Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2013 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver side seatbelt unexpectedly unlatched. The dealer was contacted; however, it was diagnosed of repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 150,000.
The rear reverse camera malfunctions and glitches. Often the screen turning green when reversing, sometimes screen is black or no color view and most times the camera if reversing to left or appear as to the right or vise versa and sometimes it’s normal but rarely. The control buttons for windows has a malfunction where it sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t. The seatbelts are not clicking and I have kids in the rear seats.
Fail emissions dealership not complying refuse fix a car that shouldn't be finances to me seatbelt don't work got car 5/14/2024 the heat resistance wasn't replaced correctly and they won't trade or give my money back or fix it I emissions test reports as well what wrong what need be fix car stop yesterday I'm paying out pocket for repair that wasn't cause by me and car not of 458.81 plus 17 dollars charged with it they want keep paying cash but I won't so they said they wouldn't accept it if not in cash.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that rainwater was leaking into the cabin of the vehicle from the passenger’s and driver’s side third-row roof seat belts anchors to the seat belts, and onto the floor of the rear of the vehicle. The contact placed a blanket on the folded third-row seats and the trunk floor; upon returning to the vehicle, the blanket was soaking wet. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the second-row driver’s side seat belt had malfunctioned and would not safely secure the passenger. The contact indicated that the seat belt buckle mechanism had failed and could not be latched. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were both notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 76,000.
The check charging system light came on and the power steering locked up, once it locks it stays mostly down. I was going around a curb at about 55mph when this happened with my two children. If that is not a safety issue I do not know what is. I could have wrecked and we could have been seriously injured or worse. Now my check brake system light is also on, check engine light, and it has a leak in the driver's side third row seatbelt. Now I know that it's said to have the battery and alternator tested and that has been done. I feel like I wasted a lot of money that I honestly did not have to buy a decent vehicle for me and my kids. This part is not under recall for my vehicle, however I have done my research and there are numerous recalls, investigations, and complaints. I need this issue fixed.
WATER LEAKING IN THROUGH 3RD ROW DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT, LEAKS DOWN TO POWERFOLD ELECTRICAL WIRING, AND ACCUMULATES UNDER SEAT/CARPET AND INTO SPARE TIRE WELL. THE WATER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CAN CAUSE GREAT HARM TO NY CHILDREN WHO SIT BACK THERE. THE WATER ON CARPET CAUSES MOLD AND MILDEW WHICH IS A HAZARD TO OUT HEALTH. THE WATER IN SPARE TIRE WELL CAN CAUSE RUST AND SUBSEQUENT EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER INTO CABIN.
HAVE LEAK AT 3RD ROW SEAT BELT AT ROOF ON LEFT HAND SIDE.SEAT BELT GETTING WET LEAKING DOWN ON SEAT AND FLOOR. FIRST NOTICED WHEN TILTING 3RD ROW SEAT ON SEPT. 29/2020. VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT MOVING . HAD RAIN THE NIGHT OFSEPT. 28/2020.
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.
PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH 50 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER 2012.DURING 2015 HAD A STRONG MOLD SMELL,UPON INVESTIGATION FOUND APPROXIMATELY 3'' OF WATER IN MY SPARE TIRE STORAGE AREA, 3RD ROW SEAT SHOULDER BELT WET AND CARPET UNDER 3RD ROW SEAT PASSENGER SIDE SOAKED.TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY ON 4-27-2015 / 32,002 MILES,HAD 17 DAYS.TOOK IN UNDER WARRANTY 6-25-2015 WITH 34,460 MILES,HAD 4 DAYS.TOOK IN 3-11-16 WITH 44,501 MILES,DEALERSHIP SENT VEHICLE TO THEIR BODYSHOP FOR 4 DAYS.TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 2-14-18 THEY SENT IT OFF SIGHT TO JR'S AUTOMOTIVE TO REPAIR WATER LEAK.TOOK TO DEALERSHIP 1-20-19 FOR EXACT SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE HAD FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 YEARS, FOUND WATER IN VEHICLE SAME AREA 2 DAYS LATER.IN THE APPROXIMATELY LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD 2 CASES OPENED WITH "FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER"AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE PLUS FILED A CLAIM WITH BBB WHEN IT WAS APPARENT THAT I WOULD NEVER GET OFF OF THE MERRY-GO-ROUND WITH FORD.BBB TURNED ME DOWN BASE ON TOO MANY MILES ON VEHICLE WHICH REMEMBER IS NOT A MECHANICAL ISSUE BUT A WEATHER DEPENDENT ISSUE.I COULD HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP DOZEN OF TIMES DURING THIS PERIOD BUT BECAUSE OF INCONVENIENCE WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND WORKING 12 HOUR SHIFT WORK IT WAS JUST IMPRACTICABLE.ALL ISSUES WITH WATER INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS WHEN I CHECKED IT AFTER IT WAS PARKED AND OF COURSE WITH RAIN OR MELTED SNOW INVOLVED AND ON A CITY STREET.
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.
NOTICED WATER LEAK COMING OUT OF SEAT BELT HARNESS AREA IN THIRD ROW. WATER LEAK IS CAUSING ENTIRE AREA TO BECOME WET IN THIRD ROW. MILDEW SMELL IS NOW PRESENT. AFRAID THERE MAY BE MOLD GROWTH CAUSING HEALTH ISSUES. I PUT TOWELS AROUND THE SEATBELT TO CATCH WATER AND THEY ARE SOAKED WHEN I CHANGE THEM OUT. RAIN WATER COMES LEAKED ON WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OR WHILE IN MOTION. I AM NOT AWARE OF WHERE THE LEAK IS STARTING OR HOW TO FIX.
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IN THE SECOND ROW REFUSED TO LATCH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER OUR WARRANTY. THE SUN/MOON ROOF HAS LEAKED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS CAUSING ME TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT WE SHOULD BLOW AIR INTO THE TUBES TO KEEP THEM CLEAR EVEN THOUGH WE ALWAYS PARK IN THE GARAGE AND AT WORK THERE ARE NO TREES AROUND THE PARKING LOT TO HAVE ANYTHING BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE DRAIN TUBES. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL VEHICLES WITH SUN ROOFS AND NEVER HAD THEM LEAK OR NEED TO BE BLOWN OUT EVEN WHEN THEY WERE STORED 100%V OUTSIDE. AGAIN NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH WE HAD LESS THAN 40K MILES AND A FORD CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED WARRANTY. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE SUN ROOF WAS STUCK OPEN ON 3 OCCASIONS. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW TRIM PILLAR FLEW OFF WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. IT IS NOW COMING LOOSE AGAIN AND I DO NOT EXPECT IT TO LAST MUCH LONGER WITH HOW LOOSE IT IS. IT IS A DANGER TO ANYONE DRIVING BEHIND ME AS IT COULD FLY OFF AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A BAD DESIGN AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. THESE EVENTS HAPPENED OVER MULTIPLE DATES BUT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF A WAY TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS AS WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, NO PREVIOUS ISSUES NOTICED. TRIED TO LATCH SEAT BELT BEFORE DRIVING AND LATCH WILL NOT HOLD BUCKLE IN PLACE TO SECURE SEAT BELT FOR DRIVER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE CHEST THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
BOTH OF MY REMOTE CONTROLS ARE NOT WORKING AT ALL AND HAVE TO BE PUTTING THE CONTROL IN THE LITTLE BOX TO GET MY VEHICLE STARTED AND CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ARE PRESENT SO I STOP DRIVING MY VEHICLE FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS OF THE SMELL.
PASSENGER FRONT AND DRIVER BACK SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT EXTEND
THE BUCKLE FOR BOTH INFLATABLE SEATBELTS IN THE SECOND ROW SEAT HAVE BROKEN A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES. ONCE THE BUCKLE CRUMBLED INTO MANY PIECES IN MY DAUGHTER'S HAND, ON BOTH BELTS A PROTECTIVE PLASTIC COVER HAS FALLEN OFF, AND NOW ONE OF THE BELTS GETS STUCK OCCASIONALLY IN THE BUCKLE. ALSO THE MIDDLE BELT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT UNROLL. SO A TOTAL OF 5 ISSUES WITH ONE ROW OF BELTS AND BUCKLES. THIS IS THE ROW MY CHILDREN SIT IN. I REQUESTED FORD TO TAKE THIS VEHICLE BACK UNDER THE CALIFORNIA LEMON LAW AND THEY DENIED IT! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR SECOND ROW PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UN-LATCH WHEN OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE OTHER TWO REAR SEATS WERE NOT IN A FULLY RECLINED POSITION. THE DOWNWARD POSITIONING OF THE TWO SEATS COVERED THE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. UPDATED 10/26/12 *CN
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .