2013 Ford Explorer Steering Problems

NHTSA component category: STEERING · data through 07/12/2026

805Steering complaints

36.2%Of all 2,222 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How steering ranks on this vehicle

STEERING805 · 36.2%

Unspecified / other341 · 15.3%

ENGINE224 · 10.1%

STRUCTURE:BODY224 · 10.1%

STRUCTURE197 · 8.9%

Share of the 2,222 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2013 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 10597411 — filed 06/10/2014

“STEERING POWER SUPPORT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING DURING A TURN AT LOWER SPEED. CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL (TURN OR STEER). FAULT LIGHTS INCLUDED STABILITY…”NHTSA complaint 10595346 — filed 05/31/2014

“STEERING POWER SUPPORT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING DURING A TURN AT LOWER SPEED. CAR BECAME ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. FAULT LIGHTS INCLUDED STABILITY, TRACTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL…”NHTSA complaint 10595230 — filed 05/30/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Steering complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Ford Explorer have steering problems?

Steering is the most-reported problem area on the 2013 Ford Explorer: 805 of 2,222 complaints on file (36.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2013 Ford Explorer have in total?

2,222 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 44 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 61 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's steering category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the STEERING category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.