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.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 8, 2017
FUMES IN THE CAR AND EVEN AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT STILL HAS NOT FIXXED THE ISSUE THEY HAVE PUT NEW REAR VENTS IN AND ADDED MORE UNDER COATING
Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2017
AWFUL ODOR COMING INTO THE CAR - SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST OR SOMETHING ROTTEN. I GET TERRIBLE HEADACHES AND WILL GET SLEEPY WHILE DRIVING. FOUND MYSELF BOBBING MY HEAD ALMOST FALLING ASLEEP. THE HEADACHES WILL LAST AFTER I STOP DRIVING THE CAR. BEEN GOING ON FOR CLOSE TO 2 YEARS. MAINLY HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY DRIVING (WHICH I DRIVE 270 EVERYDAY TO WORK).
Other or unspecified, Sep 7, 2017
CAR FILLS WITH FUMES AND STRONG "SULFUR" ORDER WHEN EXCELLING ON ON UPGRADE CLIMB.
Steering, Sep 5, 2017
BEGAN HEARING WHIRRING AND SCREECHING SOUND WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. WAS ALSO DIFFICULT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AT TIMES. FORD DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A STEERING GEAR FAILURE. VEHICLE HAD 20 THOUSAND MILES ON IT AND WAS ABOUT 5 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY PERIOD. FORD REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR AND CHARGED 1570.00 TO FIX.
Other or unspecified, Sep 3, 2017
FAULTY DOOR AJAR ASSEMBLY. DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. ALSO LOSES CONNECTION WHILE CAR IS OFF AND THE DOOR IS CLOSED, TRIGGERS THE ALARM TO GO OFF. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING ON SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS.
Engine, Aug 29, 2017
PISTON ROD BROKE AND VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP AND LOSES POWER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY.
Engine, Aug 26, 2017
EXHAUST ODOR ENTERS THE CABIN WHEN UNDER HIGH ACCELERATION WHEN MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY OR UNDER SUSTAINED, HIGH RPM (ABOVE APPROXIMATELY 3,000 RPM) WHEN TRAVELING IN MOUNTAINOUS FREEWAYS WITH SUSTAINED, UPHILL GRADE. I HAVE NOTICED THIS OCCURRENCE MORE THAN SIX TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 5 MONTHS AGO (AT THE END OF MARCH 2017 WITH 25,000 MILES). THE ODOR SMELLS LIKE SULFUR AND FILLS THE CABIN TO THE EXTENT THAT PERSONS SITTING IN THE REAR SEATS CAN SMELL THE ODOR. THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS USUALLY ON AND IN RECIRCULATION MODE. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS 30,000 MILES (AUGUST 26, 2017), HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION (EXCEPT FOR THE EXHAUST ODOR!) AND HAS NO MECHANICAL MODIFICATIONS.
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2017
I HAVE OWNED A 2014 FORD EXPLORER FOR A YEAR NOW. WHEN I PURCHASED IT, IT HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT SO, OUT OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW, EVERY TIME I GET ON THE INTERSTATE OR TRY TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST THAT ENTERS THE CABIN OF THE SUV WHICH RESULTS IN ME GETTING A HEADACHE AND MY SON COMPLAINING OF HIS NOSE BURNING. I SCHEDULED AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE MULLINAX FORD HERE IN MOBILE, AL WHERE THEY CHARGED ME 99.00 TO RUN TEST ON THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ENTERING THE CABIN AND THE TEST CAME BACK POSITIVE. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $553.00, WHICH THEY CALL A DISCOUNT, TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY CREATED A CASE AND SENT IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THIS WAS ONLY TO GET A DECISION FROM THE MANAGER THAT I STILL HAD TO PAY $553.00. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT. THIS VEHICLE IS POISONING MY FAMILY (3 KIDS) AND THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE ONLY REPAIRING POLICE CARS AS OF NOW.
Engine, Aug 22, 2017
WE ARE GETTING EXHAUST FUMES COMING THRU AC DUCTS WHILE DRIVING
Engine, Aug 22, 2017
VEHICLE UNDER HARD ACCELERATION AND THE AIR IS ON RECIRCULATE, THE CABIN FILLS UP WITH EXHAUST.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 22, 2017
THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH ALL OF ITS WINDOWS UP EVERY TIME AFTER A HEAVY ACCELERATION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE A/C VENTILATION IS ON OR NOT. THE STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IS INESCAPABLE AFTERWARD WHILE STILL IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY OR WHILE STOPPING AFTER THE ACCELERATION. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENTLY REPEATABLE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT AS BRAND NEW. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND A TSB AND OFFERED NO RESOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.
Engine, Aug 21, 2017
EXHAUST FUMES ODOR WHILE DRIVING IS CAUSING NAUSEA AND HEADACHES TO ME AND MY WIFE MAKING IT UNBEARABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT STARTED OUT ONLY WHEN WE WOULD TURN ON A/C BUT NOW ITS ALL THE TIME.
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2017
MY WINDSHIELD TRIM BLEW OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2017
WHEN DRIVING, PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW CRACKED WHEN GOING FROM HOT TO COLD TEMPERATURES. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT.
Power train, Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, Aug 14, 2017
MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. CLIMATE CONTROL SENSOR FAILED, RESULTING IN TEMPERATURES BEING INCREASED TO THE MAXIMUM HEAT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SENSOR FAILED AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS FLUID IN THE RECEPTACLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION. SENSOR ON DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL FAILED AND WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AT THE PASSENGER AND COLD AIR AT THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION.
Other or unspecified, Aug 14, 2017
CARBON MONOXIDE WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS FUMES/ EXHAUST ODOR.
Steering, Aug 14, 2017
STEERING WENT OUT CANT TURN WHEEL NO POWER STEERING
Steering, Aug 13, 2017
ON JULY 20, 2017, WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A WARNING LIGHT ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. THINKING THE TRACTION CONTROL HAD INADVERTENTLY BEEN PRESSED, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AT THAT POINT. ON SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2017, AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH ME AND 3 OF OUR CHILDREN AS PASSENGERS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL BEING TURNED OFF AND POWER STEERING ASSIST NEEDING SERVICE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON ONCE AGAIN SEEMED TO RESET THE POWER STEERING AGAIN. I CALLED AUTOFAIR FORD OF HAVERHILL, MA THE NEXT DAY AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN THAT AFTERNOON. ON THE WAY TO AUTOFAIR FORD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. AUTOFAIR DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED STEERING RACK AND REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND PROGRAM SYSTEM FOR A TOTAL OF $1721.90. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT THE 2011, 2012, AND 2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAD THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL. IN ADDITION, I FOUND MESSAGE THREADS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES OF 2014 FORD EXPLORERS HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES AS WE DID. LUCKILY, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY VEHICLE, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR; HOWEVER, IF SUDDEN SHARP STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED, THERE LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE. IN ADDITION, A FAILURE SUCH AS THIS ONE SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE THAT IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 48,450 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD ALL REGULAR RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCES PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AT AUTOFAIR FORD, FORMALLY REGAN FORD, FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE AS A NEW VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 12, 2017
THERE HAVE BEEN REGULAR INSTANCES WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE OF UNEXPLAINABLE DROWSINESS, HEADACHES, CONFUSION, AND IMPAIRMENT. WHILE LEARNING OF THE LATEST NEWS OF POSSIBLE DANGEROUS FUMES BEING ALLEGED IN THE PASSENGER CABIN, I WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT IN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE. I HAVE BECOME SERIOUSLY MORE CONCERNED AS I AM NOW TRAVELING WITH AN INFANT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME, AND RECOGNIZING THAT I WAS SUBJECT TO THESE CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT A FULL PREGNANCY. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER SINCE OWNING IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE WORK COMPLETED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. ALTHOUGH I DON'T TRAVEL OFTEN BY CAR, THERE HAVE BEEN TRIPS THAT I HAVE TAKEN THAT WERE APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES IN LENGTH THAT WOULD REQUIRE A STOP FOR REST AND / OR SLEEP. THIS IS NOT A USUAL CHARACTERISTIC OF MY DRIVING STYLE. THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE ARE NO NOTICEABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THIS ISSUE BETTER OR WORSE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2017
THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY ON FULL ACCELERATION. SEEMS TO BE UNDER ANY CONDITION OF THE CABIN AS FAR AS WINDOW OPEN PARTIALLY, CLOSED WINDOWS WITH VENT ON, AC ON WITH OR WITHOUT THE RECIRCULATION BEING USED. MOSTLY ANNOYING AND IT DOES SEEM TO DISSIPATE AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WILL OCCUR FROM STARTING AT FULL STOP OR USE SUCH AS FULL THROTTLE FOR PASSING AT ANY SPEED. DO NOT SEEM TO NOTICE A SMELL WHEN RUNNING IN TOWN OR ON FREEWAY. RARELY SIT WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND HAVE NOT NOTICED THE EXHAUST SMELL THUS FAR.
Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2017
STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IN CAB WHILE DRIVING + THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS CAR 16S18 REPLACE BOTH TEAR TOE LINKS
Other or unspecified, Aug 8, 2017
I GET VERY NAUSEOUS AND HEAD ACHES WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE. SOME TIMES BLURRED VISION AND A FEELING OF SLOWED REACTION. I HAVE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE I BLACKED OUT WHILE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS, TO BE AWAKENED WHEN MY VEHICLE RAN ACROSS GRAVELS BEFORE ENTERING A YARD. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE WHERE I WAS DOING AROUND 70 MPH AND ABOUT 1/2 MILE AFTER THE TOP OF THE OFF RAMP I BLACKED OUT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, I CAME TO IN TIME TO PULL THE WHEEL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS PERFECTLY FINE RIGHT BEFORE I BLACKED OUT. I WASN'T TIRED BEFORE THIS. WHEN I DRIVE OUR 2017 FORD F-350 I DO NOT HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS. THEY SEEM TO GO AWAY. OR IF I RIDE IN MY EXPLORER WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN I SEEM TO FEEL BETTER. AFTER MY RIDE HOME FROM WORK IF I RUN THE AIR AND HAVE MY WINDOWS UP I AM SO TIRED BY THE TIME I GET HOME THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BESIDES LAY ON THE COUCH AND SLEEP. WHICH IS NOT ME- I HAVE NO HEALTH ISSUES AND AM VERY ACTIVE IF I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.
Engine, Aug 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH THE RPM'S ABOVE 3500. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Structure, Aug 7, 2017
THE WINDOW TRIM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAME LOOSE AND THEN FLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR HAS 3500 MILES. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE I HAVE LEARNED BY READING THESE FORUMS.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Aug 6, 2017
WHEN ACCELERATING, A STRONG ODOR COMES FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE ODOR LINGERS AND SMELLS VERY STRONG, I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE EXHAUST FUMES, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING ACCELERATION.