YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Explorer Suspension, Wheels & Tires Problems

NHTSA lists 93 Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer, 4% of its 2,234 total complaints, with median failure mileage of 93,000. Four related recalls cover rear toe links and cross-axis ball joints, and this problem area is tied to 5 crashes and 2 injuries.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints
93
4% of 2,234
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
93,000 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical suspension symptoms owners report

  • Rear suspension toe links reportedly fracture or fail at the weld, in some cases even after the recall repair was performed.
  • Owners describe the front axle separating from the transfer case, accompanied by a loud noise and sudden collapse of the front suspension.
  • Some drivers report loss of steering control or power steering failure at highway speeds, making the vehicle difficult to maneuver.
  • Front suspension noise over bumps is reported, with dealers reportedly telling some owners the issue is common on this model year.
  • A steering wheel seizing while driving at highway speed is described, forcing the driver to pull over.

When 2013 Ford Explorer suspension complaints were filed

First complaint May 8, 2013, latest Jun 24, 2026.

2013 Ford Explorer suspension, wheels & tires complaints: complaints filed per quarter102013 Q22016 Q22018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32025 Q4
93 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2020 Q4 (10).

Suspension, Wheels & Tires recalls for the 2013 Ford Explorer

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 20V675000Mar 12, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires454,941 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  4. NHTSA 19V435000Jun 10, 2019Suspension, Wheels & Tires1,194,173 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    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.

    Risk: 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.

Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20108 (7%)
  2. 201135 (3%)
  3. 201227 (3%)
  4. 201393 (4%)
  5. 2014127 (8%)
  6. 201597 (5%)
  7. 2016130 (5%)
  8. 2017127 (8%)
  9. 201840 (5%)
  10. 201916 (5%)
  11. 202051 (4%)
  12. 202120 (5%)
  13. 202216 (6%)
  14. 202313 (12%)
  15. 20243 (14%)
  16. 20254 (4%)

Frequently asked questions

How many suspension, wheel, and tire complaints does NHTSA have for the 2013 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists 93 complaints in this area for the 2013 Explorer, which is 4% of the 2,234 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Explorer suspension?
Yes. Four recalls cover suspension components on the 2013 Explorer, including rear suspension toe link fractures (19V435000) and cross-axis ball joint inspection or replacement (20V675000, 21V537000, 21V746000).
At what mileage do suspension problems typically show up on the 2013 Explorer?
The median mileage at failure for suspension, wheels, and tires complaints on the 2013 Explorer is 93,000 miles.
Have suspension problems on the 2013 Explorer caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2013 Explorer shows 5 crashes and 2 injuries reported.

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.