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.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality while driving. The vehicle was turned off and restarted and regained normal steering functionality. The failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed that the battery, alternator, and transmission needed to be replaced. The battery and alternator were replaced. The dealer also performed three recall repairs for the door, rear toe link, and exhaust. and the battery and alternator were replaced. The failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for transmission repair. The vehicle remained at the mechanic's. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The failure mileage was 200,000.
I started my car after work (this is after a 12 hr sit time) and seen I had a fault on my dashboard, power steering assist and service advance faults. So in short, I do not have power steering, nor do I have my 4WD, and for some reason my turn signal does not work for steady on. The turn signal works for lane changes but not for steady on turning.
Four 2013 Ford Explorer ran hot while I was operating the vehicle. We thought it was low on antifreeze so we added some. Out of precaution, we began monitoring the antifreeze level and notice that the level would drop, over a couple of weeks, enough which required us to have to add more antifreeze. My wife called Ford's service department to schedule an appointment to determine/confirm the problem. We were told that it sounds like the water pump was may be defective. On our way to the appointment, the vehicle shut down and had to be towed the rest of the way. Upon inspection, we were told that antifreeze had leaked into the engine, and further, the engine was damaged because of a broken timing chain.
All terrain management system continuously faults even after being it repaired in 2016, it was okay for 2 years started again faulting every now and then in 2019. This year the all terrain management system stopped work completely in March. At first the vehicle had to be in motion for it to fault but now it happens right after starting the SUV. This is an extreme safety issue as it seems to loose grip of the road no matter the weather.
I have had the vehicle for about three months and have had more problems from it then anyone can imagine from the wrench light ( transmission) to the torque converter to camshaft codes to converters to sensors, ac condenser went out, brake issues after replacing new pads and rotors, this has been a nightmare. The truck only has 84K miles and I have experienced more issues from it then any vehicle I have ever had. Ford really made junk this time.
- Mchenry, IL, USA
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My wife experience "spontaneous acceleration" of our Ford Explorer. My wife was pulling into a walgreens parking lot, slowed down to turn into a parking space when the car lunged forward at a high rate of speed. My wife had her foot on the brake as she was entering the space, but the brake could not control the car. There was an extreme and spontaneous acceleration. Once the car hit the pole, it automatically shifted into reverse even with my wife applying the brake. The car came to a stop after hitting a parked truck. Additionally, the air bags did not deploy even though there was enough force on the front end to make the airbags deploy.
My 2013 Ford explore keeps cutting off completely while driving. A wrench comes up on my dash and also terrain management come up. I pull over cut the car off wait a minute and it starts. I understand this happens quite often with Explorer. Shouldn't Ford be responsible for this due to being very dangerous. Please look into this🙏
At first the car was vibrating a little when downshifting from 45 to a stop. After a few months, the engine sputters and then seizes up and dies when put in drive from park and also from park to reverse. When stopping the car still feels like the downshift is faulty and when at the complete stop the feels like it going to lose power and die. The car has no trouble codes. Took the car to the dealership and the mechanic seem to immediately know what was wrong with the car. They troubleshooted it and called to tell me that they couldn't find any issues, but that it has to be a internal transmission issue and would have to remove transmission and tear down for inspection or replace with a new transmission on a 8 year, 64000 miles, 1st owner car. This car has low miles, stored inside a garage and is maintained at the dealership for oil changes and maintenance.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the drive way the power steering ceased and became difficult to maneuver. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to owatonna Ford-Lincoln located at (1001 hoffman dr nw, owatonna, mn 55060 507-451-7860 ) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering gear and cam bolt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
Steering become hard cant move the wheel or make any turn... and the light of service power steering and service advance trac came on. I almost have a accident do to this problem.
2013 Ford Explorer limited 4WD 3.5L became undriveable in a matter of 4 days. It started as a squeal as I accelerated from a stop and quickly escalated to lurching, pulsating and bumping at all speeds. Mechanic initially thought it was a caliper that was locked up but when I brought it back 2 days later after the problem persisted and worsened he realized that the transfer case was faulty. He noted that Ford is notorious for faulty transfer cases and horrible warranties that end before the parts go. I'm told that my vehicle could lock up at any moment and cause me to not be able to react putting my families safety and those around me in danger. Help please! I'm told this is a common issue and not isolated to my vehicle. Multiple phone calls to Ford have me on hold for 15+ minutes with no sound and then phone call ends without the chance to talk to a representative. My vehicle had roughly 94,000 miles at the time. Repair cost was estimated between $3,000 - $5,000.
It occurs 1 to 4 times while I'm driving. All of a suddenly the the gas pedal doesn't work and the terrain management system is off. I have to turn off the engine in the middle of the road in order for it to work again. Also, there's a weird smell coming coming out when all windows are closed and the ac is on.
My car began lurching when I was driving and began leaking oil. When I took it in, I found out the pto needed repaired. The transfer case was filled with metal and covered in metal shards. Mechanic said the car wasn't driveable and would be dangerous to have on the road.
Received a message on my dashboard " power assist fault", the steering was stiff and could not turn. Turn off the car for 10 minutes and the steering was functioning ok. Later in the afternoon, I was about to hit the gas pump as my steering went stiff again. Now am scared that this may cause accident
Since I've had this vehicle it jerks back and clicks as the transmission switches gear. Normally between 3 and 4th gear it seems. More importantly its overheating and leaking coolant! same issue as Fusion and other SUV Ford offers. This seems to me like a fire hazard that should be recalled in all Ford. It leaks when parked. And overheats if the ac is in use. The leak was out of nowhere and suddenly. The fuel sensor is also weak.
Front sway bar links have been knocking over 1 year ago. At the time my car was only 5 years old. At first the Ford dealership they thought it was valve body in the suspension the first time they checked. Explorer was jerking when I slowed down to a stop. The second time I took it in they said it was the throttle body. They replaced that because I complained that I have had so many problems with a 5 to 6 year old car. Only has 77,000 miles on it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Cincinnati, OH, USA