2014 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Steering is the leading concern among 1,678 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 32 involved a crash and 6 involved a fire. 38 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, roof and pillarsJan 19, 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
Campaign 24V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearJul 15, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
Campaign 21V537000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearMar 12, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.
Campaign 20V675000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, axle assembly, axle shaftNov 10, 2020
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.
Campaign 20V692000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearJun 10, 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
Campaign 19V435000 on NHTSA.gov
Wheels, hubAug 28, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 17E048000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearApr 26, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture.
A fracture of the rear suspension toe link may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S18.
Campaign 16V245000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
336 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 23, 2015
A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING OUR 2014 EXPLORER, WE NOTICED AN EXHAUST/SULFUR ORDER IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FOLLOWING A MEDIUM ACCELERATION ENTERING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. WE REPORTED THE ODOR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TURNED THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ORDER SO NOTHING WAS DONE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES, THE ODOR RETURNED. ONCE AGAIN, WE TURNED THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER PERFORMED A REPAIR BASED ON A TSB. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE ODOR RETURNED AND ONCE AGAIN TURNED THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER PERFORMED A CONTINUATION OF THE SAME TSB. A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE PULLING A BOAT, THE ODOR RETURNED. ONCE AGAIN, WE TURNED THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER OWNER AND THE SERVICE TECH DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND WERE UNABLE TO DETECT THE SMELL. THE VERY NEXT DAY WHILE PULLING THE BOAT, THE ODOR RETURNED. THE DEALER NOW SAYS THEY DON'T WANT TO PERFORM THE LAST PART OF THE TSB BECAUSE IF THEY SEND FORD A PART THAT'S NOT DEFECTIVE, FORD WILL CHARGE THEM BACK FOR THE PART....MEANWHILE I'M STUCK DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT MAY BE PUTTING SULFUR AND/OR CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER WANTS ME TO BRING MY BOAT AND VEHICLE IN SO THEY CAN TEST IT WHICH ISN'T GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE IF THEY WRECK THE VEHICLE WITH THE BOAT, MY INSURANCE HAS TO COVER IT THROUGH THE PERMISSIVE USE CLAUSE AND MY RATES WILL GO UP.
Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2015
EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING CABIN UPON ACCELERATION, SUCH AS ENTERING INTERSTATE OR PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 17, 2015
WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY, THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST-LIKE ODOR COMING FROM THE VENTS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANY REASON WHY THE ODOR WOULD BE COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING AS I ALSO HAVE MY 4 YEAR OLD INHALING THESE FUMES WHICH I BELIEVE IS CARBON MONOXIDE. THIS NEEDS TO BE CHECKED INTO BY FMC.
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2015
I AM NOTICING A SMELL COMING OUT OF AIR VENTS. OCCURRING SINCE AS FAR BACK AS I REMEMBER BUT DON'T RECALL EXACT DATE WHEN I STARTED QUESTIONING THE SMELL.. THE SMELL IS A BURNING SMELL - NOT ELECTRICAL BUT ALMOST LIKE HAIR/HAIR DRYER WHEN IT GETS HOT. I NOTICE WHEN I ACCELERATE TO GET ON EXPRESSWAYS AND/OR IF I'M GOING UP A HILL (BASICALLY WHEN I GO INTO HIGH GEAR). MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE CAR AT A TIME RECENTLY AND SO I ASKED HIM IF HE COULD SMELL IT AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID IT WAS EXHAUST COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. I'M NOT SURE IF I CAN SMELL IT MORE WHEN THE AIR IS ON AND THE WINDOWS CLOSED BUT DUE TO ALLERGIES AND RESPIRATORY ISSUES I MORE TIMES THAN NOT DRIVE WITH WINDOWS CLOSED AND THEREFORE SMELL IT QUITE OFTEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I AM NOT SURE IF DIRECTLY RELATED OR NOT BUT LAST TWO YEARS I DROVE 12 HOURS TO FLORIDA AND BY THE TIME I GO THERE I HAD HEADACHE AND BREATHING PROBLEMS AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THAT MORE OFTEN THAN I EVER HAVE BEFORE. I'M WORRIED THAT THIS EXHAUST INTO MY CAR IS MAGNIFYING MY HEALTH ISSUES. REGARDLESS, IT IS A DANGER TO HAVE THIS EXHAUST COMING IN THROUGH THE CAR. I AM TAKING TO FORD THIS COMING FRIDAY. I STOPPED IN TO TALK TO THEM AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ISSUES LIKE THIS. I GOOGLED THE ISSUE MERELY AS "FORD EXPLORE EXHAUST ISSUES" AND WAS SHOCKED AND HORRIFIED BY THE FACT THAT IT APPEARS VERY COMMON AND THAT A CIVIL SUIT WAS FILED IN FLORIDA. RIGHT NOW THEY ARE SAYING WARRANTIES SHOULD COVER THE FIX BUT I'VE READ WHERE THE FIX ISN'T WORKING EITHER. I WILL SEE WHAT THEY SAY ONCE THEY HAVE MY CAR BUT ANYONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO REPORT IT SO THAT IT CAN BE RECTIFIED BY EVERYONE HAVING THIS VEHICLE DURING THE YEARS NOTED IN THE CLAIMS! IN JUST COMING TO THIS SITE ALONE I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME ISSUES. I DON'T PAY THIS MUCH FOR A VEHICLE FOR IT TO MAKE ME SICK!
Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2015
WHEN ACCELERATING HARD, EXHAUST FUMES BLOW INTO THE CABIN FROM THE AC. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN A MONTH AFTER BUYING THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR/ENGINE WAS NEW. I'D NEVER OWNED A NEW CAR BEFORE SO I TOOK THEIR WORD FOR IT. HOWEVER, AFTER THE ISSUE KEPT REOCCURING FOR 8+ MONTHS, I BROUGHT THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM I WANTED IT CHECKED OUT. I WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG AND I COULD TRY USING A FUEL ADDITIVE TO HELP CLEAN THE ENGINE. ANY TIME I ACCELERATE HARD, I PRETTY MUCH JUST HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW OR I'LL START GETTING LIGHT HEADED. IT HAS REACHED THE POINT THAT I'M NOW LOOKING TO GET A NEW VEHICLE. I'M AMAZED THAT DESPITE MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AGAINST FORD, THESE EXPLORERS HAVE YET TO BE RECALLED.
Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2015
BOUGHT THIS 2014 FORD EXPLORER NEW THE LAST OF MAY, 2014. IMMEDIATELY UPON ACCELERATION SMELLED EXHAUST. THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE AIR. THE SMELL STOPPED WHEN WE QUIT USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. THE SMELL STARTED AGAIN THIS SUMMER WHEN WE STARTED USING THE AIR CONDITIONER.. WE FINALLY REALIZED THAT IT WAS OUR VEHICLE AND NOT OUTSIDE AIR. TOOK CAR ON VACATION AND IT WAS SO BAD IT MADE US ALL SICK. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. TODAY, WE TOOK IT BACK AS IT IS SO BAD I AM SICK. THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT NO FIX. SAID THERE WILL BE A FIX IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE CARBON MONOXIDE IS SO STRONG AT RANDOM TIMES THAT WE ARE GETTING AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. IT SEEMS TO BE THE WORSE ON SUDDEN ACCELERATION, SUCH AS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. WE WERE SICK DURING VACATION AS WELL AS THE LADY WHO WAS WITH US....UPDATED 11/04/15 *BF
Steering, Other or unspecified, May 29, 2015
I HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND WHENEVER THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES IT SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WITH TRACK STRAIGHT UNTIL YOU STEP ON THE GAS AND IT PULLS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT REQUIRING ME TO COMPENSATE BY WHILE DRIVING. I ADVISED THE DEALERSHIP ON 10-8-14, 10-18-14, 12-4-14, ON A MARCH OIL CHANGE WITH FORD, 1-7-15 AND 5-18-15.THE DEALERSHIPS INITIALLY DENIED THE CAR HAD ANY ISSUES THAT WERE ABNORMAL BUT EVENTUALLY THEY ADMITTED IT DOES PULL TO THE LEFT BUT IT WAS NORMAL ACCORDING TO THE FORD ENGINEERS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO CORRECT IT SINCE IT WAS A NATURAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. I DID NOT AGREE SINCE I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL THAT DID NOT PERFORM THE SAME AS MY VEHICLE DOES. I ALSO SPOKE TO VARIOUS FORD SERVICE TECHNICIANS THAT INDICATED THEY HAD NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE AND THEY ASSUMED THAT IT COULDN'T BE TORQUE STEER SINCE THE INTELLIGENT 4 WHEEL DRIVE SHOULD CORRECT ANY WHEELS THAT WERE NOT SPINNING AT THE SAME SPEED AS THE OTHERS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER. HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THEY COULD ONLY GO BY WHAT THE CORPORATE ENGINEERS ADVISED THEM AND THAT WAS THAT THE ISSUE WAS NORMAL DESPITE THE VEHICLE BEING RATED FOR A MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY OF 5,000 POUNDS. I ALSO HAVEN'T BEEN GIVEN AN EXPLANATION ON WHY THE LEFT TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE WORN OUT ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE EXACTLY IN THE DIRECTION THE CAR IS PULLING TO. THE SEVER PULLING TO THE LEFT IS NOT A MINOR THINK AND THE CAR WILL MOVE BY THE FEET TO THE LEFT VEERING OUT OF THE LANE UNLESS I COMPENSATE WHILE STEERING, YET IT DRIVES ABSOLUTELY STRAIGHT IF I LET OFF THE GAS AND I CAN'T IMAGINE TOWING ANYTHING BEHIND THIS VEHICLE WITH THESE ABNORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS.
Other or unspecified, May 21, 2015
RECENTLY, MY WIFE AND I NOTICED AN EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN OF OUR 2014 FORD EXPLORER (8K MILES) WHEN WE ACCELERATED ONTO HIGHWAYS. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO FORD AND THEY TOLD US THERE WAS A BULLETIN OUT ON THE EXHAUST ISSUE. THE EXPLORER LOANER THEY GAVE US HAD THE PROBLEM WORSE THAN OURS SO I ASKED FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO DRIVE. WHEN WE GOT THE EXPLORER BACK, I STILL NOTICED THE PROBLEM AND BROUGHT IT BACK TO FORD. THEY INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM SO I WENT TO MY LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND BORROWED A CARBON MONOXIDE METER AND DROVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR ONE MILE AFTER TESTING VARIOUS LOCATIONS INSIDE THE CABIN (FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHILE IDLING). OVER ONE MILE THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL IN THE CABIN INCREASED FROM 0 TO 6 PARTS PER MILLION (PPM). AFTER DISCOVERING THE DANGEROUS SITUATION I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO FORD WHO HAS NOW HAD THE VEHICLE FOR RIGHT AT 3 WEEKS AND WILL NOT RETURN MY PHONE CALLS OR UPDATE ME ON THE ISSUE. I AM POSTING THIS SO THAT ANYONE WHO READS THIS CAN INVESTIGATE THIS POSSIBLE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUE FOR THEMSELVES. IF YOU ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AND SMELL EXHAUST, TAKE THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IF YOU SMELL EXHAUST IT IS STILL GETTING INTO THE CABIN AND IS VERY DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH. I AM VERY CONCERNED FORD HAS NOT RECALLED ANY VEHICLES (2011-2014) TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE NOT DRIVING AROUND WITH DANGEROUS EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS AROUND TOWN AND AT GAS STATIONS AND THEY HAVE NOTICED THIS AS WELL. I USED A CALIBRATED CO METER AND HAVE PICTURES OF THE READINGS.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2015
UPON ACCELERATION EXHAUST ENTERS THE VEHICLE CABIN. SOMETIMES EXHAUST ENTERS THE VEHICLE CABIN WITHOUT ACCELERATION. I THOUGHT I HAD REPORTED THIS BEFORE. *TR
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 12, 2014
UPON HEAVY ACCELERATION (TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, FOR EXAMPLE) A STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERS THE CABIN. IT IS NECESSARY TO OPEN A WINDOW IN ORDER TO BREATH AGAIN! THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY, AND IF/WHEN PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Other or unspecified, Jul 7, 2014
WHEN DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY TERRAIN, THE EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IS EXTREME, CAUSES HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND TENDS TO BURN MY EYES AS WELL AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO IS WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME. BECAUSE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF THIS PROBLEM, AND BECAUSE FORD HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, MY DEALER WAS NOT GOING TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THEY HAVE AGREED TO SPRAY THE UNDER PART OF THE EXHAUST WITH A RUBBERIZED SEALANT THAT WAS USED ON THE 2013 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, WHICH I HAVE READ WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL ON THE 2013 , I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE EXHAUST ORDER IS HORRID AND I FEAR THE HEALTH IMPLICATIONS THAT MAY ARISE. *JS