2013 Ford Explorer problems
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 2,800 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (30%) concerns steering. Next are body & structure (16%) and engine (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,800 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Steering 30% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 61 and 16
- Injuries and deaths
- 76 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 74,000 miles 1,891 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 243 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 188 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 272 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 318 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 260 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 225 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 156 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 104 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 59 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 33 |
| 200k+ miles | 33 |
What the data shows
Of the 1,891 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 74,000 miles. For steering specifically, the median reported mileage is about 95,000 miles (617 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 61 complaints mention a crash; 16 complaints mention a fire; 76 injuries reported; 1 death reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 84% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2013 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 36 model years of the Ford Explorer with enough data (1,223 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 11 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Has there been any reported cases of a 2013 ford explorer slipping from park to reverse with the shifter? I have no specifics other than an accident where the car was physically shifted from drive to park or reverse (accidentally) after pulling into a parking lot in houma, la.. Person drove car into parking lot and possibly wanted to get out and see how far they were from curb. Car was still running and person exited vehicle and was subsequently run over.
On january 12, 2020, while driving home to florida from georgia, involved in an accident that seriously injured 26 year old driver and her 2 children, ages 8 and 4. Although the children were able to go home with weeks of the accident, the driver was left with severe injuries and impairments, traumatic brain injury, and in a coma for nearly 2 months.
2011-2015 ford explorer there is a "design flaw" in which the internal cabin air vents are sucking in exhaust and carbon monoxide. Ford has issued a fix (TSB 14-0130) but not a recall and there is a class action lawsuit. For me it is happening on acceleration and going up steep grades and there is a sulfur/mechanical burning smell that wafts in. The kids and I, as well as anyone else in the car for long durations, have been getting migraines, dizzy and just flat out sick.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle crashed into the shoulder lane wall. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags had not deployed. No injuries were sustained; however, medical attention was sought. A Police report was not filed.
My explorer limited 2013 has the power steering system damaged, locked and I almost had a horrible accident when it locked while driving. I learned about a recall for this known issue, had a chat session a couple of days ago and was informed that my vehicle did not fall into the recall dates range for barely 6 months. I contacted ford again for reconsideration? It is evident that my problem is due to a defective part exactly the same as the one covered by the recall.