2013 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- 375
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 375 stored complaint records:
- 5 indicate a crash
- 1 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- power steering · 140 records
- steering wheel · 36 records
- steering assist · 28 records
- steering failed · 16 records
- power assist · 12 records
- steering failure · 12 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 159 |
| 100–150k mi | 86 |
| 30–60k mi | 59 |
| 1–30k mi | 36 |
| 150–400k mi | 12 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Steering
On several occasions we had noticed difficulty steering in our 2013 ford explorer. On nov 18, 2014 this problem nearly caused a crash, prompting us to take it to our dealership prior to a lengthy thanksgiving trip. Our dealership went through multiple systems checks with no resolve. They contacted their representative for further instruction. The vehicle remained at the dealership from nov 24,2014 until the dealer…
ODI 10721893
Air Bags · Steering
Tl* the contact owned a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 35 mph and making a sharp left turn, the steering wheel seized. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a concussion and required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed and the manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 24,000.
Crash reported · 1 injury
ODI 10629337
Instrument Cluster/Panel · Steering · Windshield
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving at various speeds, the steering became very difficult to control. When the contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, the steering resumed normal operation. The dealer stated that the vin was excluded from nhtsa campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). While driving various speeds, the windshield would vibrate and the ambient lighting would default to white…
ODI 10887864
Steering
Steering power support stopped without warning during a turn at lower speed. Car became almost impossible to control. Fault lights included stability, traction, and environmental control errors came on as the steering power support ended. Fuse and mechanism appear undamaged. Turning the car on and off did not remove the fault. *tr
ODI 10595230
Steering
Police vehicle - attempting to catch up to a vehicle, power steering went out.. Was unable to steer and warning light stated power steering assist failure. Dealer said they show no fault codes and gave it back to us. See hundreds of complains of this same nature on ford forums. *tr
ODI 10560767
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph, the power steering failed intermittently without warning. The vehicle became increasingly difficult to control. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the power steering needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10597411
Steering
I went to subway to get something to eat and got back in car to leave and the steering assist fault service required light came on and steering wheel is very tight. I turned the car off and back on and it's not resetting. I have a tow truck on there way right not. I live in north dakota and had this happened on a highway going a high rate of speed would have been very scary. This car is not even 3 months old and has…
ODI 10556918
Steering
I was changing lanes from the left to the right. When i went to straighten out in the lane the electronic power steering failed, while the wheel was cut to the right. Luckily, i was able to use both my hands to force the wheel back. I found it difficult to steer the wheel and i am a 34 year old construction worker. If my wife was driving the car, she would of crashed into the person who was walking on the sidewalk.…
ODI 10554691
Air Bags · Engine · Steering
One week after i purchased my brand new ford the transmission started going bad after a month i was told that it is defective and i had a new transmission installed my air bag sensors were changed cause they were defective my transmission was damaged again and was repaired again and the fuel was also recalled my ford still give me a very bad smell when driving on the highway i believe it still has damage in the…
ODI 10882650
Steering
Power steering failure. Failed multiple times, unable to replicate at dealership. Happened at low speed while in a parking lot. Pulling into parking spot and steering failed causing minor collision with parked vehicle in next space. Dealership still unable to replicate.
Crash reported
ODI 10825995
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I have a 2013 explorer sport which i purchased new from the dealer 2 months ago. On the morning of 8/15/2013 i was turning left into a parking lot after coming to a complete stop on a road, going less than 10mph. As i accelerated and turned my wheel left the power steering failed completely making it almost impossible to turn the wheel and the warning lights on the dash came on for the advancetrac and the stability…
ODI 10538240
Electrical System · Power Train · Steering
Steering power support stopped without warning during a turn at lower speed. Car became almost impossible to control (turn or steer). Fault lights included stability, traction, and environmental control errors came on as the steering power support terminated. Fuse and mechanism were undamaged. Turning the car on and off did not remove the fault. Vehicle did this another 3 times, including one at high speed of 70 mph…
ODI 10595346
Electrical System · Electronic Stability Control · Power Train · Steering
Driving vehicle and cross traffic system failure turns on, advancetrac system failure, stability control failure and traction control failure occur. Vehicle begins to decelerate and transmission goes from an illuminated "d" to blank. Very hard to maneuver vehicle. Vehicle struggles to gain speed afterwards. The only resolution i have found is to pull over if possible and turn on vehicle and restart. This has…
ODI 10522863
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I was making a u-turn not even going more than 15 mph and my 2013 ford explorer sport's, which only has 6050 miles on it, power steering suddenly stop working and all across the dash, warning lights lit up, stability control fault, power steering assist fault, terrain management fault, traction control fault. I lost power steering and slowly steered into the nearest gas station. I turned off my engine and then…
ODI 10511807
Power Train · Steering · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. The contact stated that while traveling 65 mph, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the highway. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the problem could have been with the steering, axle or the transmission. The dealer did not have specifics pertaining to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
ODI 10511073
Steering · Unknown Or Other
Two issues the power assist failed multiple times when drive at low speeds. The second is the front suspension failed in 2013 multiple complaints ignored by ford and nhtsa. Dealer refused to fixed under warranty. This type of vehicle has recalls for these two issues all but the base models and ford refused to repair my vehicle both issues cost over $1000 to repair.
ODI 11229623
Electronic Stability Control · Steering
I experienced a loss of power steering while driving, as well as stability control, traction control, and terrain management systems errors. I was stopped at an intersection waiting to make a left turn. Once i started moving to make the turn (@ 5 mph), a number of beeps went off, warnings were displayed on the vehicle information screen, and i lost power steering. After pulling over to the side of the road with no…
ODI 10509678
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle would sporadically over-steer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician stated that the vehicle was performing to standards. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 1,700. *tr
ODI 10512502
Steering
Tl- the contact owns 2013 ford explorer. While driving 20 mph, the contact stated that the steering wheel began to malfunction while driving 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, but had not been diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 400. Rk
ODI 10557850
Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
While accelerating under full throttle the vehicle steering becomes erratic and the vehicle wants to weave side to side with no input from the steering wheel. I am extremely concerned that this will eventually cause me to have motor vehicle collision when trying to pass another vehicle, get up to speed on from a highway on ramp, or while trying to avoid another situation. I would like the nhtsa and ford to evaluate…
ODI 10505567
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. The contact stated that the power steering failed while the engine was started and also, while driving at low speed. The power steering warning light illuminated while the failure occurred. The failure was experienced several times. The contact was able to coast to the shoulder to restart the engine. The vehicle then functioned normally. The manufacturer was not made aware…
ODI 10508516
Engine · Power Train · Steering
I drove my recently acquired and new ford explorer sport for first time on the highway on march 4, 2013. When accelerating to pass a truck, i lost control of front end to point of swirling and near collision with the truck. I don't consider this a fluke as same happened a while later during same highway trip. I'm very familiar with high horsepower passenger vehicles and sports cars for that matter. I am also very…
ODI 10502773
Power Train · Steering · Wheels
Vehicle begins to vibrate and can not be driven over 35 mph during or after snow storms with wet heavy snow on road (sometimes caused by salting roadway). Wheel well opening around all four tires are so small and enclosed, snow accumulates into solid ice around all four tires and both axles begin to vibrate violently. Driver either stops every 8-10 miles along side busy highway to chop ice out (takes me 40 minutes…
ODI 10522364
Electrical System · Steering · Vehicle Speed Control
As i was turning left at a light, my power steering went out completely in the car. I looked down at the instrument panel and it was bright yellow and said advance trac failure. It was very difficult for me to control the suv and it took every ounce of upper body strength in me to pull into a parking lot. I barely avoided a head on collision with another suv as i turned into the lot. I pulled into the back of the…
ODI 10487903
Steering
Power steering failure while backing up and driving. Turning vehicle off and on causes power steering to work. Very hard to steer, not safe to drive... Dealer is putting a hole new power steering unit in... *tr
ODI 10482910