2013 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems

FAILURE BREAK SYSTEMS, FAILURE BREAK SYSTEMS

NHTSA ID

11635482

Incident

Jan 12, 2025

The power steering failed on my 2013 Ford Explorer while driving which made steering extremely difficult, especially at slower speeds. I was very startled by the immediate loss of steering while traveling at a high rate of speed. I also had to be extremely cautious turning to ensure there was ample time to turn and not cause an accident. My turn signals also quite functioning properly. When turning on my turn signals they would only blink once unless I held down the turn signal which would then allow it to work which is difficult to do as it takes the strength of both hands to steer the wheel with the power steering not functioning. The vehicle is available for inspection and I have an appointment to take it to a Ford dealership next week. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or anyone else. It will be taken to a Ford dealership next week as that is the soonest they were able to see it. The two warning messages that went off at the time of power steering failure were Power Steering Failure and Service AdvanceTrac System.

NHTSA ID

11478544

Incident

Aug 8, 2022

Water was leaking in somehow through the drivers side. I had windshield replaced as well as moonroof motor (because the moonroof stopped working after leak also) . The water does not seem to get in anymore but Now my headlights randomly work. I have had the headlights replaced but it did not fix the problem. The mechanic has seen the problem but is stumped so now its a process of elimination I guess. When the headlights go out if I completly turn them off and back on again it will ussually fix it temporarily. Ive got a police warning because I got pulled over for no headlights but as the police were writing the ticket, the headlights randomly came back .There has been a lot of sensors going on the dash and ford has had to reset them.

NHTSA ID

11426223

Incident

Jul 15, 2020

HEADLIGHTS ARE WAY TO DIM FOR NIGHT DRIVING

NHTSA ID

11415771

Incident

Dec 3, 2012

Mileage

500 mi

LIGHTS AND PASSENGER DOOR AJAR STAY ON. LIGHTS DON'T TURN OFF WHEN BACKING UP OR UNTIL DRIVING FORWARD AT A CERTAIN SPEED. LOCKS UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. LIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN ON WHEN NO ONE IS BY THE CAR. HAVE 3 LITTLE KIDS NEED A CAR THAT SHOULD BE RELIABLE TO LOCK THE DOOR TO S AND STAY LOCKED OR TO SAFELY BACK UP WITH VISIBILITY BUT CAN'T BC THE LIGHTS STAY ON

NHTSA ID

11377079

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

80,000 mi

COMPLAINED OF FAULTY POWER STEERING ERROR MESSAGE COMING ON WHEN STARTING VEHICLE FOR 1.5 YEARS TO FORD DEALERSHIP WITH NO EXACT RESPONSE REGARDING THE ISSUE. THEY SAID THEY RESET THE SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD WORK FINE AFTERWARDS. THE NEXT DAY I STILL HAD THE ISSUE. I THEN COMPLAINED AGAIN ABOUT IT BUT IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR NUMEROUS ISSUES AND THAT WAS OVERLOOKED/IGNORED. MY POWER STEERING HAS NOW GONE OUT COMPLETELY AND THE RECALLS FOR THE POWER STEERING ENDED FOR EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED AFTER FEB. 2012 AND MINE WAS MANUFACTURED IN DEC. 2012. I ASKED IF THE DEALERSHIP WAS REQUIRED TO REPORT ISSUES WHEN CUSTOMERS BRING THEIR VEHICLE IN TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID NO. THEY ARE ONLY REQIURED TO REPORT THEM WHEN THEY REPAIR IT OR DO WORK TO IT, NOT JUST ASSESS THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE. LESSON LEARNED, ALWAYS REPORT YOUR ISSUES HERE. MY POWER STEERING COULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE DRIVING BUT THANK GOD IT DIDN'T. IT WENT OUT AS I WAS PAYING A BILL AND HAD TURNED MY CAR OFF FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT IS INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING THAT THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A KNOWN FORD ISSUE AND THAT MY CAR IS CURRENTLY NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. MUCH LESS, I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND THEY COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT BY LETTING ME KNOW THE POWER STEERING FAULT IS COMMON AND TO GET IT REPAIRED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER TO PREVENT A WRECK.

NHTSA ID

11306642

Incident

Jan 17, 2020

Mileage

130,000 mi

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCK/LATCH MECHANISMS FAILED SHOWING CAR DOOR IS AJAR WHEN DOOR IS ACTUALLY SHUT. DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AROUND 30,000 MILES AND PASSENGER LOCK ACTUATOR FAILED AROUND 135000 MILES. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OF CAR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF UNTIL SPEED REACHES APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THIS LEADS TO UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS AND LIMITS DRIVER VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF CAR DUE TO GLARE.

NHTSA ID

11300558

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

135,000 mi

DOOR AJAR NOTIFICATION REMAINS ON WHEN ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. ALERT TONE WILL SOUND WHEN VEHICLE STARTS MOVING OR COMES TO A STOP. AUTO DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT FUNCTION OR DOORS WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED. INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS REMAIN ON UNTIL VEHICLE STARTS MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY FORD AND SENSORS CLEANED UNDER WARRANTY AT 25K MILES. FIX LASTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS. CURRENT MILEAGE 67K.

NHTSA ID

11205816

Incident

May 5, 2015

Mileage

25,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SEVERELY INADEQUATE ,IF IT IS RAINING IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ID

11163912

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

50,000 mi

HAVING A ISSUE HEADLIGHTS GOING OFF. MOSTLY ONE BUB AT A TIME BUT NOT ALWAYS THE SAME BUB OR BOTH BUDS GO OFF BUT ALWAYS TURN BACK ON ONCE I PLACE SWITCH BACK IN OFF POSITION AND TURN THEM BACK ON. AFTER BEING PULLED OVER BY LOCAT SHIERFF IS WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE FOR MY HEADLIGHT BEING OUT. TROUBLE HAD GOTTEN WORST OF TIME. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL STATE TROOPER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH NEWER FORD HEADLIGHTS. I WENT DEALERSHIP AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM IT SEEM LIKE A ELECTRICAL POWER ISSUE. I WAS THAT THE HARNESS OVER TIME GETS MOISTURE IN IT AND HAD TO GREASE TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING. HE SAID IT WILL BE OVER $1000 TO GET IT FIX WITH THE SYMPTOMS I PROVIDED HIM. ON LONG STRAIGHT TRIP AT A STEAD SPEED THE LIGHT DO NOT GO OUT, BUT DRIVING AROUND TOWN IT HAPPENS NOW ON A REGULAR.

NHTSA ID

11113839

Incident

Jul 7, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

THROTTLE POSITION. FUEL PEDDLE DOESN'T ALWAYS ACCELERATE WHEN BEING PUSHED. AS I PULL OUT THE CAR MAY ACCELERATE OR MAY NOT. SOMETIMES IT SUDDENLY LURCHES. VERY SCARY WHEN CROSSING THROUGH TRAFFIC. MY MECHANIC SAID IT'S GOING TO BE ME T-BONED.

NHTSA ID

11110842

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE THE WORST THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN. HAD LIGHTS ADJUSTED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND NOT MUCH IMPROVEMENT. THE ROAD DOES NOT GET VERY WELL ILLUMINATED. EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHTS ARE IRRITATING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THEY DON'T DO MUCH TO HELP THE DRIVER SEE THE ROAD. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW.

NHTSA ID

11047119

Incident

Jun 13, 2012

Mileage

200 mi

DOOR AJAR IS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSE AND ALARM FOR THIS KEEPS GOING OFF ALSO THE INSIDE FRONT INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON.THIS IN ON GOING HAD IT FIX ONCE AND NOW ITS BACK AGAIN.WITH 24,000 MILES AND THOUSANDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND WHEN DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11003629

Incident

Jul 1, 2017

Mileage

24,600 mi

WE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT PIG TAIL TWICE AS IT MELTED TO THE BULB

NHTSA ID

10969844

Incident

Aug 25, 2015

THE DOOR SENSOR INDICATES THE DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IN REALITY IT IS CLOSED. THIS CAUSES A WARNING BELL THAT DOES NOT CEASE AND KEEPS THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS CONDITION ALSO CAUSES THE ALARM SYSTEM TO GO OFF RESULTING AT TIMES IN A POLICE RESPONSE. IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM YOU MUST SHUT THE DOOR REPEATEDLY, SOMETIMES A DOZEN TIMES OR MORE. THIS ALSO HAS RUN THE BATTERY DOWN DUE TO THE DOME LIGHTS AND ACCESSORIES STAYING ON. APART FROMT HE OBVIOUS FRUSTRATION THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THIS IS NOT A ONE TIME THING BUT A CHRONIC AND REPEATED PROBLEM THAT HAS NO REAL RESOLUTION. I SEE OTHER FORD USERS ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FORD EXPLORERS.

NHTSA ID

10894202

Incident

Aug 8, 2016

Mileage

38,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS MALFUNCTIONED CONSTANTLY. PROBLEM ALLEGEDLY CAUSED BY FAULTY INSTALLATION OF BOTH WIRING HARNESSES AT FACTORY. BOTH WERE REPLACED. SECOND VEHICLE IN OUR FLEET WITH THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE STARTED LOSING ACCELERATION; PROBLEM TRACED TO FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. SECOND VEHICLE IN OUR FLEET WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10893569

Incident

Aug 5, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE DRIVER SIDE "DOOR AJAR" ALARM IS CONSTANTLY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE DOOR IS FIRMLY CLOSED AND SECURE.THE ALARM KEEPS GOING OFF AND THE DOME LIGHT IS ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION FOR A DANGEROUS PERIOD OF TIME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND DANGEROUS COMPLAINT FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES IN SIMILAR YEARS.ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE AND WATCHED ONLINE THERE ARE A LOT OF LIKE VEHICLES OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10855323

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION OF ROADWAYS IS SEVERELY INADEQUATE. WE HAVE BOTH OBSERVED THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2012 (THE PRIMARY DRIVER IS A 5'5" FEMALE, THE SECONDARY DRIVER IS 5'10" MALE). THE HEADLIGHTS SEEM TO AIM TOO LOW AND LEAVE DARK SPOTS IN THE ROAD, PARTICULARLY WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. AND THE PROBLEM IS ONLY EXACERBATED WITH HIGHER SPEEDS. ILLUMINATION IS BETTER ON HIGH BEAM, BUT ONE CANNOT LEAVE HIGH BEAMS ENGAGED DURING NORMAL DRIVING. THESE ARE THE WORST HEADLIGHTS I'VE EVER SEEN ON A VEHICLE IN OVER 40 YEARS OF DRIVING INCLUDING CARS THAT I'VE DRIVEN FROM THE 50S, 60S, AND 70S, LET ALONE FOR A MODERN CAR.

NHTSA ID

10808927

Incident

Dec 31, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ID

10790556

Incident

Nov 18, 2013

Mileage

23,000 mi

HEADLIGHT BULB AND PLASTIC CONNECTOR HAVE MELTED AT THE CONNECTION.

NHTSA ID

10585906

Incident

Apr 29, 2014

Mileage

60,848 mi

2013 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND AIM DOWN INTO THE ROAD. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IT WAS A DESIGN FEATURE, AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO FIX. *JB

NHTSA ID

10573518

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY DESIGNED. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE ANY OBJECTS THROUGH THE TOP PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,300.

NHTSA ID

10569340

Incident

Jul 15, 2013

Mileage

12,300 mi

VEHICLE PURCHASED LATE NOVEMBER 2012,LATE DECEMBER 2012 AUTO HIGHBEAMS STARTED WORKING ERRATICALLY OR NOT AT ALL, OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WHEN THIS ISSUE STARTED WAS ABOUT 50DEGREES, FORD CLAIMS THAT ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL DECREASE THIS OPERATION, SUCH AS FOG, DIRTY WINDSHIELD, SNOW OR OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE CAMERA THAT OPERATES THE SYSTEM. UNDERSTANDABLE, BUT WINDSHIELD CLEAR NO OBSTRUCTIONS, YOU CAN SEE ON COMING TRAFFIC 3/4 TO A MILE AWAY OR FURTHER, LITES FAIL TO DIM OR GO BACK TO HIGHBEAM MODE AUTOMATICALLY. FORD NOW CLAIMS AFTER INSTALLING A NEW CAMERA THAT THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMP IS TO COLD FOR THE SYSTEM TO WORK, YET WHEN A FORD MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AT FORDS REQUEST HE FOUND THE SYSTEM, DIDN'T OPERATE, WOULD WORK FOR 2 OR 3 TIMES AS SUPPOSED TO, THAT THEN QUIT WORKING THIS WAS AT 20 DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMP. IN DRIVING THE CAR 20 TO 30 MILES THE SYSTEM WOULD OPERATE AND THE STOP WORKING AT WILL. FORD CANNOT FURNISH OR CLAIMS THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OPERATING TEMP RANGE OF THE SYSTEM IS. AT NO TIME DURING THESE FAILURES WAS THERE ANY OBSTRUCTIONS TO THE CAMERA, WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3-4 TIMES AND STILL NOT FIXED, THE SUGGESTION FROM FORD IS THAT I WAIT FOR THE WEATHER TO WARM UP AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. NOTHING IN THE LITERATURE STATES ANYTHING ABOUT TEMPERATURE, ONLY ADVERSE CONDITIONS OR CAMERA OBSTRUCTION . I CAN NOT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY PERSON IN NORTH AMERICA THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE OPTION, I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER OWNERS WITH VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THIS OPTION, AND THEY HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS. TO THIS DATE I DO NOT BELIEVE TEMP IS THE PROBLEM AS IT HAS WORKED IN TEMPERATURES BELOW ZERO AT WILL. ANY INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10499536

Incident

Dec 20, 2012

Mileage

500 mi

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING OF THE ROAD. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS PAINTED BLACK PAINT ON 1/2 OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON A TWO LANE UNLIT ROAD THE CAR IS UNSAFE. THE LIGHTS LIGHT UP ONLY HALF WAY UP A STREET OR STOP SIGN AND LESS THAN THAT IF GOING DOWNHILL. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 1 TIME AND THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE DROVE ONE AND HAD TO STOP OVERNIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS SO BAD. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT ON A TWO LANE UNLIT ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487507

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

1,200 mi

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT LIGHTING OF THE ROAD. IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS PAINTED BLACK PAINT ON 1/2 OF THE WINDSHIELD. ON A TWO LANE UNLIT ROAD THE CAR IS UNSAFE. THE LIGHTS LIGHT UP ONLY HALF WAY UP A STREET OR STOP SIGN AND LESS THAN THAT IF GOING DOWNHILL. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES AND THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. IN THE REPORT FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO FORD IT IS STATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP SWITCHED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM ONE EXPLORER TO ANOTHER WITH THE SAME RESULT. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYS IT IS A "CHARACTER OF THE CAR" THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT ON A TWO LANE UNLIT ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10485409

Incident

Oct 9, 2012

Mileage

7,800 mi