2013 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 2757 complaints
2757
Total Complaints
74,000mi
Median Mileage
STEERING
Top Issue
61
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

41,045 25th Percentile
74,000 Median Mileage
108,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

STEERING
797
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
339
ENGINE
224
STRUCTURE:BODY
222
STRUCTURE
191
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
154
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
120
POWER TRAIN
118
SUSPENSION
77
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
45

Severity Assessment

61
Crashes
15
Fires
76
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONT END CRASH."
"WHEN ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE QUICKLY WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ON (DOES NOT MATTER IF IT'S ON FRESH AIR INTAKE OR RECIRCULATING), THERE IS A DEFINITE ODOR OF GASOLINE EXHAUST IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM CAN BE DUPLICATED AT ANY SPEED, FROM A DEAD STOP OR ACCELERATING DURING A PASSING MA..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER DOOR SEALS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SLIP RESISTANT SAFETY TREAD. THE PASSENGER SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN ENTERING THE DOOR AS HER FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR SEAL. THE PASSENGER SLIGHTLY BUMPED HER HEAD..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28