2013 Ford Explorer Steering Problems
Owners have filed 835 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2013 Ford Explorer, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 95,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “steering assist” (28% of reports).
- 835steering complaints
- 95,000median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%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.
- Steering assist: mentioned in 232 of 835 complaints (28%)
- Difficult turn: mentioned in 76 of 835 complaints (9%)
- Wheel became: mentioned in 69 of 835 complaints (8%)
- Service power: mentioned in 52 of 835 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2013 Ford Explorer at $2,600, and half of them between $2,300 and $3,100.
Based on 59 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2016–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 612 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 835 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Explorer steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 9 | 9% | — |
| 2024 Explorer | 2 | 10% | 3,600 |
| 2023 Explorer | 12 | 11% | 3,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 9 | 3% | 108,500 |
| 2021 Explorer | 6 | 1% | 11,510 |
| 2020 Explorer | 28 | 2% | 17,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 9 | 3% | 56,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 20 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 76 | 4% | 42,917 |
| 2016 Explorer | 532 | 22% | 58,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 347 | 19% | 60,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 498 | 30% | 90,000 |
| 2013 Explorer | 835 | 37% | 95,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 360 | 43% | 97,282 |
| 2011 Explorer | 742 | 62% | 68,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 | 3% | 39,500 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | 76,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 13 | 9% | 91,621 |
| 2007 Explorer | 10 | 5% | 80,729 |
| 2006 Explorer | 9 | 1% | 97,500 |
| 2005 Explorer | 12 | 2% | 70,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 41 | 3% | 88,386 |
| 2003 Explorer | 27 | 2% | 99,250 |
| 2002 Explorer | 155 | 5% | 92,150 |
| 2001 Explorer | 21 | 6% | 109,400 |
| 2000 Explorer | 40 | 4% | 89,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 38 | 3% | 86,500 |
| 1998 Explorer | 70 | 4% | 119,493 |
| 1997 Explorer | 33 | 2% | 196,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 47 | 3% | 97,940 |
| 1995 Explorer | 52 | 6% | 160,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 17, 2010, through February 28, 2012. The affected vehicles may experience an intermittent connection in the electric power steering gear, which can cause a loss of the motor position sensor signal resulting in a shut down of the power steering assist.
Risk: If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The steering rack limiter on the passenger side dislodged itself and got caught on the rack and pinion teeth causing my wheel to get stuck
This is a 2013 Ford Explorer experiencing the exact catastrophic power steering failure described in Recall 14S06 / 15S18. The rack has failed twice, creating an immediate crash hazard. The current recall parameters are inadequate as they exclude my VIN despite identical component failure. Not only…
I was driving and the steering locked. I could not move steering wheel either way. Towed to ford repair⦠they replaced steering rack. Four times it was replaced..4 times it locked.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2013 Ford Explorers have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 835 owner complaints about steering for the 2013 Ford Explorer (37% 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 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 95,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,600 (half paid between $2,300 and $3,100), from 59 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2013 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “steering assist”, in 232 of 835 complaints, followed by “difficult turn” (76).
Other 2013 Ford Explorer problems
See all 2013 Ford Explorer problems or steering problems across all Explorer years.