2013 Ford Explorer Brake Problems

Which parts fail

• Pedals and linkages
  1
• Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  1
• Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
  1
• Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
  1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  825%
• 25k–50k
  928%
• 50k–75k
  722%
• 75k–100k
  26%
• 100k–150k
  619%
• 150k+
  00%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, there was an abnormal scraping noise coming from the rear driver's side tire. The contact stated that he depressed the brake pedal, and the pedal went to the floorboard. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stopped and inspected the vehicle and became aware that the rear passenger's side brake pad had separated from the caliper. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact went to an auto parts store and purchased new pads, rotors, and calipers and replaced rear brakes. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the ABS, traction control, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed. The contact stated that the brake lines were flushed, and brake fluid was added to the vehicle; however, the failure returned several days after the repair. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic where an ABS pump fault code was retrieved. The contact was then informed that the part needed to repair the vehicle was on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the ABS, the brakes, and the traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ABS module had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer initially informed the contact that the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was later informed that the part had been discontinued. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,719.

Unknown. Vehicle disengaged from park to neutral while in garage after vehicle was shutoff (approximately 3-5 minutes ). Vehicle rolled out of garage crossed the street and stopped in neighbors yard. No damage occurred. Incident happened within the last hour, so nothing has been inspected as of yet. I have been hearing an electronic hum with the sound of moving parts in the driver side rear end after I place the transmisson shift to park and then turn the key to the off position. I'd estimate that has been happening sporadically for the last year. If the electronic parking module or it's component is located in the driver rear end of a 2013 Ford Explorer I would think that may the issue.

Vehicle began exhibiting intermittent, momentary ABS activation (right front) which would cause vehicle to randomly and severely pull to the right and momentarily flash the traction control warning lamp. This problem began early in 2022 and was first taken to Ford dealership in May 2022. Multiple visits to dealer resulted in inability to diagnose due to lack of recorded codes although they were able to reproduce. Dealer hypothesized a bad electronic steering rack. Subsequent visits to non-Ford repair shops yielded no solution despite replacing ABS Control Module, Electronic Steering rack, yaw sensor, and front struts. Repair shop was able to reproduce. Recently took vehicle to Ford dealer who reproduced and performed pinpoint tests identifying the yaw sensor in the Restraint Control Module (RCM) as most likely cause, but replacement failed to solve. …

My wife experience "spontaneous acceleration" of our Ford Explorer. My wife was pulling into a walgreens parking lot, slowed down to turn into a parking space when the car lunged forward at a high rate of speed. My wife had her foot on the brake as she was entering the space, but the brake could not control the car. There was an extreme and spontaneous acceleration. Once the car hit the pole, it automatically shifted into reverse even with my wife applying the brake. The car came to a stop after hitting a parked truck. Additionally, the air bags did not deploy even though there was enough force on the front end to make the airbags deploy.

I attempted to slow the vehicle, preparing to stop. I was traveling between 65/70 MPH. When pressing on the breaks the vehicle did not slow down. I pumped the breaks. The cars in front of me where at a stop and getting closer very quickly. I pushed as hard as I could on the break and then tried to push on the emergency break located on the floor. It only kicked back. Seconds later I had a direct impact with the vehicle in front of me. Airbag deployed! There are no skid marks on the road! The vehicle would not stop!!!

I was driving on a residential street approximately two minutes from my home to run an errand. I was using the hands-free device on my phone as per texas law. There is one way each way with a yellow double line divider and many people park on the side to check mail walk dogs etc. So I tend to drive so that I won't hit those individuals. The road is curvy and I noticed that I was starting to veer off into the grass and I tried to steer back left and press my brakes at which time I realized that my brakes were not working and I could not get back on the road. …

While driving my vehicle whether on highway or city streets my rear brakes keep dragging causing smoking hot burning metal smell . This started back on 09/09/2014 and has happened 7 times since. Actually it happened more than 7 but I only have documentation for 7. It was happening so much but intermittently so I bought a infrared gun to measure the hot brakes. The highest temps recorded was 505 degrees. Twice the squealing and screeching and cracking sounds of metal to metal was so loud that I was scared to drive and had to take it directly to the dealer. Twice the brakes went down to bare metal where everything had to be replace. The other times I was able to catch it before that but still how much brake was worn off I couldn't know. …

This make/model/year has a known factory defect that caused the exhaust manifold to blow exhaust directly into the cabin. I had to force the dealer to fix this, as they argued exhaust is not dangerous. I have attached the instructions on how to fix this, from the factory, proving it was a known serious issue, not disclosed to me. The dealership did a horrible job in the "repair" - having broken other parts of the car in the process. After they "repaired" the car, it began randomly shuddering, while idling. I have attached a video of it. You will need to turn up the volume to the max, as youtube compressed the sound terribly. I have one witness to this happening twice. The engine starts vibrating with such ferocity that it sounds as though the vehicle is about to explode. The witness is willing to testify in court. Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=johecicectk . …

NHTSA investigations

Brake complaints in other Explorer years