2013 Ford Explorer Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2013 Ford Explorer, 3% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 61,151 miles. The words owners use most often: “water pump” (31% of reports).
- 67engine and engine cooling complaints
- 61,151median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Water pump: mentioned in 21 of 67 complaints (31%)
- Exhaust fumes: mentioned in 18 of 67 complaints (27%)
- Air conditioner: mentioned in 5 of 67 complaints (7%)
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 62 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 67 complaints, 1 a fire, 2 an injury.
Ford Explorer engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Explorer | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 35,682 |
| 2022 Explorer | 2 | 1% | 88,689 |
| 2021 Explorer | 10 | 2% | 60,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 21 | 2% | 51,250 |
| 2019 Explorer | 6 | 2% | 63,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 29 | 4% | 71,699 |
| 2017 Explorer | 77 | 5% | 89,600 |
| 2016 Explorer | 114 | 5% | 75,650 |
| 2015 Explorer | 66 | 4% | 59,220 |
| 2014 Explorer | 67 | 4% | 27,950 |
| 2013 Explorer | 67 | 3% | 61,151 |
| 2012 Explorer | 14 | 2% | 56,734 |
| 2011 Explorer | 21 | 2% | 85,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 3 | 3% | 14,000 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | 88,350 |
| 2008 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 67,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 10 | 5% | 53,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 164 | 26% | 45,776 |
| 2005 Explorer | 29 | 6% | 44,113 |
| 2004 Explorer | 71 | 5% | 55,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 69 | 6% | 50,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 163 | 5% | 74,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 39 | 10% | 86,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 90 | 9% | 56,700 |
| 1999 Explorer | 100 | 7% | 64,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 189 | 10% | 100,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 198 | 11% | 98,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 81 | 6% | 78,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 45 | 5% | 139,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the 2013 Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The check engine warning light was reset, and…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was leaking coolant. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact added additional coolant as necessary. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the water…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the coolant temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while driving to the nearest independent mechanic to add coolant to the vehicle, the engine was running rough as if the vehicle…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Explorers have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 67 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the 2013 Ford Explorer (3% of the 2,236 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2013 Ford Explorer engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems start?
The median reported mileage is 61,151 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 21 of 67 complaints, followed by “exhaust fumes” (18).
Other 2013 Ford Explorer problems
- Steering problems (835)
- Structure problems (439)
- Engine problems (225)
- Electrical System problems (163)
- Fuel/propulsion System problems (120)
- Power Train problems (119)
- Suspension problems (79)
See all 2013 Ford Explorer problems or engine and engine cooling problems across all Explorer years.