general problems of the 2013 Ford Explorer - part 1

Back up camera will go black intermittently when in reverse.

Hello, I received recall notice #24v031 from Ford motor company regarding a safety-related issue and was instructed to have the repair completed at a dealership. I’ve made multiple attempts to schedule the repair, but each time I was told the part is on backorder. I was advised to contact Ford directly, which I did, but was then redirected back to the dealership—who again stated the part is unavailable. To my surprise, the dealership even suggested that I try purchasing the part myself from amazon. This situation is unacceptable. This is a safety recall, and I should not be responsible for sourcing or purchasing the part required for a manufacturer-initiated repair. I am concerned about the delay and the lack of accountability from both the dealership and Ford. I am requesting immediate assistance in resolving this issue and ensuring the recall repair is completed without further delays or unreasonable expectations placed on me as the customer. Thank you,.

My backup camera doesn't always work and when it does there is a delay seeing the image. I get a warning sign on my sync screen saying the camera is not available and to contact the dealership. I have contacted the dealership and the said I needed to contact Ford. They have since directed me to NHTSA. Not having a backup camera is a safety issue since there are some things that cannot be seen in a mirror when backing up.

The backup camera works for a couple seconds then goes to a all black screen.

The camera in the console is reflecting everything backward. If I am backing into a parking stall, everything on my left appears on the right and vise versa. I don't rely on it but it is unsafe.

Bad welding on the top left hinge of the liftgate allowed a crack to form over time. The crack exposed metal which allowed rust to form and leaks from rain water. This excess build up of water also allowed paint chipping and additional rust along the entirety of the crack and rear tray. This was discovered after some time, due to not being immediately visible from the rear of the car.

Water leaking from ceiling.

With the vehicle on, will sometimes get simultaneous warnings for "hill descent control fault" and "service advancetrac" along with 3 warnings/flags (abs, service advancetrac, and service advancetrac off). Additionally, the instrument cluster/display will occasionally (less often) reset while the vehicle is still on and driving.

Our steering wheel locked when we were about to leave our destination and drive back an hour to go home.

Check engine light goes on and off. May stay on a day or 2 but goes back off. When I get it checked no mechanic seems to know why. Same with the check charging system light that comes on. Also, the trim on the outside kept coming out, hitting my passenger side window and cracking it. It has completely come off 2 days ago. Rain is getting in my car. Back tires keep losing air. There was an issue with getting an alignment due to incorrect hardware and wiring. There is a safety recall for this.

The molding flew off my car when I was driving 60 miles an hour … very lucky it didn’t cause an accident as I had to swerve into oncoming traffic when it flew off. It happened in sept 2024 October 25th is when when we brought it in to Ford geneva, NY they said it was a special order and needed to be ordered and would call when it arrived never heard back recently called to follow up said it still didn’t come in and will call with no resolution to date.

When I was driving suddenly vehicle shakes and gas/acceleration paddle stopped working middle of the road. I pulled my car side of the road, put it in park and turn off vehicle and start it back on gas/acceleration paddle work again. Problem is this happened several times last few weeks.

The a pillar failed on my vehicle while driving on the interstate. When it failed, it wrapped around my side passenger mirror and broke a piece off of the body of the mirror housing. Ford not only has not repaired the a pillar in a timely manner, but they refuse to cover the passenger side mirror that the failed product damaged. The incident happened in early August 2024. I opened an escalated ticket with Ford, who promised that a representative would contact me by phone within 1 business day and that was October 14th, and no one has contacted me to this date. I was notified of the recall back in January. Why has Ford not made any progress on making the parts available for this recall repair?.

The side pillar of my windshield flew off on the freeway and probably hit another car this was very dangerous and now I'm missing a piece of my car. This recall need to be fixed ASAP.

Mechanic informed me that there is a recall on the rear toe link, but it is not showing up for my car. I am on my 2nd set of rear tires in two months. When driving in rain I have almost lost control of my steering many times when I drive over even a splash of water. My local Ford dealership will not honor the recall because my VIN is not on the list.

While driving at highway speeds, I heard a rattling sound twice and then noticed something flew off of my car. I couldn't tell what at the time. When I was able to look later, the driver's side front a-pillar (which I was recently informed has a recall on it) was gone. This had then become a hazard in the road for other driver's. No remedy for the recall is available at this time. There was no warning lights or alarms at the time.

Passenger side windshield pillar flew off of the vehicle while traveling on [xxx] in williamsburg, virginia. Pillar flew between my vehicle and other vehicles beside me and behind me. This was in mid-April 2024. The vehicle was inspected in June/July 2024 by Ford motor company, cavalier Ford, chesapeake, virginia 23321 and I have been waiting ever since for the replacement part to come in. Also, all seals around doors and windshield have dry rotted and/or fallen off of the vehicle. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I have been waiting patiently for the recall (24s02/24v031) to be completed for my vehicle as it has been over 6 months since I received a letter. I have called the dealership several times, and they are waiting on Ford to deliver the parts to the dealership to make the repair. I am worried that this issue may get worse if it is not completed soon. What can you help me with to get this issue resolved quickly? when there is very high wind, I am worried that the parts will come off and break my side windows.

Exterior a pillar trim three off the vehicle while driving.

Carbon monoxide leaking into cabin causing carbon monoxide detector to go off.

Unknown. My sister had went to town in her car. She had came back home and parked the car in the driveway. After doing so her and her husband we inside, heard a rumbling sound went outside and car was on fire. The neighbors say they saw the car just catch on fire in her driveway. She had purchased the car less than 60 days ago in manhattan, KS from csm auto.

Rear view camera malfunction. Goes blank or gives a distorted image. Sometimes it gives a reverse image. Needs replaced. Could cause a crash or vehicular accident.

There has been a safety recall since Jan 2024 and there still no remedy although it said it should have been equipment by late 2024 its is now Aug 2025 it’s been over a year and still nothing.

My power steering just stopped working while I was driving at 45 mph. Then all my warning light were going off saying faulty break system faulty hill decent something about my charging system. This has happened 4 times now where my power steering goes out while I’m driving.

Both exterior trim (that are connected to the windscreen) have detached and flown off the vehicle. The first one came of during high winds while driving several months ago. The other other one subsequently cam off in a similar fashion while I was driving on the highway. I initially contacted my insurance company but the out of pocket expense was more than I could afford. I then discovered there was a recall but attempts to get it fixed at the Ford motor company has not been successful. They report that they have not received the parts or released by the company to deal with the recall. Can you please advise?.

The left and right windshield panels flew off of my Ford Explorer truck.

2013 Ford Explorer: power steering service now red light came on as problem occured it did ding, but not in time for reaction. While driving the wheel will lock no matter how fast or slow you are going. Put myself, my children and husband in danger, as well as others. This has occurred now 4 times in the last month. It is being sent to dealership for a current recall. No police or insurance has inspected.

I bought the car from auction. The car was represent like "run and drive". But the car come with a lot of rust into the frame and this problem means a structural damage. The car it is not good for driving and it is not possible to be registered.

The passenger side windshield panel trim flew off my car, at 60 mph. 6-8 months ago, the driver side windshield panel trim did the exact same thing at the exact same mph. This is absolutely absurd that Ford has not issued a recall for this.

While driving on the interstate around 65 mph, the windshield trim flew off of my vehicle. It appeared that a truck behind me drove over it but I am not 100% sure.

This weekend we were driving down the interstate and all of a sudden the windshield trim flew off. It didn’t cause any wrecks thankfully but the cars behind us did break all of a sudden and another swerved. Luckily nothing happened but it could of caused an accident.

While driving on highway, 65-70 mph, both sides windshield trim flew off of vehicle. The right side first , then the left side approximately 5 minutes later. Unsure if debris struck any vehicles behind me.

The trim on the front windshield blows off constantly at highway speeds. I’ve had this car for a little over a year now and we’ve already replaced it four different times. Every time, it stays on about a month before it detaches and blows off again. The last time, it just barely missed the car behind me. I haven’t replaced it since then because I am terrified the next time it happens, a motorcyclist will be behind me and it could hit them and cause a fatal accident. This is a serious issue that needs addressed! I should not be scared to drive my car over 45 mph for fear of causing a serious accident! on top of that, not replacing it means it now leaks into my car when it rains. I love my Explorer but the trim on it is absolute garbage. .

The back up camera is now inverted. What is coming from the left appears to be coming from the right, and what is coming from the right appears to be coming from the left. Once the problem started, it has not gone away. The problem was confirmed at an independent service center.

The driver side windshield panel flew off/broke off while driving at 55-60 mph.