YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 Explorer years

The 2013 Ford Explorer has a complaint index of 93, the second-worst of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 2,234 complaints, 11 recalls, and 44 crashes, with Steering the top problem area at 37% of complaints.

Complaints
2,234
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
44 / 11
Injuries / deaths
61 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
19.5
17 city / 23.5 hwy

Top 2013 Ford Explorer problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering835 (37%)
  2. Structure & Body455 (20%)
  3. Other348 (16%)
  4. Engine316 (14%)
  5. Electrical System183 (8%)
  6. Fuel System153 (7%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain119 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires93 (4%)
  9. Brakes88 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers62 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the steering wheel seizing suddenly during turns, leading to loss of control and crashes into fixed objects.
  • Some describe the vehicle rolling away after being placed in park, with a shift-to-park warning appearing repeatedly before the incident.
  • Several report the brakes failing to stop the vehicle while reversing, including one case where the car rolled downhill into a tree.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple front and side-impact crashes, even with significant vehicle damage.
  • One owner reported smoke entering the cabin through the vents after an EcoBoost engine noise and warning light, followed by an engine replacement.
2013 Ford Explorer complaints: complaints filed per quarter1152012 Q32014 Q32016 Q32018 Q32020 Q32022 Q32024 Q32026 Q3
2747 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q3 (115).

2013 Ford Explorer recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V031000Jan 19, 2024Structure & Body1,889,110 vehicles

    Structure:body:roof and pillars

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 21V746000Sep 22, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires150,723 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 21V537000Jul 15, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires631,176 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    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.

    Risk: 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.

See all 11 recalls for the 2013 Ford Explorer →

2013 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
17 MPG
Highway
23.5 MPG
Combined
19.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,325
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2013 compared with other Explorer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Caution601,197619.5
2012Good47827520
2013Avoid932,2341119.5
2014Caution671,678619.5
2015Avoid871,791819.5

All Ford Explorer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA data ranks the 2013 Explorer 2nd worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 93 and 2,234 complaints. Steering issues account for 37% of complaints, giving this year an Avoid verdict relative to other Explorer years.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Ford Explorer?
Steering problems make up 37% of complaints, followed by Structure & Body issues at 20% and Engine issues at 14%. The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 76,900 miles.
Does the 2013 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2013 Explorer, covering steering (power steering control module software), fuel system (fuel delivery module replacement), suspension (rear suspension toe links and cross-axis ball joints), and structure/body (A-pillar trim and door handles). None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 Explorer compare to other years?
The 2013 model's complaint index of 93 is close to the worst year, 2016, which has an index of 100. Better-performing years include 2019 and 2023, both rated Best with complaint indexes of 7 and 13.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.