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 · Steering
I purchased this vehicle new from the ford dealer in 2013. First issue, front edge of hood the paint has been bubbling and coming off. Rust is underneath. Ford refused to do anything about it. Second issue and most important, we have been losing the power steering function while driving, this has caused erratic steering as the electric power steering seems to turn on and off. The steering will bind and when you try…
ODI 11111301
Body · Electrical System
I have a door ajar light that will not turn off first it was just the driver side now it is affecting both the driver side and passenger side. The doors will not lock when in motion and the interior lights will not turn off.
ODI 11114253
Body · Unknown Or Other
The vehicle is rolling away while in "park". It is the exact problem described for other ford vehicles but the explorer is not on the recall list. We have experienced this occurrence twice now. The first time it occurred, the vehicle rolled out of our garage and into fence and tree. The second time, it rolled out of a parked spot while my wife was in the driver seat and clearly observing the transmission was in…
Crash reported
ODI 11128734
Body
2013 ford explorer, front (hood) is deteriorating, and holes in the metal are starting to rot thru paint is peeling and getting worse. My body and fender man tells me it can also affect the spring loaded and locking device of the hood, which in time can cause a failure of the hood being dislodged and blocking your vision. He also explained this is a problem with ford products and there really is no fix. They hoods…
ODI 11255634
Body
Over the past year or so, the paint on the hood of my explorer has been bubbling and peeling along the perimeter. We brought it to our local ford dealership. They took pictures and contacted the ford headquarters. The local dealership was told, because my vehicle is no longer under warranty, they can't help. As i researched the issue to see if others were having the same problem, i found many complaints, lawsuits…
ODI 11233967
Body · Seat Belts · Unknown Or Other
Noticed water leak coming out of seat belt harness area in third row. Water leak is causing entire area to become wet in third row. Mildew smell is now present. Afraid there may be mold growth causing health issues. I put towels around the seatbelt to catch water and they are soaked when i change them out. Rain water comes leaked on when the car is parked or while in motion. I am not aware of where the leak is…
ODI 11101040
Body
Paint peeling on hood. The front edge of the hood has peeling paint. It began just after the 36 mo warranty expired and ford has not made any efforts to solve the problem. I recently saw another explorer, same year, model with even worse peeling paint on the hood. I have included the picture of that car as well.
ODI 11091286
Body
There are faulty welds in the roof seams under the rear lift gate. This allows water to escape inside the vehicle, along the headliner, and down the rear passenger seat belts. Water accumulates in rear cup holders and floor boards. Issue was repaired once before, failed again not even a year later.
ODI 11090029
Body
I purchased a used explorer in late june of last year with approx 25000 miles on it. The a-pillar molding flew off in traffic last week and i just found out, these parts are not covered under warranty. This is an obvious defect that ford needs to replace and repair at no cost to the consumer.
ODI 11093223
Body
The front a-pillar moldings separated from the body of the vehicle and caused a safety hazard to others in traffic. This occurred while operating the vehicle at approximately 60-65 mph.
ODI 11110598
Body · Latches/Locks/Linkages · Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The steering ability returned to normal the next day. Four days later, the steering wheel became difficult to turn again. On another occasion, while the vehicle was idling, the contact exited the vehicle and the door locks malfunctioned. The contact became locked…
ODI 11080868
Body · Electronic Stability Control · Unknown Or Other
Vehicle in motion when all of a sudden would slow down to a crawl and lose ability to accelerate. Yellow wrench warning light would then light up. Happened twice and almost had serious accident. Also would experience burning smell when accelerating up a hill. Previously reported to dealer but they would not believe.
ODI 11074216
Body
I was driving on the freeway, at a rate of 70 mph and suddenly my a piller outer cover (trim) flew off my car! I have attached a photo.
ODI 11072017
Body
Passenger side window trim flew off while driving on the highway at apprx 65-70 mph.
ODI 11065705
Body · Engine · Fuel/Propulsion System
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. Within less than a week of owning the vehicle, carbon monoxide entered the vehicle. The dealer (skalnek ford, 941 s lapeer rd, lake orion, mi 48362, [redacted]) stated that there was a tsb that could be performed on the vehicle. An unknown part was replaced, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, but they were unable to provide a solution. The…
ODI 11063237
Body · Engine · Power Train
Smell of exhaust inside cabin under hard acceleration. This vehicle had the ford complementary repair done in july. Defect still occurring.
ODI 11128364
Body · Electrical System · Engine
I found cracks in the door jam of the rear liftgate on the driver's side of the vehicle. Following this discovery i found floor boards soaked in water, water dripping down my 3rd row seat belt onto the floor boards and into the spare tire well. Following this my moonroof quit working. Then i received a letter regarding emissions entering the back of the vehicle and causing people to pass out and wreck their…
ODI 11052787
Body
Takara recall the hood of my 2013 ford explorer has a corrosion on it. Paint is peeling and bubbling. The aluminum has a powder look to it and is week. After time hood could come unlatched do to aluminum corrosion. Ford is aware of problem but won't fix out side of 3/36000 mile warranty.
ODI 11231201
Body
Water leaks into cabin of car. Enters in rear of vehicle and runs down third row seat belts. Happens on both sides.
ODI 11074099
Body
Left trim on windshield flew off as i was driving on i75 last week causing the car behind me to swerve to miss the piece flying through the air. I have read on this site and others that this is a problem with many others having the same problem. One even referenced the following case # cas-13158913-t1r4m0. This should be a recall .
ODI 11041156
Body · Visibility/Wiper
Conditions: the vehicle was in motion. I was driving on a highway. There was heavy rain. There is trim molding on the driver's and passenger's side of the windshield of the 2013 ford explorer. While driving a few weeks ago, the driver's side molding flew off, leaving exposed a strip of weather stripping, which was covered with a blackish glue. As a result of the molding having flown off, the now unsecured weather…
1 injury
ODI 11047363
Body
Windshield moldings and trims come loose. My molding on the passanger side came loose and flew off on the highway causing the car behind me to swerve. Luckily there wasn't traffic at the time. But this could have been a major incident that could have been prevented a long time ago. I've seen many complaints online about the same issue but no recall yet.
ODI 11025183
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 70 mph, the driver's side window trim fractured, detached, and struck a vehicle behind the contact. Sandy sansing ford-lincoln in daphne, alabama (27180 highway 98, 36526 [redacted]) was made aware of the failure and provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and provided the contact with case number: cas-13158913-t1r4m0.…
ODI 11025018
Body
Drivers side windshield trim flew off while drving
ODI 11021020
Body
Noting two big recalls in door latch mechanisms, this model year, my right rear door has became inoperative. Door is locked, will not unlock. Cannot open door. Had kids in the back seats last week. If this failure happened then, kids faced grave danger if egress required. Please add my vin to this recall. As is, rear seats are a death trap. Egress malfunction inability to egress vehicle
ODI 11020459