2013 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 2239 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Steering (837), Structure (439), Unknown Or Other (345).
Key takeaways
- 2239 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 | 837 | 37% |
| Structure | 439 | 20% |
| Unknown Or Other | 345 | 15% |
| Engine | 226 | 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%.
Parts for the 2013 Ford Explorer
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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 2026-11-05
Vehicle exhibits identical dangerous low-speed steering binding and loss of electronic power assist as described in Recall 14S06, but my VIN is excluded due to an arbitrary build date cut-off. Build Date of 08/2012. Recall cut off of 02/2012
Engine - filed 2026-11-04
They’re been multiple occasions when my daughter and I are driving to either school or Daycare, where she would yell in the backseat that it smells back there. After having myself sit back and ride as my wife, I experienced lightheadedness, dizziness, and would smell like exhaust fumes in the car. I have read multiple ...
Steering - filed 2026-10-15
Power Steering failure extremely hard to turn when in low speeds, recall on other explorers for same year
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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.