2013 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 2237 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Steering (836), Structure (439), Unknown Or Other (345).
Key takeaways
- 2237 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 | 836 | 37% |
| Structure | 439 | 20% |
| Unknown Or Other | 345 | 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 2026-10-15
Power Steering failure extremely hard to turn when in low speeds, recall on other explorers for same year
Structure - filed 2026-10-08
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side A-pillar trim had detached. The local deale...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-29
My 2013 Explorer is under recall for A-pillar trim on the front windshield. I check with my dealer monthly and they sat they have not heard a word from Ford. It has been over a year! And my trim is already failing. Ford needs to be investigated !!!
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
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.