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, Suspension, Wheels, Mar 3, 2023, crash
My Ford Explorer had a rear suspension toe link Recall, and in December I took my vehicle to the Ford dealership to get it fixed. At that time, they did a full vehicle inspection, fixed the part, and told me everything looked great. Shortly after the service, we had a snow storm, and my SUV would fishtail in Icy/snowy conditions. Every time it'd snow, it made me so scared to drive, because I'd essentially not have control over my vehicle. The issue wasn't present when the roads were clear. Within the two months since that service, my back tires have gone completely bald, down to the wires. I recently got in a car accident because my car wouldn't complete a turn and ended up t-boning a Tundra on a residential street. Luckily I was going slow so the damage to the other vehicle was minimal, and no obvious injuries have resulted from the accident. I was able to remove some of the plastic pieces around the fender, in order to still drive it, so I took it to the Ford dealership that originally serviced my car for an inspection. Now that the dealership has inspected my vehicle, they're claiming that it's not on their liability and that they're not responsible for any of the damage. Now the alignment is off on both the front and back, and the strut is bent (whether that's from the accident or not, we don't know). The Manager admitted that when servicing my vehicle they were only allowed to perform a rear alignment, but a front alignment was never suggested or offered to me. When aligning a vehicle (especially in the winter) the whole vehicle should be aligned, not just half. They of course claim zero liability or responsibility, even though I was having issues with it fishtailing shortly after it being serviced at their shop, for a part on the suspension, which affects alignment.
Visibility, Mar 2, 2023
While driving on highway the trim on the side of the windshield flew off .
Engine and engine cooling, Mar 1, 2023
Water pump leakage
Power train, Feb 28, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while accelerating at slower speeds, the vehicle hesitated while shifting gear. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the power transfer unit (PTU) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Back over prevention, Feb 25, 2023
Backup camera works intermittently
Steering, Feb 24, 2023
The steering gear failed. The vehicle's steering wheel was locked in the fully right hand turn position and could not be moved. Luckily, this happened in my driveway. If this happened on the road, a crash could have occurred, possibly causing injury to myself or others. The problem has been confirmed by my mechanic. The component has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. There were no warning lamps but the steering was jerky about 1 week prior to completely locking up.
Structure, Feb 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the front driver’s side windshield trim panel detached. The vehicle was taken to a body shop where the trim panel was replaced. The same failure also occurred with the passenger’s side trim panel and the panel was also replaced by the same body shop. Recently, the contact stated that the failure reoccurred on the driver’s side windshield panel. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where the contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23001 (Structure). The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Steering, Feb 24, 2023
Turn off vehicle one day and that next started it and cannot turn the wheel what so ever. Was able to start vehicle and remove keys from ignition. Steering did release a day or two later, but seized up and cannot remove keys or use the vehicle.
Service brakes, Feb 23, 2023
The traction control sensor will come on out of nowhere making a loud noise and causing the vehicle to jerk to a stop. Yes it is available for inspection and has already been taken to a dealership. My safety is out at risk because the vehicle almost jerks to a stop when the traction control kicks in when not needed. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Ford dealer. The component has been inspected and reset according to the work report from the dealership. There were no other warning lamps, messages or symptoms before this issue began. According to the dealership my vehicle was taken to they said they have seen this issue on several other vehicles and usually is fixed with the process they performed on my vehicle for $545.09. And if that didn’t fix it that I would have to spend approx $2,500 to get the ABS module replaced. This issue a a safety concern and I don’t feel like I should be liable to pay for these repairs especially when the dealership has said that they have seen this issue before on other vehicles. I feel this repair should be covered under a safety recall and that ford should reimburse me for the original repairs that did not fix the issue. They stated that they test drove my vehicle before and after the repairs but how is that when the mileage in and out of the shop on their repair order is the same mileage…???
Visibility/wiper, Feb 22, 2023
Driving on highway approx. 65-70 mph windshield trim on passenger side flew off, over car onto highway. I was unable to retrieve piece due to number of vehicles on the 3-lane highway. Have noticed other Explorers in Colorado missing same piece. Thanks for looking into this issue.
Steering, Feb 21, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions while making a right or left turn, there was a loud sound coming from the steering wheel. The contact stated that the failure persisted. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the steering rack assembly needed to be replaced; however, the parts for the repair were on backorder. The vehicle remained at the dealer awaiting the parts for the repair. The contact was informed the vehicle was inoperable. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a popping sound and the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the engine shut off. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, she noticed that coolant was leaking onto the ground. The oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rotor fractured, and coolant leaked into the engine and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
Steering, Feb 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the steering wheel inadvertently turned to the right and then seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Steering, Feb 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after stopping at stop sign, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The contact stated that after driving a short distance the vehicle regained power steering functionality. The contact stated that whenever the vehicle came to a stop the failure would reoccur. The contact stated that a message to check the charging system was displayed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the dealer to diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
Visibility, Feb 14, 2023
I have had the windshield replaced for the trim coming loose on both sides. I was able to use duct tape to keep them in place until replacement. That was a few years back. Then it happened again. Now it is happening again. So 3 times in 8 years.
Structure, Feb 13, 2023
Driver’s side windshield molding detached while driving 70 miles per hour on highway, unknown if object hit another car. Was unaware what happened, heard loud noise. I have a picture, unable to upload below.
Structure, Visibility, Feb 7, 2023
The drivers side pillar molding piece along the windshield flew off the car while driving down the highway. It could have struck the car behind us but luckily it missed them. The piece seemed a little loose when scraping ice off the car but didn’t seem like it would just fly off like that.
Steering, Feb 7, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Escape. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. In addition, while reversing out of a parking space, the failure recurred with the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle then lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where and diagnosed with power steering failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000.
Wheels, Feb 6, 2023
The wheels corrode around edges & Bead mounting area due to improper procedures done during manufacturing. The factory only put clear protection on the outside (visible portion) of the wheel. Thus the elements enter under the clear coating from the un-protected portion of the wheel. As this corrosion expands, it causes the Bead of the tire to leak. The leaking gets more rapid in a short time and causes poor handling & can cause a loss of control. The Ford Customer Forum has Hundreds, if not Thousands of Customer Complaints. The problem is that Ford will not stand behind their product and doesn't care about the Safety Danger to their Customers.
Structure, Feb 6, 2023
WINDSHIELD TRIM PIECES HAVE BLOWN OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD TO BE REATTACHED BY BODY SHOP. LOCATED TRIM PIECE ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. LIKELY PUT DRIVERS IN REAR IN DANGER DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN OF THE FAULTY PIECES COMING FREE FROM THE SUV.
Structure, Feb 4, 2023
This is about my 2014 ford explorer passenger side "windshield trim panel ",it fly away when I driving at speed around 70mph at I275 ,it did make some noise before fly away,and i found out it's the trim panel when i home. already bought a replacement but not sure when will happen to the driver side.
Structure, Feb 2, 2023
Plastic Trim piece, which covers the windshield rubber seal on driver side “A” pillar, fell off my 2014 Ford Explorer Limited. Incident happened about 2018.
Visibility, Feb 2, 2023
Exterior trim or molding on windshield, driver and passenger (both) sides flew off vehicle while driving 65 MPH on the interstate. The weather conditions were sunny skies and wind during day time. This incident occured July 2022. Thank God no serious accidents occurred I'm aware of. After some research, I learned this is a common occurrence with Ford Explorer vehicles. I feel this is a safety concern. Hopefully Ford issues a recall or other type of compensation for owners. I replaced the molding on both sides via Amazon myself after I didn't hear back from a Ford Dearlership nearby.
Structure, Feb 2, 2023
Three times in 8 years I have lost windshield trim panels when traveling at elevated speed (approximately 70 MPH). I believe it would have occurred more often but I grew weary in 2018 of paying the $135 to replace the trim part. Each time it occurred the trim piece left the car with a resounding & startling "crack" sound and happened without warning. All three occurrences involved the driver's side trim part on the A-pillar. Twice it occurred after a large truck passed me going the other way on a two lane road. Initially I went to the local Ford dealer but no one there seemed to care... they directed me to the parts counter... happy to take my money for this grossly overpriced part. Currently my car does not have the trim part in place
Visibility, Feb 2, 2023
I was driving on the highway on December 17, 2022 when the right windshield trim panel came off the vehicle. I didn't know what it was at the time but there was a loud noise. When I got to my destination I noticed the trim panel was gone. The panel flying off could have hit another vehicle. I just saw the article on Fox Business that others were having this issue so I wanted to report my issue as well.