Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 32 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 32, in the owner's own words
EXTERIOR A-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM CLIP ATTACHMENTS ARE NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OR REPAIR. REAER TOE LINK REAR TIRES TILTED INWARD due to potential fractures from corrosion or broken welds on TOE LINK.
All my dash lights turn off u can drive it but all my dash light is off the abs light its on
Swollen lug nuts FORD OEM
Vehicle has code C0063-64ABS. Also has a problem with the restraint control module and ABS module causing the front tires to lock and make the car slide. I was about to get into a car crash on Oct 24,2024 because the cars front tires locked and just slide from one side to other the steering wheel went loose and I wasn't able to control the car I took it to ford dealership where they told me that it has the code that appears at the beginning of this message
Hi my name is [XXX] and Im an owner of a 2014 Ford Explorer sport my vehicle is at the service department for almost 2 months already before i took the vehicle into the dealership to get fix i was going to have a car crash thanks to the front tires of the car. Both front tires locked and the car slide really bad that day the steering wheel went loose and i wasnt able to control the vehicle. I took it to the service department at a ford dealership where I was told that the ABS was falling the computer module was not working and the traction control has an issue too INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle has been experiencing the "death wobble". I've done research online and I've seen other people complain about the issue as well as videos. Whenever I drive my vehicle, I hear noises coming from the front end such as scraping and my steering wheel wobbles and it's excessive while on the freeway. I've gotten the wheel bearings replaced, tires rotated, replaced front passenger tire, breaks and rotors replaced. My axel and car were lifted in the air with no damages.
Steering fault warning message came up service now and stability control lights engaged both on and off, I lost control of my steering and it completely tightened up as I was driving. I was driving 60 miles per hour when this happened. Depending on the severity of the failure, I was completely at risk with colliding with anything on the road. I brought it straight to the dealership where it has been sitting for a week since they are not able to drive it into the garage because the steering is locked up and the wheel will not move even though it will start and engage in drive. They need to actually tow it into the garage to complete diagnostics, I expect from other reports this is an expensive fix, but the risk to my life and others on the road is worth reporting. Ford needs to include this steering fault on the 2014 explorers in a recall. There were no issues with the steering prior to this happening. Ford knows about this issue, how many complaints and near misses is it going to take to fix this problem?
My steering is making a scretching noise when I try to turn it either way. With it being hard to turn I'm afraid for my safety with driving it and I dont have another vehicle to drive. Yes, I have a quote from a repair shop that my steering rack is going out I didn't notice a warning light as of yet.- this happened about a week ago I have found several complaints about the 2014 Ford Explorer Steering issues so I feel for safety purposes that this should have a recall.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle to the dealer for service, he was made aware that the lug nuts were deformed and were unable to be removed without permanently damaging the lug nuts. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was idle, the contact noticed smoke coming out from underneath the passenger's side of the hood. The contact stated upon exiting and inspecting the vehicle, she noticed burning plastic falling from underneath the passenger's side of the vehicle onto the ground, and there was fire. The contact poured water underneath the vehicle and opened the hood and poured water at the fire location. The contact was able to extinguish the fire. There were no injuries sustained. No police report or fire department report was filed. The contact added water to the coolant reservoir and drove to the residence. The vehicle was taken to two independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed that the A/C fan had caught on fire due to a stuck clutch bearing. The mechanics informed the contact that the radiator was damaged and was leaking due to the fire. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
N/A
My 2014 Explorer has developed corrosion on all 4 aluminum wheels causing air loss along the tire bead while driving. Underinflated tires generate heat, tire distortion and catastrophic failure. I had one wheel "repaired" at Tom's Ford in February 2023 at a cost of 187.95. Please see attached and note Ford themselves refer to the rim as rusted. Aluminum wheels should not rust nor corrode. It is my position Ford used dissimilar metals for coating the wheels to enhance appearance and in the process has created a dangerous situation of leaking tires.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH during a rainstorm, the vehicle began to sway left to right independently; the contact decelerated to maintain control of the vehicle. The traction control warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
Lug nuts on wheel, swollen and hard to remove Not able to change or rotate tires, possibly breakage of lug nuts Confirmed by independent service center The vehicle lug nuts have not been inspected First noticed was changing brake pads
My Ford Explorer had a rear suspension toe link Recall, and in December I took my vehicle to the Ford dealership to get it fixed. At that time, they did a full vehicle inspection, fixed the part, and told me everything looked great. Shortly after the service, we had a snow storm, and my SUV would fishtail in Icy/snowy conditions. Every time it'd snow, it made me so scared to drive, because I'd essentially not have control over my vehicle. The issue wasn't present when the roads were clear. Within the two months since that service, my back tires have gone completely bald, down to the wires. I recently got in a car accident because my car wouldn't complete a turn and ended up t-boning a Tundra on a residential street. Luckily I was going slow so the damage to the other vehicle was minimal, and no obvious injuries have resulted from the accident. I was able to remove some of the plastic pieces around the fender, in order to still drive it, so I took it to the Ford dealership that originally serviced my car for an inspection. Now that the dealership has inspected my vehicle, they're claiming that it's not on their liability and that they're not responsible for any of the damage. Now the alignment is off on both the front and back, and the strut is bent (whether that's from the accident or not, we don't know). The Manager admitted that when servicing my vehicle they were only allowed to perform a rear alignment, but a front alignment was never suggested or offered to me. When aligning a vehicle (especially in the winter) the whole vehicle should be aligned, not just half. They of course claim zero liability or responsibility, even though I was having issues with it fishtailing shortly after it being serviced at their shop, for a part on the suspension, which affects alignment.
The wheels corrode around edges & Bead mounting area due to improper procedures done during manufacturing. The factory only put clear protection on the outside (visible portion) of the wheel. Thus the elements enter under the clear coating from the un-protected portion of the wheel. As this corrosion expands, it causes the Bead of the tire to leak. The leaking gets more rapid in a short time and causes poor handling & can cause a loss of control. The Ford Customer Forum has Hundreds, if not Thousands of Customer Complaints. The problem is that Ford will not stand behind their product and doesn't care about the Safety Danger to their Customers.
Lug nuts need to be replaced due to swelling per Ford dealership
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.
HI MY NAME IS [XXX]. I PURCHASED THIS 2014 FORD EXPLORER FROM A CERTIFIED FORD GARAGE MECHANIC THIS SUMMER. THE PRIVATE PARTY PURCHASE WAS IN JUNE 2020 WITH 89,XXX MILES. THE SELLER SHOWED ME EVERY REPAIR, OIL CHANGE, BRAKES ETC. WERE DONE IN A FORD GARAGE. TEN THOUSAND MILES LATER THE VEHICLE SNAPPED A TOE LINK LATERAL ARM DRIVING DOWN A SMOOTH HIGHWAY 60MPH! THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND MY WIFE AND 2 YOUNG KIDS WERE IN DANGER.. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, FOR THE WHEEL WAS TIPPED IN AND NOT STABLE...FLAT BED TOW $100 OUT OF POCKET... FORD OF HIBBING DEALER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TIME TO REPAIR FOR OVER A MONTH.. THEY SOLD ME THE FACTORY FORD TOE LINK THAT WAS THE "FIX" UPGRADE... WITH ALL THE DEALERS AND LOCAL AUTO SHOPS WAY WAY BEHIND AND SHORT HANDED I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AGAIN FOR $100 OUT OF POCKET TO MY GARAGE.. I WENT TO TECH SCHOOL OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL FOR AUTO MECHANIC AND RECEIVED A 2 YEAR DEGREE AND PREVIOUSLY WAS A AUTO MECHANIC FOR 10 PLUS YEARS.. ANYWAYS BEYOND THAT POINT I REPLACED THE TOE LINK IN MY SHOP AND INSPECTED OTHER POINTS.. AFTER I REPLACED THE LINK I WAS ABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL TIRE AND ALIGNMENT SHOP IN HIBBING MN (IRON RANGE TIRE) WHICH THEY THAN PROFESSIONALLY ALIGNED AND TIGHTENED THE REAR SUSPENSION. 100 MILES LATER HAPPENS AGAIN TO MY WIFE AND KIDS DOWN THE HIGHWAY!! TOWED AGAIN $100! CURRENTLY AT LUNDGREN FORD DEALER EVELETH MN. $2800 TO REPLACE AND REPAIR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS! FILED A FORD CASE # [XXX]. FORD REFUSED TO COOPERATE OR POSSIBLY PAY FOR REPAIR! THE SERVICE DEPT MANAGER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AT THAT SHOP AND SAID SERVICE RECORDS SHOW THE COMPLETE REAR SUSPENSION WAS REPLACED IN 2019!! 20,000 MILES AGO! AND ITS ALREADY BREAKING AGAIN! ITS UNSAFE FOR MY WIFE AND 4 & 6YR OLD BOYS! PLEASE HELP! IM SERIOUSLY NOT WASTING TIME! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
RIGHT TIRE WIGGLES WHILE DRIVING. IT FEELS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO COME OFF.
2014 AWD EXPLORER, 72,405 MI: 12-2019 HEARD SLIGHT GRINDING FR FRONT LEFT & ONLY HEARD WHEN DECELERATING FR APPROX 30 MPH. RECOGNIZED SOUND BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON FRONT RIGHT 11-2018, 8032 MI EARLIER. BROUGHT IN IMMEDIATELY. SAME PART FAILED AGAIN ON THE RIGHT & NOW ALSO ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL & BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE KNUCKLES ON BOTH SIDES, & TECHS COULD NOT REMOVE BEARINGS W/O DESTROYING KNUCKLES. THIS IS THE 3RD WHEEL HUB BEARING THAT FAILED IN THIS CAR. SINCE LAST PART REPLACEMENT 11-2018, FORD REDESIGNED PART DUE TO REPEATED FAILURE. THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE RIGHT & LEFT FRONT HUB BEARINGS W/REDESIGNED PART, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT, PAY FOR THE $725 FEE TO REPLACE THE KNUCKLES THAT WERE RUINED & NEITHER WILL MY EXT WARRANTY. IF THE FAULTY HUB BEARINGS DID NOT FAIL, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO SEIZE INTO THE KNUCKLES, THEREBY RUINING THEM AS WELL. FORD CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME SINCE I AM PAST THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY COMPENSATION. PEACOCK FORD, MAITLAND, FL SAID THEY WILL FOLLOW FORD'S DIRECTION. NHTSA HAS REPORTS OF WHEELS FALLING OFF FROM THIS. SERVICE MGR AGREES FORD SHOULD PAY BECAUSE HUB BEARINGS CAUSED IT. I OPENED CASE WITH FORD #CAS25112513 & SERVICE MGR ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD ASKING TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL PARTS. A WEEK LATER, NO RESPONSE. I PAID THE $493.43 TO P/U CAR. PEACOCK DIDN'T CHG FOR LABOR. NEED FORD TO COVER ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAILURE OF RIGHT & LEFT HUB BEARINGS. PAID: 11-2018 $117.48, & 12-2019 $493.43 = $610.91 TOTAL FOR A REPEATEDLY FAILING PART. FORD MFGD FAULTY PART & KNOWS IT BECAUSE THEY REDESIGNED IT. FORD'S PART CAUSED THE FAILURE OF OTHER PARTS WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COVER. SERVICE MGR AGREES W/ME BUT SAYS HE NEEDS FORD'S AUTHORIZATION. SERVICE MGR., ERIC LANGFIELD: 407-635-8080. FORD CUSTOMER CARE CASE #CAS25112513
2014 AWD EXPLORER, 72,405 MI: 12-2019 HEARD SLIGHT GRINDING FR FRONT LEFT & ONLY HEARD WHEN DECELERATING FR APPROX 30 MPH. RECOGNIZED SOUND BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON FRONT RIGHT 11-2018, 8032 MI EARLIER. BROUGHT IN IMMEDIATELY. SAME PART FAILED AGAIN ON THE RIGHT & NOW ALSO ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL & BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE KNUCKLES ON BOTH SIDES, & TECHS COULD NOT REMOVE BEARINGS W/O DESTROYING KNUCKLES. THIS IS THE 3RD WHEEL HUB BEARING THAT FAILED IN THIS CAR. SINCE LAST PART REPLACEMENT 11-2018, FORD REDESIGNED PART DUE TO REPEATED FAILURE. THEY WILL BE REPLACING THE RIGHT & LEFT FRONT HUB BEARINGS W/REDESIGNED PART, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT, PAY FOR THE $725 FEE TO REPLACE THE KNUCKLES THAT WERE RUINED & NEITHER WILL MY EXT WARRANTY. IF THE FAULTY HUB BEARINGS DID NOT FAIL, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THE BEARINGS TO SEIZE INTO THE KNUCKLES, THEREBY RUINING THEM AS WELL. FORD CUSTOMER CARE TOLD ME SINCE I AM PAST THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER ANY COMPENSATION. PEACOCK FORD, MAITLAND, FL SAID THEY WILL FOLLOW FORD'S DIRECTION. NHTSA HAS REPORTS OF WHEELS FALLING OFF FROM THIS. SERVICE MGR AGREES FORD SHOULD PAY BECAUSE HUB BEARINGS CAUSED IT. I OPENED CASE WITH FORD #CAS25112513 & SERVICE MGR ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD ASKING TO COVER THE ADDITIONAL PARTS. A WEEK LATER, NO RESPONSE. I PAID THE $493.43 TO P/U CAR. PEACOCK DIDN'T CHG FOR LABOR. NEED FORD TO COVER ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAILURE OF RIGHT & LEFT HUB BEARINGS. PAID: 11-2018 $117.48, & 12-2019 $493.43 = $610.91 TOTAL FOR A REPEATEDLY FAILING PART. FORD MFGD FAULTY PART & KNOWS IT BECAUSE THEY REDESIGNED IT. FORD'S PART CAUSED THE FAILURE OF OTHER PARTS WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COVER. SERVICE MGR AGREES W/ME BUT SAYS HE NEEDS FORD'S AUTHORIZATION. SERVICE MGR., [XXX]: [XXX]. FORD CUSTOMER CARE CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NOISES COMING FROM FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE INTO A DRIVEWAY AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
MY TIRES ARE LOSING AIR FOR NO REASON.THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND THERE ARE NO HOLES IN THEM. I AM HAVING TO ADD AIR EVERY OTHER DAY. THEY ARE ALSO RIPPING ON THE SIDEWALL FOR NO REASON. THIS STARTED IN AUGUST AND I AM STILL DEALING WITH THIS NOW. ITS DECEMBER 5, 2018. I EVEN LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND THE TIRES THAT I HAVE WERE RECALLED BY HANCOOK. FORD HAS NO INFO ON A RECALL.
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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