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

I HAVE OWNED A 2014 FORD EXPLORER FOR A YEAR NOW. WHEN I PURCHASED IT, IT HAD 40,000 MILES ON IT SO, OUT OF THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY PERIOD. NOW, EVERY TIME I GET ON THE INTERSTATE OR TRY TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING VEHICLE. THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST THAT ENTERS THE CABIN OF THE SUV WHICH RESULTS IN ME GETTING A HEADACHE AND MY SON COMPLAINING OF HIS NOSE BURNING. I SCHEDULED AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE MULLINAX FORD HERE IN MOBILE, AL WHERE THEY CHARGED ME 99.00 TO RUN TEST ON THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF CARBON MONOXIDE WAS ENTERING THE CABIN AND THE TEST CAME BACK POSITIVE. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $553.00, WHICH THEY CALL A DISCOUNT, TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY CREATED A CASE AND SENT IT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THIS WAS ONLY TO GET A DECISION FROM THE MANAGER THAT I STILL HAD TO PAY $553.00. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT. THIS VEHICLE IS POISONING MY FAMILY (3 KIDS) AND THEY WON'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE ONLY REPAIRING POLICE CARS AS OF NOW.

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THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST ODOR COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WITH ALL OF ITS WINDOWS UP EVERY TIME AFTER A HEAVY ACCELERATION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE A/C VENTILATION IS ON OR NOT. THE STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IS INESCAPABLE AFTERWARD WHILE STILL IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY OR WHILE STOPPING AFTER THE ACCELERATION. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSISTENTLY REPEATABLE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE PURCHASING IT AS BRAND NEW. MY DEALERSHIP DID NOT FIND A TSB AND OFFERED NO RESOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM.

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VEHICLE UNDER HARD ACCELERATION AND THE AIR IS ON RECIRCULATE, THE CABIN FILLS UP WITH EXHAUST.

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WE ARE GETTING EXHAUST FUMES COMING THRU AC DUCTS WHILE DRIVING

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EXHAUST FUMES ODOR WHILE DRIVING IS CAUSING NAUSEA AND HEADACHES TO ME AND MY WIFE MAKING IT UNBEARABLE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT STARTED OUT ONLY WHEN WE WOULD TURN ON A/C BUT NOW ITS ALL THE TIME.

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WHEN DRIVING, PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW CRACKED WHEN GOING FROM HOT TO COLD TEMPERATURES. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT.

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MY WINDSHIELD TRIM BLEW OFF WHEN DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT.

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STEERING WENT OUT CANT TURN WHEEL NO POWER STEERING

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CARBON MONOXIDE WAS DETECTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AS WELL AS FUMES/ EXHAUST ODOR.

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MULTIPLE SENSOR FAILURES WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. CLIMATE CONTROL SENSOR FAILED, RESULTING IN TEMPERATURES BEING INCREASED TO THE MAXIMUM HEAT. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY. WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID SENSOR FAILED AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS FLUID IN THE RECEPTACLE. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION. SENSOR ON DUAL CLIMATE CONTROL FAILED AND WAS BLOWING HOT AIR AT THE PASSENGER AND COLD AIR AT THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MOTION.

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ON JULY 20, 2017, WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE OUT OF MY GARAGE, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A WARNING LIGHT ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL CAME ON. THINKING THE TRACTION CONTROL HAD INADVERTENTLY BEEN PRESSED, I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN FUNCTIONING NORMALLY AT THAT POINT. ON SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2017, AS MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH ME AND 3 OF OUR CHILDREN AS PASSENGERS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL BEING TURNED OFF AND POWER STEERING ASSIST NEEDING SERVICE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND THEN ON ONCE AGAIN SEEMED TO RESET THE POWER STEERING AGAIN. I CALLED AUTOFAIR FORD OF HAVERHILL, MA THE NEXT DAY AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN THAT AFTERNOON. ON THE WAY TO AUTOFAIR FORD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN. AUTOFAIR DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A FAILED STEERING RACK AND REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AND PROGRAM SYSTEM FOR A TOTAL OF $1721.90. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I LEARNED THAT THE 2011, 2012, AND 2013 FORD EXPLORERS HAD THE SAME OR VERY SIMILAR ISSUE AND THERE WAS A RECALL. IN ADDITION, I FOUND MESSAGE THREADS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES OF 2014 FORD EXPLORERS HAVING THE SAME OR SIMILAR ISSUES AS WE DID. LUCKILY, WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED ON MY VEHICLE, WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR; HOWEVER, IF SUDDEN SHARP STEERING WOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED, THERE LIKELY WOULD HAVE BEEN ONE. IN ADDITION, A FAILURE SUCH AS THIS ONE SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE THAT IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD WITH ABOUT 48,450 MILES ON IT. WE HAVE HAD ALL REGULAR RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCES PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AT AUTOFAIR FORD, FORMALLY REGAN FORD, FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE AS A NEW VEHICLE.

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THERE HAVE BEEN REGULAR INSTANCES WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE OF UNEXPLAINABLE DROWSINESS, HEADACHES, CONFUSION, AND IMPAIRMENT. WHILE LEARNING OF THE LATEST NEWS OF POSSIBLE DANGEROUS FUMES BEING ALLEGED IN THE PASSENGER CABIN, I WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT IN MY PERSONAL VEHICLE. I HAVE BECOME SERIOUSLY MORE CONCERNED AS I AM NOW TRAVELING WITH AN INFANT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME, AND RECOGNIZING THAT I WAS SUBJECT TO THESE CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT A FULL PREGNANCY. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY DRIVER SINCE OWNING IT. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE WORK COMPLETED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. ALTHOUGH I DON'T TRAVEL OFTEN BY CAR, THERE HAVE BEEN TRIPS THAT I HAVE TAKEN THAT WERE APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES IN LENGTH THAT WOULD REQUIRE A STOP FOR REST AND / OR SLEEP. THIS IS NOT A USUAL CHARACTERISTIC OF MY DRIVING STYLE. THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THERE ARE NO NOTICEABLE DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THIS ISSUE BETTER OR WORSE.

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THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ESPECIALLY ON FULL ACCELERATION. SEEMS TO BE UNDER ANY CONDITION OF THE CABIN AS FAR AS WINDOW OPEN PARTIALLY, CLOSED WINDOWS WITH VENT ON, AC ON WITH OR WITHOUT THE RECIRCULATION BEING USED. MOSTLY ANNOYING AND IT DOES SEEM TO DISSIPATE AFTER A FEW MINUTES, WILL OCCUR FROM STARTING AT FULL STOP OR USE SUCH AS FULL THROTTLE FOR PASSING AT ANY SPEED. DO NOT SEEM TO NOTICE A SMELL WHEN RUNNING IN TOWN OR ON FREEWAY. RARELY SIT WITH ENGINE RUNNING AND HAVE NOT NOTICED THE EXHAUST SMELL THUS FAR.

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I GET VERY NAUSEOUS AND HEAD ACHES WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE. SOME TIMES BLURRED VISION AND A FEELING OF SLOWED REACTION. I HAVE HAD AN INSTANCE WHERE I BLACKED OUT WHILE DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS, TO BE AWAKENED WHEN MY VEHICLE RAN ACROSS GRAVELS BEFORE ENTERING A YARD. I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF THE INTERSTATE WHERE I WAS DOING AROUND 70 MPH AND ABOUT 1/2 MILE AFTER THE TOP OF THE OFF RAMP I BLACKED OUT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, I CAME TO IN TIME TO PULL THE WHEEL TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BUT WAS PERFECTLY FINE RIGHT BEFORE I BLACKED OUT. I WASN'T TIRED BEFORE THIS. WHEN I DRIVE OUR 2017 FORD F-350 I DO NOT HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS. THEY SEEM TO GO AWAY. OR IF I RIDE IN MY EXPLORER WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN I SEEM TO FEEL BETTER. AFTER MY RIDE HOME FROM WORK IF I RUN THE AIR AND HAVE MY WINDOWS UP I AM SO TIRED BY THE TIME I GET HOME THAT I CAN'T DO ANYTHING BESIDES LAY ON THE COUCH AND SLEEP. WHICH IS NOT ME- I HAVE NO HEALTH ISSUES AND AM VERY ACTIVE IF I DO NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.

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STRONG EXHAUST ODOR IN CAB WHILE DRIVING + THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS CAR 16S18 REPLACE BOTH TEAR TOE LINKS

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THE WINDOW TRIM ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BECAME LOOSE AND THEN FLEW OFF OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR HAS 3500 MILES. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE I HAVE LEARNED BY READING THESE FORUMS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED WITH THE RPM'S ABOVE 3500. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

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MY FORD EXPLORER HAS SIGNIFICANT EXHAUST SMELL IN THE VEHICLE AT TIMES, USUALLY AFTER I HAVE KICKED IT DOWN INTO PASSING GEAR, SUCH AS IN CLIMBING HILLS. WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE, I ASKED THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM TO TRY TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS CAUSING IT AND THEY CLAIMED THEY COULD NOT DISCERN ANY ODOR. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THAT HAVE BEEN PUSHED OUT BY FORD FOR MY VERY PROBLEM AND HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE IS NO INDICATION ANY OF THEIR EFFORTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM ARE ACTUALLY WORKING. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FORD FOR EASTER EGG HUNTS, SO I AND MY FAMILY ARE WAITING FOR A RECALL. IN THE MEANWHILE, WE ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. WE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY ONE LAW FIRM SO FAR THAT IS INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THIS ISSUE. WE WOULD RATHER HAVE FORD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS INITIALLY NOTICED JUST AFTER WE BOUGHT IT, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO SOMETHING ON THE ENGINE THAT WOULD BURN OFF IN TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED THE ENTIRE TIME WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM DOESN'T SEEM DIRECTLY RELATED TO SPEED OF TRAVEL.

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WHEN ACCELERATING, A STRONG ODOR COMES FROM THE AIR VENTS. THE ODOR LINGERS AND SMELLS VERY STRONG, I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE EXHAUST FUMES, AS IT ONLY HAPPENS DURING ACCELERATION.

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CARBON MINOXIDE ENTERING THE CABIN. EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN.

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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.

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THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK HAS FAILED ON OUR VEHICLE. THIS I HAVE SEEN IS A PROBLEM FORD HAS HAD IN THE PAST AND HAS STILL NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE OUT OF POCKET COSTS ARE $2500.00 . THE STEERING IS UNSAFE AND IS ALLOVER THE ROAD. FURTHER TO THIS THE POWER SEAT MOTOR FAILED AND THEY WANT $2500 TO REPAIR IT . THIS I FEEL IS VERY UNFAIR AND GOUGING.

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WHEN ACCELERATING QUICKLY OR GOING UP HILL, WHICH CAUSES A HIGHER RPM, A HORRIBLE SMELL COMES IN THE CAR. IT SMELLS LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN ROTTEN EGGS AND BURNT HAIR. AFTER READING OTHER'S REPORTS, IT COULD BE THE EXHAUST BEING SUCKED INTO THE CAR. IT SEEMS TO BE WORSE WHEN THE REAR AIR IS ON. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE DATE ENTERED BELOW IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURENCE. I ALWAYS ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO AIR OUT THE EXHAUST/SMELL.

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EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE CABIN. WHEN QUICKLY ACCELERATING THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES FILLS THE CABIN. I'M NOT SURE IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR HEADERS BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SINCE THE SMELLS COMES THROUGH THE A/C VENTS. THIS HAS ME AND MY FAMILY WORRIED OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.

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EXHAUST ODOR IN CABIN AFTER HARD ACCELERATION.

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