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

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

WE HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND THE SEATBELT IS IN A RETRACTED POSITION AND IS STUCK. WE HAD IT INTO FORD AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET IT TEMPORARILY UNSTUCK BUT IT IS STUCK AGAIN. THEY PRICED THE PART AND LABOR AND IT WILL BE $415 TO REPLACE. WE ARE OVER THEIR SAFETY WARRANTY FOR MILEAGE. THEY INSTRUCTED US TO REACH OUT TO YOU TO HELP WITH ESCALATING THE SITUATION TO FORD. WE CANNOT USE THAT SAFETY BELT AT ALL IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION. WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A CARSEAT WITH LATCHES IN THAT POSITION SO SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT THE SEATBELT HAS BEEN USED MINIMALLY. IF YOU COULD ESCALATE THIS SITUATION TO FORD FOR A RESOLUTION WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU!

NHTSA ODI 11398565

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHICH DISABLES ALL AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE, MAKING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE OPERATIONS ISSUE. UPON DIAGNOSES IT APPEARS FORD MOCO IS AWARE OF A FAULTY ISSUE UNDER THE SECOND ROW SEATS FOR THE OPTIONAL SEATBELT AIRBAGS, AS ISSUED WITH FORD TSB 16-0001, TO DATE FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO SERVICE THE KNOW ISSUE. THE AVERAGE REPAIRS ARE COSTING CONSUMERS AROUND $1,000 +/- FOR THE REPAIRS, THUS TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE BYPASSING THE REPAIRS DUE TO THE HIGHER COSTS AND THUS DRIVING 'NEWER/MODERN' VEHICLES WITHOUT STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT ACTIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11398307

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!

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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

THERE WAS A RECALL 19S17 ON THE VEHICLE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THIS 12-16-2019. THEY REPLACED THE TOE LINKS (PART DB5Z-5A972-J) AND REPORTED THAT THE LEFT SIDE TOE LINK BALL JOINT WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY WOULD HAVE TO RESCHEDULE A TIME TO DO THAT. BECAUSE THE JOINT WAS LOOSE, THEY DID NOT PERFORM THE ALIGNMENT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE AFTER TOE LINK REPLACEMENT. DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON SNOW COVERED ROADS AFTERWARDS REVEALED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT BECAUSE OF VERY POOR HANDLING/WANDER. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM BEFORE THE SERVICING. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE DONE A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THE ALIGNMENT CLOSE ENOUGH INSTEAD OF SENDING THE VEHICLE OUT IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION. BECAUSE OF THE COST I WAS QUOTED, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR THE JOINT REPLACEMENT, WHERE IT WAS DONE MUCH CHEAPER. I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE 20V-675 DATED NOVEMBER 2020, ON THE TOE LINKS AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON 12-30-2020. THEY REPORTED THAT THE TOE LINKS PASSED THE INSPECTION AND THEY REPLACED THE ATTACHING BOLTS. ON 1-30-2021 I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN A 70 MPH ZONE IN THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE LEFT SIDE TOE LINK FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WENT WILDLY OUT OF CONTROL, SKIDDING AND SLIDING BACK AND FORTH UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO FIGHT IT TO A STOP. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT A COLLISION WITH NEARBY TRAFFIC. THIS WAS 30 DAYS AFTER THE TOE LINK WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER IN THE AREA. THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH TOE LINKS. I HAVE THE BROKEN TOE LINK. FORD HAS REFUSED TO COVER ANY OF MY EXPENSE WHICH INCLUDED A RENTAL CAR. MY CONCERN IS THAT DRIVING THE CAR NOW PRESENTS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. WILL A TOE LINK BREAK AGAIN AND SEND THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT?

NHTSA ODI 11396555

2014 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NHTSA SAFETY RECALL 20V-675. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE TO COMPLETE THE RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11396296

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE REAR LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT REGAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO BILL BROWN FORD (32222 PLYMOUTH RD, LIVONIA, MI 48150) WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V435000 (SUSPENSION) FOR THE REAR TOE LINK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NEW RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECENTLY THE STEERING WHEEL AND REAR WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11395817

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 20V675000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BOGGUS FORD HARLINGEN (2521 S EXPRESSWAY 83, HARLINGEN, TX 78550, (956) 423-2580) AND WAS INFORMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11382997

I WAS EXPERIENCING THE SMALL OF EXHAUST IN MY VEHICLE RECENTLY. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY LET ME KNOW THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN EXPLORERS FOR MODEL YEARS 2011-2017, BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T COVERED BY THE SERVICE BULLETIN OR SAFETY RECALL. I DID PROCEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CONTACT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM, THEY ALSO REITERATED THE SAME INFORMATION--THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUED, BUT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED AS ONE WHERE THIS WOULD BE A CONCERN. I AM CONFUSED BY THIS AS I DID UNKNOWINGLY EXPERIENCE THESE FUMES IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO PARTIALLY TAKE THE CAR APART TO SEAL VARIOUS AREAS, ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11383055

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

2014 MODEL FORD EXPLORER INNER INTERIOR DOOR PANELS, GLUE HOLDING UPPER MATERIAL ONTO DOOR PANEL HAS LET GO AND FOLDED OVER ON BOTH FRONT DOORS, THIS WAS AN ISSUE AND A RECALL/REPLACEMENT WAS ISSUES UNDER A TSB AS WELL, BUT FORD WILL ONLY FIX OR REPLACE WITHIN 5 YEARS, UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE DOOR MATERIAL WAS STARTING TO COME OFF, BY THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED IT WAS EARLY 2020 WHICH MADE THE REPAIR OPTION VOID DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF THE 5 YEAR PERIOD. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED FOR AT LEAST A 10 YEAR SPAN AS IT APPEARS THIS IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF THESE EXPLORERS JUST OUTSIDE OF TEH 5 YEAR REPAIR TIMEFRAME.

NHTSA ODI 11378024

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 20S62/HNTSA RECALL 20V-675. HOWEVER IT ISN'T IN ANY SYSTEM. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE IF I ACTUALLY DO OR DON'T HAVE A SAFETY RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CORPORATE OFFICE, BUT I CAN'T TALK TO A PERSON SO I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM THE ISSUING OFFICE. PLEASE HELP!!

NHTSA ODI 11377920

DOOR PANEL HAS POPPED OFF THE TOP OF INTERIOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND IS ALSO PULLING AWAY ON ARM REST. THIS WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL BY FORD BUT OURS DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL END DATE AND FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE DOOR PANEL UNLESS YOUR SHOWED THE DEFECT. FORD REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW ITS A FLAW.

NHTSA ODI 11377526

THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL HAD BUCKLED AND COMING OFF. RECALL 17N04 BUT BECAUSE IT AFTER 5 YEARS THEY WONT COVER. THIS NOT FAIR WHEN THEY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11377337

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.

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