YearToAvoid

2013 Ford Explorer Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 62 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer, 3% of its 2,234 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 76,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this area.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
62
3% of 2,234
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
76,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Windshield wipers turn on by themselves at startup or while driving and sometimes will not shut off even in the off position.
  • Windshield or window trim and pillar mounts detach or fly off the vehicle, in one case at highway speed near 65 mph.
  • Sunroof or rear window glass has shattered spontaneously while driving, with no impact reported.
  • Windshield trim and rubber seals loosen and separate from the glass, creating flapping noise and rattling above roughly 10 mph.
  • Windshield panel has separated from the vehicle at highway speed, around 76,000 miles in one reported case.

When 2013 Ford Explorer visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 19, 2013, latest Jul 31, 2026.

2013 Ford Explorer visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month9Jun 2013Aug 2017Jan 2019Oct 2020Mar 2023Dec 2023Oct 2024Nov 2025
62 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2013 to Jul 2026; peak Feb 2023 (9).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2013 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by Explorer model year

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

  1. 20103 (3%)
  2. 201121 (2%)
  3. 201223 (3%)
  4. 201362 (3%)
  5. 201452 (3%)
  6. 201542 (2%)
  7. 201667 (3%)
  8. 201773 (4%)
  9. 201827 (4%)
  10. 20197 (2%)
  11. 202066 (5%)
  12. 202141 (10%)
  13. 202229 (11%)
  14. 202310 (9%)
  15. 20243 (14%)
  16. 202513 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2013 Ford Explorer owners reported Visibility & Wipers problems?
NHTSA lists 62 complaints in this area for the 2013 Explorer, which is 3% of the 2,234 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2013 Ford Explorer windshield or wiper issues?
No related recalls are listed for the Visibility & Wipers area on the 2013 Explorer.
At what mileage do these problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2013 Explorer is 76,000 miles.
Did the wiper or window problems cause crashes or injuries?
NHTSA records 0 crashes and 0 fires linked to these complaints, but 1 injury is listed.
How does the 2013 Explorer compare to other years for this problem?
The 2013 Explorer's 62 complaints and 3% share are similar to 2012 (23 complaints, 3%) and 2014 (52 complaints, 3%), and lower than 2016 (67, 3%) and 2017 (73, 4%).

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.