Home · 2014 Ford Explorer Gas · Complaints

What 1,671 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer Gas

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,671)Crash / fire / injury (50)Steering (496)Body & structure (274)Engine (196)Suspension (102)Electrical system (100)Transmission & drivetrain (79)Fuel system (71)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (53)Airbags (47)

71 of 1,671 complaints match · Fuel system · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Jul 25, 2017Fuel system

MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER HAS NOT BEEN MOTIFIED AND HAS HAD STRONG EXHAUST INSIDE THE CAR CONFIRMED BY A FORD DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE JUNE. THE FIRST REPAIR MADE BY FORD TO "PLUG" THE PROBLEM MADE IT WORSE. THEY ARE NOT TESTING FOR LEAKS OR CARBON MONOXIDE. THE ARE REFERENCING THIS AS AN ODOR. GIVEN THE RISKS HOW CAN IT BE RULED OUT IF THEY ARE NOT TESTING FOR THEM? I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT FORD'S PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT ITSELF AT THE COST OF OUR FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOMETIME EVEN WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY COOLING DOWN PRIOR TO ANY MOTION. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE DIRECTLY BEEN SICKENED BY THIS AND AM INSTALLING A DETECTOR INTO OUR CAR AND WILL BE HAVING BLOOD WORK ANYTIME IT GOES OFF. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY DOCTOR TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING ON OUR LABS TO CONFIRM THE CONCERNS. WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CONCERN BY FORD OR THE FACT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS SINCE 2012. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BACK-UP CAME REVERSE AND EVERYTHING LOCATED IN THE LEFT OF THE CAR APPEARED ON THE RIGHT. THIS WAS CONFIRMED IN JUNE AND THE CAMERA WAS REPLACED. THE OBVIOUS SAFETY WITH THIS SITUATION WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC OR INVESTIGATED TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ODI 11010604

Jul 17, 2017Fuel system

A HEAVY PROPANE SMELL HAPPENS IN MY CAR WHEN I HAVE THE MAX AC AND REC AIR ON.. I JUST GOT THIE CAR 5 MONTHS AGO.. I CALLED FORD THEY SAID "SORRY " THIS IS NOT A RECALL .. AND WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE EVEN WHEN I RESEARCHED AND IT IS A ISSUE.. THEY TOLE ME IT WOULD COST ME TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AND COST FOR ANY PARTS NEEDED..

NHTSA ODI 11005865

Jul 13, 2017Fuel system

SOMETIMES MY CAR SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN I'M GOING UP A MOUNTAIN WITH EITHER MY A/C OR HEATER IS ON. SOMETIMES I FEEL NAUSEATED AFTER DRIVING MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11005079

Jun 12, 2017EngineFuel system

EXHAUST FUMES IN INTERIOR.

NHTSA ODI 10994370

Jun 6, 2017Electrical systemSeatsFuel system

BOUGHT MY 2014 EXPLORER BRAND NEW FROM KOONS FORD AND RIGHT OFF THE BAT, THE DRIVER SEATS STARTED SQUEAKING AT ABOUT 5K MILES. THEY REPLACED THE LOWER LUMBAR BAR, WHICH FIXED IT FOR ANOTHER 2K MILES AND THE SEAT STARTED SQUEAKING AGAIN. I GAVE UP ON THIS ISSUE AFTER A FEW MORE ATTEMPTS TO GET IT FIXED. THEN ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER, THE LCD ON MY DASH WOULD STAY ON EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN I SHUT OFF AND LOCK THE CAR. TOOK IT BACK TO KOONS AND THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T REGENERATE THE ISSUE AND CAN'T FIX IT. AFTER 2 YEARS, STARTED HEARING WHINNING/SQUEALING NOISES FROM THE REAR WHEELS, KOONS ALSO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE/FIX. I GAVE UP ON KOONS AND TOOK IT TO TED BRITT, WHO ALSO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE/FIX. HAD MY 45K SERVICE AND TOLD THEM ABOUT BAD ODOR SMELL IN THE CAR AT TED BRITT AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS IN GREAT CONDITION, 5K MILES LATER, REAR WHEELS HAS GRINDING NOISES WHEN DRIVING AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS AND THE BAD ODOR IS STILL AROUND, MY 8 YEAR OLD SON COMPLAINS ABOUT THE CAR GIVING HIM HEADACHES. I TOOK IT BACK TO FORD AND THEY SAID THERE IS ONLY A TSB SO, THE OWNERS DO NOT GET NOTIFIED, WHICH I THINK, WE AS OWNERS SHOULD BE NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURE OF ANY HARMFUL SUBSTANCE LINGERING INSIDE THE CAR CABIN AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND FIXED AT NOT COST TO THE OWNERS. THIS IS VERY UNPROFESSIONAL OF THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA ODI 10993363

Jun 6, 2017Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEN STOEPEL FORD-LINCOLN DEALER AT 400 SIDNEY BAKER ST S, KERRVILLE, TX, PHONE NUMBER: (877) 469-4031, WHERE THE DIAGNOSIS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 10993470

Jun 3, 2017Fuel system

EXHAUST/GAS SMELL LEAKING INTO PASSAGER CABIN WHEN AIR FLOW TURNED ON. ALSO ABLE TO BE SMELT OUTSIDE OF CAR

NHTSA ODI 10993000

May 23, 2017Fuel system

FORD EXPLORER CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ! CARBON MONOXIDE EMISSIONS BUILDING UP INSIDE DRIVER AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT/AREAS ? THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY PROBLEM FOR FORD OWNERS WITH THESE VEHICLES ! I HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CLASS ACTION LAW FROM THE BEGINNING AND NOTHING IS HAPPENING TO SETTLE THE PROBLEM? MY FORD DEALERSHIP (FLAMMER FORD OF SPRING HILL )HAS TOLD ME FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS THAT FORD HAS NOT COME UP WITH A FIX SO WE KEEP DRIVING AND USING A VEHICLE THAT IS UNHEALTHY . I AND MY WIFE TAKE THE BRUNT OF THE SICKENING ODER FROM THE EXHAUST FUMES BACKING UP INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO TRADE IN FOR NEW AND SOMEONE ELSE GETS SICK OR DIES FROM THE CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES ? FORD HAS STATED UNDER OATH THAT THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM ? I HAVE THAT DOCUMENT ! I HAVE WRITTEN FORD TWO OR THREE TIMES AND THEY ALWAYS REFER ME BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY IN RETURN TELL ME THERE IS NO FIX FOR PROBLEM ! WE NEED SOME TYPE OF CONSIDERATION FOR THE BIG LOSS IN THE VALUE OF EXPLORER AND AGAIN I DON'T WANT SOMEONE ELSE TO DEAL OR HAVE TO PUT UP WITH SAME SERIOUS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 10991185

May 5, 2017Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER OR HEATER WAS ACTIVATED, THE FUEL ODOR INTENSIFIED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,800.

NHTSA ODI 10983650

Apr 3, 2017Fuel system

DRIVING AT HYWAY SPEED OR GOING UP HILL TH ECO BOOST STALLS CAUSING TRAFFIC HAZARD. UNABLE TO EXCELLERATE PARTIALLY STALLS. TOOK IT INTO GET REPAIRED AND THE PART IS BACK ORDER INDEFINTELEY . I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR SIX WEEKS NOW. NO IDEA WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10970373

Mar 28, 2017EngineFuel system

EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE CABIN. I NOTICE A BAD EXHAUST ODOR IN THE CABIN IF I ACCELERATE OVER 3,000 RPM.

NHTSA ODI 10969076

Mar 15, 2017Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. DUE TO THE ODOR, THE CONTACT'S CHILD BEGAN TO COUGH SEVERELY WHEN IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 10966108

Feb 25, 2017Fuel system

EXHAUST FUME SMELLS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT , WHILE ON, PARKED AND IN MOTION UNDER 45 MPH

NHTSA ODI 10956902

Feb 19, 2017Fuel system

SULFUR OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL WHILE GOING UP A HILL WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS TO DOWNSHIFT INTO A LOWER GEAR. ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING RAPIDLY LIKE ON A ON RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. I CALL A FORD DEALER AND THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NO CLUE OF THE PROBLEM. WE ENDED UP SELLING THE VEHICLE AND LOSING MONEY AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE REASONS TO SELL. I HAVE SEEN MANY MORE CLAIMS ONLINE ABOUT THIS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WANTED TO REPORT THAT I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 10955498

Feb 14, 2017Fuel system

ROTTEN EGG SMELL FILLS THE CABIN OF MY EXPLORER. IT'S MAKING US SICK. IT HAPPENED WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP AND UNDER ACCELERATION. THIS HAPPENS A TO BOTH MY EXPLORER SPORTS. I HAVE A 2014 KAND A 2015

NHTSA ODI 10954608

Feb 13, 2017Fuel system

SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I SMELL EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE CABIN. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY. I NOTICE IT MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN SPEEDS UPWARDS OF, AND ABOVE 45/50 MPH AND MOSTLY ON THE HIGHWAYS. THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED REGULARLY AS PER FORD'S RECOMMENDATION BY THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS BOUGHT IN NOVEMBER 2013 WITH 0 MILES ON IT. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT.

NHTSA ODI 10954148

Jan 18, 2017Fuel system3 injuries

SMELL OF GAS IN CABIN OF VEHICLE. MAKING PASSENGERS/DRIVER NAUSEATED. ALSO A SMELL OF GAS (NATURAL OR PROPANE) FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN WALKING AROUND IT.

NHTSA ODI 10946223

Jan 17, 2017Fuel system

CABIN OF VEHICLE SMELLS OF NATURAL GAS WHEN RUNNING AT IDLE AND DRIVING SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10945752

Oct 27, 2016Fuel system

STRONG AND FAIRLY CONSTANT (DAILY) EXHAUST ODOR ENTERING INSIDE OF CAR, MAKING ME AND MY KIDS NAUSEOUS/SICK. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM GIRARD FORD IN NORWICH, CT LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO AND COMPLAINED TO THEM LESS THEN 5 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. I BROUGHT INTO THEIR SERVICE GARAGE AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T SMELL FUEL. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY TEST DROVE FOR A TOTAL OF AN HOUR AND A HALF, BUT THAT DOESN'T COINCIDE WITH THE ODOMETER READING FROM WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. ODOMETER SHOWS THAT THEY ONLY DROVE FOR MAYBE 30 MINUTES. THE FUEL SMELL DISRUPTS DRIVING, DAUGHTER FELT LIKE SHE COULD VOMIT. THIS OCCURS EVERY DAY. IT JUST COMES ON AT TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING UPHILL OR ON REGULAR ROAD, ONCE THE SMELL IS THERE IT LINGERS IN THE CAR FOR REMAINDER OF DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10919265

Oct 3, 2016EngineFuel system

STRONG ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING. VERY CONCERNED WITH DIVER AND PASSENGERS SAFETY. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE IT WAS NEW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER OVER A YEAR AGO AND THEY PERFORMED A REPAIR THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THEY THEN TOLD ME FORD WAS WORKING ON A FIX AND SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME. I HAVE YET TO BE CONTACT AND VERY CONCERNED WITH CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO THE EXHAUST FUMES. THE NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND GIVE IT A PRIORITY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AS I SEE THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 10911219

Sep 28, 2016EngineFuel system

THERE IS AN OVERBEARING ALMOST INTOXICATING SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR ANY TIME ACCELERATING. I GOT THIS VEHICLE NEW IN 2014 AND IT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE DAY ONE. AT FIRST I WROTE IT OFF AS NEW CAR OR POSSIBLY THE TURBO. BUT NOW AFTER READING THE THOUSANDS OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S WELL BEING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY INFANT IN THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS AND I AM VERY UPSET THAT I COULD HAVE PUT HER HEALTH AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI 10910224

Sep 19, 2016Fuel system

I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FUEL VALVE ON FORD VEHICLES WITH THE CAPLESS FUEL SYSTEMS. I RECENTLY HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GO ON IN MY CAR FOR PO456 WHICH I TOOK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. TURNS OUT THAT THE FUEL VAPOR VALVE HAS STUCK OPEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SADLY THIS IS AN EMISSIONS ISSUE AND NOT COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND NOTICED THAT THIS HAPPENS A LOT TO FORD WITH THE CAPLESS FUELING SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND THEY ARE CHARGING $250 FOR A PART THAT GOES OUT IN LESS THAN 50K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10907649

Aug 22, 2016Fuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS 12-12-4 AND 14-0130, AND NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE16008 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT SMELLED A FUEL ODOR AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 10897740

Jul 28, 2016EngineFuel system

WE HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS A SMELL INSIDE WHILE ACCELERATING. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. OUR CONCERN IS THAT EXHAUST HAS BEEN COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. WE AREN'T SURE IF THE CURRENT SOLUTIONS IN PLACE TO FIX THE VEHICLE ARE ENOUGH. WELL KNOWING AND OUR FAMILY IS GETTING SICK FROM THIS CURRENT ISSUE WE JUST AREN'T SURE WHAT WE'RE BREATHING INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. THE SMELL COMES WHEN YOU ACCELERATE HARD EITHER TOWING OR MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN FROM A RED LIGHT. THE SMELL IS A SULFUR SMELL OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL THAT SEEMS TO DISSIPATE QUICKLY BUT IS NOTICEABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10889250

Jul 20, 2016Fuel system

EACH TIME AFTER DRIVING OUR FORD EXPLORER FOR A LENGTH OF TIME WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, MY WIFE AND I BEGIN TO FEEL LIGHT HEADED, TIRED AND SICK. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND WE HAVE SEVERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING OUR EXPLORER DUE TO THE HEALTH RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO THE CABIN. WE ARE NOW AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER EXPLORERS AND ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF OUR BABIES.

NHTSA ODI 10886037

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Ford Explorer Gas verdict →