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2013 Ford Explorer Cruise Control Problems

21 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

21
Complaints
Jan 2024Dec 2016
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (21)

mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Jan 2024

Driving on a two lane highway with the cruise control set, tapped brake to eliminate the cruise as a truck had pulled onto highway ahead of us. Accelerated to pass the truck and resumed the cruise control to maintain previous speed. The vehicle began increasing speed as if the gas pedal was floored. Tapping brakes didn’t stop it nor did shutting the cruise off on the steering wheel, car was going 80-90 mph. Had to ride the brakes while the throttle seemed to be wide open until we could get it in neutral and pull of on the shoulder. Restarted the vehicle after it was shut off and the throttle was wide open again. The third time I started it, it appeared to be running normal. I did not engage the cruise control after that. At the time there was no engine light or warning light on. About a week later the engine light came on then a couple days later it was not on. Then it randomly would come on. I had scheduled an appt and it was determined the throttle body, gasket and purge valve needed replaced. This was an extremely scary situation and I would like to know if this has been an issue and could it possibly happen again? This could’ve caused a serious accident when you have zero control of the speed and it’s approaching 90mph on a highway. I did get repairs that were an expense over $500. Is there an explanation as to why this happened and can it randomly occur again??

NHTSA #: 11567173
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Oct 2019

WHEN DRIVING (VARIOUS SPEEDS HIGH WAS 70 MPH - LOW WAS 25 MPH - VARIOUS ROADWAYS) VEHICLE LOSES POWER GOES DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR - CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COMES ON-- MESSAGE "SEE MANUAL". HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR 5 MONTHS INITIALLY ONE TIME- MAY GO A MONTH BEFORE HAPPENS AGAIN . FINALLY IT STARTED OCCURRING 3 TIMES WITHIN AND HOUR THEN OK - DID FOR THAT FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE DAYS BEFORE TAKING IT TO BE FIXED. CALLED FORD DEALER THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD HEARD OF THIS - SAID IT COULD BE MANY THINGS - I MENTIONED THE REPORTS OF THIS ON 2016 EXPLORED. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL SHOP. REPLACED THROTTLE BODY AND THROTTLE BODY GASKET ON 2 OCT 2019- ISSUE HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE.

NHTSA #: 11271246
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2019

I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE BEEN RECENTLY EXPERIENCING RANDOM, DANGEROUS STALLS DUE TO A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. I HAVE HAD THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED TWICE AND IT CONTINUES TO FAIL, LEAVING OUR CAR IN A "LIMP-HOME MODE" IN DANGEROUS ROAD CONDITIONS. IT USUALLY STALLS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A LOW IDLE POSITION, SUCH AS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT AND THEN ACCELERATING. HOWEVER, IT HAD ALSO STALLED WHILE TRAVELING HIGHER SPEEDS AND THEN ACCELERATING. ONCE I PULL OFF THE ROAD, THE CAR ENGINE SHAKES VIOLENTLY UNTIL I'M ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND THEN TURN THE IGNITION OFF. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE ENGINE WILL USUALLY RESTART AT NORMAL IDLE AND PROPER ENGINE FUNCTION IS RESTORED UNTIL THE NEXT THROTTLE BODY FAILURE.

NHTSA #: 11244051
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY TO 60 MPH. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CLOSE TO HER RESIDENCE AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BEACH FORD (2717 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452, (757) 486-2717) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK WHEN THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AGAIN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN, FAILED TO ACCELERATE, AND SHOOK. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEACH FORD, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA #: 11241695
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 2019

CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. I WAS DOWNHILL ON A SNOWY ROAD AND THE TACHOMETER WENT TO 4000 RPM AND MY CAR STARTED TO SKID. THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTED AS IF IT WAS ON AND DOWNSHIFTED. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GAIN CONTROL.

NHTSA #: 11184045
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2018

I ENTER THE HIGHWAY FROM AN ON-RAMP AND I SLIGHTLY TAP THE BREAK TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. I THEN FEEL THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATING. I SEE MY RPMS ARE HIGH. I NOTICEL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FULLY ENGAGED TO THE FLOOR. I TAP IT SEVERAL TIMES TO DISENGAGE WITH NO SUCCESS. I HAD TO USE MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO TRY TO CONTROL MY SPEED AND USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO GET UNDER THE PEDAL TO LIFT IT. I SUCCESFULLY WEDGED MY FOOT UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT RELEASED, RETURNING TO NORMAL POSITION.

NHTSA #: 11111238
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF ACCELERATION EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JACKY JONES (LOCATED AT 714 NEW HIGHWAY 68 SWEET WATER, TN 37874) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO BOOST FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PART BEING ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WAS MADE BY REPLACING THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA #: 11020887
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2017

IT WILL DOWN SHIFT AND TAKE OFF FASTER BY IT SELF . AND 2 NO IS THE EXHAUST FUMES THAT COME BACK INSIDE THE CAR . WE HAVE HAD MANY FRIENDS RIDE WITH US AND FAMILY MEMBERS AND THEY GET SICK IN OUR VEHICLE ALSO

NHTSA #: 11012277
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 2017

THERE ARE TIMES I PRESS ON THE GAS PEDDLE AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND. MOSTLY WHILE MOVING ON CITY STREETS BUT OCCASSIONALLY WHEN STARTING UP A GRADE. I DID HAVE IT INTO THE DEALERS AND THEY FOUND NO CODE SO THEY COULD DO NOTHING. TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF. THEY SUGGESTED I TRY A GASOLINE ADDITIVE. THIS STARTED IN FALL OF 2017 AND IS BECOMING MORE OFTEN.

NHTSA #: 10958622
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Dec 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,900.

NHTSA #: 10930031
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Nov 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY HAD EXCESS DEPOSITS, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA #: 10928523
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2016

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE NUMBER 1 LANE AT ABOUT 65 MPH. WE FELT A JOLT, THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT IMMEDIATELY CAME ON STATING "SEE OWNER'S MANUAL". THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION, THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT WORKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. WHILE THE VEHICLE STILL HAD FOWARD MOMENTUM, MY WIFE HAD TO QUICKLY CROSS SEVERAL LANES TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM OTHER VEHICLES SO THAT WE WOULD NOT GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST OFF THE FREEWAY AND STOP. THE VEHICE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. AFTER APPROX 5 MINUTES, WE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS GONE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. ACCORDING TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BOX HAS TO BE REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS OLD WITH 29,000 MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCUERED. THIS PARTICULAR PART IS NOT ON FORDS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM. THE PART IS DEFECTIVE AND FORD IS REPLACING THEM ON OTHER VEHICLES BUT NOT ON THE FORD EXPLORER.

NHTSA #: 10909374
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2016

VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION (NO POWER,) ON HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER AND BARELY AVOIDED AN SEVERE ACCIDENT. ORANGE WRENCH CAME ON SIGNALING A PROBLEM. SHUT CAR OFF AND RESTARTED, LIMPING HOME. SERVICE WAS DONE REPLACING FAULTY THROTTLE BODY CONTROL.

NHTSA #: 10896942
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Apr 2015

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 09/25/2014. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AT IRREGULAR INTERVALS IN THE PAST (APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES) AND AGAIN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS PARKING THE CAR. I NEARLY RAN OVER A PARKING ATTENDANT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO KEMP FORD IN THOUSAND OAKS, CA. WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER ([XXX]) RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON ONE OF THE MODULE THAT REGULATES THE CAR SPEED - WITHOUT SUCCESS. HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM WHICH IS UNPREDICTABLE. WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AND WONDER WHAT RECOURSE WE MAY HAVE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA #: 10703336
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Oct 2014

THE PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ONCE IN THE PAST, I WOULD GUESS ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND IT HAPPENED TWICE ON THE 25TH OF SEPTEMBER. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR, THE BRAKES WORK BUT THE CAR ENGINE DOESN'T RESPOND - THAT IS THE RPM OF THE ENGINE REMAINS CONSTANT AND DOESN'T SLOW DOWN. IT FORCES THE DRIVER TO USE EMERGENCY MEASURES SUCH AS APPLYING GREAT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, USING THE HAND BRAKE AND PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I RESUMED DRIVING AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT MANIFEST ITSELF. I AM WEARY OF BRINGING THE CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SAME PROBLEM (WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED TODAY). HAVE OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST ABOUT THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA #: 10640467
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Sep 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA #: 10630847
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2014

UNDER MODERATE TO HARD ACCELERATION OR CLIMBING LONGER HILLS A FOUL ODOR OF SULFUR EXHAUST FILLS THE CABIN. ISSUE IS VERY REPEATABLE AND HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY. SMELL DISSIPATES AFTER A MINUTE OR SO AFTER RPMS ARE BACK TO LOWER RANGE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10609894
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Jun 2014

THE VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS HAD A ISSUE WITH THE CABIN FILLING WITH EXHAUST FUMES WHEN UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION. MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY ETC WITH THE ENGINE ABOVE 3500 RPM'S WILL FILL THE CABIN WITH A BURNING EXHAUST SMELL. THIS HAS BEEN HIGHLY EXPOSED ON THE EXPLORER FORUMS ONLINE. MANY USERS ARE EXPERIENCING IT, THE TSB FOR HAS FOR THE SMELL DOES NOT WORK. IF I RIDE IN THE CAR TOO LONG IN HEAVY HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHERE I AM ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING A LOT IT MAKES ME AND MY FAMILY SICK FROM THE SMELL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10606461
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Apr 2014

I HAVE A 2013 FORD EXPLORER ECOBOOST. TODAY (APRIL 19, 2014), I WAS ON HIGHWAY 280 SOUTH HEADING TOWARDS SAN JOSE AND MY CAR DECELERATED TWICE. 1. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE DECELERATION, I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I DID NOT SEE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE FUEL INDICATOR WAS NORMAL, MEANING IT WAS ABOVE THE RESERVE LINE. I STARTED THE IGNITION, LEFT THE GEAR LEVER IN NEUTRAL AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT SEEMED NORMAL. I MOVED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND RESUMED DRIVING. 2. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES, THE CAR DECELERATED AGAIN, THIS TIME, I WAS AFRAID IT MIGHT STALL AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. AGAIN, I DID NOT SEE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE FUEL INDICATOR WAS NORMAL, MEANING IT WAS ABOVE THE RESERVE LINE. I STARTED THE IGNITION, LEFT THE GEAR LEVER IN NEUTRAL AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR A FEW SECONDS, IT SEEMED NORMAL. I MOVED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND RESUMED DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT 1 MILE, THE FUEL INDICATOR POPPED UP THE MESSAGE THAT THE CAR REACHED RESERVE STAGE. THEN THE CAR WORKED FINE FOR THE NEXT 4 MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS TECHNICAL ISSUE. IF THE CAR DECELERATES SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, IT CAN CAUSE ISSUES FOR DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA #: 10583706
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE
Filed: Aug 2013

I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH. I WAS BEHIND A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE AND WANTED TO PASS IT. THERE WAS ANOTHER VEHICLE APPROACHING IN THE ONCOMING LANE AND I THOUGHT I HAD ENOUGH DISTANCE TO PASS. AS I TURNED INTO THE ONCOMING LANE AND BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO PASS THIS VEHICLE, I HEARD A STRANGE NOISE LIKE A "POOF" AND MY VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SLOWED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS ENOUGH DISTANCE BETWEEN ME AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE AND THE ONCOMING VEHICLE HAD A WIDE SHOULDER . AFTER THAT, I NOTICED THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE LESS POWER ON ACCELERATION. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER IT STARTED LEAKING OIL ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. IT IS A SPORT MODEL. *TR

NHTSA #: 10534258
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Jul 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA #: 10524534

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