On december 15 2014, I was driving to ponce on highway 52 in puerto rico. When suddently the engine stall while driving. After that the problem have continue doing it, sometimes three times a day. The last time was monday 29 2014 while I was driving to the dealer. I'm very afraid of driving this vehicle knowing that can stall any moment whithout notice and implicate me in an accident. *js
2013 Ford Explorer engine problems
severe 191 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
191
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
3fires
11injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 191 engine complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 191 engine 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.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2013 Ford Explorer has two major safety issues: water pump failures that can destroy the engine with little warning (costing $3,000–$15,000 to repair), and exhaust fumes leaking into the cabin that expose occupants to carbon monoxide. Multiple TSBs and recalls have failed to fix the exhaust issue; Ford has not recalled the water pump despite 10+ years of complaints. Budget heavily for repairs or avoid this model entirely.
The 2013 Explorer suffers from two interconnected systemic failures that Ford has known about for over a decade without issuing recalls.
Water pump failure is the first killer. The pump sits inside the engine and fails prematurely—sometimes by 5,800 miles, often by 80,000–165,000 miles. When it goes, coolant seeps into the oil pan. Owners describe engine check lights that flash briefly then disappear, then weeks later the coolant warning comes on. By then, the damage is done. One family had the engine lock up on the highway with a disabled child aboard. Another owner's engine stalled while pulling out of the driveway; the oil was the consistency of chocolate milk. Repairs run $3,000 for the pump alone, but because the pump is chain-driven inside the engine, replacement takes 11–12 labor hours. Full engine replacement runs $5,000–$15,000. Many owners can't afford the fix and park the vehicle indefinitely.
Exhaust fumes in the cabin is the second chronic problem. Starting right after purchase or within months, owners smell sulfur and exhaust through the AC vents, worse during acceleration above 3,000 RPM or uphill driving. It happens regardless of fresh-air or recirculation mode. Carbon monoxide detectors inside vehicles read 12–43 PPM. Children vomit, adults get severe headaches and dizziness, some report drowsiness while driving. Ford issued TSB 12-12-4 to seal holes and reprogram the AC; dealers tried sealing the rear valance, replacing vents, adjusting the exhaust. None of it worked. One owner took her vehicle back to a dealership after the dealer's "fix"—the smell was worse. She traded it in immediately. Police departments removed two 2013 Explorers from service after discovering cracks in the exhaust welds. One officer noted the odor while the vehicle was idling and parked. Ford's own field engineer told one owner the problem was inherent to the vehicle's design and could not be fixed.
Most owners had to choose between breathing exhaust or parking the vehicle.
Same Ford Explorer engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Water pump failure and coolant leakage into oil
Water pump located inside the engine fails prematurely, allowing coolant to leak into the oil pan and engine oil. This mixing of fluids damages the engine, requiring catastrophic repairs including full engine replacement. Failures occur with minimal warning—check engine or coolant temperature lights may flicker briefly then disappear. Owners report needing to monitor coolant levels constantly, topping up daily or weekly.
When: 5,800 miles to 165,000 miles; reported failures from early ownership through high-mileage vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine coolant overtemperature warning light (may flash then disappear); Check engine light; Engine stalling without warning; Constant need to add coolant; Engine running rough as if about to stall; Oil turning milky (chocolate milk consistency); Smoke from exhaust (white/thick smoke); Engine lockup; Loud ticking/knocking noise under hood
Codes mentioned: P2111 (throttle actuator system issue, secondary to stalling)
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump replacement requires 11–12 hours labor; quoted repairs $3,000–$5,000 for pump replacement; full engine replacement $5,000–$15,000; internal water pump design (chain-driven) makes replacement extremely costly; pump location inside engine limits visibility of leaks until severe damage occurs
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford aware of issue for 10+ years; no recall issued; some owners report Ford refused buyback or warranty assistance; one owner (narrative #6) mentions water pump covered under Ford diagnostic; another (narrative #18) was offered trade-in but vehicle not repaired
Exhaust fumes entering cabin (carbon monoxide intrusion)
Exhaust fumes, including carbon monoxide, enter the cabin through HVAC vents during acceleration, idling, or constant operation. Issue traced to cracks in exhaust welds, improper sealing of exhaust-to-resonator connections, design flaws in exhaust routing (muffler positioned to direct exhaust into cabin intake), and failed seals around exhaust penetrations. Multiple TSBs and dealer repair attempts fail to resolve the issue. Owners report persistent odor lasting years despite multiple repair visits and dealership work.
When: Shortly after purchase through entire vehicle ownership; escalates with age and miles; worst during acceleration (>3000 RPM), mountain driving, or merging into traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Strong exhaust or sulfur smell in cabin through AC/heater vents; Odor present regardless of ventilation mode (fresh air or recirculation); Eyes burning and watering from fumes; Headaches in driver and passengers; Nausea, dizziness, light-headedness, drowsiness; Stomach aches and vomiting (especially children on extended trips); Difficulty concentrating while driving; Carbon monoxide detector readings 12–43 PPM in cabin
Repairs/costs cited: TSB 12-12-4 (sealing holes, reprogram AC); TSB 121204 (replace CO-seams, install new vents); TSB for sealing rear valance (~$669, not covered by warranty); exhaust manifold replacement required in some cases (cost not stated); Yarmouth Police Department case required complete exhaust system replacement; multiple repair attempts by dealers failed; independent mechanic diagnosed oil leaks around engine contributing to odor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 12-12-4 and 121204 issued; field service engineer inspections performed but remedies failed; Ford field service engineer (narrative #17) told owner problem caused by vehicle design (angle, height, vacuum during acceleration)—effectively denying fix; recall 17N03 issued (narrative #5) but owners report high CO readings persisted post-repair; Ford CSP 19N05 (customer support program) referenced (narrative #24); dealerships blamed 'new engine smell' (narrative #8); dealers told owners problem unfixable or design-related; one dealer refused to repair, claiming it was an 'update, not a part replacement' ($1,300 cost) (narrative #10)
Engine stalling and rough running during operation
Vehicle stalls without warning while driving at various speeds or in traffic. Engine runs rough, hesitates, or does not respond to accelerator input. Stall may occur after extended highway driving (2+ hours at 70–75 mph) or during normal city driving. After stall, restarting the engine allows vehicle to run normally for a period. Check engine light may illuminate or no codes may be set initially; P2111 (throttle actuator) code eventually set in some cases. Poses serious safety risk in traffic.
When: During and after extended highway driving; at varying speeds and traffic conditions; reported on vehicles with 76,000–120,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected stalling while driving; Engine running rough; No response to accelerator pedal inputs; Service/check engine light illumination (may be intermittent); Vehicle shaking badly and unable to accelerate; Low oil pressure warning message (misreporting related to coolant/water pump issues)
Codes mentioned: P2111 (throttle actuator system fault), Cylinder misfire codes (multiple cylinders), No codes set (first four occurrences in one narrative)
Repairs/costs cited: Causes include water pump failure (coolant mixing with oil, affecting engine operation), turbocharger boost loss, EVAP purge valve malfunction; one owner with 120,000 miles quoted $10,000 for new engine; another owner's turbocharger on backorder (waiting list position 488, months-long lead time); remanufactured engine option $3,700 via warranty company
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued for stalling; turbocharger backorders indicate known systemic failures (narrative #28); EVAP purge valve replacement attempted but issue recurred (narrative #40)
Turbocharger failure (EcoBoost engines)
Turbocharger boost fails or component fails entirely, causing loss of power and check engine light to come on repeatedly. Owner reports turbocharger part on backorder with long lead times (months) and high position on waiting list (488 out of many). Issue flagged as unsafe to drive.
When: At 76,000 miles in one narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of turbo boost; Check engine light on and off intermittently; Potential loss of power while driving (safety concern)
Repairs/costs cited: Turbocharger part heavily backordered; dealership will not provide loaner vehicle during repair wait; parts availability suggests widespread failure pattern
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite multiple reports; part backorder status suggests awareness of systemic issue
Catalytic converter failure
Catalytic converter fails prematurely, triggering check engine light. One owner had air filter replacement recommended by dealer (incorrect diagnosis), then confirmed catalytic converter failure by independent mechanic. Another narrative references Ford's warranty extension/recall on catalytic converters as precedent for water pump recall.
When: 14,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illumination
Codes mentioned: Catalytic converter-related code
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired in reported cases; air filter replacement was incorrect fix
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford previously issued warranty extension or recall on catalytic converters (referenced as precedent for water pump recall by fleet owner)
EVAP purge valve malfunction
Evaporative emissions purge valve malfunction causes engine stalling and loss of power. One narrative mentions knocking noise under hood prior to stalling; EVAP purge valve replacement was performed but issue recurred.
When: 85,491 miles in one narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Engine knocking noise under hood; Engine stalling at 45 MPH; Smoke from vents (secondary to other engine damage)
Repairs/costs cited: EVAP purge valve replaced but failure recurred; EcoBoost engine was also replaced in same service event
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of repeated failure
AC compressor failure
AC compressor fails, rendering air conditioning inoperable. One narrative mentions failure coinciding with abnormal vehicle shaking and possible carbon monoxide odor from cabin.
When: At 109,000 miles in one narrative
Symptoms owners cite: AC unit inoperable; Freon leak; Vehicle shaking abnormally
Repairs/costs cited: AC compressor and CV joint both diagnosed as failed; no repair completed
Synthesized from 191 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I have an explorer 2013(32762 miles) with big odor of gases inside the cabin when I accelerate my SUV. The odor of gases is amazing inside the cabin and I afraid with that odor can cause health problem now or in the future to my family. I already went to the Ford service and they make a seal but the problem still there. (tsb 14-04-na). The government need to do something.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed as a strong fuel odor emitted inside of the vehicle. The failure occurred at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis. The failure was unable to be diagnosed. The front driver's and passenger's side weather door stripping was replaced…
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 191 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 141 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 34,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 68,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.