2014 Ford Explorer Problems
Compared with other Ford Explorer years
More complaints than typical for this model
71/100 1.6× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 1.6× that of a typical Ford Explorer year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 229 of its 1,684 complaints were filed by the end of 2016.
- Most reported problem: Loss of power steering assist / seized steering (466 complaints, median 90,000 mi).
- 6 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2012
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 1,684filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 66,000miles, 1,018 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 6campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 20 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Ford Explorer (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2014 Explorer most often report losing power steering assist, usually with a warning message and a steering wheel that becomes very hard to turn or briefly seizes, and many complaints describe a rack-and-pinion replacement as the fix. A large second group concerns the exterior A-pillar trim detaching at highway speed, which is the subject of a recall where owners report parts were not yet available. Trim/panel issues, rear suspension link failures, and cooling or water pump problems round out the sample, with steering reports often showing up at higher mileage than trim and pillar reports.
- Steering
Loss of power steering assist / seized steering
- 466 complaints (28%)
- median 90,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (291 state mileage)
- 12 mention a crash, fire or injury
- owner-quoted repair $2,374 (median of 52 quotes)
- filed 2014–2026
Complaints describe the wheel suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes while turning at low speed and sometimes at highway speed, often with a steering assist or loss-of-steering message on the dash. Some owners say the wheel seized or pulled to one side and that restarting the vehicle briefly restored assist. According to the complaints, dealers and independent shops commonly diagnosed a failed rack and pinion, steering gear, or power steering control module and quoted replacement; several owners were told their VIN was not covered by a steering recall. Reported from roughly 36,000 to about 207,000 miles, spread across all years of ownership rather than tied to one season.
What to check: Ask whether the rack and pinion, steering gear, or steering control module has been replaced and request service records. During a test drive, listen for grinding or squealing when turning and confirm the wheel returns to center on its own.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“On february 18, 2020, as I was driving on the interstate, a warning appeared on the dashboard that read 'steering fault service now'. When I exited the interstate and found a safe place to park two warnings appeared on the dashboard that read 'steering loss stop safely' and 'service advance trac'. Once I was stopped the steering completely failed. Seems to be an ongoing issue with the Explorer even after the 2011-13 recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11318909, filed 2020-03, 125,034 miles“After driving several hours on a very busy interstate, I stopped to get gas. When pulling out of the gas station my steering became inoperable. The warning indicator came on after I started to drive. I never had any indication that I needed to get my vehicle serviced prior to losing power steering. I had to have the vehicle towed to our mechanic. We were told the steering rack and pinion needed replaced and the cost is $2500. …”
NHTSA complaint #11525242, filed 2023-06, 104,330 miles - Body and structure
Windshield A-pillar trim detaching
- 263 complaints (16%)
- median 100,000 mi at 10.4 yrs old (123 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2013–2026
Owners report the exterior trim along the windshield pillars coming loose, flapping against the glass, or flying off while driving at highway speeds, on one or both sides. Many say they received notice of a recall for the trim clips but were told the parts were not yet available, and some secured the trim with tape or paid for the repair themselves. A few also describe water leaking into the pillars and onto the floorboard. Reported from about 15,000 miles to well past 150,000 miles, typically at highway speed when wind load is highest.
What to check: Check both windshield pillars for loose or lifting trim and ask whether recall 24V031000 has been completed with the replacement clips. Look for water stains or dampness along the pillars and front floorboards.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that fluid was leaking into the A-pillars and onto the floorboard. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 152,736.”
NHTSA complaint #11587994, filed 2024-05, 152,736 miles“The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s and driver's side A-pillar trim fractured and detached. The contact stated that the dealer arrived at the residence and inspected the vehicle; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available. The contact purchased the parts from Amazon; however, the contact had to apply tape to hold the parts in place. …”
NHTSA complaint #11684572, filed 2025-09, 80,000 miles
Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the steering rack and power steering assist, the rear suspension links, and the windshield pillar trim, and ask for records showing whether the pillar trim and rear suspension recalls were completed. A test drive that includes slow turns and highway speeds will help surface steering and trim issues before purchase.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 1,684 consumer complaints for the 2014 Ford Explorer. 1,018 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,000 miles. Of all complaints, 32 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 38 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 130 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Ford Explorer model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 71 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering500 30%
- Other or unknown343 20%
- Body and structure276 16%
- Engine198 12%
- Suspension103 6.1%
- Electrical system100 5.9%
- Transmission and drivetrain80 4.8%
- Fuel system72 4.3%
- Engine cooling67 4.0%
Also reported: Air bags (47), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (29), Vehicle speed control (29), Seat belts (28), Brakes (27), Wheels (26), Exterior lighting (25), Electronic stability control (14), Forward collision avoidance (9), Seats (7), Lane departure (5), Tires (4), Latches, locks and linkages (3), Equipment (1).
Example complaints
Steering: “While my wife is driving the car with the kid and suddenly find the steering became hard to turn. Even for me I had to rock the steering wheel back and forth just to turn the corner. After I search the website and I found Ford had the same issue with the recall for 2011~2013 model. My car is 2014 model and I think they did not solve the problem and should cover this defect also.”
NHTSA complaint #11386878, filed 2021-01, 75,000 milesOther or unknown: “Rear backup camera is faulty on my 2014 Ford Explorer. It works intermittently or not at all. Sometimes the image on my display is flipped, meaning if I should see grass on the right side of my vehicle while backing up, the image is displaying grass on the left side. There is a recall for newer models of Ford Explorers related to the backup camera, but I believe there is an issue with older models as well.”
NHTSA complaint #11524775, filed 2023-06, 145,215 milesBody and structure: “I was driving on the interstate and both pieces of the windshield trim flew off within 10 minutes of one another. Luckily one was partly detached and I was able to keep it from flying and hitting another vehicle, but the other one flew off. Luckily, it did not hit another vehicle, but easily could have hit a vehicle behind or beside us.”
NHTSA complaint #11113576, filed 2018-07, 105,000 milesEngine: “2014 Explorer continuously leaking coolant near front passenger tire. Dealership refilled coolant and performed a pressure test and was unable to duplicate the problem. One year later, the vehicle is still leaking coolant and I have to keep adding additional coolant. I am concerned this is a water pump failure and cost to repair car would be upward of 8k”
NHTSA complaint #11288134, filed 2019-12, 91,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
36% of the 1,018 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 36,000 and 103,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2014 Ford Explorer. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 17.4% risk |
| Explorer · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 4 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 16.9% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2014 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.
Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating; 2015: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2014 Ford Explorer version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Explorer AWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Explorer FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,900 |
| Explorer FWD | 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Explorer 2WD FFV | 3.5L 6-cyl · flex-fuel | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Explorer AWD FFV | 3.5L 6-cyl · flex-fuel | 6-speed automatic | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 24V031000Jan 19, 2024Structure › Body › Roof and pillarsCovers: Ford Explorer 2011–2019
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.
- 21V537000Jul 15, 2021Suspension › RearCovers: Ford Explorer 2013–2017
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…
- 20V675000Mar 12, 2021Suspension › RearCovers: Ford Explorer 2013–2017
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…
- 20V692000Nov 10, 2020Power train › Axle assembly › Axle shaftCovers: Ford Explorer 2014–2016, Taurus 2014–2015, Edge 2014
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.
- 19V435000Jun 10, 2019Suspension › RearCovers: Ford Explorer 2011–2017
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.
- 16V245000Apr 26, 2016Suspension › RearCovers: Ford Explorer 2014–2015
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.
Recall details for the 2014 Ford Explorer → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE23001Windshield trim molding Item detachmentClosed · Jan 27, 2023
- EA17002Exhaust Odor in Passenger CabClosed · Jul 27, 2017
- PE16008Ford Explorer Exhaust OdorClosed · Jul 1, 2016
- EA15005Front Brake Hose FailureClosed · Sep 28, 2015
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 130 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Other or unknown, Electrical system, Body and structure. Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code…
- 11008948Oct 10, 2024Other or unknown. While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions. While performing a transmission…
- 10254138Apr 24, 2024Equipment. All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should…
- 10235153Apr 4, 2023Body and structure. For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement…
- 10232579Feb 7, 2023Suspension. Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Wheel Knuckle Replacement REASON FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT Program Terms: added 21R01 and 21R02 REASON FOR PROVIDING A NO-COST, ONE-TIME REPAIR: added…
- 10226951Nov 4, 2022Other or unknown, Suspension. Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Toe Link Replacement Under Safety Recall 21S32, some of the affected vehicles exposed to a highly corrosive environment where road salt is used…
- 10214127Jun 10, 2022Seat belts. Certain 2014-2016 Model Year Explorer Vehicles 2nd Row Inflatable Seat Belt - In all of the affected vehicles, the air bag light may illuminate as a result of a worn or damaged connection to the…
- 10212957May 24, 2022Electrical system. Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln phone applications…
- 10222507Mar 31, 2022Wheels. Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Wheel Knuckle Replacement Ref 21S32 Submitting Owner Letter
- 10208271Feb 18, 2022Suspension. This program provides a no-cost, one-time repair (if needed) to the rear wheel knuckles for six (6) months from the Repair Order (RO) opening date for field service actions 21S32 or 21S43 provided…
Other model years of the Ford Explorer
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 42 | 2,600 | 14 | 5 | 24 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2025 | 107 | 3,000 | 20 | 5 | 21 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 21 | 8,832 | 10 | 5 | 21 | — | Too new |
| 2023 | 111 | 17,000 | 15 | 5 | 23 | 19 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 271 | 37,000 | 25 | — | 23 | 39 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 448 | 44,000 | 27 | 5 | 24 | 54 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 1,244 | 23,750 | 34 | 5 | 24 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2019 | 300 | 54,000 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 2 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 734 | 50,000 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 42 · Typical | Rising |
| 2017 | 1,704 | 50,000 | 13 | 5 | 20 | 86 · More | Rising |
| 2016 | 2,463 | 48,850 | 14 | 5 | 20 | 100 · More | Rising |
| 2015 | 1,812 | 57,000 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 91 · More | Rising |
| 2014 | 1,684 | 66,000 | 6 | 5 | 20 | 71 · More | Rising |
| 2013 | 2,237 | 76,439 | 11 | 5 | 20 | 73 · More | Rising |
| 2012 | 830 | 70,000 | 5 | 4 | 23 | 46 · Typical | Rising |
| 2011 | 1,197 | 70,000 | 6 | — | 20 | 76 · More | Rising |
| 2010 | 115 | 40,707 | 1 | — | 17 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 33 | 77,000 | 0 | — | 17 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2008 | 148 | 77,000 | 1 | — | 16 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2007 | 208 | 67,250 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 630 | 55,000 | 1 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 497 | 70,000 | 0 | — | 15 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,304 | 65,000 | 0 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 1,131 | 73,000 | 2 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 3,295 | 79,000 | 4 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 375 | 90,000 | 6 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 952 | 77,419 | 9 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 1,348 | 82,193 | 9 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 1,959 | 100,000 | 9 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1997 | 1,731 | 99,500 | 7 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 1,450 | 120,208 | 6 | — | 16 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1995 | 843 | 121,585 | 5 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 1,207 | 99,041 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1993 | 939 | 117,494 | 6 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1992 | 633 | 108,065 | 4 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 609 | 121,902 | 8 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1990 | 12 | 58,410 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Explorer model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Explorer?
Owners of the 2014 Explorer most often report losing power steering assist, usually with a warning message and a steering wheel that becomes very hard to turn or briefly seizes, and many complaints describe a rack-and-pinion replacement as the fix. The issues reported most often: Loss of power steering assist / seized steering; Windshield A-pillar trim detaching.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Ford Explorer have?
NHTSA recorded 1,684 consumer complaints for the 2014 Ford Explorer as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2014 Ford Explorer is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 500 complaints (30% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 343.
Has the 2014 Ford Explorer been recalled?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2014 Ford Explorer do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2014 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2014 Ford Explorer get?
The EPA rates the 2014 Ford Explorer (Explorer FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 20 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Ford Explorer reported?
Among the 1,018 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,000 miles and the middle half falls between 36,000 and 103,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.