2014 Ford Explorer Recalls and Problems

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 1,678 owner complaints for the 2014 Ford Explorer.

Recalled components: body structure, suspension, and powertrain. Most-described problem: power steering problems or locked steering (301 complaints, 18%). Most-reported area: steering (498 complaints, 30%; median mileage when it happened: 90,000).

Data: NHTSA recall, complaint and investigation filesUpdated Oct 2, 2026

Year to avoidBest year

Excludes the Police Interceptor Utility (EPA lists its 3.3L flex-fuel engine as an Explorer from 2020).

6 safety recalls for the 2014 Ford Explorer

Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.

Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Suspension: rear (Ford Motor Company, 17E-048).

NHTSA investigations

NHTSA has opened 4 investigations that name the 2014 Ford Explorer; all 4 are closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.

A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.

What owners report

Owners have filed 1,678 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Explorer. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.

Problems owners describe

• Power steering problems or locked steering301 · 18%
  Median 99,800 miles at failure, from 200 reports with mileage
• Exhaust fumes in the cabin238 · 14%
  Median 34,000 miles at failure, from 188 reports with mileage
• Steering rack problems: sticking, play or pulling184 · 11%
  Median 82,000 miles at failure, from 116 reports with mileage
• Backup camera problems52 · 3%
• Airbag warning light or airbag fault42 · 3%
  Median 67,900 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
• Suspension parts (struts, ball joints, control arms)29 · 2%
  Median 71,500 miles at failure, from 17 reports with mileage
• Shaking, shuddering or vibration29 · 2%
  Median 80,000 miles at failure, from 23 reports with mileage
• Loss of power or limp mode26 · 2%
  Median 105,500 miles at failure, from 18 reports with mileage

Counted from the complaint text: a complaint counts once for each problem it describes (how we match them). Some complaints describe none of these. Compare other models in the problem owners report most for every model year.

Areas named in complaints

• Steering498 · 30%
  Most named: rack and pinion (6); electric power assist system (4) · Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 309 reports with mileage
• Body structure276 · 16%
  Most named: body (92); body, hood (3) · Median 92,500 miles at failure, from 142 reports with mileage
• Engine196 · 12%
  Median 38,000 miles at failure, from 139 reports with mileage
• Suspension103 · 6%
  Most named: rear (4) · Median 82,500 miles at failure, from 48 reports with mileage
• Electrical system100 · 6%
  Median 60,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
• Powertrain79 · 5%
  Median 75,200 miles at failure, from 60 reports with mileage
• Engine and cooling67 · 4%
  Most named: exhaust system (18); cooling system, pump (11) · Median 28,000 miles at failure, from 56 reports with mileage
• Unknown or other336 · 20%
  Median 40,000 miles at failure, from 194 reports with mileage

A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.

Ford Explorer recalls and complaints by model year

The highlighted bars are the 2014 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2016 Explorer drew the most (659) and the 2014 drew 229.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2014 Explorer MPG

Questions