What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2013 Ford Explorer

Typical pattern

5.6% of complaints about the 2013 Ford Explorer came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2013 vehicle — around the middle of the 210 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 6.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is steering (838 complaints), typically at 7.4 yr or about 95,000 miles.

Complaints
2,767
Median age at failure
6.8 yr
Median mileage
75,000 n=1869
Crash / fire / tow
6.3% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Steering
838 reports · 95,000 mi
7.4 yr
8%
Structure
438 reports · 70,000 mi
10.5 yr
2.1%
Other
338 reports · 59,800 mi
5.1 yr
5.9%
Engine
218 reports · 58,000 mi
4.7 yr
8.3%
Electrical system
162 reports · 57,120 mi
6.7 yr
4.9%
Fuel / propulsion
119 reports · 50,000 mi
4.4 yr
1.7%
Power train
117 reports · 62,000 mi
6.3 yr
8.5%
Suspension
79 reports · 100,000 mi
8.3 yr
11.4%
Engine cooling
64 reports · 70,000 mi
3.9 yr
7.8%
Electronic stability control (esc)
45 reports · 81,500 mi
6.3 yr
0%
Back over prevention
39 reports · 120,000 mi
10.3 yr
2.6%
Speed control
38 reports · 49,000 mi
4.2 yr
7.9%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

24V031000 2024-01-19
Structure:body:roof and pillars

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

21V746000 2021-09-22
Suspension:rear

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

21V537000 2021-07-15
Suspension:rear

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

20V675000 2021-03-12
Suspension:rear

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

19V435000 2019-06-10
Suspension:rear

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

17E048000 2017-08-28
Wheels:hub

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

15V812000 2015-12-02
Fuel system

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

15V171000 2015-03-24
Structure:body:door

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.

If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

14V286000 2014-05-29
Steering:electric power assist system

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.

If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

13V270000 2013-06-26
Latches / locks

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.

If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.

In owners’ own words

Structure 350 mi 0 mo in service
RECENTLY TRADED A 2011 FORD EXPLORER FOR A 2013. THE 2011 DEVELOPED A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE SEAM ON THE FRONT UNDERSIDE EDGE OF THE HOOD. WE DID NOT WANT OUR 12K MILE CAR PAINTED ON SO WE TRADED IT FOR A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. 3 WEEKS AND 300 MILES LATER I OPENED THE HOOD WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND THE CORROSION HAS ALREADY STARTED CAUSING PAINT TO POP OFF THE UNDERSIDE ALONG THE SEAM SEALER. SO FAR FORD HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. FORD HAS A CORROSION / PAINT ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHER'S WITH ALUMINUM HOODS.
Structure 1,800 mi 8 mo in service
WATER COMING IN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE THIRD ROW PASSENGER SEATBELT..IT THEN DRIPS ON THE SEAT ..HAD IT AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES ALREADY..THEY DO NOT HAVE A CLUE HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
Structure mileage not reported 1.2 yr in service
2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE KEYPAD ENTRY SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEYPAD IS ENCLOSED IN A PLASTIC CASING AND OPENS MAYBE ONE OUT OF THREE TRIES, WHICH MAKES IT VIRTUALLY USELESS AS AN ENTRY INTO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NO FIX.
Seat belts 1,200 mi 0 mo in service
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UN-LATCH WHEN OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE OTHER TWO REAR SEATS WERE NOT IN A FULLY RECLINED POSITION. THE DOWNWARD POSITIONING OF THE TWO SEATS COVERED THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. UPDATED 10/26/12 *CN

Other Explorer model years

20252023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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