2013 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 836about this part
- Share
- 37%of 2,237 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 95,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 836 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Ford Explorer, 37% of the 2,237 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 95,000 miles. 12 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I started my car after work (this is after a 12 hr sit time) and seen I had a fault on my dashboard, power steering assist and service advance faults. So in short, I do not have power steering, nor do I have my 4wd, and for some reason my turn signal does not work for steady on. The turn signal works for lane changes but not for steady on turning.”
NHTSA complaint #11394597, filed 2021-02, 189,000 miles“I was driving and heard a knocking noise from the rear end. Within 30 seconds I lost control of my steering. My car began fishtailing and the rear tires were squawking. The only way I could straighten out the vehicle was to turn wheel completely to the left. I was doing 35 MPH and dropped down to 15 MPH until I could pull over to safety.”
NHTSA complaint #11408437, filed 2021-04, 98,000 miles“Vehicle steering wheel has become increasingly hard to turn. When I try to turn the steering wheel, it feels like the steering wheel becomes stuck in that turned position almost causing me to hit things. Vehicle drives like it has manual steering and not power steering. No warning lights so far on dash. Issues happen during driving on highways and city streets.”
NHTSA complaint #11388449, filed 2021-01, 139,000 miles“I was driving and made a turn and had an issue with my steering . It almost calls me to run up onto a curve. My steering would make a loud noise when I turned it in.. I immediately drove the car home and took it to an auto repair shop the next day or so. It is september the 8th 2020 I took it to the repair shop and they had to repair the steering system.”
NHTSA complaint #11353832, filed 2020-09, 130,000 miles“While driving on interstate, my wife heard a lot of chimes then power steering assist fault was displayed. Vehicle lost all power steering and it was very dangerous. Once she turned motor off and restarted, the power steering was back to normal. It has since happened multiple times. This is extremely dangerous!! There should be a recall for my VIN..! Please help!!!”
NHTSA complaint #11329378, filed 2020-06, 71,500 milesRelated recalls
- 14V286000May 29, 2014Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected…Covers: Ford Explorer 2011–2013
Related service bulletins
- 10152466Nov 1, 20182013-2019 vehicles equipped with a LKS system with customer complaints of steering wheel vibration, steering pull or vehicle drift may be due to an alert and/or steering aid…
- 10095995Nov 17, 2016Some 2010-2016 epas equipped vehicles may exhibit steering related noises. The workshop manual (wsm) diagnostic procedures have been updated in section 211-02. When diagnosing…
- 10059062Jul 1, 2015Ford: some vehicles and trucks are experiencing a malfunction with the heated steering wheel becoming inoperative and on demand test failure. Model 2014-15 fusion, 2011-15 mkx…
- 10058601Jul 1, 2015Lincoln/ford: once procedure for heated steering wheel module program completed, heated steering wheel fails to operate properly and passes network test but fails on demand self…
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2% |
| 2025 | 9 | 8% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 12 | 11% |
| 2022 | 9 | 3% |
| 2021 | 6 | 1% |
| 2020 | 28 | 2% |
| 2019 | 9 | 3% |
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 76 | 4% |
| 2016 | 532 | 22% |
| 2015 | 347 | 19% |
| 2014 | 500 | 30% |
| 2013 | 836 | 37% |
| 2012 | 360 | 43% |
| 2011 | 742 | 62% |
| 2010 | 4 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 13 | 9% |
| 2007 | 10 | 5% |
| 2006 | 9 | 1% |
| 2005 | 12 | 2% |
| 2004 | 41 | 3% |
| 2003 | 27 | 2% |
| 2002 | 155 | 5% |
| 2001 | 21 | 6% |
| 2000 | 40 | 4% |
| 1999 | 38 | 3% |
| 1998 | 70 | 4% |
| 1997 | 33 | 2% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 52 | 6% |
| 1994 | 24 | 2% |
| 1993 | 19 | 2% |
| 1992 | 25 | 4% |
| 1991 | 10 | 2% |
Other parts of the 2013 Ford Explorer
439 complaintsOther or unknown
351 complaintsEngine
225 complaintsElectrical system
163 complaintsFuel system
153 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
119 complaintsSuspension
79 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
63 complaintsElectronic stability control
45 complaintsBrakes
40 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
38 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology