2013 Ford Explorer — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $8,000–$13,000. There are 3 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
The generation that moved the Explorer to a car platform, and the one with the power transfer unit that cooks itself. The PTU has no service interval, no drain plug in early builds, and overheats until it destroys itself and sometimes the transmission with it.
Known Issues for the 2013 Ford Explorer
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The PTU sits next to the exhaust, holds less than a quart of fluid, and Ford called it lifetime-filled. The fluid cooks, the unit whines, then seizes — sometimes taking the transmission with it. Owners who drain and refill it every 30k miles avoid this entirely.
Repair cost range: $1,500-$3,500, more if it damages the transmission
A long-running NHTSA investigation into carbon monoxide intrusion, especially in police-package vehicles but reported in civilian ones too. Ford issued repairs sealing the rear body seams.
Repair cost range: $0 under Ford program, $500-$1,500 otherwise
The water pump is driven by the timing chain and lives inside the engine. When the seal fails, coolant goes into the crankcase and destroys the bearings. There is no external drip to warn you.
Repair cost range: $1,500-$2,500 preventive, $6,000+ after engine damage
Multiple recalls covering steering gear bolts and intermediate shafts on this generation.
Repair cost range: $0 recall to $1,500
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Whine or growl from under the front floor at speed — PTU
- ✗Milky oil or coolant loss with no external leak — internal water pump
- ✗Any exhaust smell inside the cabin
- ✗Police or fleet history
Good Signs
- ✓PTU fluid drained and refilled on a documented schedule
- ✓Front-wheel-drive model — no PTU at all
- ✓Water pump already replaced with records
Found a specific Ford Explorer?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2013 Ford Explorer in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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