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)

196 of 1,671 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 3 of 8

Jun 26, 2020Engine

WHILE DRIVING AT 25-30 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE HARD, THEN MADE A MISFIRING/POPPING SOUNDS, AND MOTOR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO COAST IT AS CLOSE TO THE EDGE AS POSSIBLE BUT I WAS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ENOUGH TO BE CONCERN FOR TRAFFIC ON A SEMI-BUSY ROAD. TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULD ONLY CLICK AND NOT EVEN ATTEMPT TO TURN OVER ANYMORE. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. EXPLORER ONLY HAD JUST OVER 112,000 MILES ON IT WITH NO MECHANICAL CONCERN PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. MECHANIC DETERMINED MOTOR WAS SEIZED BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE A DEFINITE REASON AS TO WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330962

Jun 14, 2020Engine

CRACKED EXHAUST MANIFOLD. CAR HAS 75K MILES. $1300 REPAIR BILL FOR NEW MANIFOLD AND ATTACHED SENSORS.

NHTSA ODI 11328809

Dec 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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

Dec 18, 2019Engine

WHEN YOU ACCELERATE AT HIGHER SPEEDS IE ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR IS FILLED WITH EXHAUST SMELL.

NHTSA ODI 11289972

Dec 10, 2019Engine

2014 EXPLORER CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING COOLANT NEAR FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. DEALERSHIP REFILLED COOLANT AND PERFORMED A PRESSURE TEST AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ONE YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING COOLANT AND I HAVE TO KEEP ADDING ADDITIONAL COOLANT. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A WATER PUMP FAILURE AND COST TO REPAIR CAR WOULD BE UPWARD OF 8K

NHTSA ODI 11288134

Nov 21, 2019SeatsEngine

I'M GETTING CEL ERROR CODE P0016. THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE ON STARTUP AND SOMETIMES DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING EVERYDAY. MY EXPLORER SPORT HAS 65,340 MILES ON IT, W AY TO SOON FOR A TIMING CHAIN. THE DEALER STATED I PROBABLY HAVE TIMING CHAIN STRETCH AND THERE NO TSB TO RESOLVED THE ISSUE IN MY TRUCK EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE SAME ECOBOOST ENGINE AS THE F150 THAT THE TSB 17-0026 DOES APPLY TO. WHY NOT THE FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS SAME EXACT ENGINE AS F150 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM? WHY WAS THE FORD EXPLORER ECOBOOST LEFT OUT OF THE TSB? THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE NOT MODEL OF TRUCK. I'M HOPEFULLY LOOKING FOR FORD TO HONER THE TSB FOR MY VEHICLE THAT HAS THE SAME ENGINE DEFECT

NHTSA ODI 11281639

Oct 29, 2019Engine & coolingEngine1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ROWE FORD AUBURN (699 CENTER ST, AUBURN, ME 04210) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED EXHAUST WAS LEAKING FUMES INTO CARGO AREA, WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES AND LIGHT HEADINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *CW*JB

NHTSA ODI 11276874

Oct 7, 2019Engine

THERE IS AN ODOR LEAKING INTO THE CAR FROM EITHER THE ENGINE OR THE EXHAUST . I'VE NOTICED IT MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS AND WE HAVE TO PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN TO NOT FEEL SICK WHEN WE BREATHE. IT HAPPENS WHETHER I AM DRIVING OR STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I ALSO STARTED FEELING TIRED WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY. I HAVE NOW STOPPED USING THE VEHICLE. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG.

NHTSA ODI 11266708

Sep 16, 2019Engine

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A PARKED POSITION, THE ENGINE APPEARS TO SKIP, AND OR BUCK. IT IS NOTICEABLE, BUT THE DEALER CANNOT REMEDY IT.

NHTSA ODI 11255810

Sep 10, 2019Engine

THE ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT CAUSED BY THE WATER PUMP SEAL FAILING. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHERS THAT ALSO HAVE HAD WATER PUMP FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI 11254371

Sep 9, 2019Engine

BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE IN MY VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS THE CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR IN MY BAG BEGAN TO SOUND INDICATING THE PRESENCE OF CARBON MONOXIDE. IT DID NOT STOP UNTIL I REMOVED IT FROM THE VEHICLE. I WAS LIGHT HEADED AND EXPERIENCING NAUSEA AT THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11254034

Sep 4, 2019Engine

ON SUNDAY SEPTERMBER 1ST WHILE I WAS DRIVING BACK HOME A LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD CAME ON, IT SAID "ENGINE COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE" IN RED LIGHT. I WAS SCARE BECAUSE I WAS STUCK IN THE FREEWAY AND I WAS STILL FAR AWAY FROM HIM AND MY KIDS WERE IN THE BACK. I DROVE VERY SLOW AND MANAGED TO GET HOME. ON TUESDAY I TOOK MY CAR TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE MY WATER PUMP, AND IT WAS A HARD AND LONG SERVICE AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $3,300. I AM SURPRISE OF HOW MUCH THAT COSTS, ESPECIALLY THAT IT HAPPENED ON MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND I'VE BEEN TAKING IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP EVERY 7,000 MILES TO GET THE MAINTENANCE. PLUS, THE LAST TIME THAT I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS OIL CHANGE, THEY SAID THAT EVERYTHING WAS WORKING WELL. SO FOR MY SURPRISE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN ESPECIALLY WHEN MY CAR ONLY HAS 82,316 MILES. THE LIGHT TURNS ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION. I CAN HEAR THE ENGINE WORKING EXTRA HARD TO COMPENSATE WHATEVER ELSE IS GOING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11253295

Aug 8, 2019Engine

I WAS GETTING HEADACHES WHILE DRIVING SO I PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR FOR MY EXPLORER FOR $149.00. IT REGISTERED AROUND 18-20PPM WHEN DRIVING. JULY 2019 I HAD THE 'REPAIR' DONE AT MY LOCAL DEALER. AUGUST 2019, MORE HEADACHES AND MY VEHICLE STILL REGISTERS 18-20 PPM WHILE DRIVING. THE APPARENT FIX DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE CARBON MONOXIDE FROM LEAKING INTO MY CABIN AREA. DRIVING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON AND IN RECIRCULATING MODE.

NHTSA ODI 11242695

Aug 1, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAM SHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED SUNRISE FORD OF FONTANA (LOCATED AT 16005 VALLEY BLVD, FONTANA, CA 92335, (888) 629-1239) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11241129

Jun 12, 2019EngineFuel system

WHEN SUDDENLY ACCELERATING TO SPEED OVER 65 MPH , EXHAUST GAS/FUMES ENTER THE MAIN CABIN, AND LINGER FOR SOMETIME, UNTIL I OPEN ALL WINDOWS TO DISSIPATE THE FUMES. THIS ISSUE ALWAYS OCCUR DURING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY INSTALLED EXTERNAL SEALS BUT ISSUE CONTINUES, EVEN AFTER THE FIXES.

NHTSA ODI 11219496

May 21, 2019SteeringEngine

TIMING CHAIN AND CAM PHASERS CAUSING VEHICLE TO EXCEL ERASE AND STOP WITH NO CONTROL. POWER STEERING GOING IN AND OUT WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11209082

Apr 17, 2019Engine

IDLER PULLY WENT BAD THREW BELT..ONLY HAD 32,000 MILES ON IT...IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.HAPPEND ON A SUNDAY WILE ON VACATION IN FLORIDA..TOOK TO FIRESTONE DEALER TO FIX..COST ME $372.00 TO FIX...

NHTSA ODI 11196887

Mar 19, 2019Engine

FUEL SMELL/FUMES ENTERING PASSENGER CABIN WHEN AC/HEAT IS ON. SOMETIMES AT A STOP OR SLOW PACE AND WINDOWS ARE OPEN FUMES OR SMELL IS APPARENT. ONCE PARKED YOU CAN SMELL FROM THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE IN THE HOOD NEAR THE WIPER BLADES.

NHTSA ODI 11189857

Mar 18, 2019Engine

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A CLICKING NOISE ON OUR CAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MY WIFE HAS BEEN COMPLAINING OF HEADACHES AND FATIGUE DURING THE SAME TIME AS WELL. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A CRACK EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH WOULD COST US $1,100 TO FIX. I RESEARCHED AND SAW THIS 1.3MILLION REPORTS OF THE SAMETHING. I CALLED FORD AND THEY REFUSED TO HELP WITH THE REPAIRS AS THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU DON'T RECALL A VERY KNOWN ISSUE THAT I NOW SEE PERSONALLY CAUSES HEALTH ISSUES THAT COULD BE FATAL - PLUS YOU GET WITH A COST THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF. NOT GOOD BUSINESS AND VERY DANGEROUS - IT IS SAD IT MAY TAKE A FATAL ACCIDENT BEFORE FORD RECALLS THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11189766

Feb 27, 2019Engine

CHAIN DRIVEN WATER PUMP FAILURE AT 85,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI 11182723

Feb 7, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN THROTTLE FAILURE THAT CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THAT LISTED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA17002 (STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11175046

Nov 6, 2018Engine

2014 FORD EXPLORER 3.5 LITER ECO-BOOST >>OIL LINES LEAK AT TURBO , CAUSING OIL TO LEAK DOWN ONTO EXHAUST. VERY BAD SMELL !! THERE IS ALREADY RECALLS FOR NEWER MODELS BUT NOT THE 2014. PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HURT. FORD ONLY STATED TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT IF THERE IS EVER A RE-CALL?

NHTSA ODI 11149590

Oct 30, 2018Electrical systemEngine

WON'T TURN OFF WHEN TURN OFF BUTTON IS PUSHED TO TURN VEHICLE OFF, WE HAVE TO KEEP PRESSING BUTTON ON GEAR SHIFT AND IT HAS TAKEN 35 MINUTES TO TURN IT OFF WHICH JUST HAPPEND TODAY OCT. 30, 2018 IT HAS RAISED THE DRIVER SEAT TWICE ALL BY ITESELF WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND NO ONE IS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. IT MAKES ODD NOISES INSIDE THE DASH WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF

NHTSA ODI 11144058

Sep 17, 2018Engine

HEADACHES BY MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF WHILE DRIVING OR RIDING. CARBON MONOXIDE READINGS FIRST TIME READ AT 11PPM ON A 10 MINUTE TRIP. CONTINUAL MONITERING READS AT 6-9 ON NORMAL DRIVING. READINGS AT 14 ON ACCELERATION. I FEEL IT'S UNHEALTHY AND SAFETO DRIVE THIS CAR DAILY.

NHTSA ODI 11129802

Sep 14, 2018Engine

EXHAUST STARTED COMING INTO REAR OF VEHICLE. WE WERE ABLE TO SMELL IT WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED OR MOVING SLOWLY. PEOPLE IN THE BACKSEAT COULD SMELL IT BEFORE THOSE IN THE FRONT COULD.

NHTSA ODI 11129453

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Working with the data? Download all 1,671 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

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 →