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

THE THROTTLE BODY FAILS CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO ENTER "LIMP" MODE REGARDLESS OF LOCATION OR CURRENT SPEED. WILL GO 70 ON A HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN LOSE SPEED AND SPEED CONTROL. THIS ISSUE CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN ACCELERATING, SLOWING DOWN, ETC. THE BIGGEST WORRY IS LOSING SPEED CONTROL REGARDLESS OF LOCATION. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN OTHER FORD MODELS AND IS BEING VOLUNTARILY REPAIRED (BY FORD). HOWEVER, FOR SOME REASON THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS. OBVIOUSLY LOSING THROTTLE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING, HENCE FORDS VOLUNTARY REPAIR OF THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE STARTED TWO WEEKS AGO AND RANDOMLY HAPPENS. LAST HAPPENED ON 05 AUG 2016.

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THE DOOR SENSOR INDICATES THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IN REALITY IT IS CLOSED. THIS CAUSES A WARNING BELL THAT DOES NOT CEASE AND KEEPS THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CONDITION ALSO CAUSES THE ALARM SYSTEM TO GO OFF RESULTING AT TIMES IN A POLICE RESPONSE. IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM YOU MUST SHUT THE DOOR REPEATEDLY, SOMETIMES A DOZEN TIMES OR MORE. THIS ALSO HAS RUN THE BATTERY DOWN DUE TO THE DOME LIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES STAYING ON. APART FROMT HE OBVIOUS FRUSTRATION THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING BUT A CHRONIC AND REPEATED PROBLEM THAT HAS NO REAL RESOLUTION. I SEE OTHER FORD USERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FORD EXPLORERS.

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WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS SET TO FRESH AIR AND NOT RECIRCULATE, EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION. THIS CAN BE REPRODUCED EVERY TIME BY A SLOW SPEED OF 5 MILES AND THEN HARD ACCELERATION UNTIL SPEED LIMIT. THIS THEN LEAVES THE CABIN FULL OF STRONG EXHAUST FUMES. ON LONG ROAD TRIPS WE OFTEN HAVE HEADACHES THAT WE BELIEVE IS CAUSED BY THIS EVEN WITHOUT HARD ACCELERATION.

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SINCE THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE, WE BECAME AWARE OF A VERY STRONG EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN UPON HARD ACCELERATION. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. FIRST COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP WHEN I BROUGHT IN FOR FIRST OIL CHANGE AND THEY BASICALLY BLEW ME OFF AND CLAIMED THEY FOUND NOTHING. THAT WAS BACK IN 2013. WE HAVE SINCE USED A CARBON MONOXIDE TESTER IN THE VEHICLE THAT CONFIRMS AN ISSUE WITH LEVELS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED REPEATEDLY EVERY TIME WE ACCELERATE HARD FROM THE FIRST WEEK WE OWNED THE VEHICLE, TO CURRENTLY. IT SEEMS LIKE IT MIGHT EVEN BE GETTING STRONGER IN SMELL AND LINGERS LONGER.

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I HAVE TAKEN MY 2013 EXPLORER INTO THE DEALER SHIP TWICE THE FIRST TIME I TOOK MY CAR IN I TOLD THEM THEIR WAS SOME THING WRONG WITH THE IDEAL. WHEN I'M SITTING WITH IT IDALING IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO DIE. DID NOT FIX IT THEN WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK IT BACK IN A FEW MONTHS LATER COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS MY THROTTLE BODY IT WOULD COST ME 450.00 TO FIX IT. THAT IT SHOULD OF BEEN DONE THE FIRST TIME. SECOND COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN THE OUT SIDE AIR IS OFF AND HAVE THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING ON HAVING TO ACCELERATE UP A HILL OR ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES TO STEP ON THE GAS WE GET A LOT OF FUMES INTO THE CAR. HAVING TO ROLL THE DOWN THE WINDOWS TO GET THE FUMES OUT.

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TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. PROBLEM ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY FAULTY INSTALLATION OF BOTH WIRING HARNESSES AT FACTORY. BOTH WERE REPLACED. SECOND VEHICLE IN OUR FLEET WITH THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE STARTED LOSING ACCELERATION; PROBLEM TRACED TO FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. SECOND VEHICLE IN OUR FLEET WITH THIS PROBLEM.

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ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CAR STALLED AFTER DE-ACCELERATING TO A STOPPED POSITION AND MADE A "CLUNK" SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA. DURING THE FIRST EVENT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VERY NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" WAS HEARD THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WAS RE-STARTED AND SEEMED TO DRIVE NORMALLY. TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. DURING THE SECOND EVENT AT A STOP SIGN, ANOTHER VERY NOTICEABLE "CLUNK" WAS HEARD FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR AND THE CAR ACTUALLY SHIFTED SO THAT IT WAS FELT BY THE BODY. AFTER RE-STARTING THE CAR THIS TIME AND PLACING IT INTO DRIVE, THIS TIME THE CAR DID NOT MOVE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. INSTEAD, ONLY THE ENGINE REVVED UP. IN ADDITION, WHEN PUTTING THE GEAR INTO THE REVERSE OR DRIVE POSITION, THAT LOUD "CLUNK" SOUND AND THE PHYSICAL SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE ALSO HAPPENED. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD LITERALLY NOT GO, WE CALLED FOR A TOW-TRUCK AND TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. AT THE DEALERSHIP, A CUSTOMER CARE REP AND A TECHNICIAN CAME OUTSIDE TO LOOK AT THE CAR. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND DRIVE, THE SAME "CLUNK" AND SHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WAS OBSERVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY BOTH MEN. HOWEVER, AT THIS POINT THE CAR WOULD MOVE FORWARD WHEN APPLYING THE GAS. WE LEFT THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION. WHEN FOLLOWING UP EARLY THE NEXT WEEK, ,WE WERE INFORMED THAT THEY HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 100 MILES OVER THE COURSE OF THREE TRIPS AND THE CAR WAS RUNNING NORMALLY. ALSO, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC/EVALUATION OF THE PCM AND TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW ANYTHING WAS WRONG. IN MY OPINION, THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS HERE: #1, THE STALLING/TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND #2, THE INABILITY TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM FOR SUCH A MAJOR EVENT

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LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING.

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I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 FORD EXPLORER IN PUERTO RICO ON NOVEMBER 2014. SINCE THE FIRST DAY IT LEAKED EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING. AFTER MORE THAN 10 SERVICE VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD BY FORD FIELD SERVICE ENGINEER CARLOS J. DOMINGUEZ "THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN, THE ANGLE AND HEIGHT IT STANDS FROM THE ROAD AND THE VACUUM THAT CAUSED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED". I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LYMPHOMA - CANCER A YEAR AND A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER. I TRADED IT IN FOR A NEW 2016 FORD EXPLORER LAST MAY IN THE HOPE THE NEW MODEL DID NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, BUT IT DOES. AFTER DEALERSHIP CONSULTED FORD, THEY ASKED ME TO BRING THE UNIT IN TO PERFORM THE SAME REMEDIES AS MY PREVIOUS 2013 FORD EXPLORER UNIT. CONSULTED MY ONCOLOGIST AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY THAT MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER MIGHT HAVE CAUSED MY LYMPHOMA CANCER.

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EXHAUST SMELL IN INTERIOR OF VEHICLE. I TYPICALLY DRIVE WITH A/C OR HEAT ON (SEASONALLY) AND ALWAYS USE OUTSIDE AIR (NO RE-CIRCULATION). SMELL IS MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT OR OTHERWISE NOT IN MOTION. HAVE TRIED TWO SERVICE CALLS RECENTLY WITH NO RESOLUTION. AN ADDITIONAL RELATED ISSUE IS AN EVEN STRONGER FUEL SMELL IN MY GARAGE. THIS IS MORE OF A PRE-COMBUSTION SMELL. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THIS IS NORMAL AS A RESULT OF THE CAPLESS GAS TANK FILTER SYSTEM. DEFINITELY A HEALTH HAZARD FOR ANYONE ENTERING THE GARAGE, AND THE SMELL GETS INTO THE HOUSE. THESE ISSUES HAVE PERSISTED FOR THE PAST 6-12 MONTHS, GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. TO DATE, THE DEALER HAS NO RESOLUTION FOR EITHER ISSUE. PLEASE HELP.

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ON 7/29/16 AS I WAS DRIVING HOME (LESS THAN A TEN MILES) AFTER WASHING MY VEHICLE A WARNING LIGHT WITH A WRENCH CAME ON AND I LOSS ACCELERATION VEHICLE WENT FROM 50 MPH TO 5 MPH UNSURE DUE SPEEDOMETER BECOMING INOPERATIVE I PULLED OVER INTO A SHOPPING CENTER STOPPED ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT AGAIN I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AT WHICH TIME I HAD ACCELERATION AGAIN AT WHICH TIME I CONTINUED HOME ARRIVED AND PARKED THE VEHICLE.

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EXHAUST FUMES IN OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT. WHILE ACCELERATING EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST THE EXPLORER. OUR 2013 FORD EDGE ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A VENT LEAK THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,718. UPDATED 10/07/16*LJ *CN

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AS WITH MOST FORD'S MY EXPLORER HAS SIGNIFICANT PAINT BUBBLING ON THE HOOD. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH FORD'S AND THEY NEVER MENTIONED IT TO ME AS AN OWNER. I ONLY NOTICED IT AFTER AN UNRELATED FENDER BENDER AND THE BODY SHOP POINTED IT OUT TO ME. MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY BY A FEW THOUSAND MILES BUT CLEARLY THE PROBLEM DID NOT JUST OCCUR AFTER THEY WARRANTY ENDED BUT I NEVER THOUGH TO LOOK AT THE PAINT ON MY HOOD. IF FORD HAD DONE THE RIGHT THING AND TOLD OWNERS TO LOOK OUT FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT AND CORRECT ANY DEFECTIVE HOODS REGARDLESS OF THE WARRANTY, IT WOULD HAVE SHOWN SOME LOYALTY TO ITS CUSTOMERS. I AM DONE BUYING FORD'S AND WILL ADVISE ANYONE I KNOW NOT TO BUY FORD.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V286000 (STEERING). WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE WINDSHIELD WOULD VIBRATE AND THE AMBIENT LIGHTING WOULD DEFAULT TO WHITE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH HINDERED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF ALL THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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FOR 2 YEARS NOW I HAVE BEEN SMELLING FUMES IN MY CAR, BUT UNABLE TO PIN POINT THE SMELL. AFTER TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I'M SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR EVEN EXTENDED WARRANTY PURCHASED, EVEN THOUGH OUR SAFETY IS AT RISK INHALING CARBON MONOXIDE. MY 5 CHILDREN ARE CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING OF HEADACHES, AS I HAVE HAD. I WASN'T EVER ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE, BUT AM COMING TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS THE CAUSE. FORD IS UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND NEEDS TO MAKE THIS RIGHT WITH THE CONSUMERS.

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I SMELL GAS IN THE CAR THIS HAS BEEN GOING FOR A WHILE

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THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING QUIT WORKING ON MY CAR. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY CAR'S YEAR MODEL FOR THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, FORD SAID IT DOES NOT COVER THE MONTH MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME THEY VERIFIED THAT IT WAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM THAT THE RECALLED VEHICLES HAD. I THEN OPENED UP A CASE NUMBER WITH FORD AND AFTER A MONTH OF WAITING THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE COVERING THIS DEFECT. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO STEER AND SOMETIMES NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. HOWEVER, FORD DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.

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BOUGHT A USED FORD EXPLORE XLT WITH 32K MILES. AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE SUV I AM NOTICING THAT WHENEVER I FULLY PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS PEDDLE TO INCREASE MY ACCELERATION WHETHER I AM MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY, CHANGING LANES OR SCALING A HILL, THE CABIN IS FILLED WITH A STRONG EMISSIONS ODOR. WHICH WORRIES ME BECAUSE I NORMALLY HAVE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. AS I LET UP ON THE GAS PEDDLE THE ODOR DISSIPATES. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ODOR WHEN I HAVE MY MAX A/C FUNCTION ON WHICH IS USING RECIRCULATED AIR.

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STRONG SULFUR SMELL IN CABIN OF VEHICLE AFTER MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCELERATION. EX: ACCELERATING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP. THE SMELL GENERALLY COMES THROUGH AFTER SUSTAINED ACCELERATION WITH ENGINE RPM OVER 4000 AND SEEMS TO BE ORIGINATING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

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FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT EXTEND

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WHEN AIR CONDITIONER AUXILIARY IS ON THE SMELL OF EXHAUST OR FUME IS BEING SMELT COMING THRU THE AIR VENTS. ALSO I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A DELAY IN TAKE OFF WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL.

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ALUMINUM HOOD CORROSION CAUSING PAINT TO BUBBLE AND CHIP.

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CAR HAS AUXILIARY A/C SYSTEM AND CABIN WILL FILL WITH EXHAUST SMELL AFTER MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. THIS IS TO SAY AFTER HEAVY ACCELERATION AND THEN BACKING OFF TO TRAFFIC SPEED YOU CAN SMELL EXHAUST IN THE CAR AND WHEN I DO I OPEN A BACK WINDOW TO GET RID OF THE ODOR. HAVE PERSONALLY GOTTEN HEADACHES AFTER LONGER DRIVES AND NOW SUSPECT EXHAUST. A/C SETTINGS ARE IN RECIRCULATION WITH THE AUXILIARY SYSTEM ON ALSO. DEALERSHIP HAD A TECH RIDE WITH ME AND WE WENT FOR A DRIVE IN THE CAR, HE DID NOT SMELL THE EXHAUST TO THE SAME DEGREE AS I DID BUT SAID THERE WAS A TSB TO SEAL THE REAR AREA OF THE CAR AND THE REAR VALANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE TAKEN OFF. (RATHER LONG JOB) DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST ABOUT $669 AND IS NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR BY A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS SOMETHING I THINK THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

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DELAY OR LAG UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION, WAS MAKING A LEFT ONTO INCOMING TRAFFIC, SHOULD HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES BUT THERE WAS ABOUT A 3 SECOND DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE REALLY KICKED IN ENDED UP ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I'VE NEVER FELT SO POWERLESS TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN VEER OUT OF THE LANE TO AVOID GETTING HIT

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