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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
41,274 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2013 Ford Explorer body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2013 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 8 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #65

Mar 052017

Explorer

  • 71,800 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The right side passenger windshield moulding flew off of my car when I was on the highway I believe- heard a sound but did not realize what happened. This is not a wear and tear item. There is now damage to the side door where it hit the car. I was told by the Ford dealer that this is something they have seen happen but Ford has not done a recall. I am very concerned about the danger of this part flying off a car.

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

problem #64

Dec 302016

Explorer

  • 41,060 miles
Recently, on the hood of my car, the paint has started bubbling. Apparently this is a known issue and Ford issed tsb about it. I have not choice but to replace the entire hood as there is no way to repair these areas.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #63

Mar 132017

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles
We bought the vehicle used and with 48 hours noticed an exhaust smell inside cabin when sitting at a traffic light or stop sign.

- Douds, IA, USA

problem #62

Oct 012016

Explorer

  • 98,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front passenger and driver door failed to close correctly. The contact would close and lock the doors; however, the overhead light and the warning indicator on the instrument panel remained illuminated, which indicated that the doors were not closed. The contact had to close the door several times until the lights were no longer illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

- Saginaw, MI, USA

problem #61

Jan 162015

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles
The paint on the front edge of the hood started bubbling after about 2 years. After 3 years the paint started coming off. Currently there are 3 dime sized spots where the paint has come off exposing the corroded metal hood. It appears the hood was not properly prepped before paint. This is a widespread problem on Ford vehicles and should be recalled.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #60

Mar 042017

Explorer

  • 86,900 miles
The windshield trim on my 2013 Ford Explorer flew off while driving on the highway March 4th. The next day, the right/passenger side flew off as well. Neither time was I hit or hit anything. Many people have filed complaints about this happening to their Explorer, yet Ford tried to charge me $700 for repairs. I do not believe I am liable for this and I also believe an incident like this could have caused serious damage and/or hurt another driver if they had been behind me.

- Mission, KS, USA

problem #59

Nov 182015

Explorer

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Paint bubbling and flaking on the hood.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #58

Dec 212015

Explorer

  • 37,800 miles
Contamination of the metal in the hood at the factory is causing the paint to bubble and flake off.

- Laurel Springs, NC, USA

problem #57

Oct 272016

Explorer

  • 40,000 miles
My car regularly shows that the driver door is ajar. It will not register that it closes, and will not allow me to lock the door. This happens on a daily basis for no apparent reason and I must repeatedly open and shut the door indefinitely until it finally registers that the door is closed. This faulty door sensor/latch issue has been recalled on other Ford models but not the Explorer yet to my knowledge. It happens when the vehicle is both parked and in motion. I noted the most recent date on the calendar but this has been happening for several months now.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #56

Oct 122016

Explorer

  • 68,000 miles
At a speed of 65 to 70 mph on Indiana hyw 31 a very loud sound shook my car--I thought I had hit something--looking via the real view mirror I saw the car following me jerk into the other lane--I put on my warning flashers and pulled over as did the car following me. The young man thought I had thrown something out my window which bounced off this windshield--he was not at all happy!!!!! what had happened was the big black windshield molding- driver side----approx. 3 X 37 in long broke off from my car flew back and bounced off this windshield. We could not see any damage to his car. He told me he only saw this big black something about to hit him and jerked the wheel into the left lane. On inspection of my car 4 of the 8 hold points were missing--it appears the molding at the hood points let loose which caused the rest of the big molding to tear loose.

- Fishers, IN, USA

problem #55

Apr 042016

Explorer

  • 45,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. After it rained, the vehicle accumulated water on the interior passenger floor, the seat belts were saturated, and water entered through the vents and poured out from the headlights. When the vehicle came to a stop, the contact heard the sound of water throughout the body of the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact also observed the smell of mold. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there were no open recalls. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #54

Sep 292016

Explorer

  • miles
Takata recall Ford 2013 Explorer was taken into harrison Ford, wellington oh on May 5/15/2015 for NHTSA recall 15V171 (interior door handle spring). Dropped off and picked up same day. Explorer was and still having signals as front driver side ajar. For a while the door had quit to my knowledge. Fast forward to today 9/29/2016 Explorer was taken into dealership for continuous displacement for door being "ajar". dealership above printed the notes about car having factory recall being done. Even the service desk clerk questioned said notes from technician. As a result I was charged $106.94 for a diagnostic, and Explorer was not fixed. I even asked why would my VIN show up on this website " NHTSA". no answer. The driver door will not close, per my information screen. It concerns me if it is not closed, could it be the spring from the recall that was not fixed? I do have an invoice attached to show work was supposedly completed on said day. Also today I was charged $2.55 for a handle I was never made aware of today 9/29/2016

- Lagrange, OH, USA

problem #53

Jul 222016

Explorer

  • 60,000 miles
The driver side door at times will not latch, has swung open while driving, and the door handle at times is almost falling off.

- Round Rock, TX, USA

problem #52

Nov 012015

Explorer

  • 70,000 miles
Corrosion bubbles on hood. It is a sahem on a 2013 truck.

- South Lyon, MI, USA

problem #51

Jan 042016

Explorer

  • 37,000 miles
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.

- Jenkintown, PA, USA

problem #50

May 022016

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles
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.

- Dunedin, FL, USA

problem #49

Jun 262016

Explorer

  • 45,000 miles
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.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #48

Aug 192016

Explorer

  • miles
3rd row drivers side seat belt leaks water. Multiple online inquiries from others. Affects usability of the seatbelt.

- Decatur, TX, USA

problem #47

Oct 012015

Explorer

  • 34,000 miles
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.

- Geneva, FL, USA

problem #46

Sep 012015

Explorer

  • 45,000 miles
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.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

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