Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 25 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
This vehicle has gone through 5 headlight bulbs in the last year. 3 were on the driver side. 2 on the passenger side. Bulbs will last only 3 to 6 months. No damage seen to either headlight assembly and not electrical short can be found. Date listed is last replacement for driver side
Cabin light does not turn off, it could drain car battery, thereby causing a loss of power and a accident... did not notice this untill car was brought to Dealership,Beiner.They pointed out.Want alot to fix.
Electric Power Steering locked up. Almost killed me my fiance. And my 2 kids.
The headlights in my Ford Explorer 2014 are extremely dim. The road is poorly lit in front and cannot see anything on the sides. This has been a problem since I purchased the vehicle. I just missed hitting a pedestrian on the side of the road. I was in a residential area and only going 20 mph. It is extremely dangerous and a large safety concern.
REAR EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS ARE CONTINUING TO GET WATER INSIDE. THERE IS CONDENSATION ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE REAR EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS.
I HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR IN OPERATION THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT. UPON GOING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM OF CONSUMERS NOT BEING TO SEE SAFELY WHEN THE LAMPS ARE ON IN THE EVENING. THE FORD DEALERS SAY THAT THE CAR MEETS FORD SPECS AND THE FORD CO CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT CONFIRMS THAT THEY HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND THAT FORD HAS NO FIX. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE AND A FIX AND RECALL IS ESSENTIAL. *JS
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
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE 2014 FORD EXPLORER DO NOT ALUMINATE THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. EVEN WITH THE FOG LIGHTS NOT, YOU CAN BARELY SEE OVER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN CONCERNING ME FOR AWHILE, SO I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED. EVERYTHING IS IN PERFECT CONDITION. ITS THE CAR / DESIGN. I HAVE ALSO SEE OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH THIS COMPLAINT ONLINE AS WELL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN THE DARK.
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.
THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND WARNING STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY SHUT. THIS MAKES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHICH CAUSES A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT ALSO PREVENTS YOU FROM LOCKING THE DOORS WHEN INSIDE AND BECAUSE THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD VEHICLES AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.
HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE HEAD LIGHT PIG TAIL AS IT MELTED TO THE BULB
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE TERRIBLE. THEY BARELY ILLUMINATE THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I FIND IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. ON CITY STREETS AT NIGHT THE PROBLEM ISN'T AS APPARENT, BUT WHEN I'M TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY OTHER ROAD WITHOUT STREET LIGHTING, IF I'M APPROACHED BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE IT'S AS IF I DON'T EVEN HAVE MY HEADLIGHTS ON. SIDE LIGHTING IS ALSO AN ISSUE WHEN TURNING AT NIGHT AS ITS NEARLY BLIND. IT'S A VEHICLE I REALLY ENJOY, BUT I'M CONSIDERING SELLING BECAUSE I FIND IT COMPLETELY UNSAFE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. *TR
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
I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MY OWN VEHICLE BUT OTHERS. IN THE LAST YEAR, IT SEEMS THAT 99% OF CARS I SEE WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON ARE NEWER MODEL FORDS, ALL PRODUCTS. IT USED TO BE SOMETHING SEEN ONCE A WEEK OR SO BUT NOW I SEE THIS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT NOW BECAUSE I JUST SAW A 2014 FORD EXPLORER POLICE CAR WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS SO PREVALENT THAT IT POINTS TO SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS AND CONSISTENT THAN DRIVER IGNORANCE AND MORE TO POOR DESIGN OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH OR HEADLIGHT PROGRAMMING ISSUES.
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. IN OCTOBER 2015, I WAS TURNING RIGHT ON TO A BUSY STATE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD THROUGH THE TURN, I COULD NOT SEE WHERE MY LANE WAS, OVERESTIMATED THE DISTANCE AND THEN REALIZED AS I STRAIGHTENED THE VEHICLE THAT I WAS IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 60 MPH FROM A DISTANCE OF ABOUT 1/4 MILE! IF I HAD NOT QUICKLY MOVED INTO THE CORRECT LANE, MANY PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. THIS INCIDENT PROMPTED ME TO REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE AND TO FORMALLY REPORT THE PROBLEM HERE AND TO THE FORD CO. AFTER THIS INCIDENT,I TOOK MY EXPLORER TO MY FORD DEALER WHO CHECKED THE HEADLIGHTS AND TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS AN "ENGINEERING/DESIGN FLAW" THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT FIX. I THEN FILED A SAFETY COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD CO. A REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME WITHIN 48 HRS. SHE EXPLAINED THAT SHE HAD TALKED TO MY FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS A HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION PROBLEM. SHE ALSO STATED THAT AS OF THIS TIME, FORD CONSIDERS THE HEADLIGHTS TO BE WORKING WITHIN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. SHE STATED THAT I NEEDED TO FILE A COMPLAINT HERE AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS A PROBLEM UNTIL ENOUGH PEOPLE FILE COMPLAINTS THROUGH YOUR AGENCY AND THE FORD CO.. I AM FEARFUL THAT I WILL INJURE OR KILL SOMEONE BEFORE THIS IS REMEDIED.
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. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT AND KILLS THEMSELVES.
CPSC:I1540378A. 2014 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ARE UNSAFE TO OPERATE AT NIGHT. *LN
THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. WITH LOW BEAMS ON THE DISTANCE THE ROAD IS ILLUMINATED VARIES DRASTICALLY, AT TIMES THE ILLUMINATION IS ONLY A FEW FEET WITH NOT SIDE ILLUMINATION AT ALL. EVEN IN THE BEST OF CONDITIONS THE ILLUMINATION IS INSUFFICIENT TO MAKE DRIVING AT NIGHT SAFE. ALSO THERE IS A DISTRACTING DARK CURTAIN MOVING UP AND DOWN THE WINDSHIELD AS YOU GO UP AND DOWN HILLS. TRAVELING HILLY ROADS IS WHERE THE CONDITION IS AT ITS WORST. THIS PHENOMENA HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY THE FORD DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM, BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO SOLUTION THE THE ISSUE. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, TOO DANGEROUS. *TR
HEADLIGHTS DON'T ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH IN FRONT OF VEHICLE AND AIM DOWN INTO THE ROAD. WHEN MAKING A TURN THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT REFLECT TO THE EDGES OF THE ROAD LIMITING YOUR VISION. WE HAVE TO STOP WHEN MAKING A TURN TO POINT THE HEADLIGHTS IN THE DIRECTION WE WANT TO GO BECAUSE THERE IS NO SIDE VISION. THESE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WITH AT NIGHT. IT'S LIKE DRIVING WITH TWO FLASHLIGHTS FOR HEADLIGHTS! THIS HAS LIMITED OUR DRIVING AT NIGHT. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS AND SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS! WILL YOU PLEASE CONTACT ME AND LET ME KNOW HOW FORD PLANS TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS EXPLORER WERE DESIGNED SO THAT IF YOU ARE ON A DARK ROAD YOU CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 3 FEET IN FRONT OF YOU AND NOTHING ON THE SIDES. IT'S LIKE DRIVING IN THE DARK. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND SCARY, ESPECIALLY SINCE I LIVE IN COLORADO. I LEFT WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I WENT ON LINE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. *TR
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. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY RESPONDED THEY WOULD MAKE NOTE OF THIS ISSUE AND WOULD USE IT TO ENHANCE NEXT YEARS MODEL. I RESPONDED THAT THEY NEED TO FIX THIS YEARS MODEL. THE HEADLIGHTS THIS YEAR (2014) ARE NEW. THEY USE A PROJECTOR SYSTEM WHICH IS NOT WORKING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED TO CONVERT THE NEW LIGHTS BACK TO THE OLD STYLE LIGHTS. *TR
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN THE SHOP FOR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS ABOUT A THIRD FULL OF WATER. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS ROTATED IN VARIOUS DIRECTIONS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND WHERE THE WATER HAD ENTERED THE LIGHT. WHAT WE FOUND WAS A POORLY WELDED PLASTIC SEAM AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WE APPROACHED FORD WITH THE ISSUE AND WERE INFORMED THAT BECAUSE EMERGENCY LIGHTING HAD BEEN ADDED, THEY WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE LIGHT EVEN THOUGH THE EMERGENCY LIGHT WAS NOT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. THIS VEHICLE IS OPERATED BY A POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE HAVE HAD ANOTHER FAILURE (UPPER SEAM LEAK) ON ANOTHER POLICE UNIT,SAME YEAR, THAT RESULTED IN THE LOSE OF FUNCTION OF THE LEFT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE LED LIGHTING MODULE SHORTING OUT AFTER THE LIGHT HAD FILLED HALFWAY WITH WATER. WE FEEL THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE DUE THE POTENTIAL FOR REDUCED VISIBLE STOPLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS ON THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
HEAD LIGHTS ARE NOT FOCUSING CORRECTLY. WHEN U GO AROUND CURVE, LIGHTS SHOW AHEAD HALF WAY, BUT IT IS PURE BLACK AROUND CURVE. WE LIVE IN THE MTS. WITH LOTS OF HILLS AND MTS. IT IS SCARY!! YOU COULD KILL A CHILD OR ANIMAL WITHOUT SEEING THEM IN THE PITCH BLACK. ALSO, U CANNOT SEE SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF ROAD UNLESS U PUT YOUR BRIGHT LIGHTS ON, WHICH REALLY TEES OFF CAR IN FRONT. WE JUST BOUGHT THE FORD EXPLORER IN DEC.. HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERS,. THE ONE WE BOUGHT IT FROM DID RAISE THE LIGHTS, BUT SAID NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE. I BELIEVE BEFORE FORD WILL HAVE A RECALL, SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED! PRAYING IT WON'T BE US. PLEASE HELP US FIND SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP. ENGINEERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS SCARY PROBLEM! THANKS! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHEN DRIVING ON RURAL UNLIT ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS AT TIMES LIGHT UP LESS THAN 3 VEHICLE LENGTHS AND OR BLIND ONCOMING DRIVERS WHEN USING LOW BEAMS. THE ISSUE APPEARS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECENT HEADLIGHT DESIGN WHICH USES A "PROJECTOR STYLE" LENS INCORPORATING A "HIGH BEAM" BULB AND A SHUTTER TO CREATE THE LOW BEAM BY CUTTING OFF THE TOP PORTION OF THE BEAM. THERE IS "NO" LIGHT ABOVE THE CUT-OFF LINE SO WHEN DRIVING DOWN AN UNDULATION AND/ OR DURING BRAKING, THE LIGHT BEAM AIMS DOWN RELATIVE TO THE ROAD. WHEN GOING UP AN UNDULATION, THE BEAM CUT-OFF MOVES UP AND SHINES THE UNCUT-OFF BEAM INTO THE EYES OF ONCOMING DRIVERS. ADDITIONALLY, THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE NO LIGHT ONTO THE SHOULDER ABOVE HEADLIGHT HEIGHT SO ROADSIDE TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNS AND PEDESTRIANS ARE NOT ILLUMINATED. SITUATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY DEALERSHIP SALESMAN AND TECHNICIAN WHO EXPRESSED DISBELIEF. DEALERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND MANUFACTURER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER HAVE ADVISED CONDITION IS "NORMAL AND ACCEPTABLE" EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE NOT OBSERVED THE CONDITION AND HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. NO SERVICE ACTIONS ARE TO BE PERFORMED PER THE TECHNICAL HOTLINE. OTHER CONDITIONS PRESENTED BY THIS DESIGN ARE ALSO PRESENT CREATING ADDITIONAL LESSER ISSUES. CONDITION IS ONGOING SINCE FIRST BEING OBSERVED ON FIRST NIGHT DRIVE. *TR
PURCHASED 2014 FORD EXPLORER JULY 20, 2014 - JULY 26,2014 - I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM DRIVE THRU PHARMACY AND MY DASH LIGHTS WENT BLACK. TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO SERVICE THE NEXT MORNING - THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK 6 MORE TIMES. ONCE AGAIN FOR LOOSING ALL DASH LIGHTS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD - SINCE THEN, MY LIGHTING IN MY VEHICLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP AS IT USE TO. SOMETIMES MY DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHEN OPENING THE DRIVER DOOR, SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT - SOMETIMES MY LCD SCREEN WILL LIGHT UP, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ONCE, BUT I FEEL THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE. IT ALL MY DASH LIGHTS LIT UP FOR THE FIRST 6 DAYS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, WHY WOULD THEY NOT ALL LIGHT UP NOW AFTER THE INCIDENT OF LOSING THE DASH LIGHTS??? I HAVE ASKED FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE - AS AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN ATTORNEY I HAVE A LEMON LAW CLAIM, A SAFETY CLAIM, AND A WARRANTY CLAIM. IF MY VEHICLE DOES NOT GET REPLACED OR SOME MONEY BACK FROM FORD - AS I HAVE DROVE MY CAR FOR 13 FULL DAYS OUT OF A MONTH - I WILL BE TAKING THIS TO COURT AS I CAN ONLY SEE FURTHER ISSUES DOWN THE ROAD. *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
Data on this page last refreshed .