Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2013 Ford Explorer

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

12
Open recalls
2,211
NHTSA complaints
6
Defect investigations
139
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

2,211 filed
44
Crashes
11
Fires
61
Injuries reported
1
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Steering
    800
  • Unknown OR Other
    340
  • Engine
    224
  • STRUCTURE:BODY
    224
  • Structure
    194
  • Electrical System
    154
  • FUEL/PROPULSION System
    120
  • Power Train
    118

Recalls

13 campaigns
24V031000·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2024-01-19

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

RiskA detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

21V746000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-09-22

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. These vehicles may be equipped with a cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) replacement part that could seize, and result in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

RiskA rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealer will inspect for the presence of a CABJ. If a CABJ of any design is found, the dealer will inspect the tightness of the CABJ, and replace the CABJ, knuckle, and/or toe link as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters were mailed November 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S43.

21V537000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-07-15

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

RiskA rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.

20V675000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-03-12

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.

RiskA rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.

19V435000·SUSPENSION:REAR2019-06-10

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

RiskA fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

17E048000·WHEELS:HUB2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

17E048000·SUSPENSION:REAR2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

15V812000·FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2015-12-02

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.

RiskA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.

+ 5 more recalls. Pagination is on the roadmap.

NHTSA investigations

8 actions
PE23001·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2023-01-27 → 2024-02-08

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

Led to recall24V031

EA17002·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

EA17002·STRUCTURE:BODY2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

PE16008·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

PE16008·STRUCTURE:BODY2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

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