2013 Ford Explorer Interior & seats Problems

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while it was raining, water was leaking into the vehicle through the front windshield. While making a turn, water entered the vehicle, and the front seat passenger became wet. The seat was damaged by the water. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact ordered a power window switch online. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11651277

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Mileage

70,000 mi

The heat in my 2013 Ford Explorer won't work. The Rad fan isn't working so any antifreeze I put in is gone after 1 trip to the store. It's burning it. The sunroof has never opened fully, it wobbles. The electrical is shot on it. There are so many safety issues with this vehicle and I see I'm not the only one but yet I search my Vin and there are no recalls that's not right

NHTSA ID

11622082

Incident

Oct 2, 2023

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA ID

11610233

Incident

Aug 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front driver's side exterior door handle cover and keyhole detached while opening. Additionally, the front driver's side door failed to latch, and the contact had to force the door to close. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V171000 (Structure) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11575746

Incident

Feb 1, 2024

Mileage

106,000 mi

All doors sporadically do not unlock. Sometimes it one sometimes it’s two sometimes it’s three. The back doors locked and will not unlock with the key fob, the indoor lock controls, or manually attempting to unlock the doors. The rear doors cannot be opened from the outside or inside when the locking mechanisms stop working. It poses a large risk when there are children in the car. And the front doors can be opened from the inside when the locking mechanisms stop working. It seems as though the locks start to act up when the weather is below 60°F. It is so sporadic that we can’t risk to take our family or children anywhere as we have to maneuver them out of car seats to get them out through front doors instead. I have taken our vehicle into our local Ford dealer for inspection upon which they stated that a specific component wasn’t working and it needed to be replaced, although that’s not the case considering how sporadic the locks are. They work when it’s warm and usually during the spring and summer, but all of a sudden when it’s below 60° they only want to work every so often. They should be a safety recall considering when people can’t get out of their car it poses a large risk. There are no warnings for this happening, and I don’t believe that the Ford dealership is even aware of what causes this as I’ve seen on many online forums that a lot of Ford owners have this problem. This has been going on since we purchased our car in June 2020

NHTSA ID

11437786

Incident

Jul 8, 2020

Heated and cooled seats stopped working with no warning.

NHTSA ID

11429917

Incident

Nov 20, 2019

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the passenger’s side door failed to latch properly. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated tied the door shut to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact stated that in February 2021 the driver’s side door latch was replaced, not the passenger’s side door latch. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximate 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11424902

Incident

Jul 8, 2021

Mileage

102,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEATS BECAME INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRONTIER FORD (3701 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA 95051, (408) 241-1800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT MOTOR AND SEAT HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. AN ENGINEER WAS INFORMED ABOUT THE FAILURE, BUT NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNNYVALE FORD (650 E EL CAMINO REAL, SUNNYVALE, CA 94087, (408) 215-9949), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11245319

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE FUSE WAS REINSERTED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOBBLED AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL FLICK FORD (737 NORTH FREEWAY SERVICE RD, HUNTSVILLE, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. FURTHERMORE, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR AJAR WARNING MESSAGE ERRONEOUSLY DISPLAYED, THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800. *TR

NHTSA ID

11229629

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

800 mi

RAIN WATER LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLES BACK HATCH AND COMING THROUGH THE SEAT BELTS, CAUSING WET SEAT BELTS, SEATS, SPARE TIRE EQUIPMENT, AND PERSONAL AND ITEMS IN CARGO AREA.

NHTSA ID

11195831

Incident

Jan 1, 2019

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHEN IT RAINS, WATER POURS IN FROM DRIVER SIDE 3RD ROW SEAT BELT. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD EXPLORERS DUE TO POOR WELDING ISSUES, YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT FUTURE MOLD AND MILDEW ISSUES IN THE CAR. I DRIVE AROUND 3 YOUNG CHILDREN AND DO NOT WANT ANY HEALTH ISSUES BECAUSE OF THIS FLAW. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ISSUE A RECALL SO IT CAN BE FIXED. I DO NOT HAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR WELDING MISTAKES.

NHTSA ID

11143780

Incident

Aug 19, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE STEERING ABILITY RETURNED TO NORMAL THE NEXT DAY. FOUR DAYS LATER, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AGAIN. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT BECAME LOCKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT CHAPMAN AUTO STORE (6744 E BLACK HORSE PIKE, EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, NJ 08234, (609) 646-2000), BUT HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.

NHTSA ID

11080868

Incident

Mar 9, 2018

Mileage

129,000 mi

DOOR PANELS OUT OF LINE. RPMS DROP TO 0 WHILE SITTING, CARBON MONOXIDE, FRONT END NOISE, SEAT BROKE, BACK VENTS POURED WATER IN, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BLINKER SWITCH REPLACED, MODULAR REPLACED, BACK UP CAMERA SYSTEM REPLACED. FRONT END WORKED ON MORE THAN 7 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11074639

Incident

Feb 3, 2018

EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN - SINCE WE HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE EXPLORER FOR THREE MONTHS (IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP GETTING AN UPDATED TURBO), MY WIFE HAS NOT HAD ANY UNEXPLAINED HEADACHES AFTER SPENDING ALL DAY RUNNING ERRANDS IN THE EXPLORER.

NHTSA ID

11020478

Incident

Jun 1, 2013

Mileage

41,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, EXHAUST FUMES EMITTED FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. ALSO, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AJAR SENSOR ILLUMINATED ALTHOUGH THE DOOR WAS SECURED. EVENTUALLY, THE DOOR COULD NOT BE LOCKED AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ID

10915566

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

Mileage

36,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DOME LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10873368

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE INTERNAL LIGHTING REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE AWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE DOOR CHIME SOUNDED; HOWEVER, THE DOOR WAS SHUT. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND, EVERY TIME THE LOCK BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. THE CONTACT PULLED THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION AND OPENED THE DOOR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND IT STARTED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LATCH CONNECTOR WAS DIRTY. THE LATCH CONNECTOR WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,700.

NHTSA ID

10871665

Incident

May 31, 2016

Mileage

14,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID

10863205

Incident

Jan 7, 2014

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THIRD ROW SEAT FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SEAT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LEAK BY THE TOP OF THE REAR HATCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10851658

Incident

Mar 2, 2015

Mileage

38,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRVER SIDE DOOR LATCH AJAR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. WHEN THE CONTACT CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HE HAD NOT HEARD OF SUCH A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,650.

NHTSA ID

10837489

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

37,650 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE PANEL WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FLASHED "DOOR AJAR". THE CONTACT TELEPHONED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ID

10734390

Incident

Jul 6, 2015

Mileage

47,000 mi

INTERIOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE LOOSE AND DON'T HAVE ANY RESISTANCE ON THEM. BECAUSE OF THIS THE DOORS CAN EASILY BE OPENED WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT AT ANY SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10706392

Incident

Apr 16, 2015

Mileage

35,260 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD NOT UNLATCH WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM THE DRIVER OR FRONT PASSENGER. THE CHILD LOCK WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THAT MANNER. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGERS WOULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10694068

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER (LIMITED) SPONTANEOUSLY LOCKED WHILE MY 9 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WITH THE KEYS. MY WIFE HAD JUST PUT MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WITH HER PURSE, WHICH HAD THE VEHICLE KEYS INSIDE. AFTER SHE CLOSED THE DOOR TO WALK TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE VEHICLE LOCKED, AND WOULD NOT OPEN. ALL PUBLISHED VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUALS/DOCUMENTATION CLEARLY STATE THAT THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN. FURTHER, THE VEHICLE HAS BUILT IN MECHANISMS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST THIS SCENARIO WHICH ALSO FAILED. WITH THE KEYS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CAR, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO TOUCH THE DOOR HANDLE TO UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WE TRIED WOULD UNLOCK THE CAR. WE LIVE IN A HOT CLIMATE, SO THE CAR WAS WELL OVER 120 DEGREES. WE CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO BREAK IN (BROKEN WINDOW, AND DOOR). AFTER BRINGING THIS UP WITH FORD, THEY'VE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, OR RESPONSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER, AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I WAS LUCKY HELP WAS CLOSE BY, HOWEVER, UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN FAR MORE TRAGIC. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579661

Incident

Apr 8, 2014

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V270000 (LOCKS/LATCHES AND STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK TO RECEIVE THE PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10532427

Incident

Jul 29, 2013