Vehicle Data Hub

2013 Ford Explorer steering problems

843 complaints about steering have been filed for the 2013 Ford Explorer, which is 30% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
843 30% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
95,000 miles 617 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
12 and 1
Injuries and deaths
5 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When steering problems show up

Steering complaints by mileage, 2013 Ford Explorer Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 95,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 33 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 14 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 54 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 121 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 111 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 88 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 80 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 50 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 27 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 19 complaints 200k+ miles: 20 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 95,000 miles
Based on 617 complaints that include mileage. 16% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles33
20k to 40k miles14
40k to 60k miles54
60k to 80k miles121
80k to 100k miles111
100k to 120k miles88
120k to 140k miles80
140k to 160k miles50
160k to 180k miles27
180k to 200k miles19
200k+ miles20

What the data shows

Of the 617 steering complaints that report mileage, the median is about 95,000 miles, and 16% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 12 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries.

What owners wrote

Tl* the contact owned a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 35 MPH and making a sharp left turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a concussion and required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.

Reported at 24,000 miles, July 2014 CrashInjury

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.

Reported at 125,000 miles, November 2018

Other problems reported for the 2013 Ford Explorer

Steering problems in other years

Steering problems across all Ford models