2013 Ford Explorer FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

In September I started to notice a strong fuel odor coming from my 2013 Ford Explorer. I had the exterior of the vehicle cleaned thoroughly to ensure no gasoline was spilled on the vehicle while refuelling. The smell did go away temporarily, until I refuelled the vehicle. The odor has returned, and will not go away. On 10/6/2025 I took my vehicle to a local mechanic that works on my vehicles. A visual inspection was performed and they informed me that there is a leak and it appears to be coming from the top of the tank or an area above the tank. It is hard to identify the exact source without lowering the tank. They mechanic also informed me that Ford has a safety recall issue for something similar, 13S04. I checked with Ford and while there is a recall for the same model and year of my vehicle, my 2013 Explorer is not a part of the recall. I have contacted a local Ford Service Center and am waiting for a response from them.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon approaching the vehicle she smelled a strong odor of gasoline inside her inclosed garage, after which, she overserved gasoline leaking from underneath the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the fuel delivery module. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V812000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 55,000.

Check engine light indicated Fuel injection system leaking on 2013 Ford explorer taken to Ford dealer. Investigated online 2013 Ford explorer have fuel injection leaking problems reported for 2013 Ford explorers

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT QUIT RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING . SHE WAS ON CITY STREET. SHE PULL OVER AND LEFT IT SIT. WE WHEN BACK AND RE-STARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEM AND DROVE IT HOME. IT HAS DONE THIS A SECOND TIME A COUPLE DAYS LATER,SHE SAID IT CHUGGED AND QUIT. IT SET FOR ABOUT 15 MINS. BEFORE I RE-STARTED IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. THE WRENCH LIGTH COMES ON BUT NO CODES ARE SHOWING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V812000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

MY CAR IS LEAKING FUEL UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE - SO MUCH FUEL THAT IT HAS SOAKED THE COVER ON THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THE COVER ACROSS THE TOP OF THE INTERIOR OF THE HOOD. IT IS ACTUALLY DRIPPING DOWN WHEN I LIFT THE HOOD. IT IS SO STRONG ON THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE THAT I CAN TASTE IT IN MY MOUTH/LUNGS WHEN I SAT IN THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK AROUND THE FUEL PUMP ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL UNKNOWN DEALERS AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL.THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. *TT*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WAS CRACKED AND FUEL WAS LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CAUSEWAY FORD LINCOLN (375 NJ-72, STAFFORD TOWNSHIP, NJ 08050, (609) 597-8083) CONFIRMED THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CURRENTLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER CAR NEAR GAS TANK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A FUEL ODOR EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SANTOS FORD (617 W PACHECO BLVD, LOS BANOS, CA 93635, (888) 312-2705) AND CODE: P0456 WAS LOCATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL LEAK COMING FROM THE REAR END AND THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V812000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE REPAIRED DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

CARBON MONOXIDE ODOR HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. EVERY TIME I DRIVE I BEGIN TO FEEL NAUSEOUS AND GET A HEADACHE. I HAVE 2 BOYS, MY 11 YEAR OLD AGREES IT'S A STRONG ODOR AND HE BEGINS TO FEEL DIZZY. I FEAR TO EVEN HAVE MY CHILDREN ESPECIALLY MY 1 YEAR OLD IN THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE AND THEY WERE THE REASON I PURCHASED IT. I'VE HAD MY VEHICLE IN A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP TWICE NOW SINCE I PURCHASED A FEW MONTHS AGO HAS EVER MENTIONED THIS ISSUE! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED! DOES SOMEONE NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED OR DIE BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE. I FINALLY LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND OF COURSE IT IS! PLEASE FIX THIS, AN INVESTIGATION OVER A YEAR NOW AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED. YOU HAVE A REPUTATION TO UPHOLD.

EXHAUST FUMES WHEN RUNNING AC STILL A PROBLEM AFTER THE FIELD SERVICE ACTION PERFORMED BY THE FORD DEALER. CAUSING HEADACHES AND LIGHTHEADED AFTER DRIVING WITH AC ON MY COMMUTES DUE TO LONG TIME EXPOSURE TO FUMES IN THE CABIN. HAVE TO TURN OFF AC AND OPEN MY WINDOWS. FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CANNOT USE AC AND CALIFORNIA TEMPERATURES IN THE SUMMER OVER 90 DEGREES

WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AS THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 55 MPH ON A CITY HWY & VEHICLE SLOWED DRAMATICALLY & IDLED ROUGHLY. AFTER TURNING IT OFF & LETTING IT SIT FOR A MINUTE IT RESTARTED AND SEEMED OK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK & THEY CHECKED & SAID IT THREW A CODE P2111 & THEY ISOLATED IT TO A STUCK THROTTLE BODY. THEY REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND CLEARED THE CODE.

TAKA TA RECALL I AM SMELLING GAS FUMES INSIDE OF THE CAR WHEN I DRIVE ITS ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN I HAVE MY HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONING ON. I ONLY SMELL IT WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN IN MOTION FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED STRONG FUEL FUMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FERNELIUS FORD LINCOLN INC (10459 NORTH STRAITS HIGHWAY, CHEBOYGAN, MI 49721, 844 327-8314) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THERE IS A VERY PROMINENT FUEL SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR. THIS IS PREVALENT WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, AIR VENTS ARE TURNED ON, AND THE CAR IS EITHER STOPPED (SUCH AS IN TRAFFIC, STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ETC) OR SLOWLY ROLLING. THE FUMES ARE SO BAD IT SOMETIMES BURNS MY EYES AND I HAVE TO SHUT OFF THE HEAT IN THE CAR SO IT WILL STOP CIRCULATING. THIS OCCURS REGARDLESS IF I AM ACCELERATING OR JUST DRIVING SLOWLY. I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN JUNE OF 2017. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN GETTING DIZZY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HAVE 3 SMALL CHILDREN THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE AROUND IN IT.

2013 FORD EXPLORER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 60 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION ABILITY. LUCKILY I WAS IN MINIMAL TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AS I WAS PULLING OVER, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED A FEW TIMES AND I KILLED OUT THE VEHICLE AND LET IT SIT FOR A MINUTE THEN RESTARTED WITH NO TROUBLE.

FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN SMELLING EXHAUST WHEN I DRIVE WITH THE AC OR HEATER ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO FORD FOR AN INSPECTION IN OCTOBER, AND WHILE THEY 'COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG', THEY DID QUOTE ME FOR $1,400 TO FIX WHAT MIGHT BE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO ASKED IF MAYBE I WAS JUST SMELLING OTHER FUMES WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TOOK THE CAR TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND SAID IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT FORD SHOULD BE COVERING THIS. I JUST CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON 11/16/17 TO TRY AND GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM (17N03). THEY TOLD ME THEY WILL NOT BE GETTING PARTS IN FOR ANOTHER MONTH. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE! I AM DRIVING MY 3-YEAR-OLD AROUND IN THIS CAR, WITHOUT THE HEATER ON TRYING TO MINIMIZE THE FUMES. MEANWHILE FORD IS TELLING ME THAT THE MEDIA HAS BLOWN THIS OUT OF PROPORTION AND ONLY POLICE VEHICLES SHOULD BE GETTING THE FIXES.

WHEN I DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF MILES. I START SMELLING GAS FUMES IN THE INSIDE OF MY CAR. EVEN AFTER I GET OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND PUT MY NOSE TO THE HOOD I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES.

THE EXHAUST LEAKS INTO THE CAR INTERIOR WHEN YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY. IT'S A HORRIBLE SMELL, THAT LINGERS UNTIL YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP IN DENVER TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN DALLAS WANTS ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO FIX THIS ISSUE THAT THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS. DURING LONGER DRIVES, I OFTEN GET SUPER SLEEPY AND NAUSEOUS. THIS IS AFFECTING MY HEALTH, AND MY FAMILY'S HEALTH.

THE SMELL OF GAS THROUGH THE AC VENTS AT ALL TIMES. IT IS ESPECIALLY STRONG WHEN THE AIR IS FIRST TURNED ON.

OVER 2700 COMPLAINTS AND 41 INJURIES TO DATE WITH EXHAUST ISSUE THAT IS RELEASING LARGE AMOUNT OF CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CARS THROUGH THE VENTS WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM FOR MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER THIS PAST MONDAY AT WORLD FORD IN PENSACOLA FL. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPT THAT THIS WAS THE SAME ISSUE THAT ALL OF THESE OTHER EXPLORERS HAVE HAD AND THAT THE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS DON'T WORK ANYWAY. FORD HAS BOUGHT BACK 3 JUST FROM THIS DEALER ALONE AND SEVERAL CARS HAVE ELECTED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE BUT ACCORDING TO ALL OF THE MANY WEBSITES WITH COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE- THE REPAIRS EITHER DON'T HELP OR MAKE IT WORSE. I FOUND OUT TODAY AFTER BEING ON THE PHONE WITH MORE PEOPLE THAT I CAN COUNT FROM THE 800 # AT FORD AND THE SERVICE DEPT, THAT THIS DEALERSHIP "ISN'T WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY REPAIRS" AND WAS THEN TOLD TO HANDLE IT WITH FORD CONSUMER AFFAIRS...WHO KEEPS PUSHING ME BACK ON THE SERVICE DEPT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S MORE UN-NERVING ABOUT THIS...THAT FORD KNOWS JUST HOW BIG OF AN ISSUE THIS IS AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE A FORMAL RECALL YET OR THAT IT'S DOCUMENTED THAT I AM A SINGLE MOM, WITH ONE OF MY CHILDREN HAVING ASTHMA AND I'VE HAD HORRIBLE HEADACHES AND STOMACH ACHES FOR THE LAST YEAR- NEVER KNOWING WHY WE'VE BEEN SO SICK UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO BUT NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! SO, I'LL FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND WILL BLAST A REVIEW ON EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE THAT'S CONNECTED TO FORD UNTIL SOMEONE STEPS FORWARD AND EITHER TRIES TO SEE IF A REPAIR WILL WORK OR WILL BUY IT BACK FROM ME, ALLOWING ME TO TRADE IT IN FOR SOMETHING SAFE! HOW MANY PEOPLE NEED TO BE SICK OR DIE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING OR CONTINUE TO HAVE WRECKS FROM PASSING OUT FROM THE CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING BEFORE FORD ACTUALLY DOES A FULL RECALL AND FIXES OUR CARS THAT WE ALL PAID A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR? HORRIBLE SMELL, LOSS OF POWER, POOR GAS MILEAGE.

EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO CABIN OF CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN ACCELERATING OR RUNNING A/C. CURRENTLY HAVE AN OPEN CASE WITH FORD BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE. THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CARE AND THEREFORE SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF MY POCKET TO DRIVE A SAFE VEHICLE. I HAVE TWO LITTLE KIDS WITH RESPIRATORY ISSUES AND NEED THIS ISSUE FIXED ASAP.

I RECENTLY WENT INTO MY CAR AND BEGIN DRIVING IT AND NOTICED AN AWFUL SMELL OF BOILED/ ROTTEN EGGS OR SULFUR SMELL AND COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS COULD BE, SO AFTER DURING SOME RESEARCH ON GOOGLE I SAW THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AND BROUGHT IT INTO MY DEALERSHIP WHO I TAKE MY CAR TO FOR ALL OF MY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. I AM ABLE TO PRESENT THEM WITH ALL OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS (TSB) ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THE FOLKS HERE HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT. IF THE CAR IS DRIVING AT ANY RATE WINDOWS UP OR DOWN THE CAR HAS THIS AWFUL ODOR. THE ODOR WAS SO BAD THAT WHEN I PULLED IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER IT COMPLETELY FILLED THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD EVERYONE COMPLAINING (MAINLY EMPLOYEES). BUT THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THESE TRUCKS. I AM CURIOUS WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL ON SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO BE REOCCURRING ISSUE BUT I AM EVEN MORE DISAPPOINTED THAT FORDS EMPLOYEES DON'T KNOW THESE COMMON ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN THAT CAR WITHOUT THIS BEING FIXED AND I DEFINITELY BELIEVE IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR WORST END LIVES. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PUT MY KIDS IN THIS CAR AS LONG AS THIS REMAINS AN ISSUE.

THERE IS FUEL FUMES THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR CAUSING HEADACHES.