2013 Ford Explorer: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 Ford Explorer: 11 recalls, 2235 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
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Recalls
11 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #13V109000 · 2013 · 3,037 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks May have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a result, the fuel tanks May not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks May also leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13s03.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #13V227000 · 2013 · 390,783 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module May develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013.
Latches & locks Vehicle recall #13V270000 · 2013 · 12,569 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety locks May change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.
Why it matters: If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13s07.
Steering Vehicle recall #14V286000 · 2014 · 179,027 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Why it matters: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the power steering control module (pscm) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of…
Body & structure Vehicle recall #15V171000 · 2015 · 194,484 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the interior door handle return spring May unseat, resulting in interior door handle that does not return to the fully stowed position after actuation.
Why it matters: If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door May unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V812000 · 2015 · 868 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module May crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source May result in a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015.
Suspension Vehicle recall #19V435000 · 2019 · 1,194,173 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear suspension toe links May fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Why it matters: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #20V675000 · 2021 · 454,941 vehicles
What's wrong: The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link May fracture.
Why it matters: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Suspension Vehicle recall #21V537000 · 2021 · 631,176 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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…
Suspension Vehicle recall #21V746000 · 2021 · 150,723 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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…
Body & structure Vehicle recall #24V031000 · 2024 · 1,889,110 vehicles
What's wrong: The a-pillar trim retention clips May not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Why it matters: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Wheels, Suspension Equipment recall #17E048000 · 2017 · 630 vehicles
What's wrong: These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Why it matters: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 11 mention a fire, 61 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Steering (835): the most common themes are steering problems (798), warning light on (252).
- Body & structure (438): the most common themes are door / lock issues (50), leaks (40), rust / corrosion (31).
- Other / unknown (345): the most common themes are leaks (33), warning light on (21).
- Engine (225): the most common themes are leaks (44), stalls / loses power (33), warning light on (27).
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 2235 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 38 Explorer model years for complaints (2.5× the average Explorer year). Complaints peaked in 2019 (290 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 76,319 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (829 complaints, 5 recalls), 2014 (1679 complaints, 6 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 Ford Explorer.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 11 vehicle recalls for the 2013 Ford Explorer, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Explorer problems?
Owners have filed 2235 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are steering (835), body & structure (438), other / unknown (345).
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Explorer get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 Ford Explorer repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.