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

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LIKE EVERY OTHER DAY, AND SHE LOST POWER/ACCELERATION, AND SHE PULLED OFF THE MAIN ROAD TO A SIDE ROAD, AND FROM THERE IT WOULD NOT MOVE. OUR 2014 FORD EXPLORER, 2.0L I4 HAD A FRONT RIGHT DRIVE AXLE BREAK OFF FOR NO REASON AND JAM ITSELF INTO THE TRANSMISSION. ALL THE TECHS AT FORD HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND HAVE NO REASONS WHY IT WOULD DO THAT. IT TOOK THREE TECHS TO GET IT OUT. NOW RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. WE ARE JUST OVER 100K MILES, BUT THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE DUE TO THERE BE NO REAL REASON OR EVENT WE CAN TRACE THIS TO. FORD DID NOT LET US SEE THE DAMAGE OR PICTURES OF IT. WOULD THEY BE COVING?

NHTSA ODI 11152175

THE BLACK WINDSHIELD MOULDING ON THE DRIVER CAME LOOSE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11152046

NOTICED LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING RIGHT DRIVING LESS THAN 10MPH. NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON YET. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK IS FAILING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I NOTICED THAT THE 2011,12,13 RECALLED BUT DOESN'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT 2014'S ARE HAVING.

NHTSA ODI 11151218

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SUDDENLY CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH, THE THIRD ROW SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE TWO CHILDREN SEATED IN THE THIRD ROW TO JERK FORWARD AND SLAM INTO THE BACK OF THE SECOND ROW SEATS. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CHILD SEATED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE NOSE AND MOUTH AND THE CHILD SEATED ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT SUSTAINED SEVERE LACERATIONS TO THE FOREHEAD. THE CHILDREN WERE BOTH TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11150395

CAR DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AFTER ABOUT 10 MILES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. A FEW MILES AFTER SEVERAL WARNINGS CAME ON TELLING ME THERE IS A STEERING FAILURE AND TO STOP AND GET IMMEDIATE SERVICE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED AND IT'S AT THE DEALER NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11149866

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

NOTICED LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE TRAVELING AROUND 40MPH. NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON YET. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING RACK IS FAILING AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. FORD QUOTED ME ROUGHLY $1500 FOR THE RACK AND LABOR, THIS IS CRAZY THAT THE 2011,12,13 RECALL DOESN'T COVER THE SAME PROBLEM THAT 2014'S ARE HAVING.

NHTSA ODI 11145333

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PERIODICALLY GOES OUT, THE DASH LIGHTS BLINK OFF AND ON, ALRMS GO OFF WITH MESSAGES THAT STATE THERE IS A FAILURE OF TERRAIN, MANAGEMENT, ABS SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING, THEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT IMMEDIATELY , DASH IS BLACK. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS , IT SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH FORD WHEN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE. SOMEONE CAN WRECK AND DIE WITH THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE

NHTSA ODI 11144969

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IN TO HERITAGE FORD MODESTO CA. WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESSES FOR THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY FACTORY RECALL DESPITE BEING A COMMON DEFECT AND SAFETY ISSUE. MILEAGE AT TIME OF SERVICE 62,000 MILES. COST $565.00

NHTSA ODI 11144813

THROTTLE BODY ACTUATOR DROVE MY CAR AROUND ALL MORNING, GOT GOME LET IT SIT FOR A FEE GOIRS WENT TO GO BACK TO TOWN AND IT STARTED SKIPPING, I HAD NO POWER TO MY GAS PEDDLE, THE ENGINE AMD WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NOTNDRIVE MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11144308

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. KNOWN FORD ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11144583

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

DRIVER DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON. THE INDOOR LIGHTS DO NOT POWER DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES. THE ALARM BELL RINGS PERIODICALLY WHILE IN MOTION INDICATING THE DOOR IS AJAR. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY ON THE HIGHWAY AS WELL AS DRIVING AROUND TOWN. WHEN IN PARK, THE ALARM BELL WILL BEEP TWICE TO INDICATE THE DOOR AJAR SIGNAL IS ON, BUT THE DOOR IS LOCKED. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11141386

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "STEERING FAILED" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (STUART POWELL FORD, INC., 225 S DANVILLE BYP, DANVILLE, KY 40422, (859) 238-1197) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: CAS 15916495. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,940.

NHTSA ODI 11140840

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING SEIZED WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN HOME AND WAS LATER TAKEN TO NORRIS FORD (901 MERRITT BLVD, BALTIMORE, MD 21222, (410) 285-0200). THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTING THEY COULD DO SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA AND FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,500.

NHTSA ODI 11139402

TOTAL MILEAGE 24326, BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR OIL CHANGE AND SUSPECTED EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN. MECHANIC'S ANSWER TO SMELL "THE SMELL IS THE PTU COMING APART INSIDE. THE OIL IS BLACK AND THERE IS METAL FILINGS ON THE PLUG. TRANSFER CASE NEEDS REPLACEMENT." DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR SAYS THIS IS VERY COMMON, "...HAVE DONE OVER A HUNDERED...". WAS CAUGHT ONLY BECAUSE SMELL WAS MENTIONED. SCHEDULED INSPECTION/OIL CHANGE OF TRANSFER CASE NOT REQUIRED FOR ANOTHER 6000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER TOWED ANYTHING AND IS NOT USED OFF-ROAD. VEHICLE AT DEALER HAVING TRANSFER CASE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11133205

AT 61946 THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING FAILED. WHILE THE WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE NOTICED A DISTINCTIVE NOISE WHEN SHE TURNED AND IT PULLED SUDDENLY TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. UPON A INTERNET I FOUND THAT FROM 2008-2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAD HAD RECALLS DEALING WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. AFTER READING PREVIOUS YEAR COMPLAINTS, I CAN SAY THEY STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. FORD NEEDS TO KEEP THE RECALLS GOING.

NHTSA ODI 11132363

WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME I FELT ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT THE STEERING WANTING TO BIND, WHEN I TURNED IT FELT AT AN INTERSECTION LIKE IT WAS STUCK AND COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN. I CAME HOME AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE, WHEN I TURNED IT OFF AND STARTED AGAIN THE STEERING WAS LOCKED. THE DISPLAY SHOWED STEERING PROBLEMS PLACE IN PARK. ALSO TRACK CONTROL WAS DISPLAYED.

NHTSA ODI 11130825

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

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

ALL RECOMMENDED REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON THE FORD EXPLORER AND EXHAUST FUMES ARE STILL PRESENT IN THE CABIN.

NHTSA ODI 11129548

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

HEAVY SMELL OF EXHAUST IN THE SUV WHILE DRIVING CARBON DIOXIDE IS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL. DRIVING IT MAKES ME FEEL SICK/LIGHT HEADED....

NHTSA ODI 11128384

STEERING BECAME HEAVY AND STIFF WITHOUT WARNING. TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROLS FAILED TO WORK CAUSING TROUBLE LIGHTS TO COME ON. TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT STAY ACTIVATED. STEERING FAULT INDICATOR ALSO ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A LEVELED CITY ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11124158

WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AROUND WITH ABOUT 10,000 MILES ON MAY 2018 STATING WE SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THEY PUT SOME TYPE OF RUBBER PLUGS IN THE LIFT GATE REAR HATCH. THIS DIDN'T CURE THE PROBLEM. BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK ON AUGUST 21, 2018 WITH 13,800 MILES AND TOLD THEM WHEN WE TRIED TO ENTER A FREEWAY WHILE ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC WITH THE A/C ON THERE IS A VERY PROFOUND ODOR OF EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THERE WAS A TSB ISSUED FOR THIS VEHICLE BACK IN 2016 FOR THIS ISSUE. BUT UNFORTUNATELY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR ONLY HAS 13,800 MILES ON IT NOW, IT IS OVER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED FROM THEM FOR 50,000 OR FIVE YEARS WON'T COVER IT EITHER. DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE US 1,100 FOR THE REPAIRS. WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED EARLIER IF WE WERE TOLD BACK IN 2016 THERE WAS A TSB FOR THIS PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CAR MAY BE FIVE YEARS OLD BUT IT ONLY HAD 10,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT IN THE FIRST TIME. CAR IS JUST ABOUT BRAND NEW AND THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR REPAIRS ON A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS A DEFECTIVE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11123814