2014 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls

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 ↗

EXHAUST SMELL COMING OUT FROM AIR CONDITIONER SYSTEM AT HIGH RPMS (ABOUT 3500). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536610 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED 2014 FORD EXPLORER JULY 20, 2014 - JULY 26,2014 - I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM DRIVE THRU PHARMACY AND MY DASH LIGHTS WENT BLACK. TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING - THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK 6 MORE TIMES. ONCE AGAIN FOR LOOSING ALL DASH LIGHTS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - SINCE THEN, MY LIGHTING IN MY VEHICLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP AS IT USE TO. SOMETIMES MY DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHEN OPENING THE DRIVER DOOR, SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT - SOMETIMES MY LCD SCREEN WILL LIGHT UP, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. THE D…

Owner-reported narrative. 653 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537328 at NHTSA ↗

WITHIN 24 HRS. OF PURCHASE, DRIVING ON EVEN ROAD DRY CONDITIONS APPROX. 40 MPH ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION NO HESITATION NO BUCKING JUST SHUT OFF. PULLED OFF SIDE OF ROAD RESTARTED OK TOOK TO DEALER (JACK BYRNE FORD) NO CODE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED IT, COULD NOT GET TO REPEAT . THIS VEHICLE IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WE ARE DEATHLY AFRAID THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AT A HIGHER SPEED AND WILL RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION. SPOKE TO THE SR. REGIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER FOR NY/NJ. SHE STATES THAT THE DEALER LOOKED VEHICLE OVER AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 390 miles reported. Look up ODI 10551743 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ABOUT A MONTH AGO. DRIVING HOME, 2 1/2 HOURS AWAY FROM WHERE I PURCHASED IT, THE SUN WAS HITTING MY FRONT WINDSHIELD. I NOTICED TREMENDOUS AMOUNTS OF TINY SHINY PARTICLES ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD. IT WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND HAZARDOUS!!! I CHECKED THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THE ENTIRE WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME THING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT'S NORMAL. I HAVE HAD 3 OTHER FORD VEHICLES IN THE PAST 4 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT IS VERY VERY HAZARDOUS TO ME AND I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE MAKING WIND…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10553234 at NHTSA ↗

HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT FOCUSING CORRECTLY. WHEN U GO AROUND CURVE, LIGHTS SHOW AHEAD HALF WAY, BUT IT IS PURE BLACK AROUND CURVE. WE LIVE IN THE MTS. WITH LOTS OF HILLS AND MTS. IT IS SCARY!! YOU COULD KILL A CHILD OR ANIMAL WITHOUT SEEING THEM IN THE PITCH BLACK. ALSO, U CANNOT SEE SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF ROAD UNLESS U PUT YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS ON, WHICH REALLY TEES OFF CAR IN FRONT. WE JUST BOUGHT THE FORD EXPLORER IN DEC.. HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERS,. THE ONE WE BOUGHT IT FROM DID RAISE THE LIGHTS, BUT SAID NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE. I BELIEVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560873 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR CUP HOLDER BUT FOUR OF HIS FINGERS BECAME STUCK INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HOLDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PRY THE HOLDER OPEN IN ORDER TO RELEASE HIS FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10563009 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 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.

Consequence: A fracture of the rear suspension toe link may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2019-06-10 (June 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.

Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-03-12 (March 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.

Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2020-11-10 (November 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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-07-15 (July 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.

Consequence: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2024-01-19 (January 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.

Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.