Your vehicle report
2014 Ford Explorer
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 1,684
- Received Aug 2013 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration302 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Power steering cuts out while driving198 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly168 complaints · 10.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #24V031000Ford 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.
- Recall #21V537000Ford 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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Power steering cuts out while drivingFirst signal: Aug 2016
- Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenlyFirst signal: Oct 2018
- Rearview backup camera fails or goes blackFirst signal: Oct 2020
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 32 crashes, 6 fires, 38 people injured, 2 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 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 (to Oct 2026) | 62 |
| Total | 1,684 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exhaust smell enters cabin during acceleration | 302 | 18% | 5.4× | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 198 | 12% | 3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Aug 2016 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.6% |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 168 | 10.0% | 3.3× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2018 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.4% |
| Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates | 88 | 5.2% | 5.1× | |
| Rearview backup camera fails or goes black | 73 | 4.3% | 4.5× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2020 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.2% |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 44 | 2.6% | 0.5× | |
| Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed | 44 | 2.6% | 1.3× | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 29 | 1.7% | – | |
| Ford Escape engine overheats from coolant intrusion | 29 | 1.7% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 28 | 1.7% | 2.3× | |
| Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning | 24 | 1.4% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 18 | 1.1% | – | |
| Power steering rack leaks fluid | 18 | 1.1% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 17 | 1.0% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 16 | 0.9% | 0.7× | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 15 | 0.9% | – | |
| Door ajar light stays on when closed | 14 | 0.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 13 | 0.8% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 13 | 0.8% | – | |
| Water leaks into cabin during rain | 12 | 0.7% | 3.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: May 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7% |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #24V031000January 19, 20241,889,110 vehicles affected
structure: body: roof and pillars
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #21V537000July 15, 2021631,176 vehicles affected
suspension: rear
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #20V675000March 12, 2021454,941 vehicles affected
suspension: rear
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #20V692000November 10, 202015,587 vehicles affected
power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #19V435000June 10, 20191,194,173 vehicles affected
suspension: rear
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.
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.
NHTSA recall #16V245000April 26, 201675,364 vehicles affected
suspension: rear
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.
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.
Other model years
- 1991 609
- 1992 633
- 1993 939
- 1994 1,207
- 1995 843
- 1996 1,450
- 1997 1,731
- 1998 1,959
- 1999 1,348
- 2000 952
- 2001 375
- 2002 3,295
- 2003 1,131
- 2004 1,304
- 2005 497
- 2006 630
- 2007 208
- 2008 148
- 2009 33
- 2010 115
- 2011 1,197
- 2012 830
- 2013 2,237
- 2014
- 2015 1,813
- 2016 2,465
- 2017 1,704
- 2018 734
- 2019 300
- 2020 1,249
- 2021 451
- 2022 271
- 2023 113
- 2025 107
- 2026 42
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2014 Ford Explorer.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN