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U.S. public vehicle records

2014 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,674 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

66,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,021 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 483 of 1,674 complaints (28.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior50630.2%
Braking behavior583.5%
Transmission and shifting543.2%
Electrical and battery issues533.2%
Engine operation402.4%
Fuel system concerns90.5%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
483
Unknown Or Other
334
Engine
196
Structure
179
Electrical System
96
Suspension
96
Structure:Body
92
Power Train
74
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering483
Unknown Or Other334
Engine196
Structure179
Electrical System96
Suspension96
Structure:Body92
Power Train74

Steering: 483; Unknown Or Other: 334; Engine: 196; Structure: 179; Electrical System: 96; Suspension: 96; Structure:Body: 92; Power Train: 74

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
189
25,000 to 49,999
181
50,000 to 74,999
196
75,000 to 99,999
162
100,000 to 149,999
222
150,000 and above
71
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000189
25,000 to 49,999181
50,000 to 74,999196
75,000 to 99,999162
100,000 to 149,999222
150,000 and above71

Under 25,000: 189; 25,000 to 49,999: 181; 50,000 to 74,999: 196; 75,000 to 99,999: 162; 100,000 to 149,999: 222; 150,000 and above: 71

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (222). 653 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2013
6
2014
65
2015
42
2016
116
2017
259
2018
118
2019
148
2020
103
2021
102
2022
138
2023
155
2024
170
2025
200
2026
52
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20136
201465
201542
2016116
2017259
2018118
2019148
2020103
2021102
2022138
2023155
2024170
2025200
202652

2013: 6; 2014: 65; 2015: 42; 2016: 116; 2017: 259; 2018: 118; 2019: 148; 2020: 103; 2021: 102; 2022: 138; 2023: 155; 2024: 170; 2025: 200; 2026: 52

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 506 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 58 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 54 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10573219 · 2014-03-18 (March 18, 2014)

TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE LANE I WAS ENTERING (THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER), I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, WHICH CAUSED ME TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO A CURB. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING 15 TO MAYBE 20 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE CURB, MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND UPON INSPECTION I DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY SUBSEQUENTLY SERVICED THE VEHICLE, WHICH I PICKED UP ON MARCH 15, 2014. HOWEVER, WITHIN 100 MILES OF DRI…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,677 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573219 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10583244 · 2014-04-17 (April 17, 2014)

LUCKILY WE WERE COMING TO A STOP ANYWAY WHEN WE LOST POWER STEERING. LOUD WARNING BEEPS WITH A MESSAGE SAYING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULTY" APPEARED. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP AND START THE ENGINE TO RESET THIS, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WE TOOK OUR NEW 2014 FORD TO OUR CULLMAN, ALABAMA ECKENROD FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE STUMPED. COME TO FIND OUT (THANKS TO GOOGLE) THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE 2011 MODEL. WE NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AS WE COMMUTE 45 MILES TO WORK AND 45 MILES HOME EVERYDAY.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10583244 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10533188 · 2013-08-02 (August 2, 2013)

I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER 2014 ON JULY 1ST 2013. ON AUGUST 1ST, 2013, MY CAR DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WHILE I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT TO 'D' (DRIVE) IN A PARKING LOT. INSTEAD, THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS WHILE I STEPPED ON GAS. I WAS VERY CONFUSED, AND THOUGHT IT WAS MY ILLUSION. SO I STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CHECKED THE DRIVE PANEL, THE LIGHT FOR 'D' IS ON. THEN I SWITCH TO 'P' AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS PUT TO 'D' AGAIN. HOWEVER, MY CAR STILL WENT BACKWARD AND MY REAR BUMP HIT THE FRONT BUMPER OF ANOTHER CAR WHICH PARK BEHIND MINE. THEN I GOT CONFIRM…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533188 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552700 · 2013-11-18 (November 18, 2013)

WHEN DRIVING ON RURAL UNLIT ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS AT TIMES LIGHT UP LESS THAN 3 VEHICLE LENGTHS AND OR BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS WHEN USING LOW BEAMS. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECENT HEADLIGHT DESIGN WHICH USES A "PROJECTOR STYLE" LENS INCORPORATING A "HIGH BEAM" BULB AND A SHUTTER TO CREATE THE LOW BEAM BY CUTTING OFF THE TOP PORTION OF THE BEAM. THERE IS "NO" LIGHT ABOVE THE CUT-OFF LINE SO WHEN DRIVING DOWN AN UNDULATION AND/ OR DURING BRAKING, THE LIGHT BEAM AIMS DOWN RELATIVE TO THE ROAD. WHEN GOING UP AN UNDULATION, THE BE…

Owner-reported narrative. 152 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552700 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10576912 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)

I AM PASTING FROM A PARTS OF A POST THAT I MADE ON 4/2/2014 @ 11:06AM AT WWW.BLUEOVALFORUMS.COM WITH THE TOPIC BEING: "MAJOR CONCERN/ISSUE WITH 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT": THIS FOR THE 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH V6 3.5L ECOBOOST (TWIN TURBO) MOTOR. ABOUT A MONTH AFTER OWNING IT, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY....I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ....I SIGNALED TO GET OVER AND GAVE IT GAS TO SPEED UP MODERATELY TO ABOUT 75MPH OR SO. WHEN I PRESSED ON THE GAS THE CAR BASICALLY ALMOST STALLED ON ME...IT WASN'T A TRANSMISSION TRYING TO THINK WHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576912 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10608175 · 2014-07-03 (July 3, 2014)

MY TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. AS SOON AS I PUT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE DID RUN BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT...I WAS STUCK ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD UNABLE TO PULL OVER AND MY RPM'S WERE PEGGING WITHOUT MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GO LIKE 15 MILES PER HOUR, MY CAR STARTED SMELLING LIKE IT WAS BURNING AND THE ENGINE WAS STRESSED. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY PULL OVER I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURN IT OFF, TURN IT BACK ON AND THEN IT WORKED FINE. AGAIN T…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608175 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10747611 · 2015-08-10 (August 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 C…

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747611 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10862258 · 2016-04-29 (April 29, 2016)

I BOUGHT A CERTITIFIED PREOWNED 2014 FORD EXPLORER IN FEBRUARY 2015. RECENTLY EVERY TIME THE EXPLORER WAS PUT IN PARK, AN ALERT WOULD GO OFF, SHOWING TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK. THE PAST FEW WEEKS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A GRINDING/GROWLING NOISE WHEN TURNING TOWARDS THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE STEERING BECAME A LITTLE HARDER TO TURN AND IT FELT AS IF IT WOULD STICK. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY FEELING. I HAVE 5 CHILDREN AND DIDN'T WANT THEM IN THIS CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 2 DAYS AGO AND FOUND OUT THAT MY ELECTRIC STEERING SYSTEM WAS LO…

Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862258 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10638250 · 2014-09-22 (September 22, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 EXPLORER SPORT I ENCOUNTERED A FEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRUCK, WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS TO ENTER ON TO THE FREEWAY IT GOT CONFUSED AND DID NOT NO WHAT TO DO . SEEMS LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL AND THEN SPEED UP VIOLENTLY. WHEN I FINALLY GOT UP TO SPEED IT SMELLED LIKE IT FARTED, ALSO MY RADIO VOLUME SHUTS OFF , I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF , THEN START IT AND THE VOLUME COMES BACK ON. BRING BACK THE V8 PLEASE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638250 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10582884 · 2014-04-15 (April 15, 2014)

FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GASOLINE PERIODICALLY AROUND THE CAR. THE LAST TIME I FILLED UP I REMEMBER CHECKING FOR A LEAK BECAUSE THE SMELL WAS SO STRONG. THAT SAME NIGHT I WAS WORKING AROUND THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE DRAINING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE EXHAUST PIPES AND MY DRIVEWAY. IT LOOKED LIKE THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING FROM A PLASTIC FITTING, PERIODICALLY RELEASING ABOUT A CUP FULL OF GASOLINE. WE HAVE SINCE TAKEN THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHI…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10582884 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10616425 · 2014-07-25 (July 25, 2014)

FIRST INCIDENT: PARKED CAR AT GAS STATION FUEL PUMP, WHEN WE GOT IN TO MOVE THE CAR IT DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING. WRESTLED THE CAR TO THE FRONT OF THE GAS STORE AND WENT INSIDE, WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT, THE POWER STEERING WORKED. SECOND INCIDENT: JULY 18,2014, SAME THING HAPPENED AFTER A STOP AT A STORE. POWER STEERING COMPLETELY OUT ADVANCE TRACK LIGHT STAYS ON. HAD TO GET TOWED. FIX TOOK FOUR WEEK WORK DAYS. THE INVOICE SAYS EB5Z*3504*A GEAR ASM-STEERING WAS REPLACED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616425 at NHTSA ↗