2013 Ford Explorer: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed May 10, 2026 · KY · fire

The car had been parked for 30 minutes in the driveway and spontaneously caught on fire. Our lives and home were at risk of serious injury due to the fire. Firefighters and police were called to the scene and the fire was put out. There were no mechanical issues prior to this happening.

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · FL · fire

My car was parked in the driveway and it caught on fire from under the hood.

Filed Jun 3, 2025 · Engine · 250,000 miles · MN · fire

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended and turned off for a few hours, it caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries airbag deployment or crash. The vehicle was towed to a police tow lot. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who assisted with a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

Filed Mar 10, 2024 · Engine · KS · fire

UNKNOWN. My sister had went to town in her car. She had came back home and parked the car in the driveway. After doing so her and her husband we inside, heard a rumbling sound went outside and car was on fire. The neighbors say they saw the car just catch on fire in her driveway. She had purchased the car less than 60 days ago in Manhattan, ks from CSM AUTO.

Filed Oct 8, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · OH · fire

Unknown what caused the issue but our vehicle erupted into flames in our driveway not 10 minutes after we pulled in. No warnings, no indication anything was wrong. We smelled smoke and went outside to find the hood completely engulfed. It took fire department to extinguish it. They’re not certain of cause yet but said likely an electrical short

Filed Nov 14, 2019 · Fuel system · MA

For the last two month, my vehicle have had a oil burning smells, I changed the oil, but the smell is still there. This is right after I turn on the heat.

Filed Sep 18, 2019 · Body, Electrical · SC · fire · 1 injury

Smell of smoke, and tapping noise prior to fire. Smoke came from near the center console between driver and passenger seat. Fire started. Made a complaint prior about smell of smoke and noise.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · Transmission · 164,194 miles · SC

Tapping noise after turning car off. Burning smell but no visible smoke.

Filed Aug 15, 2019 · Transmission · 76,000 miles · PA

Transfer case leak and failure at ~76000 miles. No apparent cause. Leak creates burning smell in cabin of vehicle

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 Feb 5, 2018 · Engine · 106,500 miles · IA · fire

My wife and I took a trip for a baby shower, it was about a 2.5 hr drive. On the way there, the check engine light turned on. There were no other warnings or indications of an issue. We made it fine to our destination, drove around town a little bit, and stayed the night. The next day we headed home (another 2.5 hr trip). The check engine light was on the entire time, but there were no abnormal noises or odors, or any other indication that there was an issue. When we got home, we parked the car, turned it off, unloaded, then turned it on to back it into the garage and turn it off again. After sitting in the garage for 10 -15 minutes, the car exploded, shaking the house and catching the engine bay on fire. The engine bay was engulfed in flames, causing fire/smoke damage to our garage and everything in it. An independent investigator stated that the cooling fan had failed, which caused the check engine light, however that seems like not a sufficient reason to why the engine exploded. We are unsure what the root cause was, but something had to have gone very wrong for the car to explode in the garage, ignition off, and stationary and the only indication being a check engine light even if the cooling fan did fail. This all happened just over a week after an oil change at a ford dealership. This could have been a very dangerous situation that could have very likely ended up in injury or death.

Filed Jul 30, 2017 · Fuel system, Steering · 52,000 miles · MA

Ford exhaust I am getting a strong rotten egg smell and a burning smell everytime I drive my car which is a 2013 ford explorer limited 4wd it has been getting progressively worse. This happens when I am on the highway and when I am just driving down the street. I am not sure if it gets progressively worse when the car is going faster because it smells all the time. I just had the car toed to dealership because it will not start. In addition I noticed that I have been suffering from headaches, dizzinessand and fatigue while driving which has never happened to me before. Finally I noticed that when there is no power in the car there is no way to open the back tailgate to let people out when you are sitting in the third row of the car so you are trapped back there with the smell.