELY ARE SAYING THE CODES MEAN THAT THERE IS A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $5,800. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING. I FIND IT APPALLING THAT A 3 YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 70K HAD A TOTAL CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND I'M EXPECTED TO COVER THE ENTIRE COST.

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VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. RECEIVE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK". AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WILL EVENTUALLY SHIFT TO PARK (SO FAR). FAMILIAR WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF SAME ISSUE ON FORD EXPLORER AND EXPEDITIONS WITH CENTER CONSOLE

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THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAS DEFAULTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND LOCKED MY STEERING WHEEL UP. TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON HAS RESOLVED THE MATTER FOR NOW, BUT I AM AFRAID IT WILL LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED. THE SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNING HAS ALSO COME UP A COUPLE OF TIMES. ALL 4 OF THE STEERING DEFECTS HAVE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE DATES OF SEPTEMBER 1ST AND SEPTEMBER 5TH, 2016.

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THIS EVENING MY WIFE RAN A FEW ERRANDS AND AFTERWARDS LITERALLY STUMBLED INTO OUR HOME BECAUSE OF HOW DIZZY SHE WAS. I ASKED HER WHAT WAS WRONG AND SHE SAID SHE ACCELERATED QUICKLY TO GET ON A BUSY CITY STREET NEAR OUR HOUSE COMING HOME AND SHE SUBSEQUENTLY INHALED AN "EXHAUST/BURNT HAIR" SMELL FROM INSIDE THE CAR. SHE COULD BARELY EVEN STAND STRAIGHT. WE HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND THE EXHAUST/GAS SMELL HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN MORE AND MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY. WE'VE NOW HAD THE VEHICLE 2.5 YEARS APPROXIMATELY. EVERY TIME WE FILL THE VEHICLE UP WITH GAS, THE FUMES LINGER INSIDE THE CAR FOR OVER 24 HOURS. I'M SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AT THIS POINT AND WE'RE WONDERING WHAT ACTION TO TAKE NEXT SINCE WE DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY, WE LIVE IN A WARM STATE AND HAVE TO UTILIZE THE AC WITH THE WINDOWS UP ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY.

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I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND THEN NOT LONG MEANING MONTHS 6 MONTHS OR SO AFTER OWNING IT AFTER A RAIN I STARTED HEARING SPLASHING SOUNDS FROM THE BACK AND I FOUND WATER ALL IN THE BACK WHERE THE SPARE TIRE IS LOCATED AND THEN WATER ALL IN THE BACK SEAT FLOOR AND UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE CAR AS THEY BLAMED ME FOR NOT ROLLING UP MY WINDOWS AND AFTER COMPLAINING TO THE OWNER THEY WERE FORCED TO LOOK AND FOUND THE BACK HATCH HAD A CRACK UP UNDER THE RACK AREA, WHICH WAS CAUSING WATER TO COME IN THE CAR, THE SUN ROOF SMALL TUBES CLOGGED AND COVERED BY A RUBBER LINING CAUSING WATER TO BACK UP INTO THE BACK SEAT FLOORS. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS SOMETHING I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF AS I NEEDED TO BLOW ARE PRESSURE IN THESE SMALL TUBES OFTEN TO CLEAR DEBRIS TO PREVENT WATER FROM BACKING UP AND GOING INTO THE BACK SEAT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND THE CAR SMELLS OF MOLD AND STILL IS TAKING IN SO MUCH WATER AND THE FLOOR I FEEL IS GOING TO RUST OUT AND RENDER THE CAR USELESS. AS I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS WITH SUNROOFS AND NEVER HAVE I EVER HAD TO DO THAT AND OTHERS WHO OWN THIS KIND OF CAR DO NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE.

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I HAD A COMPLETE SERVICE PERFORMED ON MY REAR BRAKES DUE TO THEM DRAGGING AND BEING COMPLETELY WORN IN JUNE/2016, LESS THAN THREE MONTHS LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR BREAK IS DRAGGING AGAIN AND OVERHEATING. SINCE IT'S BEEN LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, I WOULD IMAGINE THAT CORROSION IS NOT THE ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE STRONG FUMES EMITTING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED NAUSEA AND HEADACHES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC STEERING GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,365. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, EXHAUST FUMES EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.

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IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE, THE WINDSHIELD TRIM FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE TRIM CAME OFF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.

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WHILE DRIVING AIR CONDITIONING CLUTCH SEIZED AND CAME APART DESTROYING SERPENTINE BELT

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THE SERVICE POWER STEERING WARNING APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE TOWING A CAMPER AT 65MPH ON THE NYS THRUWAY I PULLED INTO A SERVICE AREA SHUT OFF THE CAR AND CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE SERVICE REP TOLD ME THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE HE ASKED ME TO START THE CAR AND SEE IF THE POWER STEERING STILL WORKED I DID IT AND THE POWER STEERING DID NOT WORK THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT NO CHARGE UNDER MY WARRANTY WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED

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UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION I SMELL A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL. IT IS SO BAD I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN ALL WINDOWS AND AIR OUT CABIN. IT MAKES ME VERY DIZZY TO THE POINT OF HAVING TO PULL OFF ROAD ON MANY OCCASIONS. IT GIVES ME A HEADACHE AND AT THIS POINT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT OR HAVE MY KIDS IN CAR. I AM SCARED TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC OR ACCELERATE VERY FAST BECAUSE OF THE SMELL AND I AM AFRAID OF WHAT IT IS DOING TO ME AND MY FAMILY PHYSICALLY WITH THE PROLONGED EXPOSURE. FORD SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WHEN I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP. PLEASE HELP.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A BOLT LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,688. UPDATED 09/30/16*LJ UPDATED 10/04/16.*JB

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3RD ROW DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LEAKS WATER. MULTIPLE ONLINE INQUIRIES FROM OTHERS. AFFECTS USABILITY OF THE SEATBELT.

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VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION (NO POWER,) ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND BARELY AVOIDED AN SEVERE ACCIDENT. ORANGE WRENCH CAME ON SIGNALING A PROBLEM. SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, LIMPING HOME. SERVICE WAS DONE REPLACING FAULTY THROTTLE BODY CONTROL.

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EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN DURING HEAVY LOADS ON ENGINE. I HAVE HAD THE TSB COMPLETED BY FORD AND STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

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STEERING FAILS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE POWER ASSIST AND SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC WARNINGS COME ON. THE VEHICLE LOOSES POWER STEERING ASSIST AND IT WILL NOT RESET BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE BLINKERS WILL ALSO NOT WORK WHEN THIS ERROR HAPPENS. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN TO THE DEALER TO BE "REPROGRAMMED" BUT THAT FIX ONLY LASTED 1 1/2 DAYS. VEHICLE IS NOW UNDRIVABLE WITHOUT REPLACING THE UNIT, WHICH IS UNDER RECALL FOR 1.5 MILLION OTHER FORD VEHICLES.

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ON JULY 5, 2016 I FELL ASLEEP WHILE DRIVING MY EXPLORER IN I-495 SOUTH OF BOSTON AT ABOUT 1:00 P.M. I READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT EXHAUST FUMES IN THE CABIN OF THIS MODEL. WAREHAM FORD SAID THAT MY CAR HAD THIS PROBLEM AND REFERRED ME TO TSB 14-0130 SHOWING THAT FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS CHARGED $700.72 TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND PAY TO FIX THEM. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE IN MY CASE BUT THAT MIGHT NOT BE SO FOR THE NEXT PERSON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 30 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH CARBON DIOXIDE FUMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,370.

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