2014 Ford Explorer problems & reliability
1,672 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 Ford Explorer, alongside 6 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
29 complaints report injuries (38 injured, 2 deaths reported).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2014 Ford Explorer vehicles were involved in 86 fatal crashes with 35 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering → | 496 | 30% |
| Unknown OR Other | 334 | 20% |
| Structure → | 274 | 16% |
| Engine → | 196 | 12% |
| Suspension → | 102 | 6% |
| Electrical System → | 100 | 6% |
| Power Train → | 79 | 5% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 67 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion System → | 62 | 4% |
| Air Bags → | 47 | 3% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 70,000 miles (middle 50% between 40,000 and 106,000 miles), based on 961 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“This complaint concerns a failed federal safety recall repair that has resulted in structural damage and rendered my vehicle unsafe to drive. I am the original owner of this vehicle (since XXX). On XXX, Riverside Ford ([XXX]) performed a federal safety recall repair on my vehicle's A-pillars. On January 28, 2026, the…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Jul 14, 2026
“Sudden and complete loss of power steering assist while vehicle was in operation. Vehicle became extremely difficult to steer, creating safety hazard for driver and child passenger. Inspection revealed 150A EPAS Mega Fuse, Part #L0114875AA, was melted due to electrical short in Power Steering Control Module. This is…”
Steering · filed Jul 10, 2026
“The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received the notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact stated that the driver’s side exterior trim was loose. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the part was on back order. The vehicle…”
Structure · filed Jun 25, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- Windshield trim molding Item detachment
Preliminary Evaluation PE23001 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Feb 8, 2024 · led to recall 24V031
- Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab
Engineering Analysis EA17002 · opened Jul 27, 2017 · closed Jan 17, 2023
- Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor
Preliminary Evaluation PE16008 · opened Jul 1, 2016 · closed Sep 12, 2017
- Front Brake Hose Failure
Engineering Analysis EA15005 · opened Sep 28, 2015 · closed Nov 2, 2018
Technical service bulletins
130 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2014 Ford Explorer. The 10 most recent:
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. Unlike the integrated…
SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 24, 2026
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 repair on some 2012-2024…
SSM 53040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 10, 2024
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 be handed to the…
SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 24, 2024
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 module using a vehicle…
SSM 51536 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2023
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 21R01 and 21R02 OWNER…
22N01 S1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2023
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 extensively during…
21R01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 4, 2022
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 rear inflatable seat…
21B11-S2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 10, 2022
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 as an alternate…
SSM 50804 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 24, 2022
Certain 2011-2017 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Wheel Knuckle Replacement Ref 21S32 Submitting Owner Letter
22N01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 31, 2022
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 that the RO opening…
22N01 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 18, 2022
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2014 Ford Explorer has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2014 Ford Explorer?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 70,000 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.