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
1,678 reports, newest first.
Steering, Jul 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 MPH the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 23, 2024
My vehicle just stops and the Terrain management system fault comes on no matter what speed I’m going. It’s been doing it off and on for three years now. The dealership can’t figure out why. I’m thinking after doing some research that it’s the throttle body.
Electrical system, Seats, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 22, 2024
Hi there! We received a letter in the mail about a recall on our EXTERIOR A-PILLAR TRIM which did fall off on its own and ripped of the seal that was on it by my windshield we never received a call from the dealership so they can replace this for us and because it fell off everyday that it has rain water has been getting into my car to the point that I have puddles on the floor of the vehicle water got into my dashboard and blew out my A/C Motor and blew out my sunroof motor which it is wide open now we can’t close it.. I ride around in the suv with it being extremely hot my children are also in the car with us because it is our only means of transportation also the buttons on my radio are messed up due to water getting in… I’ve contacted carvana the place we bought it from about this and they said this is a ford issue because they were suppose to replace this a while back I don’t know what to do or who to contact we can’t really afford to fix it on our own.. I am scared that one day I drive it the airbags will just go off because water is going all through my dash when it rains! I don’t know what else to do!
Structure, Jul 22, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Steering, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 18, 2024
Lost of power steering while driving and ABS not engaging only flashing lights when getting close to object in front of you at higher speeds. Car inspection at oil change shows seized u joint for steering shaft
Steering, Jul 15, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Service Power Steering" warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to make a steering adjustment to stay in the lane and became aware that the steering wheel had seized. The contact was unable to turn the steering wheel to the left or to the right. The contact stopped and turned off and restarted the vehicle however, the power steering functionality had not returned. The contact had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Steering, Wheels, Jul 11, 2024
My steering is making a scretching noise when I try to turn it either way. With it being hard to turn I'm afraid for my safety with driving it and I dont have another vehicle to drive. Yes, I have a quote from a repair shop that my steering rack is going out I didn't notice a warning light as of yet.- this happened about a week ago I have found several complaints about the 2014 Ford Explorer Steering issues so I feel for safety purposes that this should have a recall.
Steering, Jul 10, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH and turning the steering wheel to remain in the lane, the felt that the steering wheel had seized, and the contact was unable to turn in either direction. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stopped the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rack and pinion and steering gears needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the steering gear teeth were fractured. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Steering, Jul 8, 2024
While driving on the highway, it was noted that the steering had started to feel a bit different, sluggish. We were able to pull off the highway, where complete loss of electrical assist on the power steering occurred. Warnings for loss of steering, traction control, and the 4WD system were displayed. Checked all fuses for the electric assist system, no problems noted. Being less than 15mi from home, I struggled to maintain the vehicle in the lane, but made it home. A call to my local Ford Service Center, and they tell me that there is no recall. Had this failure occurred at highway speeds it would have been catastrophic.
Structure, Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the A-pillar trim started detaching from the vehicle. The contact stated that parts of the trim had already detached and fallen off the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system, Structure, Jul 8, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the driver's side front key less entry keypad detached. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the keyless entry pad needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 136,146.
Steering, Jul 3, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at slow speeds, the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to maneuver the vehicle. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 102,000.
Structure, Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Structure, Jul 1, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached and fell onto the road. The contact stated that the passenger’s side A-pillar trim had struck another vehicle driving behind, but there was no property damage reported. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Power train, Jun 26, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the torque convertor was starting to fail. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Suspension, Jun 21, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that when she inspected the vehicle, she became aware that the steel belts were hanging from the interior of the rear tires. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a failure with the rear alignment. The contact was informed that the rear toe link needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made of the failure and the contact was referred to NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage approximately was 120,000.
Steering, Jun 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that the steering was difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with front strut assemblies failure. The contact was informed that the front strut assemblies needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed rack and pinon. The contact was informed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 71,500.
Steering, Jun 18, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the steering wheel seized, and the contact used excessive force to steer the vehicle. The contact stated that the "Steering Assist Fault - Service Required" and "Service Advancetrac" messages were displayed on the instrument panel. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence at slow speeds with the hazard lights flashing. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that the steering failure was a common failure with similar vehicles. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls or Extended Warranty on the vehicle related to the power steering. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
Wheels, Jun 14, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for service, he was made aware that the lug nuts were deformed and were unable to be removed without permanently damaging the lug nuts. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Structure, Jun 13, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front windshield trim had detached. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Firerelated, Jun 12, 2024, fire
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was idle, the contact noticed smoke coming out from underneath the passenger's side of the hood. The contact stated upon exiting and inspecting the vehicle, she noticed burning plastic falling from underneath the passenger's side of the vehicle onto the ground, and there was fire. The contact poured water underneath the vehicle and opened the hood and poured water at the fire location. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries sustained. No police report or fire department report was filed. The contact added water to the coolant reservoir and drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed that the A/C fan had caught on fire due to a stuck clutch bearing. The mechanics informed the contact that the radiator was damaged and was leaking due to the fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 8, 2024
The backup camera does not work. Sometimes a reversed the image which is highly dangerous. This has happened to a number of people I know who have the same car. It says see dealership on the screen.
Structure, Jun 7, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Structure, Jun 6, 2024
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact stated that while retrieving the vehicle from the valet, she observed the front passenger exterior a-pillar trim missing. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the columnar trim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 6, 2024
Back up camera failing to load image. Image is reversed when backing up, so objects coming from the left are showing up on the right side of the screen and vise versa. Backup guiding lines are no longer visible and screen has a fish bowl effect.