2013 Ford Explorer brakes problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Owners have filed 27 brakes complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 17 model years of Ford Explorer in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Explorer has a documented pattern of rear brake caliper seizing and sticking as early as 8,000 miles, combined with multiple reports of brake hose rupture and complete brake failure—some resulting in collisions. Brake repairs are frequent, expensive, and often repeated within months.
The 2013 Explorer's brake system exhibits recurring failures across multiple components. Rear brake calipers seize or stick repeatedly, starting as early as 8,350 miles, causing dragging, grinding noise, smoke, and brake temperatures exceeding 500°F. Owners report calipers requiring replacement multiple times, with dealers attributing the problem to corrosion of caliper slides—even on vehicles only a year old—and refusing warranty coverage. Some owners had to replace complete rear brake systems three times within the complaint period.
Front brake hose ruptures also occur, documented in both police fleet vehicles (13 failures across 11 units between 16,511 and 46,525 miles) and civilian vehicles. These ruptures happen inside protective sleeves, causing immediate brake fluid loss and complete hydraulic failure with the brake pedal going to the floor. One owner traveling 65–70 mph experienced complete brake failure and hit a vehicle ahead; another lost brakes while parked on an incline and hit a tree. ABS modules fail and parts are discontinued or backordered, leaving vehicles unrepaired. Front brakes overheat excessively, warping rotors and causing steering wheel vibration, especially at highway speeds. Repairs routinely fail to resolve the issues, with problems recurring within weeks or months.
Same Ford Explorer brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Rear brake caliper sticking/seizing
Rear calipers lock up or drag repeatedly, often attributed to corrosion of slides and internal piston stiction. Occurs intermittently and can require multiple dealer repairs, caliper replacements, and in some cases complete brake system overhauls. Owners report dealers citing corrosion and slide cleaning as the fix.
When: Starts as early as 8,350 miles; occurs across a wide mileage range through 136,000 miles. Intermittent pattern.
Symptoms owners cite: Rear brakes dragging during normal driving; Grinding and metal-to-metal squealing/screeching from rear; Burning smell and smoke from rear brakes; Extremely hot rear brakes (one owner recorded 505°F); Rear brake pad separation from caliper; Brake pad and rotor wear to bare metal
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced calipers multiple times, replaced brake pads and rotors multiple times (three sets in some cases), cleaned caliper slides, repaired brake hose restrictions. Owner reports slide cleaning done out of warranty.
Front brake hose rupture (police fleet report)
Multiple front jounce brake hose failures documented in a police fleet operating 45 Model Year 2013 Explorer Police Interceptors. Thirteen failures across eleven vehicles reported between December 2013 and July 2014. Hoses rupture within protective sleeves, causing immediate brake fluid loss and total brake failure.
When: Failures ranged from 16,511 miles to 46,525 miles; occurred between December 2013 and July 2014 on vehicles placed in service in 2013.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of hydraulic brakes; Brake pedal goes to floor
Repairs/costs cited: Police department replaced brake hoses; no parts cost cited.
Front brake hose rupture (general fleet/individual)
Right front brake lines rupture inside protective sleeves, causing brake fluid loss and complete brake system failure. Reported in multiple police interceptor units and at least one civilian vehicle across different years (2013-2020).
When: Reported on police vehicles on 5/15/2018, 1/15/2020, 2/10/2020, and 3/17/2020. One civilian report did not cite mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of hydraulic brakes; Brake pedal goes to floor; No warning before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Hose replacement required.
Brake pedal ineffectiveness / total brake failure
Brake pedal either does not respond or responds inadequately during normal braking at highway speed, resulting in loss of vehicle control and collision. Owner pumped pedal and attempted emergency brake with no result.
When: 62,000 miles (one case); speed was 65–70 mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal pressed but vehicle does not slow down; Loss of vehicle control at highway speed (65–70 mph); Emergency brake ineffective; No skid marks; vehicle continued uncontrolled
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle could not be duplicated at dealer; no repair made.
ABS module failure / malfunction
ABS pump or module develops fault codes, illuminates warning lights (ABS, traction control). In at least two cases the replacement part was on backorder or discontinued, leaving the vehicle unrepaired.
When: One case at 65,000 miles; another at 147,719 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illumination; Traction control warning light illumination; Multiple unknown warning lights; Brake system warning
Codes mentioned: ABS pump fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Brake lines flushed and brake fluid added in one case; ABS module replacement needed but part on backorder or discontinued and unavailable.
Front brake overheating and rotor warping
Both left and right front brakes overheat excessively, causing rotor warping and vibration through steering wheel. Problem recurs on multiple repair attempts and worsens at highway speeds.
When: Reported multiple times starting December 2014 and recurring through September 2015.
Symptoms owners cite: Front brakes overheating; Rotor warping; Vibration through steering wheel; Problem more severe at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repairs by dealer; issue returned and worsened.
Brake line or hose contamination / fluid issues
Brake fluid issues or contamination detected, requiring system flush. In one case, after flushing and adding brake fluid, the failure (ABS fault code) returned within days.
When: Failure returned several days after repair at approximately 65,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: ABS and warning lights; Repeat warning light illumination after repair
Codes mentioned: ABS pump fault code
Repairs/costs cited: Brake lines flushed and brake fluid added; repair did not hold.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 25 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 24,000 and 71,787 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 71,787. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.