2014 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 25about this part
- Share
- 1%of 1,684 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 3,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 25 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2014 Ford Explorer, 1% of the 1,684 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“There's moisture buildup in the rear taillight asembly that burned out the LED lights. The whole taillight asembly needs to be replaced. The cost at the local Ford dealership is $525.00. I have since been picked up by law enforcement that's driving a Ford Explorer. I told him I was aware of the taillight. I proceeded to tell him that it was going to cost $525.00 to fix it. I feel that this problem should be a recall. Nothing on the asembly is broken”
NHTSA complaint #11205906, filed 2019-05, 73,000 miles“The door ajar light will stay on whether I am stationary or driving. I have had to open and shut the door 5 to 7 times sometimes to get it to shut off. No matter how soft or hard I shut the door it won't shut off. If I don't shut it off the interior light will stay on.”
NHTSA complaint #11044706, filed 2017-11, 74,000 miles“The first time I took my new vehicle out at night I struggled seeing the road even with the fog lights on. When you look out over the hood there is a black line at hood height and the light appears above the black line. So there is not much light hitting the road. When making a turn the headlights do not follow the road on the turn as they appear off in the distance and not down on the road. You virtually cannot see in rural areas when making a turn. Even high beams do not illuminate the road very well. …”
NHTSA complaint #10744522, filed 2015-07, 15 miles“The headlights on the 2014 Ford Explorer do not illuminate the road when turning, esp to the right. The driver turns into darkness. Therefore if you are turning right at night, the driver can not determine if a pedestrian is in a crosswalk or if the lane he/she is turning into is obstructed or compromised in any way. This has been a problem with this vehicle since I got it but I was able to limit my night time driving until recently. Now I have come to realize how dangerous the inability to see into the turns you are making is. …”
NHTSA complaint #10790418, filed 2015-11, 420 miles“The headlights on my 2014 Ford Explorer sport do not safely light up the road at night on a road with no street lights. The low beams project a black line from left to right approximately 6 inches above the dashboard. There is also no light on either side of the vehicle when making a right or left turn. Last week I almost ran into a ditch because I did not have enough light to see the road. I spoke to my Ford dealer and they responded they know of the problem but Ford has not sent out a maintenance bulletin or a recall. …”
NHTSA complaint #10660083, filed 2014-11, 1,800 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10058110Sep 19, 2014Ford/lincoln: the ambient lighting on lincoln (mylincoln touch) vehicles will default to white and on ford (myford touch) vehicles will default to ice blue after the ignition…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 5% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 8 | 2% |
| 2020 | 56 | 4% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 12 | 1% |
| 2016 | 6 | 0% |
| 2015 | 17 | 1% |
| 2014 | 25 | 1% |
| 2013 | 25 | 1% |
| 2012 | 6 | 1% |
| 2011 | 6 | 1% |
| 2010 | 2 | 2% |
| 2008 | 12 | 8% |
| 2007 | 3 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 0% |
| 2005 | 5 | 1% |
| 2004 | 7 | 1% |
| 2003 | 6 | 1% |
| 2002 | 19 | 1% |
| 2001 | 9 | 2% |
| 2000 | 26 | 3% |
| 1999 | 46 | 3% |
| 1998 | 38 | 2% |
| 1997 | 20 | 1% |
| 1996 | 15 | 1% |
| 1995 | 16 | 2% |
| 1994 | 9 | 1% |
| 1993 | 7 | 1% |
| 1992 | 3 | 0% |
| 1991 | 6 | 1% |
Other parts of the 2014 Ford Explorer
500 complaintsOther or unknown
343 complaintsBody and structure
276 complaintsEngine
198 complaintsSuspension
103 complaintsElectrical system
100 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
80 complaintsFuel system
72 complaintsEngine cooling
67 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
53 complaintsAir bags
47 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
29 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2014 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology