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

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and then there was smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle and underneath the hood. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transfer case connected to the transmission was fractured. The dealer informed the contact that the transfer case and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,361.

NHTSA ODI 11470305

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while the vehicle was in park, it inadvertently shifted to reverse and the vehicle hit a tree. There was no failure warning lights. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic and repaired the cosmetic damages. There was no failure diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469562

Electric flickering occasionally smells like something burning. No warnings alerted. Interior lights/radio dim or go off or flash. Transmission problems, jerking, loss of power Cabin fills with exhaust fumes especially when stopped Unknown occurrence dates has been happening for at least 2yrs

NHTSA ODI 11465547

Hello, my vehicle as I’m driving it jolts. Now it doesn’t happen all the time but , I’ve have noticed it.

NHTSA ODI 11458489

Upon attempting to pick up my child from school the car began to jerk, hiss, and click. The vehicle gave no warning and recently (2 weeks ago) had was serviced for an oil change. The transmission is the issue. The vehicle is available for inspection. The severe jerking occurred when I was driving at 55 mph which significantly impacted my driving as I abruptly loss power. The vehicle is currently at a repair shop, Harrison’s Transmission in Easton, MD. The vehicle has not been evaluated by insurance, police or manufacturer. There was no warning lights or system notifications prior to the transmission failure.

NHTSA ODI 11452914

Torque converters failed without notice or warning. Could lead to complete transmission failure and risk passengers and other drivers safety. Dealer has confirmed the issue. Manufacturer has denied any sort of coverage or assistance. Vehicle has less than 52,000 miles and will now require a complete transmission replacement. Faulty engineering and manufacturing. Unacceptable.

NHTSA ODI 11436109

Transmission failed on my 2014 Ford Explorer. I was made aware that the Ford dealer has seen a lot of transmission failures. I have to have a new transmission. Is Ford going to pay for this since they are aware of this issue?

NHTSA ODI 11420625

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.

NHTSA ODI 11414980

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 6 MPH APPROACHING A TURN, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,695.

NHTSA ODI 11413414

MY PTO WENT OUT AT 75000 MILES. I OWN FORD STOCK SO I KNOW THEY WILL TAKE A HIT.THEY NEED TO FIX INFERIOR ENGINEERING. I HAD AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY BUT AFTER INVESTIGATING THINGS CAN BE DONE TO FIX BLATANT STUPIDITY. IF I WAS TO TRAVERSE A HILL ON SNOW I COULD EASILY START SLIDING BACKWARDS WITHOUT AWD. PLEASE MAKE FORD FIX THIS OR ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE MORE CARS LIKE LATE 70 OR EARLY 80S WERE THEY WERE JUNK. HERE'S AN IDEA WHEN A CAR HAS A KNOWN DEFECT LIKE THIS FORCE DEALERSHIPS TO LIST IT. I LIKE FORD IT IS ONLY AMERICAN CAR COMPANY THAT HAS SOME QUALITY. PLEASE PROTECT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC NOT TO SAY THE MUNICIPALITIES PAYING FOR ALL THE INTERCEPTORS THAT ARE BREAKING. ALL WERE SAYING IS GIVE US A FAIR DEAL AND I WILL ALWAYS BUY AMERICAN. THIS ISN'T A BELT OR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. 1500 BILL AT 75000 MILES. IF YOU GOING TO LET THEM SELL CRAP JUST LET THE AMERICAN PUBLIC KNOW SO WE CAN PROTECT OURSELVES.

NHTSA ODI 11405894

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TRY-COUNTY FORD INC (1348 FOUR LOCUST HWY, DIRECTION KEYSVILLE, VA 23947, (434) 736-8444) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN 20V692000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11403925

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. I SLOWED DOWN SOME BUT THEN WHEN I TRIED TO RE APPLY GAS IT JUST REVVED UP AND WOULD NOT GO FORWARD MORE. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT WITH PEOPLE BEHIND ME. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND HEARD THE GRINDING AGAIN. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CALLED MY HUSBAND. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR IT WOULD NOT GO FORWARD, BACKWARD OR ANYTHING. IT IS A LINK SHAFT BRACKET FAILURE THAT THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL IN PLACE FOR BUT MY TRUCK WAS BUILT 4 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE THE RECALL BEGINS FOR. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME AND IT JUST ROLLED OFF THE TOW TRUCK LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11399752

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO LATCH SECURELY WHEN CLOSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED TO LOCK THE DOOR SECURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR AND TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE DOOR SLAMMED SHUT TO START AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EARNHARDT FORD (7300 W. ORCHID LN, CHANDLER, AZ 85226, (480) 893-0000) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,500.

NHTSA ODI 11341334

MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER XLT AWD AT 82,000 MILES STARTING LEAKING OIL FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS FAILED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THUS FAR.

NHTSA ODI 11339968

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION FORD VALENCIA 23920 CREEKSIDE RD, VALENCIA, CA 91355 TO BE DIAGNOSED. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ODI 11309865

POPPING NOISES FROM FRONT PTO . PTO CASE SPLIT IN HALF DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY KIDS IN THE CAR CAUSING VEHICLE FRONT TIRES TO SKID FOR A SPLIT 2ND AND DIFFERENTIAL FLUID SPILLING ALL OVER THE UNDER CARRIAGE CAUSING SMOKE.

NHTSA ODI 11299649

THE WATER PUMP IN MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER 3.5L V6 ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT. THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD TO BE FILLED AND I WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAK. TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE COOLANT FILLED, MY RADIATOR FAN BEGAN RUNNING FAST AND LOUD. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A LEAKING WATER PUMP. THERE WAS ONLY ONE INCH LEFT OF COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR AFTER JUST BEING FILLED UP. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 14-16 HOURS OF LABOR TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WHICH ITSELF COSTS LESS THAN $150. I WAS REFERRED BY THE SHOP TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE WORK NEEDED WAS EXTENSIVE AND BECAUSE IT INVOLVED A FORD PART. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND REFERRED ME TO FORD. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE WATER PUMP LEAK. BASICALLY, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, BECAUSE THE PUMP IS MADE PART OF THE ENGINE ITSELF. I BELIEVE THE FORD ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. THE GASKETS OR BEARINGS IN THE WATER PUMP FAIL AND THERE ARE WEEP HOLES IN THE WATER PUMP WHICH ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I SPENT $1,839.82 TO FIX A SINGLE WATER PUMP! THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE ALSO SAFETY ISSUES CAUSED BY THIS DUE TO VEHICLES BEING SO AFFECTED BY THE COOLANT LEAKS THE ENGINES SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN USE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY OTHER FORD 3.5L V6 ENGINES. I HAVE THE MY VEHICLE REPAIR RECORDS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THEM.

NHTSA ODI 11290969

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW YEARS AND GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT FIRST WE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK THERE WAS AN ERROR ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK" BUT IT WAS!! AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES OF STARTING AND STOPPING CAR AND PUTTING INTO PARK, THE MESSAGE WOULD GO AWAY. AND IT WOULD SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE THE SEAT RETURNS BACK AND THE STEERING COLUMN ALSO RETURNS. LATELY, WE CAN'T GET THAT TO WORK. WHEN WE STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF, WE GET THE ERROR MESSAGE AND IT WILL NOT TURN OFF, NOT MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE TRY. CONSEQUENTLY, IT RUNS THE BATTERY DOWN AND WE CAN NOT START THE CAR THE NEXT TIME. WE CHECKED WITH OUR FORD DEALERSHIP EARLY ON WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AND THEY SAID THEY HAD HEARD ABOUT IT BUT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THEY ALSO ADVISE WE COULD PAY OVER $1,000.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. NOW IT IS HAPPENING EACH TIME - AFTER WE JUMP THE CAR TO START. IT IS CURRENTLY PARKED IN THE GARAGE. WE FEEL THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. WE HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT HAS A 2013 EXPLORER AND HE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. WE WOULD LOVE TO KNOW THE OUTCOME OF THIS INVESTIGATION. WE LOVE OUR EXPLORER BUT IT IS DOING US ANY GOOD SITTING IN OUR GARAGE. IN FACT WE HAVE HAD A FORD PRODUCT AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER - IN 1969 I BOUGHT A TORINO AND HAVE HAD A FORD VEHICLE EVER SINCE. THANKS FOR LOOKING AT THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11179871

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH I NOTICED A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS BEING HELP BACK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED A FAULTY POWER TRANSFER UNIT ($2,000 REPAIR). THE CAR HAD 81,000 MILES AND WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING.

NHTSA ODI 11176047

UPON DRIVING THE CAR, THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT FULLY ENGAGED. IN FIRST GEAR, A LOUD RATTLING SOUND WAS HEARD. CAR WOULD NOT PROCEED FORWARD. BROUGHT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE. SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD AS PER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE WITH NO RECALL ISSUED BY FORD.

NHTSA ODI 11172129

VEHICLE STATIONARY, ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION IN PARK RESULTS IN ERROR MESSAGE "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK".

NHTSA ODI 11162258

WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO PARK, VERY FREQUENTLY THE DISPLAY SHOWS "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK". THIS IS DUE TO A FAULTY SWITCH INSIDE OF THE SHIFTER. THIS MESSAGE CAN APPEAR WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND STATIONARY AS WELL. SOME VEHICLE SYSTEMS STAY ACTIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT RECOGNIZED AS BEING IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11160629

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, AND SHE LOST POWER/ACCELERATION, AND SHE PULLED OFF THE MAIN ROAD TO A SIDE ROAD, AND FROM THERE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. OUR 2014 FORD EXPLORER, 2.0L I4 HAD A FRONT RIGHT DRIVE AXLE BREAK OFF FOR NO REASON AND JAM ITSELF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ALL THE TECHS AT FORD HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND HAVE NO REASONS WHY IT WOULD DO THAT. IT TOOK THREE TECHS TO GET IT OUT. NOW RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. WE ARE JUST OVER 100K MILES, BUT THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE DUE TO THERE BE NO REAL REASON OR EVENT WE CAN TRACE THIS TO. FORD DID NOT LET US SEE THE DAMAGE OR PICTURES OF IT. WOULD THEY BE COVING?

NHTSA ODI 11152175

DRIVER DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON. THE INDOOR LIGHTS DO NOT POWER DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE ALARM BELL RINGS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION INDICATING THE DOOR IS AJAR. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS DRIVING AROUND TOWN. WHEN IN PARK, THE ALARM BELL WILL BEEP TWICE TO INDICATE THE DOOR AJAR SIGNAL IS ON, BUT THE DOOR IS LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11141386

TOTAL MILEAGE 24326, BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND SUSPECTED EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN. MECHANIC'S ANSWER TO SMELL "THE SMELL IS THE PTU COMING APART INSIDE. THE OIL IS BLACK AND THERE IS METAL FILINGS ON THE PLUG. TRANSFER CASE NEEDS REPLACEMENT." DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THIS IS VERY COMMON, "...HAVE DONE OVER A HUNDERED...". WAS CAUGHT ONLY BECAUSE SMELL WAS MENTIONED. SCHEDULED INSPECTION/OIL CHANGE OF TRANSFER CASE NOT REQUIRED FOR ANOTHER 6000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING AND IS NOT USED OFF-ROAD. VEHICLE AT DEALER HAVING TRANSFER CASE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11133205