2013 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

CORROSION (OXIDATION) ON THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. NOT NECESSARILY A SAFETY CONCERN BUT A CONCERN NON THE LESS. I ENTERED, THROUGH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, A PRIOR APPROVAL CLAIM FOR THE DAMAGE AND WAS TURNED DOWN, FORD SAYS THEY DON'T WARRANTY RUST CLAIMS UNLESS THE PART HAS RUSTED THROUGH. SEARCHING ON GOOGLE, "FORD HOOD RUSTING", I SEE THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM AND THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE ISSUE, YET THEY CONTINUE TO DENY CLAIMS.

FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS THE DRIVERS DOOR IS SAYING IT IS OPEN WHEN IT IS SHUT. THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON WHICH MAKES IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE DOORS WILL ALSO NOT LOCK. THAT IS VERY UNSAFE IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN IN THE BACK WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THEY CAN EASILY OPEN THE DOOR AND POSSIBLE FALL OUT. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE FOR FORD OWNERS. FORD SHOULD REALLY DO A RECALL ON THIS VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT.

PAINT ON HOOD IS BUBBLING. DEALER WILL NOT HONOR FORD'S 5-YEAR EXTENDED CORROSION COVERAGE PERIOD BECAUSE THE BODY PANEL IS NOT SHOWING A HOLE "THOUGH" THE BODY PANEL. THE WARRANTY DEFINES THE COVERAGE ONLY IF THE BODY PANEL BECOMES PERFORATED DUE TO CORROSION FROM NORMAL USE. HOWEVER, NOWHERE IN THE WARRANTY DOES IT STATE IT MUST BE THROUGH THE BODY PANELS. IN MY BOOK, THE DEFINITION OF PERFORATION IS A PATTERN OF HOLES, AND THE DEFINITION OF A HOLE IS A HOLLOW PLACE IN A SOLID BODY OR A CAVITY OR A PIT. THE PAINT IS DEFINITELY SHOWING A PATTERN OF CAVITIES OR PITS YET THE DEALER DOES NOT AGREE.

EXHAUST IS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE FRONT AND REAR AIR CONDITIONING VENTS WHEN THE ENGINE IS ACCELERATED TO 3500 RPM OR ABOVE. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN,WHEN PASSING ANOTHER CAR OR ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS REALLY EVIDENT ON A RECENT DRIVING VACATION FROM KANSAS CITY TO SEATTLE WA. WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL MOUNTAINOUS STATES AND IT WAS TERRIBLE, THE CAR WAS CONSTANTLY ACCELERATING ABOVE 3500 RPM TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON UP HILL GRADES,THE CAR CONSTANTLY REEKED OF EXHAUST. WE HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO KEEP IT AIRED OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER WHEN I RETURNED FROM THE TRIP,THEY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I AM NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH FORD OVER THIS,I HAVE PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE METER WHICH I KEEP IN THE CAR AND HAVE RECORDED CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN AS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V171000 (STRUCTURE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

WITH JUST OVER 37,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT THE PAINT ON THE HOOD WAS BUBBLING AND FLAKING OFF. IT HAD OBVIOUSLY BEEN OCCURRING LONG BEFORE I FIRST NOTICED IT. I BROUGHT IT TO MY FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THOSE VEHICLES BECAUSE THE HOOD IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM AND VIBRATION FROM DRIVING CAUSES THE PAINT TO FRACTURE WHICH RESULTS IN THIS PROBLEM. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD OVER 36,000 MILES, EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM HAD BEEN THERE WHEN IT STILL FELL UNDER THAT WARRANTY. I THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL SITES WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS FROM 2013 AND 2014 EXPLORER OWNERS WHO WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. (A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE SITES I SAW ARE CARCOMPLAINTS.COM, EDMUNDS.COM, AND RV.NET. A GOOGLE SEARCH WILL...

MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED RUST BUBBLES ON MY HOOD ON OR ABOUT JUNE OF 2015 . IT IS VERY AWFUL LOOKING FOR A VEHICLE WHICH IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND PARKED WHERE THERE IS NO RIVER WATERS.

PAINT IS BUBBLING ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN PLACED SILICONE AND SEAL AROUND THE BUMPER AND HOLES AND REPROGRAMMED THE HVAC. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. MA 10/8 UPDATED 11/02/2017*CN

INTERIOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR LATCHES ARE LOOSE AND DON'T HAVE ANY RESISTANCE ON THEM. BECAUSE OF THIS THE DOORS CAN EASILY BE OPENED WITH VERY LITTLE EFFORT AT ANY SPEED. *TR

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM FORD DEALER AS A PRE-CERTIFIED VEHICLE AT DELIVERY FOUND THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD HAD BUBBLING PAINT, DEALER TRIED TO HAVE FORD COVER THE REPAIR BUT FORD DENIED THE CLAIM DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILEAGE, VEHICLE IS 2 YRS OLD AND ONLY 2200 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY BY MILEAGE. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH TO HAPPEN WITH ALUMINUM HOODS SINCE 2002 AND FORD HAS PREVIOUS TSB'S FOR OLDER VEHICLES DUE TO THIS ISSUE.

PAINT BUBBLING AT EDGE OF HOOD NO DAMAGE TO HOOD. *TR

NOTICED THAT MY PAINT IS PEELING AND FLAKING ON INSIDE PART OF LEFT REAR DRIVERS DOOR RIGHT TO BARE METAL AWAITING TO HEAR WHAT FORD IS GOING TO DO VEHICLE STILL UNDER FULL BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. ALSO SAME DOOR NOT CLOSING PROPERLY ALSO BEING ADDRESSED. *TR

THE CAR'S HOOD HAS DEVELOPED RUST FROM THE UNDER THE CLEAR COAT AND ALONG THE WELDED SEAMS THROUGH OUT THE ENTIRE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE MOLDING AROUND MY WINDSHIELD JUST FLEW OFF. *TR

ON 16 JULY 2014, I WAS DRIVING AND MY VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT, FORD CLAIMS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEVICE TO PROTECT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE FOR PEOPLE AND THEIR LIVES. I COULD HAVE EASILY GOTTEN HURT OR CAUSED A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IF I WAS ON A DIFFERENT ROAD OR ON THE INTERSTATE. FORD CLAIMS THAT BECAUSE OF THE GRILLE DESIGN THAT THEY HAVE ONT HE VEHICLE IT CAUSES MAJOR ISSUES TO THE AIR CONDENSOR AND TRANSMISSION COOLER, BECAUSE ANY AND EVERYTHING...DEBRIS, ROCKS, INSECTS, BIRDS... CAN CAUSE THE CONDENSOR/COOLER TO BE DAMAGED WHICH WILL CAUSE THE CUSTOMER TO HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. *TR

EXHAUST ENTERS THE VEHICLE CABIN ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS OPERATED AT HIGHER RPMS, SUCH AS CLIMBING A LONG HILL OR TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND PASSING OTHER TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN PRESENT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE (NEW), BUT WE INITIALLY THOUGHT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM SURROUNDING VEHICLES. WE SHORTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE EXHAUST ODOR OCCURRED WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF ANY OTHER TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FORD DEALER WHO CONTACTED FORD ENGINEERING FOR A FIX. THE "FIX" DIDN'T HELP. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ESTABLISHED A "CASE" IN AUGUST, 2013, AND WAS PROMISED THE PROBLEM WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. FORD TOLD US TO OPERATE THE VENTILATION SYSTEM IN THE RECIRCULATION MODE UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED. THIS ONLY AMPLIFIED THE ODOR BECAUSE THE EXHAUST STILL ENTERED BUT WAS THEN TRAPPED IN THE CABIN. AT FORD'S DIRECTION THE CAR WAS TAKEN BACK...

AFTER ALL THE NEW CAR SMELLS BEGAN TO WEAR OFF WE BEGAN TO NOTICE WHAT SEEMED TO BE EXHAUST FUMES WHEN WE WERE DRIVING UP HILLS. WE SOON NOTICED THAT IT HAPPENED ANYTIME UPON HARD ACCELERATION. THE SMELL IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOUR EYES BURN AND WATER FROM UP IN THE DRIVER SEAT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR BUT TRIED IN ALL POSITIONS AND OFF AND STILL HAVE IT. THE FORD FIX WITH THE NEW VENT, SEALANT, ETC. WAS DONE AND HAD NO EFFECT ON IT. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP A SECOND TIME AND THE OPPOSITE VENT WAS REPLACED, STILL NO CHANGE. WE BROUGHT IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP A THIRD TIME AND IT WAS CHECKED FOR IMPROPER BODY SEALS AND WEATHER STRIPS WITH NOTHING FOUND. WE ARE NOW TOLD WE HAVE TO JUST WAIT AND SEE IF FORD COMES UP WITH A...

MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED!! I WAS SITTING IN MY VEHICLE, PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRES AND AROUND MY VEHICLE. I SAW NOTHING UNUSUAL SO I GOT BACK IN, TURNED THE AIR OFF AND THAT'S WHEN I DISCOVERED IT WAS THE SUNROOF. I HEARD CRACKLING OF GLASS. GOT BACK OUT AND STEPPED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND LOOKED ON TOP - IT HAD CRACKED IN THE SHAPE OF AN X WITH A SMALL POP UP RIGHT IN THE CENTER. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT NOTHING HAD HIT THE GLASS BECAUSE I WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THE GLASS WAS PUSHED UPWARD INSTEAD OF INWARD. I TOOK NUMEROUS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY RIGHT AFTER THIS HAPPENED. DROVE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, WITHIN A HALF HOUR, AS PER THE SERVICE MGR. FOR PRE APPROVAL OF WARRANTY...

RECENTLY TRADED A 2011 FORD EXPLORER FOR A 2013. THE 2011 DEVELOPED A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE SEAM ON THE FRONT UNDERSIDE EDGE OF THE HOOD. WE DID NOT WANT OUR 12K MILE CAR PAINTED ON SO WE TRADED IT FOR A 2013 FORD EXPLORER WE THOROUGHLY INSPECTED. 3 WEEKS AND 300 MILES LATER I OPENED THE HOOD WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE AND THE CORROSION HAS ALREADY STARTED CAUSING PAINT TO POP OFF THE UNDERSIDE ALONG THE SEAM SEALER. SO FAR FORD HAS FAILED TO TAKE ANY ACTION. FORD HAS A CORROSION / PAINT ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND OTHER'S WITH ALUMINUM HOODS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER LOWER DOOR SEALS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SLIP RESISTANT SAFETY TREAD. THE PASSENGER SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN ENTERING THE DOOR AS HER FOOT WAS PLACED ON THE DOOR SEAL. THE PASSENGER SLIGHTLY BUMPED HER HEAD AND SUSTAINED AN ABRASION TO THE LEG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE DOOR SEAL WAS A MANUFACTURERS DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.