NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 11 recalls, 2212 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Ford Explorer.
18–23 mpg combined
10.2–13.1 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Steering and structure are the two dominant complaint areas owners report for the 2013 Ford Explorer. On the steering side, owners frequently describe sudden loss of electric power steering assist while driving, leaving the wheel feeling heavy and unresponsive, a symptom that shows up most often at low speeds. Many of these reports also mention warning messages for steering faults and lane-keeping assist failures appearing together on the instrument display. Structure complaints center heavily on the driver-side A-pillar trim, with owners reporting that the plastic panel and underlying rubber seal detach or work loose over time, causing the seal to flap at highway speeds and, in some cases, scrape against the windshield or front window glass. Engine complaints trail well behind those two systems in volume. A smaller cluster of reports mentions vehicle fires occurring while parked, though those appear in far fewer reports than the steering and trim issues.
2,212
Total Complaints
44
Crash-Related
11
Fire-Related
42
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 11 recalls, the most serious being a rear suspension toe link that can fracture while driving, causing a sudden loss of steering control and raising the risk of a crash.
Multiple filings cover this same toe link issue, including campaigns targeting vehicles registered in specific rust-belt and northeastern states where corrosion accelerates the problem, as well as a separate concern where the outer ball joint on the toe link can seize and snap the link entirely. On the fuel side, the fuel delivery module can crack and leak gasoline, which creates a fire risk near any ignition source. The electric power steering system can lose its motor position sensor signal intermittently, cutting off power assist and requiring significantly more effort to steer, particularly at low speeds. Two recalls address door safety: an interior door handle return spring can unseat and leave the handle partially extended, allowing the door to unlatch in a side-impact crash, and the child safety lock cam can disengage on its own, letting rear doors be opened from inside. A separate child lock concern affects a narrow production window where repeated door use can flip the lock from active to inactive without any indication. The A-pillar interior trim clips may not be fully engaged, and the trim panel can detach and fall from the vehicle.
At a glance
What can fail
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The clips holding the A-pillar trim in place may not be properly engaged, which can allow the trim to come loose and detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the A-pillar trim and replace it if necessary at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A replacement ball joint in the rear suspension can seize and cause the toe link to crack, affecting vehicle handling.
What the fix does
Dealer inspects for the faulty ball joint and replaces it along with the knuckle or toe link as needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The outer ball joint in the rear suspension toe link can seize up, potentially causing the toe link to break while driving and result in sudden loss of vehicle stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and inspect the ball joints. If needed, they'll also replace the rear suspension knuckle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Road salt exposure corrodes the cross-axis ball joint, causing it to seize and fracture the rear suspension toe link.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the cross-axis ball joint knuckle and rear suspension toe links at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The outboard section of the rear suspension toe link may fracture in certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles that were previously repaired under recalls 16V-245 or 19V-435.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the cross-axis ball joint knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link as needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear suspension toe links can crack under stress, affecting rear suspension alignment and control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and inspect the rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckles if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel delivery module can crack, which may cause fuel to leak from the fuel system.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The spring inside the interior door handle may come loose, preventing the handle from returning to its resting position after you pull it.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair or replace all four interior door handles at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose electrical connection in the power steering system may interrupt the motor position sensor signal, causing the power steering assist to shut down without warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the power steering control module software. If sensor signal loss is recorded, the steering rack assembly will be replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The child safety locks may unexpectedly switch from locked to unlocked after repeated door openings and closings, without the owner's knowledge.
What the fix does
Dealers will test the child safety locks and replace them if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The child safety lock on rear doors may not stay engaged due to a manufacturing defect in the actuation cam. This could allow the rear door to open from inside even when the child lock is supposed to be on.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the door latch assembly if needed. Until then, check that the child lock is in the ON position before each use.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
