Home · 2014 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

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

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,671)Crash / fire / injury (50)Steering (496)Body & structure (274)Engine (196)Suspension (102)Electrical system (100)Transmission & drivetrain (79)Fuel system (71)Engine & cooling (67)Visibility & wipers (53)Airbags (47)

Newest first · 1,671 complaints · page 53 of 67

Jul 29, 2017

STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST FUMES WHEN EXCELLERATING HARD FROM A STOP OR FROM ANY SPEED AND EXCELLERATION IS CONTINUED FOR AT LEAST 20 TO 30 SEC.

NHTSA ODI 11011447

Jul 29, 2017

DURING ACCELERATION, THERE IS A BURNT/EXHAUST ODOR ENTERING THE PASSENGER CABIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO MY FORD DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM EVEN WHEN THEY FOLLOW THE TSB. IT IS MAKES FEEL ME ILL AND I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11011487

Jul 29, 2017

REPORTED EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS FEBRUARY 2017. WENT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER AND HAD 'REPAIRS' MADE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AT THAT TIME AT A COST OF NEARLY $600. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND IT APPEARS TO BE A SIMILAR ISSUE TO THAT BEING REPORTED IN POLICE EQUIPED VEHICLES..

NHTSA ODI 11011495

Jul 28, 2017

FUME SMELL IN THE CABIN. SMELLS LIKE THE EXHAUST IS COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 11011201

Jul 28, 2017Body & structureEngine

OUR '14 EXPLORER HAS CONSISTENTLY ALLOWED EXHAUST GAS TO ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UPON 1/2 TO FULL THROTTLE ACCELERATION. STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT FOR ABOUT $800! THEY SAID IT WAS COMING FROM EXHAUST ENTERING THE REAR AC. AC ON OR OFF MAKES NO DIFFERENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11011261

Jul 28, 2017

MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER IS EMITTING A SMELL IN THE THE VECHICLE. I DRIVE MY TRUCK ALL DAY 5 DAYS A WEEK WITH MY JOB AND I HAVE BEEN EXPERINCING DIZZINESS AND HEADACHES AND BREATHING PROBLEMS. I BORROWED A FRIENDS CARBON MONOXIDE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AND IT DETECTED READINGS OF (CO). I FIND THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY WINDOWS OPEN IN ORDER TO HAVE FRESH AIR WHILE DRIVING SO I DON'T GET SLEEPY. THE SMELL IS PERSISTANT THROUGHOUT MY WORK DAY AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CARBON MONIXIDE AND HOW IT IS EFFECTING MY HEALTH. THE ODOR OCCURS WHILE DRIVING, SITTING IN TRAFFIC OF AT RED LIGHTS EVERY DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11011278

Jul 28, 2017Engine

FIRST LONG TRIP IN MY SUV. MOST OF MY DRIVING IS CITY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. WHILE TRAVELING WITH THE FAMILY ON OUR VACATION, WE ALL NOTICED AFTER ACCELERATION (PASSING CARS OR UP INCLINES) THE CAR SMELLED LIKE SULFUR OR A WASTE TREATMENT PLANT (OTHER CLEVER WORDS USED BY MY DAUGHTERS). THIS WAS ALL HIGHWAY (TWO LANE UP TO FOUR LANE) TRAVEL. APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES EACH WAY. WITH THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM ON THIS TRIP, I REALIZED I'VE SMELLED IT BEFORE BUT JUST ASSUMED I WAS DRIVING PAST A SEWAGE PROBLEM OR TREATMENT FACILITY. I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE A SMELL LIKE THAT. UPON GOOGLING WHAT MIGHT CAUSE THE PROBLEM, I FOUND A LOT OF INFO ON THE ISSUE, INCLUDING A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN (ATTACHED), LAWSUITS AND YOUR ORGANIZATION'S INVESTIGATION OF THE ISSUE. BASED ON WHAT I READ, I FELT I SHOULD LET YOU KNOW I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I'VE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FROM WHOM I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHO SERVICES THE CAR AND THEY EVENTUALLY FOUND A BULLETIN THAT COVERS THE ISSUE BUT BECAUSE MY CAR IS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY, SAID I NEED TO PAY FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE FIX(ES). I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT EITHER AND AM NOW CONCERNED WHETHER THERE IS ACTUALLY A FIX. GIVEN THE KNOWLEDGE FORD HAS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WOULD EXPECT FORD TO FIX THIS AT THEIR COST . . . ASSUMING THERE IS A FIX. I'M GOING TO FOLLOW THIS WITH A CALL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE THEM AWARE.

NHTSA ODI 11011304

Jul 28, 2017

HAD BAD SMELL IN EXPLORER WHILE DRIVING TO VACATION DESTINATION. HAD NOT NOTICED THIS PREVIOUSLY BUT SINCE THEN HAVE NOTICED IT SEVERAL TIMES. I NEED TO DRIVE WITH WINDOWS OPEN OR CANNOT STAND THE SMELL. THIS HAPPENS MOSTLY ON DRIVING HIGHWAYS

NHTSA ODI 11011336

Jul 28, 2017

DURING HIGH ACCELERATION, WITH OR WITHOUT AC ON, THERE IS BE A STRONG ORDER OF EXHAUST IN THE CAB. IF THE ACCELERATION IS CONTINUOUS FOR SOME TIME, I ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS...TO BE SAFE. ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 5, 5 BEING REALLY BAD, I WOULD RATE A 2- ANNOYING.

NHTSA ODI 11011376

Jul 28, 2017

WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENT CARBON MONOXIDE / EXHAUST IN CABIN. HIGHWAY AND CITY DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIME IN THE PAST 3 YEARS. SMELLED LIKE MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS SUCKING UP EXHAUST FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. BUT SOMETIMES NO VEHICLES WERE NEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11011378

Jul 27, 2017Steering

THE POWER STEERING IS FAILING. THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED.

NHTSA ODI 11010958

Jul 27, 2017Engine

MY WIFE AND SON HAVE HAD FREQUENT HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING IN OUR VEHICLE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS. WE INITIALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE GETTING MOTION SICKNESS BUT AFTER FINDING OUT THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH EXPLORERS AND EXHAUST FUMES THE PROBLEM IS LIKELY A RESULT OF EXHAUST FUMES IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY HAD A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM THE VENT WHICH I ASSUMED THE A/C FILTERS NEEDED CHANGED. THE SMELL IS INSTANT UPON RUNNING THE A/C AND CONTINUOUS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IS STRONGER AT THE BEGINNING BUT THIS COULD BE DUE TO ACCLIMATING TO THE SMELL WHILE DRIVING. I CHANGED ALL THE FILTERS IN THE VEHICLE AND SPRAYED THE VENT SYSTEM WITH AN ODOR TREATMENT BUT THE SMELL DIDN'T GO AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11011168

Jul 26, 2017Electrical system

DOOR AJAR ALERTS WITH THE DOOR SHUT. I HAVE TO OPEN AND SLAM DOOR TO GET IT TO CLEAR. I KNOW THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND FORD NEEDS TO OPEN A RECALL ON THIS. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE PAYING 400 DOLLARS FOR SOMETHING THEY KNOW IS MESSED UP DUE TO POOR QUALITY.

NHTSA ODI 11010787

Jul 25, 2017Steering

STEERING GEAR BOX WENT OUT OF MY VEHICLE WITH ONLY 29,000 MILES ON IT, HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE GEAR. I ONLY DRIVE 600 MILES OR LESS A MONTH I SPLIT MY TIME BETWEEN 2 VEHICLES. JUST BOUGHT A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED

NHTSA ODI 11010460

Jul 25, 2017Fuel system

MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER HAS NOT BEEN MOTIFIED AND HAS HAD STRONG EXHAUST INSIDE THE CAR CONFIRMED BY A FORD DEALER FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE JUNE. THE FIRST REPAIR MADE BY FORD TO "PLUG" THE PROBLEM MADE IT WORSE. THEY ARE NOT TESTING FOR LEAKS OR CARBON MONOXIDE. THE ARE REFERENCING THIS AS AN ODOR. GIVEN THE RISKS HOW CAN IT BE RULED OUT IF THEY ARE NOT TESTING FOR THEM? I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT FORD'S PRIORITY IS TO PROTECT ITSELF AT THE COST OF OUR FAMILY AND THE PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR SOMETIME EVEN WHILE SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY COOLING DOWN PRIOR TO ANY MOTION. I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE DIRECTLY BEEN SICKENED BY THIS AND AM INSTALLING A DETECTOR INTO OUR CAR AND WILL BE HAVING BLOOD WORK ANYTIME IT GOES OFF. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY DOCTOR TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING ON OUR LABS TO CONFIRM THE CONCERNS. WE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CONCERN BY FORD OR THE FACT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS SINCE 2012. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE BACK-UP CAME REVERSE AND EVERYTHING LOCATED IN THE LEFT OF THE CAR APPEARED ON THE RIGHT. THIS WAS CONFIRMED IN JUNE AND THE CAMERA WAS REPLACED. THE OBVIOUS SAFETY WITH THIS SITUATION WAS NOT MADE PUBLIC OR INVESTIGATED TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA ODI 11010604

Jul 24, 2017

WHEN ACCELERATING WHEN TRYING TO PASS, OR JUST SPEEDING UP, CAR IS TAKEN OVER WITH A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, WAS TOLD IT WAS A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK!!

NHTSA ODI 11010429

Jul 19, 2017Electrical systemLights

THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND WARNING STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY SHUT. THIS MAKES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHICH CAUSES A PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. IT ALSO PREVENTS YOU FROM LOCKING THE DOORS WHEN INSIDE AND BECAUSE THE DOME LIGHTS STAY ON IT DRAINS THE BATTERY. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORD VEHICLES AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11006314

Jul 18, 2017

I PURCHASED MY USED 2014 EXPLORER A FEW DAYS AGO. I DROVE IT FROM GAINSVILLE GA TO MY HOME IN FLORIDA AND HAD A HEADACHE UPON ARRIVAL AT MY HOME. WHEN I DRIVE MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING MY CAR I GET HEADACHES. I CAN SMELL EXHAUST IN IT CERTAIN TIMES. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11006255

Jul 17, 2017

ON 7 AND 14 JULY I EXPERIENCED A SULFUR ODOR IN MY CABIN AND FELT LIGHT HEADED. FORD HAS STILL NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE AFTER AT LEAST 6 COMPLAINTS. SULFUR ODOR SAYS IT IS AN EXHAUST LEAK PRIOR TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, GETTING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN. PLEASE HELP BEFORE IT KILLS ME!

NHTSA ODI 11005849

Jul 17, 2017Fuel system

A HEAVY PROPANE SMELL HAPPENS IN MY CAR WHEN I HAVE THE MAX AC AND REC AIR ON.. I JUST GOT THIE CAR 5 MONTHS AGO.. I CALLED FORD THEY SAID "SORRY " THIS IS NOT A RECALL .. AND WE HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE EVEN WHEN I RESEARCHED AND IT IS A ISSUE.. THEY TOLE ME IT WOULD COST ME TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT AND COST FOR ANY PARTS NEEDED..

NHTSA ODI 11005865

Jul 13, 2017Fuel system

SOMETIMES MY CAR SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGGS. I NOTICE THE PROBLEM WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEN I'M GOING UP A MOUNTAIN WITH EITHER MY A/C OR HEATER IS ON. SOMETIMES I FEEL NAUSEATED AFTER DRIVING MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11005079

Jul 12, 2017

EXHAUST FUMES LEAKING INTO THE PASSAGE CABIN OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11004886

Jul 6, 2017

THE FORD EXPLORER 2014 HAS A DEFECT IN WHICH THE "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT " SIGNAL/MESSAGE WOULD RANDOMLY APPEAR AND PRACTICALLY IMMOBILIZE THE CAR. ONCE THE SIGNAL WAS PRESENT, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A 5-10 MPH MODE. IT WOULD EVENTUALLY RESET ITSELF AFTER 24 HOURS OR SO. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT IF THIS WERE TO TAKE PLACE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION OR A HIGHWAY, AN ACCIDENT WOULD CERTAINLY ENSUE. I EXPERIENCED THIS MALFUNCTION TWICE; ONCE IN FEBRUARY OF 2017 AND THEN AGAIN ON JULY 3, 2017. IN BOTH INSTANCES, I WAS IN MOTION. THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT TOO FAR FROM MY RESIDENCE AND THAT I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY TURN ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS SO THAT OTHERS IN TRAFFIC WOULD BE ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ME BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN DECLINE IN SPEED.

NHTSA ODI 11003276

Jun 22, 2017SteeringSuspension

SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2014, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SULPHUR LIKE SMELL IN THE CABIN AREA OF THE VEHICLE WHEN I ACCELERATE. THE ODOR IS STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU FEEL NAUSEOUS AND LIGHT HEADED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE VISIT THEY CLAIMED THEY HAD INSTALLED ADDITIONAL VENTS TO ELIMINATE THE FUMES. THE SECOND TIME, THE EXHAUST WAS REPORTEDLY REPLACED. NEITHER REPAIR CREATED ANY IMPROVEMENT IN REGARD TO THE SMELL. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE FRONT SUSPENSION/STEERING AREA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE(S). THE VEHICLE HAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND THAT EMANATES FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE AREA WHEN MAKING A LOW SPEED TURN. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS REPORTEDLY A LOOSE "BOOT COVER". THE SECOND REPAIR CONSISTED OF THE INSTALLATION OF A "SHIM" TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. NEITHER FIX TOOK CARE OF THE ISSUE LONG TERM.

NHTSA ODI 11000598

Jun 22, 2017SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ON 19 JUNE, 2017 I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER ON I-95 SOUTH, I INITIALLY HEARD A SINGLE POP COME FROM THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE, I THOUGHT I HAD HIT SOMETHING IN THE ROAD, BUT NOTHING WAS VISIBLE IN THE ROAD, SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH NO PROBLEMS. ON 20 JUNE, I WAS DRIVING AGAIN ON I-95 NORTH BOUND AND MY STEERING SYSTEM BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION WITH A LITTLE TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING, THE VEHICLE STILL EASILY TURNED LEFT AND RIGHT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH NO PROBLEMS, SUDDENLY A WARNING FLASHED AND SHOWED A STABILITY WARNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND I COULD NOT CONTROL MY VEHICLE AT ALL. I WAS NEARLY KILLED ALONG WITH SIX MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY WHEN MY VEHICLE STEERING MALFUNCTIONED (FROZE/LOCKED) AND TWO TRACTOR TRAILERS SWERVED TO KEEP FROM HITTING MY VEHICLE. I COULD NO LONGER CONTROL MY VEHICLE STEERING. MY VEHICLE HAS 68,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH NO KNOWN ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11000742

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How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →