Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 28 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 28, in the owner's own words
ABS MODULE failure. Dealer states this I s a known problem. 581 on backorder with Ford with no ETA of new stock. No sense of urgency to resolve known problem. Online sources state heavy wire harness breaks solar joint at positive and negative contacts in module.
When starting my vehicle the parking brake alarm is going off stating that my parking brake is engaged which it is not once I drive about a mile or 2 the alarm goes off but everytime I restart my vehicle he resets the process.
ABS module. Indicater lights on ,tracktion control not on, warning lights to check brakes ABS systems. Ford cannot get parts to repair. Ford dealer cannot repair Leaving no brake assistance
ABS module is bad with trouble code U3000-49 ABS MODULE internal problem. ABS system is disabled and also Traction Control Function is disabled. ABS module is on Nationwide back order. This is a safety concern as the ABS system is not functioning
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with electronic ABS module failure. The contact was informed that the electronic ABS module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts needed to complete the repair were on backorder and the contact was #90 on the waiting list. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,200.
The traction control sensor will come on out of nowhere making a loud noise and causing the vehicle to jerk to a stop. Yes it is available for inspection and has already been taken to a dealership. My safety is out at risk because the vehicle almost jerks to a stop when the traction control kicks in when not needed. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a Ford dealer. The component has been inspected and reset according to the work report from the dealership. There were no other warning lamps, messages or symptoms before this issue began. According to the dealership my vehicle was taken to they said they have seen this issue on several other vehicles and usually is fixed with the process they performed on my vehicle for $545.09. And if that didn’t fix it that I would have to spend approx $2,500 to get the ABS module replaced. This issue a a safety concern and I don’t feel like I should be liable to pay for these repairs especially when the dealership has said that they have seen this issue before on other vehicles. I feel this repair should be covered under a safety recall and that ford should reimburse me for the original repairs that did not fix the issue. They stated that they test drove my vehicle before and after the repairs but how is that when the mileage in and out of the shop on their repair order is the same mileage…???
The vehicle was placed in park with the engine running. No one was in the vehicle when, on it's own, it came out of park and rolled down our driveway, coming to a stop after hitting a tree. A person or cat could have easily been on the driveway and run and killed. It subsequently cost $10751.42 to repair the damage to the rear tailgate. No previous issues had been noted prior to this incident. This occurred in July 2001 and was submitted to our insurance company where we paid a$1000 deductible and caused our rates to go up. We have contacted Ford without any success.
I have several issues that I have had with the ford explore. This is my second ford explore. The passenger air was not assemble correctly and now is coming apart. The seat belt on the driver sit gets stuck. The car door panels have come undone which is not typical with any other vehicle expect explore. The brakes on the car are difficult to use to the suspension issue. When I have taken my car to the dealer they have not been helpful. They won’t provide a temporary vehicle while my car is getting fix and that not acceptable. I need someone to help me with these issues at no cost. This is my second explore and I love my car but I hate that it has issues that were not fix from the moment the car was sold.
Vehicle Electronic Power Steering stopped working. Power Steering Fault & Service Advanced Trac message. Also saw a day later another message that would come up with the Service Advanced Trac. It would be to Check Brake System. While researching I found that Ford had a recall for the Power Steering & Service Advance Trac for the 2011 - 2013 model years. On the NHTSA there have been quite a few people complaining about the 2014 model for Power Steering & Service Advance Trac. I didn't get a picture of the Power Steering fault, but I did get a picture of the Service AdvanceTrac with the Check Brake message. Putting it in with this as well.
At one point the Explorer was always causing a rear wheel area to squeal really loud while driving. That finally got remedied but after 3 years of taking the vehicle in to 2 different shops. While yhe vehicle was still under warranty I was told there was nothing wrong and they can't reproduce the squeal. Once the warranty expired they said it was due to a seized brake which I ended up paying for the replacement even though they said this was a known issue on the Explorers. Another issue with the 2014 Explorer is water leaking into the rear compartments and the spare tire area in the vehicle. From online sear he's, this is also a known issue with no recalls. More recently, I was trying to get all four of my tires changed, but was told by the tire shop that they can't change my tires due to swollen lug nuts,this is a known issue on Ford's and I have to take it to a mechanic. I called Ted Britt Ford and inquired about the service to replace the lugs with solid metal lug nuts instead of the OEM chrome plated. Parts department told me they are $10 a piece. I went ahead an ordered them through the parts department. When I picked up my vehicle, I was told they don't sell the solid metal lug nuts and only replaced with the chrome plated OEM lug nuts.
THE INTERMEDIATE SHIFT BRACKET SHEARED OFF/BROKE AT THE TRANSITION WHERE IT MOUNTS TO ENGINE. VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE BRAKING AT HIGHER SPEEDS... LESSER MOVEMENT AT SLOWER SPEEDS WHILE BRAKING. I HAD JUST REPLACED MY BRAKES AND DONE THEM SEVERAL TIME WITH ROTORS TRYING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THINKING IT WAS SOMETHING I HAD DONE. FINALLY FOUND IT WHEN GREASING FRONT CALIPERS HOPING TO CURE THE PROBLEM YET AGAIN.
CITY OF SOLEDAD CALIFORNIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR UTILITY BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR LOSS BRAKE FLUID DURING PATROL NO ONE GOT HURT FOUND PASSENGER SIDE HOSE RIP SUDDENLY. TOW IN TO CITY SHOP INSPECT BRAKE LINES FOUND ALSO DRIVER SIDE SWOLLEN NEAR CRIMP READY TO EXPLODE HAVE TO PYSICALY REMOVAL COVER FORD USES TO SEE DEFECT.FOUND ADDITIONAL POLICE FLEET HAD SAME PROBLEM DURING THERE TRAINING. POOR DESIGN OF THE HOSE CAUSE BRAKE HOSE TO RIP
WHEN DRIVING THE 2014 EXPLORER, COKING OVER A HILL AND BEGAN BRAKING. CAR LOST BRAKING CAPABILITY AND BEGAN TO SPEED DOWN THE HILL, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. ONE MIDDLE OCCUPANT ON 2ND ROW CAME UNBUCKLED AND DIDN'T SURVIVE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING TRIAL FOR 3 YEARS AND RECENTLY INFORMED THAT NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE EDR/CDR. NO POST VEHICLE INSPECTION HAS BEEN PERFORMED, NO MEDICAL REPORTS HAVE BEEN PULLED. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY FOR 3 YEARS INQUIRED FOR HELP ON THIS MATTER AND HAVE FORWARDED QUESTIONS REGARDING INFORMATION OBTAINED. I KNOW WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT I AM NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ACCIDENT AND HAVE WORKED FOR 3 YEARS TRYING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I WAS COMING DOWN THE HILL THE CAR SEEM TO BE INCREASED IN SPEED - THE REPORT DOES SHOW THAT FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE ENTIRE REPORT AND NO GAS WAS APPLIED. I TURNED AS FAR AS I COULD WITH THE WHEEL AND THE STEERING BARELY STEERED AS WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO SAVE A LIFE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE AS THIS HAS CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER. THE OCCUPANT ON THE 2ND ROW PASSED AWAY THAT DAY FROM SEAT BELT COMING UNATTACHED. MEDICAL REPORTS SHOW HE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT. IF THERE WAS SOMEONE WILLING TO LOOK INTO THIS - WOULD BE A LIFE CHANGING SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE WHEELS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAN FORD LINCOLN (193 S. DUPONT HWY, NEW CASTLE, DE) WHERE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AFTER IT SHOOK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE CALIPERS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE SQUEALING NOISE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
NOISES COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PERIODICALLY GOES OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK OFF AND ON, ALRMS GO OFF WITH MESSAGES THAT STATE THERE IS A FAILURE OF TERRAIN, MANAGEMENT, ABS SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING, THEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IMMEDIATELY , DASH IS BLACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS , IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE. SOMEONE CAN WRECK AND DIE WITH THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE DRIVER, A POLICE OFFICER, WAS TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE CALIPER HAD FRACTURED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE FACILITY WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE HOSE CONNECTED TO THE CALIPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: CA3-15196031R3N7Z5. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,429.
40,000 MILES INTO A NEW CAR, REAR BRAKES ARE COMPLETELY WORN DOWN. THE PASSENGER SIDE NEEDED A NEW TEMPERATURE DOOR ACTUATOR TO ALLOW THE CLIMATE CONTROL TO WORK PROPERLY.
VEHICLE REAR BRAKE PADS RELEASED FROM CALIPER, RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLABLE BREAKING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ALSO USELESS BEING THE BRAKE PADS WERE NOT IN PLACE. FORD RECOGNIZES THIS ISSUE UNDER; TSB # ASI-44564 NHTSA ID #10056207. BRAKES (PWS) TSB #ASI-44564NHTSA ID #10056207 DATE ANNOUNCED: MAY 01 2014 ADDITIONAL INFO: HOW TO FIX SUMMARY: FORD/LINCOLN: DUE TO CORROSION BUILDUP BETWEEN BRAKE PAD AND ANCHOR BRACKET, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE A REAR BRAKE DRAG CONDITION AND NEED TO BE CHECKED FOR DEBRIS AND/OR CORROSION. MODEL 2011-2014 EXPLORER, FLEX, TAURUS, EDGE, MKX, MKT, MKS. WITH BRAKE HARDWARE KNOWINGLY FAILING, THIS IS CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE CONCERN. IN THIS INSTANCE THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 13,000 MILES, MUCH UNDER THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ANY PASSENGER VEHICLE'S BRAKING COMPONENTS. IF PARTS ARE CORRODING TO THE POINT WHERE BRAKE PADS FALL OUT (DEALERSHIP STATES THE BRAKE CLIPS THEMSELVES CORRODED), FORD SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR ALL EXPENSES TO DATE, AND REPLACE ALL VECHILES WITH THESE FAULTY PARTS UNDER A RECALL BEFORE TRAGEDY HAPPENS DUE TO IGNORANCE. BRAKING SYSTEMS IN VEHICLES SHOULD BE FIRST PRIORITY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO SQUEAK AND THEN LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, BUT NO CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FRANK FLETCHER FORD LINCOLN (3015 TURKEY CREEK RD, JOPLIN MO 64801, PHONE NUMBER: (417) 623-5660) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED DUE TO THE CONTACT HITTING SOMETHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CONTINUES TO STICK, AFTER HAVING IT REMEDIED AND REPLACED ONCE ALREADY (2016). THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED LAST YEAR AS WELL (2016), AND THEY CONTINUE TO SQUEAK ALMOST CONSISTENTLY. IT'S IN AGAIN FOR SERVICE TODAY (8/2/17) AND THE DEALER SAID THEY CONTINUE TO SEE ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES STICKING ON 2014 FORD EXPLORERS. THE BRAKES SQUEAKING HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE JANUARY 2015.
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SAFETY ISSUES. ELECTRICAL- AUDIO OUTPUT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY, POWER OUTLETS SHORT OUT, INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILS (WHILE MOVING AND IN PARK) EXHAUST- FUMES COMING INSIDE VEHICLE (IN MOTION AND PARK) BRAKES- HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE SYSTEM REPLACED AFTER COMPLETE FAILURE OF ABS SYSTEM (HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IN MOTION, ONCE ON EXPRESSWAY, ALL REPORTED TO FORD CORPORATE) WHEELS - LUG NUTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES FOR MOISTURE COLLECTING INSIDE THE LUG NUTS AND CAUSING CORROSION SEAT BELTS - HOUSING CASE OF SAFETY BELTS POP OFF IDLE - WHEN IDLING WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED AND A DOOR OPENED AND CLOSED THE IDLE SKIPS AND MAKES NOISE WASHER FLUID SENSOR - FAILED AT 70, 000 MILES AC SYSTEM DRAINS POWER HORRIBLY VEHICLE WAS LEASED JANUARY 2014 PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN CONSISTEN SINCE THAT DATE, ALL RECORDS ARE IN FORD'S SYSTEM.
COMING OUT OF A CAR WASH AT IDLE SPEED AND MOVING INTO THE VACUUM AREA THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED RESPONDING, I AM A NOTORIOUS BRAKE RIDER, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING AND ACTUALLY HIT THE VACUUM, ROLLED ON OVER A HILL AND DOWN INTO AN ADJACENT PARKING LOT WHERE THE BRAKES FINALLY TOOK HOLD. AS THE EXPLORER WENT OVER THE HILL I KEPT POUNDING THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. THE CAR ROLLED DOWN THE PARKING AREA AND THEN IT STOPPED. DAMAGE WAS TO THE RIGHT CORNER OF THE VEHICLE AND A VACUUM LAYING ON ITS SIDE. ACCORDING TO THE STATION ATTENDANT THIS WAS NOT AN UNUSUAL EVENT.
THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE A PARKING BRAKE THAT MAY NOT FULLY ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. AS SUCH, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NUMBER 135, "LIGHT VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." CONSEQUENCE: IF THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS LEFT IN A GEAR OTHER THAN 'PARK' WHILE ON A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE MAY ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN LORAIN OHIO. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2014 FORD EXPLORER (LIMITED). RECENTLY, MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AND AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON MY PART I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE LED. I WENT TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THE PREMIUM MAINTENANCE PACKAGE FOR MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED IN THE VEHICLE MANUAL AND IT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE LED AND EXPECTED TO LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. MY EXPLORER IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 45K MILES. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT I DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THIS IS EXPECTED TO LAST AND FAILED SO EARLY. I ALSO NOTED AS DID THE DEALER THAT THERE IS MOISTURE AND SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LIGHT INSIDE. THIS PROBABLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE LIGHT FAILING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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