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

MY CAR STEERS HARD TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT. THERE IS NO PLACE TO REFILL FLUIDS AND THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL FUSE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11412813

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND DRIVE OFF THE ROAD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AUTOHAUS UWE NEU LOCATED AT VOGELBACHER WEG 44 HOMBURG GERMANY 66424 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11406890

DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY GOING AT LEAST 60MPH WHEN STEERING WILL LOCKED AND COULD NOT STEER LEFT OR RIGHT. I BELIEVE EVERY LIGHT FLASHED ON THAT THE VEHICLE HAS.JUST HAD TOE LINK RECALL REPLACED EXACTLY ONE WEEK AGO.

NHTSA ODI 11405927

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GROWLING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY STARTED TO TURN TO THE RIGHT, HEADING TOWARD THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MANUALLY STEERED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LEFT AND CENTER OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING BACK TO THE RESIDENCE WITH NO FURTHER FAILURES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11405534

STEERING BECAME VERY STIFF AND HARD TOO STEER. THEN IT BECAME VERY LOOSE AND NOT RESPONSIVE. NOW IT ALTERNATES BETWEEN STIFF AND LOOSE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11405638

WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN AN UPDATED RECALL ON THE 2014 EXPLORER ON LOSING ITS POWER STEERING? I JUST TURNED MY VEHICLE ON TO AUTONATION FORD IN BURLESON, TX TO GET THE REAR TOW LINK RECALL REPAIRED AND THE ASSOCIATE TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT A CAUSE IN THE RECALL AND THAT IT WAS SOMETHING WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE FIXED. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING DUE TO FAILURE TO MAINTENANCE OR DUE TO LACK OF TAKING CARE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND THE HISTORY PROVES IT! THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2011-2013 MODEL FOR THIS BUT NOW THAT IT IS CONTINUING, IT IS NOW THE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY? THIS EFFECTS THE DRIVING AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE LOW TURNING RADIUS, IT DISENGAGES ALL THE ADVANCED DRIVING MODES, IT ALSO EFFECTS THE BLINKERS. YOU HAVE TO HOLD THE BLINKER DOWN FOR IT TO STAY ON, YOU CANT JUST CLICK THE LEVER AND IT STAYS IN THE BLINKING MODE LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TOO. IF YOU PUT CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE STEERING CAN LOCK UP AND YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO JERK IT TO GET IT OUT OUT AND BE ABLE TO TURN OR EVEN SWERVE. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS AND HISTORY OR REOCCURRENCE, THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND NOT A OWNER ISSUE. IF FORD DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR US AND EVEN THE THOUGHT OF IT BEING A CHARGEABLE SERVICE, I WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO THIS TO A HIGHER DEMAND TO GET HELP AND TO BRING THIS TO THE ATTENTION TO THE ONES THAT NEED ACT. THIS IS UNSAFE TO ME AND MY FAMILY AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS. THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT NEEDS TO BE FIXED OR OFFER SOME SORT OF SOLUTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11405330

I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER AND NOTICED A SMALL GRINDING NOISE WHEN I WOULD BE PARKED OR WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS LIKE THIS FOR A FEW DAYS AND NOW WHEN DRIVING HOME IT LOCKED COMPLETELY ON ME AND I LOST STEERING ABILITY AND HAD TO FORCEFULLY PARK IT AND HAD A TOW TRUCK TAKE IT HOME. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD EXPLORER AND THE STEERING RACK. I HAVE A MECHANIC COMING OUT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AND WE NEED A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11403814

MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH ONLY HAS 83,000/MILES, STARTED EXPERIENCING TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING. IN CONDUCTING RESEARCH, THESE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, WHICH RESULTS IN A $1,700.00-TO-$2,000.00 REPAIR BILL. THE SECOND CONCERN IS THE STEERING FAILURE NOTED BY SOME COMPLAINTS, WHICH ENDANGERS EVERYONE WITHIN THE VICINITY TIME THE POINT OF FAILURE. IF IT IS SO COMMON, AND COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY, INCLUDING DEATH, WHY IS THIS NOT BEING RECALLED?

NHTSA ODI 11403024

ABOUT A YEAR AEGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED MAKING A NOISE WHENEVER I TURNED THE WHEEL BOTH PARKED OR MOVING. SINCE THEN IT HAS PROGRESSED INTO A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE WHEEL IS STICKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I HAVE TO FORCE IT TO MOVE AT TIMES. IT DOES NOT RETURN FREELY ANYMORE ON IT"S OWN TO A STRAIGHT FORWARD POSITION. AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN AT CHAPMAN FORD, EGG HARBOR NJ, THEY TOLD ME IT"S DANGERIOUS AND I COULD LOOSE MY STEERING ENTIRELY WHILE DRIVING AND TO HAVE THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED. I CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND THERE WAS A SIMILIAR RECALL A FEW YEARS PRIOR FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM. I DON"T THINK THE PROPER IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RACK AND PINION WHERE EVER APPLIED IN LATER MODELS AND THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER RECALL OR THE PRIOR RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11399460

THIS OCCURRED FIRST IN OUR DRIVEWAY, FIRST STARTUP IN THE MORNING STEERING WHEEL WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN. I JERKED IT LEFT AND RIGHT A FEW TIMES AND IT EVENTUALLY TURNED AS IT SHOULD. NO ABNORMAL LIGHTS ON DASH TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE EACH MORNING UNTIL FREEZING UP COMPLETELY,EVEN WITH THE FRONT WHEELS OFF THE GROUND STEERING WILL NOT BUDGE. I AM TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER HERE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ODI 11399474

WHILE DRIVING EITHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON CITY STREETS WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR A CURVE THE STEERING CATCHES AND MAKES ME SWERVE THE CAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THE ELECTRONIC STEERING WENT OUT SO THE GEARS ARE CATCHING AND I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T CRASH THE CAR!

NHTSA ODI 11396633

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE STEERING ASSIST FAULT MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NEEDED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FRIEND WHO USED A MACHINE THAT SHOWED AN INTERNAL ELECTRONIC FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD ALSO TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO AUTONATION FORD WHITE BEAR LAKE (1493 CO RD E EAST, WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN 55110) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

NHTSA ODI 11396457

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2014 EXPLORER ALERTED ME IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION SECTION LOCATED TO THE LEFT OF THE ODOMETER THAT MY 'STEERING LOSS STOP SAFETY' WAS UNAVAILABLE. IN ADDITION TO THIS, IT DISPLAYED, 'SERVICE ADVANCETRAC' AND 'COLLISON WARNING NOT AVAILABLE'. MOMENTS LATER MY STEERING LOCKED UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN OR CONTROL THE WHEEL. WE SAT STRANDED, WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY FOR HOURS UNTIL HELP COULD COME. WHILE OPERATING MY VEHICLE AT 70 MPH, I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY STEERING MAKING THIS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY AND I, AND THE DRIVERS SURROUNDING US. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH OUR MECHANIC, WE BELIEVE IT COULD BE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, YAW RATE SENSOR OR ANYTHING DIRECTLY RELATED TO STEERING AND/OR TRACTION CONTROL. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND IS AWAITING A REPAIR QUOTE.

NHTSA ODI 11394999

I HAD TOOK MY TRUCK TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL WITH THE TOE LINK TO BE REPAIRED AND YESTERDAY ON 01/30/2021 I WAS DRIVING AND THE ENGINE AND STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO DROP THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND ONCE I HIT THE HIGHWAY AND I STARTED TO DRIVE OVER 50 MILES IT MADE IT WORST, MY TRUCK WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THAT RECALL REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11390841

CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP ABOUT RECALL EFFECTING STEERING. WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE PART WOULD NOT BE IN FOR 3 TO 4 WEEKS. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR DIRECTLY AND THEY ASKED WAS I EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS AND I TOLD THEM THAT MY VEHICLE HAD FELT LIKE ITS SHIFTING SIDE TO SIDE WHEN I DRIVE. FORD REP TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY CAR TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. I QUESTIONED WHY DID I NEED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC WHEN THE FAILURE OF THE COMPANY TO HAVE THE RECALLED PART IN STOCK IS FORCING ME TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC DONE. IF THE PART WAS IN STOCK AND I WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE I WOULD HAVE MY VEHICLE CHECKED AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP THAT DOESN'T PAY CHARGE TO DIAGNOSE A VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11390660

FRONT STEERING NOISE POPPING SAME AS THE RECALL FOR 2011-13. 2014 NEEDS TO BE ADDED. FRONT RACK AND PINION NEEDS REPLACED AFFECTS STEERING. MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 11389055

WHILE MY WIFE IS DRIVING THE CAR WITH THE KID AND SUDDENLY FIND THE STEERING BECAME HARD TO TURN. EVEN FOR ME I HAD TO ROCK THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH JUST TO TURN THE CORNER. AFTER I SEARCH THE WEBSITE AND I FOUND FORD HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE RECALL FOR 2011~2013 MODEL. MY CAR IS 2014 MODEL AND I THINK THEY DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD COVER THIS DEFECT ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11386878

I HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH A STEERING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. THE STEERING JARS TO THE LEFT WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 55 OR SO ON CURVES. IF A CAR IS EVER COMING TOWARDS ME I HOPE TO GOD MY EXPLORER DOESN'T DECIDE TO MAR TO THE LEFT AT THAT POINT. ALSO, THE GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE RACK IS A FAULTY PART THAT SHOULD BE A RECALL AT THIS POINT AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THE FORD SHOULD LOOK AT. THE SOUND IS NOTICEABLE AT A COMPLETE STOP BUT DRIVING IT IS STILL PRESENT.

NHTSA ODI 11384514

I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ON THE PARKWAY AND AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, MY DASHBOARD LIT UP INDICATING "STEERING LOSS STOP SAFELY" & "SERVICE ADVANCETRAC". I AM BEYOND FURIOUS! LUCKILY I WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER THE VEHICLE SAFELY OFF THE ROAD, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE I COULD SAY THE SAME IF MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. THIS IS A DEATH SENTENCE TO A DRIVER. I SHOULD NOT BEAR THE BURDEN OF A NEARLY $3,000 REPAIR DUE TO FORD'S POOR ENGINEERING. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL AS THE PREVIOUS MODELS ARE. I AM FUMING!

NHTSA ODI 11383467

GOOD MORNING, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER20S62 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER20V675 I FEEL THAT THE RECALL FOR THE REAR SUSPENSION IS ALSO CAUSING THE STEERING WHEELS ON MANY OF THE FORD EXPLORERS TO SQUEAK, OR CREATE A LOUD BANGING NOISE. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SQUEAKING EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT AND NEVER HAD THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11378449

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK, STEERING ABRUPTLY GOT STIFF AND MAKING THE VEHICLE BECAME VERY DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS, GOT A WARNING FROM DASH AND NOW WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING/RUBBING NOISE FROM THE STEERING ASSEMBLY. HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER BUT WAS MANUFACTURED IN LATE 2013 AS A 14 MODEL. YET THIS RACK AND PINION IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. SINCE I CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIRS THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TO SIT. PRIOR RECALL FOR THE 2011-2013 NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COVER THESE NEW COMPLAINTS AS THESE PARTS WERE MOST LIKELY THE SAME PARTS INCLUDED IN THE INTIAL RECALL BUT PLACED IN THE NEWER MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. I CANNOT GET THE NEWEST RECALL ADDRESS BECAUSE I CAN'T GET THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER WITHOUT PAYING FOR A TOW TO AND FROM SINCE THE RACK AND PINION IS A MAJOR ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11378023

I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, IT WAS VERY LOUD, AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE CARS STEERING; ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND ON SHARP TURNS. (THE WHEELS DO NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EXITING A TURN AND WILL THEN OVER COMPENSATE AND VEER TO THE RIGHT AFTER HAVING TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11376135

POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT LIGHT CAME ON. POWER STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11375943

VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN WE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. SO WE TOOK IT TO THE SHOP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM SAYING IT WAS THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK AND PINION. THE SHOP DID NOT WANT US TO DRIVE VEHICLE HOME DUE TO BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. VEHICLE HAS UNDER 80K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11375724

ON NOVEMBER 8, 2020 I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND NOTICED A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, IT WAS VERY LOUD, AND CAUSED ME TO HAVE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE CARS STEERING; ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT AT LOWER SPEEDS AND ON SHARP TURNS. (THE WHEELS DO NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR RETURN TO CENTER WHEN EXITING A TURN AND WILL THEN OVER COMPENSATE AND VEER TO THE RIGHT AFTER HAVING TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL BACK.) WE TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FORD DEALER. AFTER REVIEWING MY EXPLORER THEY STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION WAS BAD AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ASAP DUE TO THIS BEING A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TO GET IT REPLACED TOTAL COST FOR THE JOB WOULD BE $4,284.59. I CALLED FORD COOPERATE AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT CAME ON SUDDENLY WITH OUT WARNING. I WAS MADE AWARE THAT THE PREVIOUS YEARS 2011-2013 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE, AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE 2014 AND 2015 HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT WITH ONLY A "WARNING" BEING PLACED ON THEM, NOT A RECALL FOR THE 2014 OR 2015. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY YEAR DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL AND STATED I COULD OPEN A CASE AND FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA AND THAT WAS ALL I COULD DO, BUT IF A RECALL WAS OFFERED IN THE FUTURE I COULD POSSIBLE GET REIMBURSED. WHEN WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TOE LINK THAT CAN AFFECT THE STEERING BUT NOT A RECALL ON THE RACK. THIS STEERING RACK ISSUE POSES A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. PLEASE CONSIDER WORKING WITH FORD TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL WHO DRIVE THE 2014 EXPLORER AND PLACE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM ASAP. I AM VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS PHYSICALLY HURT WHEN MY STEERING WENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER OF MAJOR SAFETY. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU.

NHTSA ODI 11375372