2013 Ford Explorer Structure
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER ANDERSON FORD LOCATED AT 3900 CLEMSON BLVD, ANDERSON, SC 29621, (864) 225-4151, AND MADE THE DEALER AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE HOOD PAINT WAS BUBBLING, CHIPPING, AND PEELING. THE CONTACT CALLED CAPITAL FORD OF WILMINGTON 4222 OLEANDER DR, WILMINGTON, NC 28403 910) 799-4060 WHERE INFORMED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE PHOTOS WHERE TAKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION NUMBER: TSB 20-2233 WAS REFERENCED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *LN THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED HER SON NOTICED WATER LEAKING FROM THE CENTER OF THE SUBFRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED HER SON NOTICED THE ROOF SEPARATING FROM THE SUBFRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BODY COLLUSION SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
INTERIOR DRIVER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT RETURN TO THE RECESSED (PARKED) POSITION. THIS SAME DEFECT IS A RECALL ON FORD FUSIONS AND SOME OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES; WHY NOT ON THIS FORD EXPLORER? COST TO REPAIR AT DEALER AROUND $150.00. WORKED FINE FOR 7 YEARS. (SPRING INSIDE DOOR IS EITHER BROKEN OR OFF ITS ANCHOR(S).
WATER LEAKING INTO REAR AND INTO THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. ABOUT AN INCH OF WATER FOUND IN THE SPARE TIRE WHEEL WELL. UNSURE WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING.
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 OTHER COMMENTS TO THE SAME ISSUE. HAPPENS ANYTIME WATER IS HITTING THE CAR LIKE RAIN OR CAR WASH.
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.
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 AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, HOWEVER, WHEN WE CHECKED ONLINE FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE HUNDREDS UPON HUNDREDS OF PURCHASES MADE FOR THESE PARTICULAR PARTS. THEY ARE NOT CHEAP AND IF THERE ARE SO MANY OF THESE PARTS FAILING/BREAKING WHY HASN'T FORD DONE SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE A BREAKING PART HITS ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAUSES AN ACCIDENT? I ALSO HAVE FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE THAT A FRIEND OF MINE IS EXPERIENCING A VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM AND WHEN HIS RUBBER CAME LOOSE, FLAPPING AROUND AS MINE DID, IT WAS ENOUGH OF A DISTRACTION THAT HE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TWO REPAIR ESTIMATES AND WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE THEM UPON REQUEST.
OXIDIZING ON FRONT OF HOOD CAUSING THE PAINT TO PEEL
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.
WINDSHIELD INNER AND OUTER TRIM SEALS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH SIDES OF WINDSHIELD .VEHICLE ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. RUBBER HAS DISINTEGRATED. TRIM COMING LOOSE ON VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.
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 ARE ALUMINUM AND ARE INSTALLED ON A STEEL BODY. ITS NOT THE PAINT JOB, ITS A DISSIMILAR METAL ISSUE THAT ONLY CAN BE CORRECTED BY INSTALLING A NEW HOOD. I NOW UNDERSTAND THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF FORD PRODUCTS. HELP
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 PENDING, AND ARTICLES WRITTEN ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I WENT THROUGH THE PROPER CHANNELS, CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLINE AND THROUGH MESSENGER, BUT STILL HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS NOT FORD'S FAULT. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE ALWAYS PURCHASED VEHICLES FROM FORD. MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LOOKS LIKE NEW FROM THE INSIDE. THE OUTSIDE LOOKS FINE, AS WELL, EXCEPT THE HIDEOUS HOOD PERIMETER. THE HOOD IS EMBARRASSING, PERIOD. I DON'T DESERVE THE POOR SERVICE I AM GETTING FROM THE ENTIRE FORD COMPANY. THE FACT THAT IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTLY SHOULDN'T MATTER WITH THIS ISSUE. THE PAINT SHOULD NOT BE BUBBLING AND PEELING LIKE THIS. SOMEONE AT FORD IS TO BLAME OR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE OF THE HOOD/PAINT/MATERIAL TO MAKE THE HOOD. I WILL KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL FORD PAYS TO HAVE MY HOOD REDONE. I HAVE CONTACTED ZESTAR, THE FORD CEO, PRESIDENT, ETC. AND A DETROIT FREE PRESS JOURNALIST WHO WROTE ABOUT FORD'S TRANSIMISSION DECEITFUL COVERUP. I AM NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE THAN TO HAVE THE HOOD OF MY CAR FIXED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. **IN THE UPLOADED FILE BELOW, IT ASKS FOR A DATE IN WHICH THIS OCCURRED. I DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DATE. IT HAS BEEN ONGOING AND IS OBVIOUSLY GETTING WORSE AS TIME GOES ON.
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 PAINT FLAKED OFF, WHICH WILL NOW LEAD TO OTHER MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE PAINT AND LOOK OF, NOT ONLY THE HOOD, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE CAR. AT THIS POINT I'VE BEEN FORCED TO DISCONTINUE TAKING THIS VEHICLE THROUGH THE CAR WASH (TOUCH OR NO TOUCH), AS MORE PAINT WILL FLAKE OFF. NOT ONLY THAT, I AVOID THE AREAS WHEN I WASH AND WAX THE VEHICLE BY HAND. IF WHAT FORD'S SLOGAN RINGS TRUE (BUILT FORD TOUGH), THEN I MUST SAY, THAT I'M PERFECTLY FINE WITH DOING BUSINESS ELSEWHERE, AS THIS PAINT JOB IS FAR FROM TOUGH, IT'S ROUGH! I PRIDE MYSELF IN BEING A HARD WORKING CONSUMER, AND WHEN I TAKE THE PLUNGE TO SPEND THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PURCHASE A PRODUCT, I WANT TO STEP BACK AND BE PROUD OF IT, AND THE HARD WORK THAT IT TOOK TO BE IN A POSITION TO MAKE THIS KIND OF PURCHASING DECISION. I WOULD ALSO EXPECT A SENSE OF PRIDE FROM THE COMPANY'S PERSPECTIVE TO STAND BY YOUR PRODUCT, AND THAT IS PRECISELY WHY I'M WRITING THIS COMPLAINT LETTER.
PEALING PAINT ON HOOD WHICH HAS EXPANDED ACROSS HOOD SINCE PURCHASED IN 2014, FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING AT THAT TIME.
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.
I HAVE TWO COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS AUTO 1) CAR PAINT IN THE HOOD LOOKS BUBBLY AND SOME IS PEALING. 2)INSIDE THE PASSENGER DOOR THE FABRIC REAPED BELOW WHERE THE WINDOWS AND DOOR BUTTONS ARE LOCATED.
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 EVALUATING IT. AT ANY RATE THIS WATER COMING INTO THE VEHICLE IS A HUGE ISSUE ESPECIALLY THAT IT'S SITTING IN THE CAR ROTTING EVERYTHING OUT AND DRIPPING ONTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS THREATENING THE INTEGRITY OF ANY ELECTRICAL OR DASH OPERATIONS. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ON A LARGER ISSUE. THIS OCCURRED AFTER SITTING IN MY WORK PARKING LOT ALL DAY THEN I COULD ALSO FEEL IT WHEN DRIVING 35-45MPH TO THE DEALER.
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.
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 STILL BROKEN, A PIECE OF THE HANDLE ACTUALLY FELL OFF. MY CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF , KEPT IN A GARAGE , LOW MILES ETC. OUR FRIEND MENTIONED THEIR FORD HAVING A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCH. DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT WASN'T IMPLEMENTED ON ALL 2013 EXPLORERS.
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
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?
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 REAR DRAINS ON THE SUN ROOF, BUT THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS IN A WATER CLOSET THEY HAVE IN THEIR SHOP. DIAGNOSTIC REPORT NOTES "WATER IS FOUND COMING IN FROM THE TAIL GATE BODY SEAMS" DEALER EXPLAINED THAT THE SEAM SEALER IS APPLIED AT THE FACTORY DURING MANUFACTURING PRIOR TO THE PAINTING. APPARENTLY THIS FACTORY SEALER HAS FAILED. UNCLEAR IF SEALER COMPOUND WAS DEFECTIVE, OR WAS IMPROPERLY APPLIED. BOTTOM LINE IS THE FACTORY SEAL HAS FAILED, THE SEAMS ARE NOW COMPROMISED RESULTING IN THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD SOLD ME IS SUPPOSED TO COVER SEALS AND GASKETS, BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS FINE PRINT DEEP IN THE BOWELS OF THE CONTRACT THAT EXCLUDES BODY ISSUES EVEN IF THE ROOT CAUSE IS POOR MATERIALS, POOR QUALITY, OR WORKMANSHIP BY THE MANUFACTURER. DEALER INDICATED THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN OBSERVED PREVIOUSLY ON THIS MODEL. SIMPLE WEB SEARCHES SHOW A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS AND ADJACENT MODEL YEARS BUT YET RECALL YET FOR THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED FORD'S SUPPORT LINE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. NO RESOLUTION AS OF THIS WRITING. DEALER ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A BODY SHOP.I WENT TO THE BODY SHOP OWNED BY THE DEALER AND RECEIVED A PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF $738. THEY EMPHASIZED "PRELIMINARY" AS THEY'RE UNSURE HOW EXTENSIVE THE SEAM SEAL FAILURE MAY BE. THIS ISSUE NOT ONLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY (WATER AND ICE IN INTERIOR) BUT ALSO CREATES A HEALTH HAZARD FROM MOLD, MILDEW, SICKENING SMELL.
WINDSHIELD TRIM RANDOMLY FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ST 70 MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME.
THE WELD SEAM SEALANT USED ABOVE THE TAILGATE HAS FAILED AND BEGUN CRACKING, ALLOWING RAINTO ENTER THROUGH THE POORLY DONE WELDING, AND DRIPS INTO MY CARGO AREA THROUGH THE REAR SPEAKERS, DOWN THE SEATBELT, AND ONTO MY SEATS. LUCKILY I HAVE A CARGO LINER WHICH HELPS AVOID MY SEATS FROM GETTING SOAKED. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER PARKED OR MOVING.
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 335 Structure complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.