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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,096 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 4 of 11)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #155

Oct 302018

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 79,693 miles

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

Initial complaint to Ford dealership re: Exhaust odors in cabin, possibly related to use of air conditioning (inspected 5/4/16, mileage 47,450, no repairs completed). Performance recall 17no3 completed 10/22/18. Exhaust odors worse after recall. Ford dealership inspected again on 10/30/18. Recommended using recirculation of cabin air at all times. Air conditioning has since stopped working. Per dealership rear A/C lines now need replacement, ext. Cost of $2,100. Cabin exhaust odors continue and inside of windshield is fogging. Odors worse when stopped at stoplights. Multiple occasions of co detection in cabin while in motion in rural areas. Elevated cohb with various health symptoms and children now complaining of car sickness. Various areas of rust also reported to dealership and new areas appearing (I.e. near drain vales of the liftgate).

- Prior Lake, MN, USA

problem #154

Sep 192019

Explorer

  • 93,296 miles
Vehicle's water pump began leaking during a normal patrol shift. We have had several of these fail at various mileages and each repair that was not under warranty has cost us around $2000 each time. I know these are not isolated incidents and that these water pumps fail often. I recall being at a fleet conference this past August and seeing a slide during a presentation from Ford and it showing the casting difference between the old style and new style pump. The old casting was thinner near the seal area and that allowed for excessive heat which caused the seal to fail. The new style pump has a thicker casting to prevent this fault. I would like to see a warranty extension or recall on the these pumps just like Ford ended up doing for the catalytic converters.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #153

Aug 292019

Explorer

  • 93,690 miles
The engine began leaking coolant caused by the water pump seal failing. We have had several others that also have had water pump failures.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #152

Feb 012018

Explorer

  • 73,763 miles

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

The engine began leaking coolant caused by the water pump seal failing. We have had several others that also have had water pump failures.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #151

Sep 092019

Explorer

  • 68,541 miles
The engine began leaking coolant caused by the water pump seal failing. We have had several others that also have had water pump failures.

- Tacoma, WA, USA

problem #150

Sep 032019

Explorer

  • 90,000 miles
Engine rattles upon startup for roughly 2 seconds. Thia is a known issue that the timing chain stretches and replacement of timing chain and phasers is needed.

- Panama City Beach, FL, USA

problem #149

Aug 012015

Explorer

  • 24,000 miles

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

I own at 2013 Ford Explorer Sport. On two separate occasions I have taken my Explorer to the dealership because we keep smelling exhaust when we accelerate. The dealership has made attempts to repair the leak but as of today it's still doing it. I called Ford today to see if has any more information they could pass along to remedy this problem and they only referred me back to the dealership. The sulfur is so bad sometimes we have to roll down the windows for fresh air which is not always good when the weather is bad. It happens with the air/heat is on and when it's not on. I'm at a loss now on how to get this repaired as it seems no one knows exactly what is causing it and no one is taking ownership of the problem.

- Pleasant Hill, OR, USA

problem #148

Aug 122019

Explorer

  • 150,000 miles
I have a 2013 Ford Explorer and have been recently experiencing random, dangerous stalls due to a faulty throttle body. I have had the throttle body cleaned twice and it continues to fail, leaving our car in a "limp-home mode" in dangerous road conditions. It usually stalls when accelerating from a low idle position, such as sitting at a stoplight and then accelerating. However, it had also stalled while traveling higher speeds and then accelerating. Once I pull off the road, the car engine shakes violently until I'm able to put in park and then turn the ignition off. After a few seconds the engine will usually restart at normal idle and proper engine function is restored until the next throttle body failure.

- Ladson, SC, USA

problem #147

Mar 042019

Explorer

  • 115,000 miles
Vehicle loses power when accelerating up hill or on flat surface. Take off power is dimished and vehicle will sometimes die unexpectedly when accelerating.

- Hanceville, AL, USA

problem #146

Aug 022019

Explorer

  • 104,000 miles
Front manifold crack that is allowing exhaust fumes to enter the vehicle.

- Jackson, KY, USA

problem #145

Jul 112019

Explorer

  • 56,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While pulling into a parking space and making a right turn, the engine suddenly shut off. After restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. During the failure, the power steering suddenly became inoperable and the steering wheel was difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The failure mileage was 56,000.

- Indian Rocks Beach, FL, USA

problem #144

Jun 112019

Explorer

  • 55,580 miles
While driving, engine stalls, with inability to accelerate, requiring vehicle to be stopped, turned off and restarted. A check engine light then appeared, which after taking vehicle to local dealership was determined to be a faulty throttle body which I was told has been common in Ford vehicles/makes/models

- Grovetown, GA, USA

problem #143

Nov 202012

Explorer

  • miles
The vehicle been at the dealership many times because carbon monoxide fume inside the vehicle. This have cause many health problems to me and my wife (such as headaches, drowsiness etc.).

- Aguada, PR, USA

problem #142

May 082019

Explorer

  • 127,000 miles
Vehicle experiencing intermittent engine shut off under all driving conditons which exhibits a serious and dangerous situation when the vehicle abrubtly loses total power while driving. This has recently been an issue in the past two weeks while my wife and kids were driving on the freeway at 70 mph in traffic. Vehicle started back up once the ignition was turned completely off and waited a few minutes to start the vehicle back up. This scenario occurred on the freeway, in town driving and while stopped at traffic light. Contacted local Ford dealership and all they said was to bring it in. I had a mechanic check it out and he was unable to retrieve any engine codes while running an ECU scan. There are several complaints noted online with other Ford Explorer owners who have attributed it to a "terrain management" fault. This is the same diagnosis my local mechanic came up with. This results in the engine control module to receive a throttle position in the wide open indication causing the vehicle to shut off. The vehicle is currently being operated in oahu, Hawaii. I am currently deployed to the middle East so I am very concerned for the safety of my family while this is the only mode of transportation available to them.

- Apo, AP, USA

problem #141

May 082019

Explorer

  • 99,000 miles
We have noticed a car exhaust odor in our vehicle while at a standstill. The odor comes and goes and we are not sure what is causing it. It seems that car exhaust is coming into the vehicle through the car's ventilation system. The dealer ship could not find the issue. The vehicle did have the Ford carbon monoxide customer satisfaction program completed.

- Dexter, MI, USA

problem #140

Jan 012019

Explorer

  • 138,636 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was idling or being driven, the contact noticed an abnormal sulfur odor inside and outside of the vehicle. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated. The contact called tamiami Ford (1471 airport pulling rd N, naples, fl 34104, (239) 643-3673) and scheduled a service appointment. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired in December of 2017 per NHTSA campaign number: 15V812000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 138,636.

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #139

Jun 012018

Explorer

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. On several occasions, while driving, excessive exhaust fumes and a fuel odor entered the vehicle. The contact suffered headaches and dizziness due to the exhaust fumes. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was taken to kenny ross Ford South (located at 3200 library rd, castle shannon, pa 15234, (412) 881-0001) where the mechanic stated there was a definite odor in the vehicle; however, he was unsure if it was carbon monoxide. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #138

Feb 132018

Explorer

  • 30 miles
Twice bring to the dealership about carbon monoxide leak in cabin" making sick nauzia feeling I'll? now look like my lungs are swallowing" please tell me what to

- Saint Rose, LA, USA

problem #137

Jan 012018

Explorer

  • 60,000 miles
Timing chain stretch. $3,000 to fix

- Glenwood Landing, NY, USA

problem #136

Nov 282018

Explorer

  • 66,000 miles
Exhaust fumes inside vehicle causing nausea and headaches. Happening consistantly for the last 3yrs

- Temecula, CA, USA

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