2013 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 2234 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Steering (835), Structure (438), Unknown Or Other (344).
Key takeaways
- 2234 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 44 involve a crash, 11 a fire, 61 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 835 | 37% |
| Structure | 438 | 20% |
| Unknown Or Other | 344 | 15% |
| Engine | 225 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 163 | 7% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 120 | 5% |
| Power Train | 119 | 5% |
| Suspension | 79 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 67 | 3% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 45 | 2% |
| Back Over Prevention | 38 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 38 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2013 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering - filed 2026-09-17
The steering rack limiter on the passenger side dislodged itself and got caught on the rack and pinion teeth causing my wheel to get stuck
Engine - filed 2026-09-17
The water pump on these explorers are internal and if not caught by a professional in time, the water pump will fail and cause catastrophic engine failure
Unknown Or Other,back Over Prevention - filed 2026-09-04
THE BACKUP CAMERA HAS STOPPED WORKING, THE BEEPING SENSOR STILL ALARMS WHEN TO CLOSE BUT THE CAMERA DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.
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More for the 2013 Ford Explorer
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.