The 2013 Explorer, especially with the 3.5L EcoBoost, represents Ford's first generation of the modern unibody platform. Major concerns center on catastrophic engine failures from coolant intrusion, chronic rear suspension issues, and transmission cooler problems that can cascade into expensive repairs.
PTU (Power Transfer Unit) and Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Whining or grinding noise from front differential area, Coolant mixing with transmission fluid (strawberry milkshake fluid), Overheating transmission
Fix: Internal transmission cooler fails, allowing coolant into ATF and destroying both transmission and PTU. Requires transmission rebuild or replacement, PTU replacement, and cooling system flush. 12-16 hours labor plus parts.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
3.5L EcoBoost Coolant Intrusion and Catastrophic Engine Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust on cold start, Rough idle and misfires, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Sudden loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Hydrolock and catastrophic internal damage
Fix: Water pump or cylinder head gasket allows coolant into cylinders, washing oil off cylinder walls and causing piston/ring/bearing failure. Often requires complete engine replacement or full rebuild with new short block, pistons, rings, bearings, and head work. 25-35 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $8,000-12,000
Rear Suspension Toe Link and Lower Control Arm Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking noise from rear end over bumps, Abnormal rear tire wear (inner edge), Wandering or unstable handling, Rear end feels loose or disconnected
Fix: Rear toe links and lower control arm bushings fail prematurely due to poor design. Requires replacement of toe links and often lower control arms. Must include four-wheel alignment. Subject to multiple recalls but failures continue. 3-4 hours labor per side.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Electric Power Steering Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Complete loss of power steering assist, Warning message 'Service AdvanceTrac' or 'Steering Assist Fault', Intermittent heavy steering, Steering wheel locks up briefly at low speeds
Fix: Electronic steering control module or steering gear assembly fails. Recall 14S32 addressed some units, but failures continue. Requires steering gear replacement or PSCM module replacement. 4-6 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
2.0L EcoBoost Carbon Buildup and Turbo Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Loss of power and acceleration, Rough idle and hesitation, Check engine light with misfire codes, Turbo wastegate rattle on cold start, Blue smoke from exhaust under boost
Fix: Direct injection causes carbon buildup on intake valves, requiring walnut blasting. Turbocharger wastegate actuators fail or turbos develop shaft play. Valve cleaning is 4-6 hours; turbo replacement adds 8-10 hours.
Estimated cost: $800-3,500
Liftgate and Door Latch Failures
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Liftgate won't latch or open with power button, Doors won't unlock or open from inside, Warning message 'Liftgate Ajar' when closed, Manual release required to open doors
Fix: Door latch assemblies and liftgate latches fail due to internal corrosion and wear. Covered by multiple recalls and extended warranty (14M02), but many units fall outside coverage dates. Latch replacement is 1-2 hours per door.
Estimated cost: $200-600
Owner tips
Change PTU fluid every 30,000 miles with Motorcraft fluid—this is critical for AWD models and often skipped
On 3.5L EcoBoost, monitor coolant level obsessively and address any loss immediately before catastrophic failure occurs
Inspect rear suspension bushings and toe links at every service—catch them before alignment goes bad and eats tires
Avoid the 3.5L EcoBoost if buying high-mileage; the naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 (base model) is far more reliable but harder to find
Service transmission every 50,000 miles regardless of 'lifetime fluid' claims, and flush coolant system every 3 years
The 2013 Explorer is a risky used purchase due to catastrophic engine and transmission failures, especially EcoBoost models—budget $3,000-5,000 for inevitable repairs or buy extended warranty coverage if you proceed.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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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.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 21V746000
2021-09-22
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.
Consequence: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 21V537000
2021-07-15
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.
Consequence: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 20V675000
2021-03-12
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.
Consequence: 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.
SUSPENSION:REAR · 19V435000
2019-06-10
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.
Consequence: 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.
WHEELS:HUB · 17E048000
2017-08-28
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 self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Consequence: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · 15V812000
2015-12-02
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 leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR · 15V171000
2015-03-24
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 actuation.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM · 14V286000
2014-05-29 · PE12017
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 cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · 13V270000
2013-06-26
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 locks may change from an activated position to a deactivated position without notice.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · 13V227000
2013-05-31
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 develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.
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 result, the fuel tanks may not provide the expected strength in the event of an impact. The tanks may also leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.
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