Check a VIN

2013 Ford Explorer driver assistance complaints

Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 105, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2013 Ford Explorer driver assistance problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Aug 5, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 150 miles · TX

When traveling long distances, usually over an hour, the warning for power steering and service advance trac comes on. The power steering will lock up and will be difficult to drive after vehicle has been parked and once its started back up again.

Filed Jul 4, 2019 · Driver assistance, Fuel system · 130 miles · NY

"takata recall" odor problem when accelerating. My child was diagnose being on the spectrum. Might be because of the carbon monoxide who knows. There is also a leak on both rear seat belts my kids always get dretched with water running down their car seat and clothes. Catching colds and pneumonia. So frustrating

Filed Jun 20, 2019 · Driver assistance · 84,300 miles · LA

I was diving down the highway at approximately 55-60mph when my vehicle jerked twice then started decelerating rapidly. At that time pressing the gas pedal had no effect and I had to pull over on to the shoulder to avoid getting hit by oncoming traffic. A wrench light came on and my car began to shake and would not accelerate. I put the car in park and waited a few minutes but it did not stop shaking and the wrench light would not go off. I turned my car off halfway on the highway and half on the shoulder with oncoming traffic. After leaving the car off for approximately 3 minutes I turned it back on and the wrench light went off and my car operated normally. The same thing happened the next day. I called my local ford dealership and was told that they could not take my car that day. I was leaving for vacation the next day and planned on going in my elxplorer but did not feel safe so I dropped it off at a local mechanic. I was told that the diagnostic test didn't show anything and that I would have to take the car in while the light was on, which is impossible because the car won't accelerate while the light is on. The same thing has happened two more times within a week. I'm am scared to death to drive this car with my children in it.

Filed Jun 6, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 88,000 miles · WA

While driving, the steering became extremely difficult. The power steeling and stability control lights came on with a warning. The power steering failure nearly caused an accident. The vehicle was on a city street and the power steering failed while turning.

Filed May 15, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 62,179 miles · NC

Power steering loss for the 2nd time, even after dealership inspection. Claimed to not be a apart of 2013 recall list.

Filed May 13, 2019 · Body, Driver assistance · 61,000 miles · MD

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.

Filed May 7, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 139 miles · TX

Power steering assist fault.. While operating a vehicle fault comes on steering gets hard hard to control causing my wife to almost get to an accident. It only comes on once in a great while to reset its you have to shut the car off and turn it back on it only happens in the morning when she's taking the kids to school it's rare but it's happened four times already

Filed Apr 19, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 87,000 miles · OK

Driving on straightaway doing about 45mph and coming to a stop. Service lights & bells popped on and power steering stopped working.

Filed Apr 17, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 106,000 miles · AZ

Power steering assist fault. Causing loss of power steering almost causing a accident was able to pull to side of road unable to steer the vehicle. Others have had this and some recalled but not all. This recall needs to be extended before someone dies. City street. I can't imagine being on a freeway in phoenix when this happened.

Filed Apr 16, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 106,000 miles · AZ

Power steering assist came on as I was driving and lost steering. Very dangerous

Filed Apr 13, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 120,000 miles · VA

Was driving down the interstate and the power steering went out advancetrac lights came on and the dash started flashing service power steering now and service advancetrac now

Filed Mar 20, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 91,887 miles · NJ

Power steering down. Warning massage said 'power steering assist fault' 'service advance trac' 'terrain management system fault'. It is too hard to steer. Control module internal failure, codes u3000-49, u3000-96, u3000-71.

Filed Feb 10, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 86,000 miles · AZ

Issue already reported.see the federal safety agency ld.number 11174395.vehicle is awd. Clunking noise coming from front axil area only. Current milage86644.

Filed Jan 20, 2019 · Driver assistance, Steering · 135,632 miles · NC

Like recall number 14s06, my explorers power steering assist is intermittent and will sometimes will not work at all. I've checked with a local dealer and they say that it is not a recall under our VIN. This vehicle lost power steering while my wife was driving with both of our young children in the car.

Filed Jan 4, 2019 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 81,500 miles · FL

While driving my vehicle at a slow speed my steering wheel locked up.

Filed Dec 11, 2018 · Driver assistance · HI

My vehicle keeps giving me a "shift to park" message after it's already in park. I purchased the vehicle in the summer of 2012 and it's a 2013. Within the first month of having it this issue began. I've mentioned it several times when I've taken my vehicle in for service. I even took it in just for that error message and was told because the issue couldn't be duplicated I would have to bring it back when it happens again and I still had to pay the diagnostic fee of $150 plus tax.

Filed Aug 1, 2018 · Driver assistance · 79,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway at around 65/70mph when suddenly my car shut down. The wrench light illuminated, and the dash said to "check manual" and all power was lost in the car. It was a terrifying experience. I was in the fast lane during the morning commute and my car completely shut down and I had to safely navigate getting over 6 lanes of traffic. Thank god no one was injured because this could have been deadly. The car went into "limp mode" I took it to a ford dealer today and it was diagnosed as a defective electronic throttle body. I was told it is not covered by the ford extended warranty which should cover it for 10 years or 150,000 miles. I called ford and they also told me it was not covered. This is contrary to all the research I have done and the agreement ford reached with the federal safety agency.

Filed Aug 1, 2018 · Driver assistance, Suspension · 150 miles · TX

I have been complaining of a suspension issue since I had purchased this vehicle in 2013. I am being told there want be a recall until someone dies. I even tried to have it fixed under warranty but suspension are not covered according to ford dealers.

Filed Jun 12, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 108,000 miles · IL

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel seized. As a result, the vehicle drove over a pothole and into some bushes. The contact stated that two unknown warning indicators and the traction control warning indicator illuminated. The dealer (al piemonte ford, 2500 w north ave, melrose park, il 60160) stated that the vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). The dealer diagnosed that the brake pad, rotors, and electronic power steering gear needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed May 22, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 106,000 miles · TX

Power steering does not work at times on start up. Could go out at high rate of speed and cause an accident. Should be a recall

Filed Feb 22, 2018 · Body, Driver assistance · 52,000 miles · GU

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.

Filed Jan 10, 2018 · Driver assistance · 88,000 miles · NC

I received an error code on my 2013 ford explorer that stated "checks brakes" whenever I made a left or right turn. The car would also do a hard jerk when I turned and it was hard to drive at certain speeds. When I did a vehicle check, my brakes were registering as "ok". A couple of days later, my vehicle did the same thing when I made a turn. This time after the check brakes warning light came on, my car completely cut off on me. I was able to re-start it but I was really nervous and immediately took it to the ford dealership. I contacted the service department the next day on the status of my vehicle and was told that 40 different error codes came up when they did a diagnostic test. I was told that my car has a "steering gear issue" and to replace it, I will have to pay $1683.87. I was able to find complaints on the 2013 ford explorer with the same issue. Recall number 14v286000 dated 20140529 for steering:electric power assist system is for 2011-2013 ford explorers. The recall states 'vehicles manufactured may 17, 2010, through february 28, 2012 may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist." I contacted ford headquarters about the recall and was told that my car was manufactured after the recall date so the recall does not apply to my vehicle. I stated the my vehicle is having the same exact issues as the recall on the same make, model and year ford explorer. A case was opened by ford headquarters for financial assistance on january 5th, 2018. I an still awaiting a response. I do not feel safe driving my vehicle and I have resulted in renting a vehicle or having my husband drive me and our three kids back and forth. My car is at ford service center and I will eventually have to pick it up.

Filed Dec 27, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TX

The "door ajar" sensor on many ford products is defective and causes the door ajar light to come on even when the doors are closed. This also causes the interior dome lights to remain on at night and will not allow the doors to be locked while operating the vehicle. It is dangerous not being able to lock the doors as children could open the doors accidentally and fall out. It is also dangerous having the interior dome lights remain on while driving at night. Ford knows about this problem as when I took the vehicle in for repairs, they acknowledged a service bulletin is available about the problem. Because of the safety issues involved, there should be a recall on the door ajar. Battery drains quickly after getting new on within a year. Brakes also continues squeaks after getting them fixed.

Filed Sep 22, 2017 · Driver assistance, Steering · 69,000 miles · GA

When traveling on the interstate the vehicle started pulling my steering to the right or left when not driving straight. The steering wheel would pop to one side or the other making it difficult to maintain my lane on the interstate. Dashboard lights appeared indicating trac control and trac system maintanence. After exiting the highway the vehicle made a loud popping and screeching noise when making a sharp turn, the wheel became more difficult to turn and was physically challenging. Realizing the severity of the situation and feeling the loss of control behind the wheel I attempted to pull into a parking lot when the steering completely locked up. The wheel wouldn't budge and I was left stranded with the car jacknifed on a side street. A tow truck was required to remove the car from the street and I had to remove myself and my 4 week old baby from the car and to safety while waiting for an alternate ride. Very scary and upsetting. Thankfully it did not happen on the interstate or it could have resulted in a potentially fatal accident.

Filed Sep 17, 2017 · Driver assistance, Steering · FL

Steering wheel assist fault. The steering just can't turn. It seems to me that manufacture defect. I almost get involved in a terrible accident while driving in hwy. Traction is off

Filed Sep 1, 2017 · Driver assistance, Steering · 127,400 miles · WA

Purchased a used 2013 ford explorer xlt with 127,158 miles on it. Drove it for 5 days without problems. On day 6, I drove the car on the freeway for 73-miles. At 127,400 miles I stopped at a burger joint for 35-minutes before resuming my drive to my destination, several warning messages appeared on the information screen when I started the car again. 1)service power steering now. 2) terrain management system failure. 3)service advancetrac. The power steering was dead from that point on. The car was drivable but it took great effort to turn the steering wheel when the car wasn't moving or when making anything more than gradual turns. A search for this problem says that the electric power assisted steering (epas) has died. There was a huge recall to address this problem, but my VIN# is, sadly, not included in that recall. This means that all epas units can be faulty, not just the ones built at the chicago assembly plant from may 17, 2010 to february 28, 2012. (the identified units of the recall)

Filed Jun 2, 2017 · Driver assistance, Steering · 71,000 miles · NC

Began experiencing some light binding in steering while driving highway speed. Exercised the steering back a forth a little. Advancetrac stability control was turned off by the vehicle control system and steering service warning appeared on the dash. Vehicle became difficult to steer. Vehicles from my model year were recalled for steering gear failure (14s06), but my vehicle was manufactured after the relevant date. Ford is making me pay for the repair (new steering rack) for $1520 (parts and labor).

Filed Jan 24, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 24,375 miles · FL

While driving down a city street my vehicle lurched and the terrain management system fault light and orange wrench light came on. It wouldn't accelerate and I lost my power steering. I was able to coast to side of the road. I shut it off and waiter for about a minute then restarted it. It idled rough for a few seconds then smoothed out and I was able to make it home.

Filed Nov 13, 2015 · Driver assistance, Steering · 47,435 miles · PA

I was backing up from parking spot in a city garage and when I place the car in drive my power assisted steering (epas) failed. I got the power steering fault error, advancetrac error and terrain management error. The car was too difficult to manually steer actually nearly impossible. It took almost 1 hour and 2 grown big men to manually steer it out of the garage so that it could be put onto a flat bed tow truck. Ford claims that my VIN# number is not part of the recall (14s06) for this issue. The dealership that I had it towed to has quoted me around $2,000 to replace the steering rack. This is definitely a safety hazard and ford need to takes responsibility and correct this issue.

Filed Jun 12, 2015 · Driver assistance, Steering · 53,000 miles · SD

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 ford explorer. While driving approximately 75 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the service advance traction control and service power steering warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 14v286000 (steering). The failure mileage was 53,000. The VIN was unavailable. Ma 08/11/15 updated 10/20/2017

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2013 Ford Explorer?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history