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2013 Ford Explorer
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Explorer, covering structure, suspension and fuel system, gasoline, and 984 consumer complaints received since 2012.
The component named most often is steering: 215.4 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 75.2 per 1,000 across all 2013 model-year vehicles and against 60.8 per 1,000 for the Ford Explorer line as a whole.
That is more than the average of 526.7 complaints per model year across the 45 Ford Explorer model years on this register; 26 complaints reported a crash and 4 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2017 (263); the most recent in the file is dated 15 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 6 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 24S02).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealer 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.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 21S43).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers 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.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 21S32).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford 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.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 20S62).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford 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.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 19S17).
Defect, as filed: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford 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.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 13S04-S1).
Defect, as filed: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring may unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Consequence: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 15S11).
Defect, as filed: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles 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.
Consequence: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 14S06).
Defect, as filed: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.
Consequence: If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 13S07).
Defect, as filed: Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 13S04).
Defect, as filed: Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
Filed by Ford Motor Company (manufacturer campaign 13S03).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2013 Ford Explorer (black) against all 2013 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2013 | Explorer line | All 2013 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 215.4 | 60.8 | 75.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 175.8 | 54.7 | 71.6 |
| Engine | 111.6 | 35.3 | 140.3 |
| Structure | 110.8 | 83.7 | 51 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 76.8 | 14.8 | 41.5 |
| Electrical System | 62.5 | 48.9 | 136.2 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 272 | 215.4 | 60.8 | 75.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 222 | 175.8 | 54.7 | 71.6 |
| Engine | 141 | 111.6 | 35.3 | 140.3 |
| Structure | 140 | 110.8 | 83.7 | 51 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 97 | 76.8 | 14.8 | 41.5 |
| Electrical System | 79 | 62.5 | 48.9 | 136.2 |
| Power Train | 66 | 52.3 | 146.1 | 114.7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 41 | 32.5 | 61.5 | 7.7 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 29 | 23 | 4.5 | 22.2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 26 | 20.6 | 56.8 | 38.7 |
| Service Brakes | 23 | 18.2 | 6.1 | 52.4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 19 | 15 | 15.6 | 5.9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 14.3 | 10.9 | 27.5 |
| Suspension | 15 | 11.9 | 52 | 19.3 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 9.5 | 16.8 | 15.4 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 8.7 | 26.1 | 89.5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 11 | 8.7 | 12.6 | 9.3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 10 | 7.9 | 3 | 20.6 |
| Wheels | 7 | 5.5 | 14.5 | 14.2 |
| Seats | 6 | 4.8 | 18.6 | 11.9 |
| Visibility | 5 | 4 | 38.9 | 10.5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 3.2 | 54.4 | 2.4 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 2.2 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1.6 | 13.2 | 3.9 |
| Traction Control System | 2 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1.6 | 3.7 | 0.4 |
| Tires | 1 | 0.8 | 138.9 | 10.6 |
984 unique complaints, 1,263 component mentions; 41 injuries and 1 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE23001 | Preliminary evaluation | Windshield trim molding Item detachment | structure:body:roof and pillars | 27 Jan 2023 | 8 Feb 2024 | 24V031 |
| EA17002 | Engineering analysis | Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab | engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 27 Jul 2017 | 17 Jan 2023 | — |
| PE16008 | Preliminary evaluation | Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor | engine and engine cooling:exhaust system | 1 Jul 2016 | 12 Sep 2017 | — |
| EA15005 | Engineering analysis | Front Brake Hose Failure | service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 28 Sep 2015 | 2 Nov 2018 | — |
| PE14027 | Preliminary evaluation | Front brake hose failure | service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings | 22 Aug 2014 | 3 Feb 2015 | — |
| PE12017 | Preliminary evaluation | Electric power steering failure | steering:electric power assist system | 19 Jun 2012 | 12 Jun 2014 | 14V286000 |
Other Ford Explorer model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 NHTSA | 0 | 2 | — |
| 1984 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1985 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1986 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1987 NHTSA | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1988 NHTSA | 0 | 4 | — |
| 1989 NHTSA | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1990 NHTSA | 0 | 12 | — |
| 1991 | 8 | 608 | 1,915,500 |
| 1992 | 4 | 633 | 1,267,784 |
| 1993 | 6 | 936 | 2,574,157 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1,206 | 2,024,373 |
| 1995 | 5 | 842 | 5,837,982 |
| 1996 | 6 | 1,447 | 5,543,470 |
| 1997 | 7 | 1,729 | 6,792,376 |
| 1998 | 9 | 1,955 | 9,567,644 |
| 1999 | 9 | 1,340 | 12,178,996 |
| 2000 | 9 | 936 | 10,560,697 |
| 2001 | 6 | 373 | 10,104,564 |
| 2002 | 4 | 3,266 | 5,511,406 |
| 2003 | 2 | 1,124 | 959,406 |
| 2004 | 0 | 1,285 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 487 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 616 | 199,942 |
| 2007 | 1 | 200 | 11 |
| 2008 | 1 | 133 | 1,497 |
| 2009 | 0 | 30 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 97 | 33,256 |
| 2011 | 6 | 657 | 3,609,175 |
| 2012 | 5 | 410 | 3,607,517 |
| 2013 | 11 | 984 | 5,100,891 |
| 2014 | 6 | 660 | 4,260,351 |
| 2015 | 8 | 635 | 5,716,171 |
| 2016 | 14 | 717 | 5,832,874 |
| 2017 | 13 | 316 | 6,354,133 |
| 2018 | 7 | 52 | 3,905,452 |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | 3,848,705 |
| 2020 | 33 | 0 | 6,198,017 |
| 2021 | 26 | 0 | 5,838,416 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 4,646,746 |
| 2023 | 15 | 0 | 3,599,589 |
| 2024 | 10 | 0 | 1,814,933 |
| 2025 | 20 | 0 | 1,434,649 |
| 2026 | 14 | 0 | 571,142 |
| 2027 NHTSA | 1 | 0 | 76,748 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Ford Explorer model years · Ford: 201 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Explorer have?
11 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 24V031000, was reported to NHTSA on 19 Jan 2024 and concerns structure:body:roof and pillars. Across all model years the Ford Explorer line has 142 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2013 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 6 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2013 Ford Explorer complain about most?
Steering: 272 of 1263 component mentions (215.4 per 1,000). Next is unknown or other with 222. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.