2013 Ford Explorer Body Problems
- 149
- 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 149 stored complaint records:
- 3 indicate a crash
- 6 indicate injury
- 1 indicate fire
What owners report
- passenger side · 15 records
- side door · 13 records
- door ajar · 10 records
- drivers side · 10 records
- side windshield · 9 records
- paint bubbling · 8 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 30–60k mi | 64 |
| 60–100k mi | 35 |
| 1–30k mi | 19 |
| 100–150k mi | 5 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body · Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
Both driver and passenger door lock/latch mechanisms failed showing car door is ajar when door is actually shut. Driver door lock actuator failed around 30,000 miles and passenger lock actuator failed around 135000 miles. When driving at night, the interior lights of car cannot be turned off until speed reaches approximately 10 mph. This leads to unsafe driving conditions and limits driver visibility outside of car…
ODI 11300558
Body · Unknown Or Other
We have just become aware that exhaust gasses are leaking into the passenger compartment and apparently have been for some time, causing headaches, dizziness and eye irritation. We located a tsb from ford (tsb 16-0166) relating to the issue and became aware that ford had offered to fix the issue. Both the center for auto safety and the nhtsa investigated this issue resulting in ford notifying owners of potentially…
ODI 11271018
Body
2013 ford explorer with hood paint bubbling and peeling. I notice a while back and thought it was just a rock that hit the hood. Now it peeling really bad and cracking and peeling. There needs to be a recall cause so many clients are having the same issue.
ODI 11270206
Body · Electrical System · Unknown Or Other
Smell of smoke, and tapping noise prior to fire. Smoke came from near the center console between driver and passenger seat. Fire started. Made a complaint prior about smell of smoke and noise.
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 11256307
Body
I am writing this letter in regards to my 2013 ford explorer xlt. I've noticed a fast acting paint flaw that is growing in criticality, and is growing increasingly frustrating each day! When i purchased the vehicle, this was not recognizable to the eye obviously, as i wouldn't have purchased the vehicle otherwise. Currently, the paint is bubbling up around the entire edge of the hood. On 7/14 one of those bubbles of…
ODI 11232274
Body
I recently have noticed water on the 3rd seat belts. Took it to my mechanic who thought the water was coming from a plug in the rear. Sealed it but still had issues. Took the panels off in the trunk and ran the water test again. Found the issue was coming from the sides of the tailgate at the top where the weld appears to be cracking letting water in on both seatbelts and into the spare tire wheel well. I have seen…
ODI 11302516
Body
As i was driving on the highway, i heard a loud noise and thought that something hit my windshield. When i was able to stop and examine my vehicle, it became obvious that a large piece of the passenger side windshield molding broke off and the rubber stripping underneath that part came loose as well. I also found that a small piece of windshield molding broke off on the driver's side as well. I thought it might be…
ODI 11219639
Body · Unknown Or Other · Visibility/Wiper
I noticed the outside trim around the sides of the windshield appeared loose on the driver but mostly passenger side of my car. A few weeks later when i started driving over 10 mph down the road, i heard a noise like something beating against my windshield. I noticed the rubber seal around the windshield and between the trim and the windshield had come off and was flapping in the wind against my windshield and car.…
ODI 11217355
Body · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
Pillars flying off car and power transfer unit not working
ODI 11235332
Body · Electronic Stability Control · Steering
Steering is hard to steer. Feels like you have no power steering. Doesn't happen all the time just when you turn the steering wheel when driving slow. Also paint on the hood peeling off. Took to a garage for the steering and they say it's a known issue but no recall.
ODI 11207354
Body
Interior of vehicle taking in water from rain showers (not even bad rain showers), water is coming in from the roof where the windshield meets the roof and absorbing around the sunglass holder/interior lights and dripping down onto radio/navigation system and completely soaks the floor board on the driver's side. I've had the door seal replaced recently and the dealer tells me its a different issue, without even…
ODI 11193554
Body
My 2013 explorer had come bubbles coming up along the edge of the hood. I thought it was a body work issue but the body shop said it is actually corrosion from the aluminum hood. The corrosion is progressing and getting worse. This will eventually leave my hood structurally unsound and expose all the internal components to the elements for degradation.
ODI 11217356
Body
My drivers side door latch failed while i was driving. The caution light came on saying drivers side door not latched and my door started to open. I pulled over and couldn't get the door to latch shut. After working with it it latched so i could get home. The next time i got into my drivers side the same thing, my door would not close. This time i was in my driveway attempting to leave and could not. The latch it…
ODI 11172286
Body
The inside spare tire wheel well fills with water. This apparently is an engineering issue since i saw things online about it. Mold is an issue with this problem growing on the wheel cover. What is being done to correct this issue
ODI 11170794
Body
When driving down i-75 headed to work, doing 65 mph both my windshield trims flew off my car an started making a loud rattling noise. It scared the crap out of me! How has this not been recalled?
ODI 11162886
Body · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving various speeds, the steering wheel suddenly became very difficult to turn in either direction. The failure occurred on multiple occasions and the fuse was reinserted in order to repair the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Also, while driving, the passenger side of the vehicle wobbled and vibrated. The vehicle was taken to bill flick ford…
ODI 11229629
Body
Substantial amounts of water is leaking into the interior of the vehicle when parked or in motion. Water intrudes thu the front dome light, the side, the rear seat belt, and other areas. Water was standing in the front passenger seat feet area and it filled the rear spare tire wheel well. Had purchased extended warranty from the ford dealer when i purchased the vehicle. Took it back to the dealer who cleared the two…
ODI 11162574
Body · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. During inclement weather (heavy rain), water affected the electronic components in the vehicle. Bowditch ford [redacted], located at [redacted], newport news, va 23601) kept the vehicle for several days for diagnostic testing. The dealer did not provide an update on the status and the vehicle was not repaired. A second dealer (hall ford newport news, [redacted], located at…
ODI 11207832
Body · Engine
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…
3 injuries
ODI 11257832
Body · Engine
We recently began smelling a pungent 'sulfur' or 'rotten egg' like smell that comes and goes in the interior cabin of our explorer while driving the vehicle. Typically this seems to occur while or just after driving at freeway speeds/accelerating. We believe this is in line with other instances people have had in explorers of possible exhaust leaks into the interior cabin space of the vehicle. We have 83,000 miles…
ODI 11144783
Body
Windshield trim randomly flew off going down the highway st 70 mph and almost caused an accident behind me.
ODI 11142772
Body
Water leak in back of vehicle due to a defective manufacturer's welded seam. Every time the vehicle comes in contact with (i.e.: rain, car wash) water leaks heavily into the vehicle through the third row seatbelt hole. The water leaks into vehicle when parked and when driving. Leak was not noticed at onset or when vehicle was still under warranty.
ODI 11209675
Body · Windshield
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving at unknown speeds, the passenger side windshield trim detached from the vehicle. In addition, the driver side windshield trim was hanging from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (reuther ford, [redacted], herculaneum, mo 63048, [redacted]) where it was diagnosed that the brackets fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
ODI 11132891
Body · Unknown Or Other
Noticed leak into spare tire well years ago and jones ford in n. Charleston could not find a leak. 8/13/2018 took our vehicle in for the same exact problem and found the water pours down the third row seatbelts anytime it rains. There is now mold in the carpeted area below the 3rd row seats. The leak happens while the car is stationary, driving, anytime it is raining.
ODI 11120206
Body
'door ajar' stays on causing the door locks to unlock when the car is moving. A major safety issue if children are in car.
ODI 11115843