Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 8 | 29% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 18% |
| Power train | 3 | 11% |
| Structure | 2 | 7% |
| Power train | 2 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 4% |
| Engine | 1 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND LITTLE TO NO BRAKE OPERATION. VEHICLE WAS SLOWING FROM 25 MPH TO A STOP SLOWLY. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THERE WAS A POP AND
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 15V172 DISPLAYS OWNER AND DEALER NOTICES FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL ON THIS WEBSITE. PLEASE FIX THIS NOW.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THIS IS THE THIRD TIME FOR THIS ISSUE ON THIS SAME VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED FROM THE FACTORY WITH THE 'READY FOR THE ROAD PACKAGE.' THE FRONT COMBINATION WIG-WAG LED/PARKING LAMP LED/TURN SIGNAL LED (MADE BY WHELEN)
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHERE THE FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT BOLTS TO THE FRAME HAS CRACKED AT THE FOR OUTWARD POINTS. ONLY TWO SMALL WELDS ARE HOLDING THE BUMPER IN PLACE. CAR WAS NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE READY FOR THE ROAD PACKAGE. THE WHELEN ION LIGHTS IN THE REAR WINDOW KEPT BLOWING THE FUSE. FORD INVESTIGATED AND FOUND A WIRE ON THE PASSENGER LIGHT TO BE WORN THROUGH AND TOUCHING THE BARE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED' WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN WRENCH WARNING LAMP AND CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, WENT INTO LIMP MODE, AND HAD TO BE PULLED OFF
NHTSA complaint: Power train
WHERE THE FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT BOLTS TO BOTH FRAME RAILS, CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED AROUND THE BOLT HOLES. ONE SPOT IS TOTALLY DETACHED. ONLY TWO SMALL WELDS HOLDING FRONT BUMPER REINFORCEMENT IN PLACE. VEHICLE WAS NEV
NHTSA complaint: Structure
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BROKE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FLOOR BOARD
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's
Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Taurus, Flex, Fusion, Police Interceptor Sedan and Police Interceptor Utility vehicles; and certain model year 2013 Lincoln MKS, MKT, and MKZ vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1
| Reliability | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 34 | below average |
| Depreciation | 58 | average |
| Performance | 76 | good |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 8 of them (29%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density, adjusted for how many were sold so a popular model is not penalised for having more owners.
AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.