What 1,670 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer Hev

There is a strong fuel order coming from passenger side after every fuel fill, affects everyone in the car while moving, especially affecting my grandchildren and my family. Backup camera rarely comes on while backing up, gives a black screen which can cause accidents especially in reverse. Rear driver side makes loud squeaky sound while driving over speed bumps slowly or bumpy roads. I purchased this vehicle used June 2025. It has an active molding recall that hasn't been fixed and I have contacted a Ford dealership last year.

NHTSA ODI 11731286

When I'm driving on the freeway. I could be on flatland and it will stall, I could be going down a hill and it stalls, I could be on a regular road, turning a corner, hitting a bump. And it stalls when I'm on the freeway, I have to get over very scary happens all the time when It happens I coast, I put it into park, i turn it off, and it restarts immediately every time. This is constantly happening. IHave a video and picture but it will not upload on this.But it says hell descending control fail

NHTSA ODI 11723535

Under moderate to heavy acceleration exhaust fumes are pouring into the cabin. The harder you accelerate the more you smell. Gives me a headache every time.

NHTSA ODI 11542562

Ever since I purchased my 2014 Ford Explorer, I noticed a foul smell inside the vehicle when accelerating. It seemed fine when driving normally, but when accelerating into traffic or whenever RPMs are increasing, it’s definitely noticeable. At first I thought it wasn’t that big of a deal, until my young step-son was in the passenger seat complaining about how he felt nauseous out of nowhere. So I decided to do a little research and found a TON of articles including the ones in these two links!: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/ford-explorer-lawsuits-exhaust-leak-carbon-monoxide/ https://6abc.com/amp/ford-explorer-suv-sick-dizzy/3507986/

NHTSA ODI 11529261

We purchased a 2014 Ford Explorer Police utility from the Raleigh Surplus in the summer of 2021. We also had another vehicle,  so rarely drove this Explorer until last summer 2022 when we had to sell one vehicle,  therefore putting us driving the Explorer only. I had a failed surgery and was no longer able to drive,  so that was another reason the Explorer didn't get driven much the first year. Since last summer my husband has been very sick and in and out of doctors and pulmonary specialist. We have tried to figure out what happened all of a sudden.  After talking with his pulmonary specialist and her doing numerous blood work,  we came to the conclusion it must be the Ford Explorer causing him sickness.  He has been put on nighttime oxygen and has lost a great deal of weight, and become very sick with shortness of breath and now with neurological issues. His recent blood work revealed carbon monoxide levels of 11.8 %. After a recent weekend admission to the hospital,  the pulmonary doctor orders were to get rid of this Explorer.  We need a vehicle to drive,  because this is our only way of transportation.  I called corporate and got a case number of CAS-41523358 and was told to call a Ford dealership and get the vehicle there asap. I called Alex at 919-366-8000 Leith Ford, the closest dealership and he said I need to get in touch with wford@ford.com . I did 2 weeks ago and he is ignoring me. I also get nausea and dizziness and headaches in the vehicle. My daughter drove it one night and became sick as well. Most of all my husband is still very sick from this vehicle. He almost fell asleep at the wheel! Luckily I was there to alert him! He Never ever falls asleep at the wheel!

NHTSA ODI 11511266

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was starting the vehicle, she noticed a fuel leak underneath the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the fuel pump had detached causing the fuel leak. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469768

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED DRIVING UNTIL THE SMELL FADED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.

NHTSA ODI 11354050

THE ENGINE IS IDLING ROUGHLY ESPECIALLY JUST AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK. THE FUEL MILEAGE HAS BEEN STEADILY DECLINING EVEN THOUGH I'VE CHANGED THE SPARK PLUGS, COILS, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR AND AIR FILTER. THE PROBLEM COULD BE A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP OR SOMETHING IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THERE HAVE EVEN BEEN OCCASIONS WHERE THE VEHICLE WON'T START IMMEDIATELY AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK UNTIL I'VE WAITED A FEW MINUTES.

NHTSA ODI 11288119

VEHICLE HAS STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE CABIN AT STARTUP BUT THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES TO CHECK. OTHER YEAR MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THE FUEL SYSTEM LEAKING, BUT NOT YET ON THIS YEAR MODEL AS FAR AS I COULD FIND.

NHTSA ODI 11287764

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED TOXIC FUMES COMING THROUGH THE VENTS INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED SCARSDALE FORD (LOCATED AT 887 CENTRAL PARK AVE, SCARSDALE, NY 10583, (914) 472-9500) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11232078

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

DURING ACCELERATION EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES CAN BE DETECTED BY PASSENGERS SEATED IN BACK AND MIDDLE ROW OF VEHICLE. DURING ALL OTHER TIMES LESSER AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST FUMES ARE PRESENT WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THESE FUMES ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE NAUSEOUS DURING LONG TRIPS. EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS SENT MULTIPLE NOTIFICATIONS CONCERNING THIS AND INDICATING THEY WILL TAKE SMALL ACTIONS AGAINST THIS WHEN WE ARRIVE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE AND REFUSE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11196390

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE P1450 WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WITH MCREE FORD (2800 GULF FWY, DICKINSON, TX 77539). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11171843

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED BUT RUNNING THERE IS A GAS SMELL THAT COMES INTO THE CAR BUT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME NOR DOES IT LINGER FOR VERY LONG AFTER CONTINUING TO DRIVE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11129307

FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM DIZZINESS SPELLS THAT HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN, NAUSEA , HEADACHES, BLURRED VISION, AND ANXIETY THAT IS BROUGHT ON FROM THESE SYMPTOMS. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DOCTOR COUNTLESS TIMES ATTEMPTING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM OF THE CAUSE OF MY SICKNESS. BEFORE I FOLLOWED UP ON THE RECALL I WASN'T AWARE THAT MY CAR WAS BEING RECALLED FOR CARBON MONOXIDE CONCERNS. BUT IT ALL MAKES SENSE THE MAJORITY OF TIME I FEEL THESE SYMPTOMS IS EITHER WHEN I'M DRIVING OR HAVE FINISHED DRIVING. (NEXT DR'S VISIT I WILL REQUEST THEY DO LAB WORK FOR POTENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.) OF COURSE ALL THE SYMPTOMS LINGER BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT STAYS IN MY SYSTEM. I FEEL LIKE MY CAR IS MAKING ME REALLY SICK. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR THAT I HAVE HAD FOR 2 YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11120017

MY HUSBAND, SON AND MYSELF WERE DRIVING FROM HIGH POINT NC TO WINSTON SALEM NC ABOUT 30 MINUTES DRIVE, BEFORE ARRIVE TO OUR DESTINATION WE HAVE TO STOP ALMOS IN THE MIDDLE OF A ROAD BECAUSE WE WERE FEELING SHORT OF AIR ALMOST UNABLE TO BREATH AND FEELING CHEST SUPPRESSION AND NAUSEA OUR SON GIVE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SMELL IN THE BACK SEAT BUT I WAS UNABLE TO FEEL IT DUE TO STUFF NOSE. MY HUSBAND HAD TO DRINK TWO BOTTLES OF WATER AND WE GOT OFF THE VEHICLE LIVING ALL DOORS OPEN, THE ODOR WAS VERY STRONG. IN MAY 15 2018 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHEN WE LEARNED ABOUT THE CARBON MONOXIDE RECALL THEY SAY THEY MADE THE REPAIR AND TODAY MAY 23 WE ALMOST CRASH. I THANKS GOD WE STOPPED AND GOT OFF THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11097703

THE SMELL OF EXHAUST WAS OVERWHELMING AND FINALLY A "FIX" WAS GENERATED. THE FIX IS WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM. NOW THERE IS AN EXTREMELY STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE THAT FLOODS THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS WHEN IN IDLE, WHEN DRIVING, WHEN OTHER CARS ARE AROUND OR IF I AM THE ONLY CAR IN THE LOT. OFTEN I NOTICE WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11081417

THE CAB FILLS UP WITH A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR PERIODICALLY, PROBABLY 40 PERCENT OF THE TIME. IT HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN OVER 35 MPH AND THEN SLOWS DOWN. I HAVE HAD THIS [PROBLEM CHECKED OUT TWICE AT MY A FORD SERVICE PROVIDER, BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN'T SMELL IT AND THEY DENY IT IS PRESENT. THEY DID SOME TYPE OF REPAIR THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ODOR IS VERY STRONG IN BACK SEAT AREA WHERE SMALL CHILDREN RIDE. ODOR IS ALSO STRONG AT RED LIGHTS AND PULLING INTO THE GARAGE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11064922

SMELL EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE OF SUV AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SMELL OCCURS WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS. CAR IS IN MOTION ON ANY TYPE OF STREET OR HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND REPLACING THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT($1,800) NO CHANGE. STILL HAVE SMELL

NHTSA ODI 11064584

EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ENTERING INTERSTATE AND PASSING CARS AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

NHTSA ODI 11040479

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CABIN BEGAN TO FILL WITH A FUEL ODOR. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO LOWER THE WINDOWS IN ORDER FOR THE ODOR TO DISSIPATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,200.

NHTSA ODI 11032083

FORD EXPLORER EXHAUST-LEAK. MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER FIRST EXHIBITED A STRONG EXHAUST LEAK SMELLS IN THE CABIN ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO WITH APPROXIMATELY 18-20,000 MILES. THE SMELL WAS MOST NOTICEABLE AFTER COMING TO A STOP WITH THE CAR AT FULL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. AROUND TOWN IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE PRESENT. I TOOK IT TO LOVELAND FORD AND THEY INSTALLED A "KIT" WHICH SEEMED TO STOP THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT HAS RECENTLY COME BACK STRONGER THAN EVER. YESTERDAY, I DROVE FROM DENVER UP INTO THE ROCKIES AND THE PROBLEM WAS PARTICULARLY BAD ON THE RETURN TRIP IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC TO THE POINT I WAS FEELING SICK BY THE TIME I GOT HOME. I HAVE HAD THIS BEFORE BUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MADE THIS PARTICULARLY UNPLEASANT. SO THE CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN IT MOST OFTEN EXHIBITS THE STRONG "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL MIXED WITH EXHAUST IS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT FULL TEMPERATURE AND COMES TO A STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11030807

PURCHASED 2 YR OLD EXPLORER-CERTIFIED-AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING HEADACHES, GETTING SLEEPY DURING HOUR COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK. WHEN CAR ACCELERATES ON HIGHWAY THE SMELL OF FUMES ENTERS THE CABIN. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH WE REALIZED THAT FORD ACKNOWLEDGED A FACTORY DEFECT IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM OF THEIR EXPLORERS THAT LEAKS EXHAUST FUMES AND CARBON MONOXIDE (CAN BE LETHAL) INTO THE CABIN. THEY ALSO HAVE A BULLETIN THAT STATES "CARBON MONOXIDE AND OTHER EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN ARE NEITHER HARMFUL NOR DEADLY". REALLY?! I GUESS WE'RE ALL WASTING OUR MONEY ON CO MONITORS FOR OUR HOMES. AND THE SEVERAL COPS DRIVING EXPLORERS, PASSING OUT AND CRASHING FROM THE CO-SOME OF WHOM WERE NEARLY KILLED-WERE IN NO DANGER EITHER. WONDER WHY AUSTIN, TEXAS AND A FEW OTHER CITIES HAVE PULLED THEIR ENTIRE FLEET OF EXPLORERS. I HAD TO FIGHT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO GET THEM TO PAY FOR "REPAIRS"---TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE FIRST WAS A PATCH JOB WHICH I FULLY EXPECTED, AS WELL AS A RETURN TRIP TO REPAIR A MONTH LATER. NOT CONVENIENT AS IT'S AN HOUR AWAY IN LA TRAFFIC. FIRST "REPAIR" TOOK OVER 3 WEEKS AND THEY CONTINUALLY WANTED ME TO RETURN THE RENTAL CAR AS IT WAS COSTING THEM---I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE GLAD TO RETURN IT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS FIXED. THEY TRIED THEIR BEST TO GET ME TO PAY FOR EACH REPAIR, WHICH I REFUSED AS I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED-SUPPOSEDLY SAFE-VEHICLE WHICH FORD ACKNOWLEDGED HAD A KNOWN FACTORY DEFECT. SAME STORY WITH 2ND REPAIR WHICH TOOK 10 DAYS WHERE THEY SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE EXHAUST SYSTEM. I HAVE MY DOUBTS THOUGH AS WE HAVE THE SAME MUFFLER AND EXHAUST PIPE WHICH I WOULD ASSUME WAS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. SO FAR WE DON'T SMELL ANY FUMES IN THE CABIN---WHAT'S SCARY THOUGH IS THAT CO HAS NO ODOR SO WE'RE GETTING A CO MONITOR FOR THE CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11024518

WITH RAPID ACCELERATION (GETTING ON A HIGHWAY) AN ODOR COMES INTO THE VEHICLE. IT USED TO HAVE A MORE GASOLINE LIKE SMELL, BUT WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOP AND THEY REPLACED A PART. (NOT SURE WHAT PART, BUT IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.) WE STILL HAVE THE SMELL BUT IT IS MORE CHEMICALLY NOW. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE STOMP ON THE GAS. MOSTLY IT OCCURS WHEN GETTING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT DOES OCCUR WHEN WE PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON REGULAR ROADS AND HAVE THE NEED FOR A QUICK ACCELERATION. IT TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES FOR THE ODOR TO DISSIPATE. SOMETIMES IT HAS BEEN SO STRONG MY KIDS HAVE STARTED COUGHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED THIS WE FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. WE ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OTHER VEHICLES AROUND US, BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED WITH NO VEHICLES AROUND, WE KNEW IT WAS OUR EXPLORER. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST US UNTIL SOMEONE MENTIONED THEIR PROBLEM TO MY HUSBAND AND NOW I SEE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11012740

EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN. WE EXPERIENCE A STRONG ODOR IN THE CABIN WHEN ACCELERATING, TYPICALLY WHILE GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR PASSING. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THE WINDOWS ARE OPEN OR THE AC IS ON. WE DON'T DRIVE THIS VEHICLE VERY MUCH TO DATE WE HAVE 28000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11011650