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

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 electronic steering assist is making noises. It’s hard to steer, steering locks up same issues as 2011-13 and 2016-17 Explorers. 2014 is the only model which hasn’t been recalled mileage is 112453 bought used with 109280 miles. When driving the steering wheel will suddenly lock up where you can’t turn then after a moment or so it will free up. This is very dangerous and I’ve seen a lot of other Ford Explorer owners with this same year 2014 having same problems and even wrecking their cars because of it. Ford recalled 2011-13 and 2016-17 but not 2014 or 2015 and these years are having same problems as the recalled vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11469965

1st time steering went out my family and I had driven 4 hours away to veterans park in marrinette County, we enjoyed a walk and went to leave turned car on as normal and put in reverse and had no steering had it flatbedded to a shop near home. Had rack and pinion replaced. Few months later noticed I had a very hard time steering all of a sudden no returnablity once steering wheel turned in either direction, called shop again brought back in checked out the part was defective that was put in rack in pinion replaced again, now here we r again steering going again, this is the 3rd time in the last 3 years the cost is to high to repair again and I can't even drive my son to school or myself and feel safe doing so. Also went into local ford dealshipnfor last recall and was told my hubs were bad but I exceeded the time frame to have them replaced within the recall told me I needed to pay 2500.00 to have replaced, so now I have a 30,000.00 car with a bank loan on it that is unsafe to drive for me and other on the road, have to pay for full coverage insurance and can't get anywhere. Recall on ever year but mine for the steering issue and ford won't help me. I have called them.

NHTSA ODI 11469984

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

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

the steering is getting hard and soft. when turning making it difficult to drive

NHTSA ODI 11469287

Power steering stopped working, no warning lights or messages appear in the dashboard. Vehicle only has 44,000 miles on it. No power assist while i was driving and vehicle suddenly started going to the left, had to jam on brakes before i hit a vehicle parked on the left side if the street. Vehicle has not been looked at yet.

NHTSA ODI 11469316

Complete loss of electronic power steering while driving on highway. Dashboard lit up like a christmas tree. Managed to hard steer off the road. No warning of any kind just died at 60Mph. Ford replaced entire electronic steering gear assembly at my cost, very expensive $2,800

NHTSA ODI 11469455

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the traffic control light and traction control warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed and repaired with a used part. The failure reoccurred. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V286000 (Steering). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 114,000.

NHTSA ODI 11469156

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468603

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated that the advance track, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure as the electrical power steering. The contact stated that the rack and pinion and electrical motor for the steering wheel needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that parts were on back order. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, no assistance was offered. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.

NHTSA ODI 11468487

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the water pump failed which caused the vehicle to lose motive power. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11467969

Vehicle Electronic Power Steering stopped working. Power Steering Fault & Service Advanced Trac message. Also saw a day later another message that would come up with the Service Advanced Trac. It would be to Check Brake System. While researching I found that Ford had a recall for the Power Steering & Service Advance Trac for the 2011 - 2013 model years. On the NHTSA there have been quite a few people complaining about the 2014 model for Power Steering & Service Advance Trac. I didn't get a picture of the Power Steering fault, but I did get a picture of the Service AdvanceTrac with the Check Brake message. Putting it in with this as well.

NHTSA ODI 11467980

While driving, without warning, the power steering went out. My 2014 Explorer became extremely difficult to steer. Luckily this happened before I made it to the end of my street. Had my wife been driving or I was traveling at higher speeds, this would have definitely resulted in an accident. We parked the car for a week, trying it intermittently, and today the steering worked again. But not knowing when or where it will happen again, and the accident risk to my family and other drivers, makes this vehicle inoperable. Given the similar complaints from other 2014 Explorer owners, this is clearly the case of a faulty part or system and Ford should issue a recall.

NHTSA ODI 11467533

The rear suspension on this vehicle stinks! I've done 2 recalls for the toe links. Now I've had to replace the rear wheel bearings. They were both bad! Niw that's done, i've a really bad(dangerous) swaying problem! The darn thing won't hardly stay on the road! I had to go to the VA for a dr appt last week in Huntington WV. On the way home i hit a downpour. I was lucky to get pulled over! The thing hydro-planed and bucked all over the road. I was only going about 40-45mph! The toe and camber are way out on the driver side rear, and the passenger side isn't much better... Those aren't the only problems. There's quite a list with this piece of junk! From the cat converters to the rear door locks, there's always been issues. I'm the second driver. I'm on disability and drive nowhere. Especially doing/driving cazy/ abusive. My dad was the other driver until he passed in 2018, and he was just an old preacher. He never hit 75mph in the thing, though he put alot of highway miles on it. I've never been above like 78 - 80mph in it... We both were/are very proactive as far as maintenence... There ought to be a lemon law...

NHTSA ODI 11467256

Power steering locked up while driving, a warning on the dash to have power steering serviced came up, we drove approximately one mile or less down the road to a friends house and as we were pulling in his drive the steering locked up, the vehicle could not be moved, it was inoperable and had to be towed to the Ford garage This was a very serious safety hazard, had it locked up while we were driving down the road we would had no control of the steering, and ended up where it took us. Across the center line onto on coming traffic or off the side of the road. Vey scary situation

NHTSA ODI 11467339

lost power steering while driving. almost hit pedestrians

NHTSA ODI 11467420

Electric Power Steering unit has frozen or locked up. Occurred at slow speed in my driveway before I pulled out into traffic, fortunately. Unable to turn steering wheel at all. Disconnecting battery to reset system did not change anything. Car will have to be towed or trailered to dealer for repair.

NHTSA ODI 11466698

I was driving and there was a loud pop then the steering wheel lock up on me. The power steering assist warning light came on all at once. Lucky I turned to a stop sign and only ran off in the grass for a second. If I would have turned right me and my fiancée would probably be dead or in the hospital since the road I did not take is very busy and well none for crashes. I was in the middle of pulling out and had to forces the wheel to turn to keep us safe and able to park.

NHTSA ODI 11466574

This is an addition to initial complaint #11464655 regarding partial loss of steering. My initial complaint was for partial loss of steering while operating at 40 mph.. I had the vehicle inspected and it was determined that the rack and pinion failed. My mechanic attempted to order a new rack and pinion from Ford but Ford states that rack and pinion's for 2014 Explorers are on back order since so many have had steering loss issues and that they have no clue when the rack and pinions for the 2014 Explorer will be available. It seems as if there must be an issue with the steering in the 2014 Explorer if Ford itself states that they do not have any rack and pinions on hand for the many 2014 Explorer owners who have experienced steering loss issues with their vehicles and with the non-availability of a replacement rack and pinion for the 2014 Explorer, owners have their vehicles sitting at dealership or repair shops since they are not able to safely operate until such time that Ford is can produce the replacement rack and pinion. Fords answer to this issue (lack of replacement part - rack and pinion) is for the 2014 Explorer owners to rent a vehicle until the part becomes available but that puts a financial burden on the many 2014 Explorer owners for them to pay for the rental out of their own pocket while their vehicle is just sitting at a dealership or repair shop awaiting a replacement part due to the lack of availability of such replacement part. With so many 2014 Explorers out of commission due to steering and the lack of replacement rack and pinion, I believe this is a serious problem nationwide that should be handled as a potential recall. Ford had steering issues with its 2011-2013 Ford Explorers and I believe the steering issues for the 2014 Explorer should be examined and added to the recall for safety issues before a 2014 Explorer is involved in a fatal crash resulting in fatalities.

NHTSA ODI 11466296

There is a distinct smell of gas inside my cars cabin. I’ve tested for carbon monoxide and found the level to be higher than any car I’ve tested under similar conditions. My car is no longer drivable because the smell makes me nauseous and sick. It began slowly one day and is now so overwhelming. The dealer says they know about the issue but that it has not been recalled. My mechanic says I have a laundry list of repairs that would be needed to possibly remedy the issue. It’s not guaranteed.

NHTSA ODI 11466024

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn left or right. The steering assist fault warning light was illuminated. The contact restarted the vehicle and the vehicle worked as designed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where they informed the contact that the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11466117

My 2014 explorer was just diagnostic with a failing electric racket pinon steering defect. I am unable to drive my vehicle and not able to repair it, the cost is way to much. I see that the 2011 thru 2013 have a recall on steering failure that was addressed in August of 2014. The steering locks up on me and feels like its all over the road.

NHTSA ODI 11465969

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking coolant. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 159,000.

NHTSA ODI 11465981

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