2013 Ford Explorer suspension problems

Related recalls

• Recall 21V746000Sep 22, 2021150,723 vehicles
  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, 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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 21V537000Jul 15, 2021631,176 vehicles
  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 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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 20V675000Mar 12, 2021454,941 vehicles
  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, 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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 19V435000Jun 10, 20191,194,173 vehicles
  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.

  Risk: 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.

What owners say

1. Filed Jun 24, 2026MISteeringSuspension

   After getting my vehicle from the dealership my steering wheel was hard to turn , took it in and they replaced the struts (The old struts were binding). 6/7 Days later the same thing happened with the steering wheel. They had said it was a switch in the power steering and there was a safety recall and i would have to take it into a ford dealership. When i had called to make my appointment there wasn’t a recall and i called the ford company and they said the same thing.

   NHTSA complaint #11746332 · source
2. Filed Jan 15, 2026248,995 miILSuspension

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for a recall repair related to a possible rear suspension toe link fracture. The contact stated that while his son was driving 55 MPH, a month and half after the recall repair, the rear driver's side tire had a blowout, causing the vehicle to swerve and to drift into another lane. The contact stated that there was no oncoming traffic during the failure. The driver was able to…

   NHTSA complaint #11711090 · source
3. Filed Dec 3, 2025MOEngineSteeringSuspension

   I was leaving the store pulled out on a main road in town about to head on the highway. My steering wheel locked and would hardly move with all my strength and the help of my significant other we pulled back into the store parking lot rarely missing hitting several vehicles in the process. I had my children with me at the time in this vehicle as well. The power steering assist fault message popped up. I had the vehicle towed to Ford Groves and after a diagnostic test was ran…

   NHTSA complaint #11702622 · source
4. Filed Sep 10, 202593,000 miPASuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the PTU. The contact was also informed that the rear differential needed to be refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension), but the VIN was not included. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11686411 · source
5. Filed Jul 26, 2025NCAcceleration & Cruise ControlSuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain

   When Driving I started noticing that my steering wheel what getting harder to turn and it felt like it was lagging control. I could still turn and maneuver the steering wheel but the control overall was defiantly not safe. I stopped in at our mechanic and they test drove it. He stated that yes something was definably wrong with the steering system and he said it was hopefully the u-joint for control arm. We made any appointment for the next following week. I drove my…

   NHTSA complaint #11676345 · source
6. Filed Jul 22, 2025133,000 miAZCrashTowedSuspension

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle became difficult to maneuver and the front passenger’s side of the vehicle crashed into the shoulder lane wall. No warning lights were illuminated. The air bags had not deployed. No injuries were sustained; however, medical attention was sought. A Police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the axle on the front passenger’s…

   NHTSA complaint #11675366 · source
7. Filed Apr 15, 2025CASuspension

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

   NHTSA complaint #11654819 · source
8. Filed Oct 31, 2024106,000 miPASteeringSuspension

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Escape. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced a death wobble. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle while driving or while idling. The failure became more persistent and more pronounced over time. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, a final diagnostic result was not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11622871 · source
9. Filed Sep 23, 202490,000 miTXSteeringSuspension

   The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated 6 months after installing new tires on the vehicle, the front tires were damaged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was inspected, and the mechanic determined that the shocks, the control arms, and rack and pinion failures had caused damages to the tires. The mechanic informed the contact that the front tires, the shocks, the control arms, and the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11615996 · source
10. Filed Sep 16, 2024202,000 miNCTowedSteeringSuspension

    The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to move. The contact pulled over and the steering wheel seized. The contact turned the vehicle off however, the steering wheel failed to regain proper functionality. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering wheel had failed due to a failure with the suspension. The contact was informed that the…

    NHTSA complaint #11614764 · source
11. Filed Feb 25, 2024MABody & StructureSuspensionTransmission & Drivetrain

    My vehicle was purchased new from Ford dealer with factory tow option, which comes with an undercarriage cover with integrated air scoop to help cool engine & transmission while towing. This cover (Ford # BB5Z-9910494-A) is designed with quarter tern thumb screws to hold it on to the undercarriage. While driving on highway, this part fell off and was not recovered. Now my vehicle is at risk of serious damage to either transmission or engine, or both in not having this key…

    NHTSA complaint #11573861 · source
12. Filed Jan 16, 2024ILSuspension

    I started to notice a slight “slipping” or “sliding” feeling when driving on wet roads or if I hit a pothole or man cover just right. Then while my kids and I were on vacation over Christmas break, I hit a small wet spot on the road and began to fishtail. Luckily we avoided an accident. I was unable to drive over 20mph without feeling like I would lose control. When we had it checked by a mechanic we were told it the toe link on both rear tires were snapped, an issue Ford…

    NHTSA complaint #11565896 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology