2013 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 2,237 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and body structure. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
2,237
NHTSA owner complaints
12
Recall campaigns
44
Complaints citing a crash
11
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 836 | 37% |
| Body structure | 439 | 20% |
| Unknown or other | 345 | 15% |
| Engine | 225 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 163 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 120 | 5% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 119 | 5% |
| Suspension | 79 | 4% |
2013 Ford Explorer recalls
12 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V109000 | Mar 27, 2013 | Fuel system — storage / tank assembly | Ford is recalling certain model year 2012 Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and model year 2013 Explorer vehicles manufactured July 19, 2011, through March 15, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the fuel tanks may have a marginally sealed seam in the side of the tank. As a… |
| 13V227000 | May 31, 2013 | Fuel system | Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may… |
| 13V270000 | Jun 26, 2013 | Latches, locks & linkages | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Ford Explorer, Taurus, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured November 29, 2012, through December 12, 2012. In the affected vehicles, with sufficient door openings and closings, the child safety… |
| 14V286000 | May 29, 2014 | Steering — electric power assist system | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can… |
| 15V171000 | Mar 24, 2015 | Body structure — body / door | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Explorer vehicles. 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… |
| 15V812000 | Dec 2, 2015 | Fuel system | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to… |
| 17E048000 | Aug 28, 2017 | Wheels — hub | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a… |
| 19V435000 | Jun 10, 2019 | 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. |
| 20V675000 | Mar 12, 2021 | 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,… |
| 21V537000 | Jul 15, 2021 | 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… |
| 21V746000 | Sep 22, 2021 | 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,… |
| 24V031000 | Jan 19, 2024 | Body 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. |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1,197 | 8 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2012 | 830 | 7 | Steering | Caution |
| 2013 (this page) | 2,237 | 12 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2014 | 1,684 | 7 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,822 | 9 | Body structure | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2013 Ford Explorer on the used market
- 121 of 1,216 2013 Ford Explorer listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2013 Ford Explorer
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 12 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2013 Ford Explorer has 2,237 owner complaints and 12 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and body structure. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Ford Explorer are steering (836), body structure (439), unknown or other (345), engine (225). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Explorer, including 13V109000 (fuel system — storage / tank assembly) and 13V227000 (fuel system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Ford Explorer compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 830 complaints and 7 recalls (caution); the 2014 has 1,684 complaints and 7 recalls (avoid). The 2013 has 2,237 complaints and 12 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.