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

WE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER CONCERNING THE REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING A VEHICLE. WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A SOLUTION TO A FIX FOR THIS VEHICLE? IT IS VERY DISCOURAGING MAKING PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE AND NOT FEEL SAFE IN DRIVING IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE EXHAUST FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE LEAKED INTO THE VEHICLE'S CABIN VIA THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD A CARBON MONOXIDE READER THAT SHOWED THERE WAS CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A TSB NUMBER 140130. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

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9.ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 6, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 2:13 P.M., ON SOUTHBOUND JAMBOREE RD., 1424 FEET NORTH OF SAN JOAQUIN RD. IN NEWPORT BEACH, CA, OFFICER MCDOWELL, WHILE ON DUTY AS A NEWPORT BEACH POLICE OFFICER, WAS DRIVING THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IN ROUTE TO RESPOND TO A TRAFFIC COLLISION. OFFICER MCDOWELL WAS SOUTHBOUND IN THE NUMBER 2 LANE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH. ON DUTY NEWPORT BEACH POLICE OFFICER DAN MESRI WAS DRIVING A SEPARATE POLICE VEHICLE, AND WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. ON DUTY NEWPORT BEACH POLICE OFFICER NATHAN FARRIS WAS DRIVING A THIRD POLICE VEHICLE AND WAS SOUTHBOUND IN THE NUMBER ONE LANE SLIGHTLY AHEAD OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. BOTH OFFICER MESRI AND OFFICER FARRIS, AMONG OTHERS, WITNESSED THE SUBSEQUENT ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. OFFICER MCDOWELL SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WITHIN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, AND AS EVIDENCED BY THE DASH-CAM VIDEO IN OFFICER MESRI'S POLICE VEHICLE, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE LEFT. IT CROSSED THE NUMBER ONE LANE AND THEN CROSSED THE CENTER MEDIAN. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CONTINUED DRIFTING LEFT ACROSS THE NORTHBOUND LANES OF JAMBOREE RD., COMING WITHIN INCHES OF A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A NORTHBOUND VEHICLE. THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CROSSED ALL NORTHBOUND LANES, WENT OVER THE CURB, AND STRUCK A TREE HEAD-ON. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE NEVER SLOWED DOWN DURING THE ACCIDENT SEQUENCE. THIS ACCIDENT SEQUENCE IS HEREAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE 'SUBJECT INCIDENT.'

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WHEN I ACCELERATE ONTO HIGHWAY A FOUL ODOR TAKES OVER THE CABIN FOR A WHILE. I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS TO CLEAR IT. MY SON GET NAUSEATED WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. I JUST NOW STARTED SEEING INFORMATION ONLINE ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM CALLING THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE TSB THAT I SAW ONLINE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN IN THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND NO PENDING TSBS WERE EVER LISTED IN MY PROFILE.

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POLICE PATRO VEHICLE WITH LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT, SUSTAINED COMPLETE POWER ASSIST FAILURE. VEHICLE WITH 62,019 MILES. AFTER FAILURE, DEALER DETERMINED THAT RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY DEFECTIVE. REPAIR COSTS TOTALLING $1065.00 WITH DEALER ASSISTING WITH $400.00 DISCOUNT. CONTACTED FORD REGIONAL SALE REPRESENTATIVE WHO WILL ONLY STATE THAT FORD WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. ***THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT WILL GET SOMEONE KILLED***

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EXHAUST FUMES IN CABIN DURING ACCELERATION OR PULLING THE BOAT AND IN THE MOUNTAINS IT WAS MEASURED AND WAS OVER 12 PPM. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THEIR FIX. IT IS NOT REPAIRED NEXT WEEK THEY ARE CHANGING THE EXHAUST. THE FUMES ARE COMING IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. HVAC BLENDING DOOR WOULD BE MY GUESS.THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. WE JUST RETURNED FROM THE MOUNTAINS. HAD TO RIDE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN IF NOT YOU WOULD GET DROWSY. SMELLED LIKE BURNT HAIR OR SULFUR. PLEASE HELP

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NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 16V245, RECALL DATE: APR 25, 2016, FORD RECALL NUMBER: 16S18. RISK TO SAFETY: AN IMPROPERLY WELDED TOE LINK THAT FRACTURES WHILE DRIVING COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. MANUFACTURER HAS EXCEEDED REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR VEHICLE, ACCORDING TO RECALL NOTIFICATION THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DO TO INCREASE RISK OF CRASH. ALSO HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD FOR OVER A YEAR TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED FOR EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING CABIN UPON HARD ACCELERATION. RECEIVED NUMEROUS EMAILS BACK FROM MANUFACTURER THAT THEY HAVE NO REPAIRS AVAILABLE AND IS UNWILLING EVEN TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. VEHICLE REMAINS PARKED IN GARAGE NOT WILLING TO DRIVE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL EGG ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HVAC UNIT WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,300.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V245000 (SUSPENSION). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ UPDATED 11/03/16.*JB

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2014 FORD EXPLORER. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUST ALONG FRONT EDGE OF VEHICLE HOOD. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE HOOD OR INCLUDE REQUESTS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY PROTECTION. *SMD IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED, IT WAS NOT RUST AS THE CONSUMER BELIEVED. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY REPAIRED AND REPAINTED THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT HOOD, BUT THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE STATED IT WOULD NOT HELP AS THE NEW HOOD WOULD HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN OTHER WORDS, THE SAME REPAIR WOULD LIKELY OCCUR AGAIN, IN THE NEXT 30 MONTHS. *JB

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DRIVERS DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYS ON. TOOK TO FORD DEALER, WAS TOLD THAT FMCO REQUIRES THEY CLEAN CONTACTS FIRST, BEFORE REPLACING. THIS WAS DONE AND SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. I TOOK BACK TO DEALER WHEN PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. NOW THEY SAY THE DOOR LATCH IS BROKEN AND WANT $366.00 TO FIX IT, AND THEY HAVE TO ORDER THE PART. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD PRODUCTS AND THEY HAVE IN FACT RECALLED SEVERAL MODELS. I WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION TO START WITH THAT IF THE CONTACT CLEANING PROCEDURE DIDN'T WORK THEN IT WOULD BE REPLACED. NOW THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR THIS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL PERTAINING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V245000 (SUSPENSION). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY THE PARTS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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DURING MY VACATION IN JULY 2016, WHILE DRIVING ON ROUTE 95 INTERSTATE, I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WAS GETTING HARD TO CONTROL. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND RECEIVED A ALARM ON THE DASH STATING THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL IS NOW OFF, SERVICE NEEDED. I PROCEEDED TO THE FIRST GAS STATION AND UPON RE-STARTING THE VEHICLE, ANOTHER ALARM ON THE DASH SAID POWER STEERING NOT WORKING. I HAD NO POWER STEERING. I HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A BAD GEAR IN THE STEERING GEARBOX AND THE ENTIRE UNIT WOULD NEED REPLACED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES.

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ON 22 JULY I WENT TO SNOWSHOE, WV, AND ON 24 JULY I RETURNED FROM SNOWSHOE. I SMELLED SULFURISH EXHAUST 4 TIMES THIS TRIP. IT OCCURRED ON UPHILL GRADES WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD DOWNSHIFTED. 3 NEW PLACES, ALL AT 55 MPH OR GREATER, UPHILL AND INVOLVING A DOWNSHIFT, IE HIGHER EXHAUST VOLUME AND PRESSURE. INDICATING TO ME THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. LIKE AN EXHAUST SEAL BREAKING DOWN. WHEN I GOT HOME, I WENT TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN I WENT TO OPEN THE DOOR THE ODOR WAS THE STRONGEST I HAS SMELLED IT. REINFORCING MY BELIEF IT IS EXHAUST ESCAPING BEFORE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. ALSO MEANING I AM PROBABLY GETTING A HEALTHY DOSE OF CARBON MONOXIDE ALL THE TIME FROM THIS EXHAUST LEAK. PLEASE DO A RECALL!!!!!

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WE HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS A SMELL INSIDE WHILE ACCELERATING. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. OUR CONCERN IS THAT EXHAUST HAS BEEN COMING INTO THE VEHICLE. WE AREN'T SURE IF THE CURRENT SOLUTIONS IN PLACE TO FIX THE VEHICLE ARE ENOUGH. WELL KNOWING AND OUR FAMILY IS GETTING SICK FROM THIS CURRENT ISSUE WE JUST AREN'T SURE WHAT WE'RE BREATHING INSIDE THE VEHICLE IS SAFE. THE SMELL COMES WHEN YOU ACCELERATE HARD EITHER TOWING OR MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN FROM A RED LIGHT. THE SMELL IS A SULFUR SMELL OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL THAT SEEMS TO DISSIPATE QUICKLY BUT IS NOTICEABLE.

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MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN LORAIN OHIO. I AM THE OWNER OF A 2014 FORD EXPLORER (LIMITED). RECENTLY, MY DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED AND AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON MY PART I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE LED. I WENT TO MY DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THE PREMIUM MAINTENANCE PACKAGE FOR MY VEHICLE. I LOOKED IN THE VEHICLE MANUAL AND IT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE LED AND EXPECTED TO LAST FOR THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. MY EXPLORER IS JUST OVER 2 YEARS OLD AND HAS 45K MILES. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER THAT I DIDN'T FEEL AS THOUGH I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE THIS IS EXPECTED TO LAST AND FAILED SO EARLY. I ALSO NOTED AS DID THE DEALER THAT THERE IS MOISTURE AND SOMETHING BLACK IN THE LIGHT INSIDE. THIS PROBABLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE LIGHT FAILING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,590. *TR

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EACH TIME AFTER DRIVING OUR FORD EXPLORER FOR A LENGTH OF TIME WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON, MY WIFE AND I BEGIN TO FEEL LIGHT HEADED, TIRED AND SICK. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND WE HAVE SEVERE CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING OUR EXPLORER DUE TO THE HEALTH RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE LEAKING INTO THE CABIN. WE ARE NOW AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER EXPLORERS AND ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED FOR OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF OUR BABIES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD TRIM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE PARTS AND REPAIR EXCEEDED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE SECOND PIECE BECAME LOOSE AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE THE TRIM WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V245000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

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EXHAUST SMELL IN MAIN CABIN WHEN RPMS EXCEED 3200. HAPPENS MOST COMMONLY WHEN CLIMBING A STEEP GRADE OR ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR PAST TWO YEARS OR SO, IT CAN SMELL LIKE EXHAUST, BURNING HAIR, ETC. COMPLAINTS TO DEALER ARE GIVEN A CURSORY EXPLANATION OF EXCESS FUEL, IT IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. I'VE OWNED MANY VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THERE IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF ACCELERATION OR RPMS EXCEEDING 3200.

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FOLLOWING FORD'S MOST RECENT "ATTEMPT" TO STOP EXHAUST FROM GETTING INTO THE CABIN, I DID SMELL IT AGAIN ON 7/9 AND 7/10. IT WAS ROUGHLY ONE TENTH OF THE STRENGTH OF THE LAST TIME I SMELLED IT, BUT I STILL SMELLED IT AT 3500 RPM OR GREATER GOING UP HILL AFTER A DOWNSHIFT. FORD KEEPS TRYING TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE CABIN INSTEAD OF PREVENTING IT FROM ESCAPING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. CAN I BE GETTING EXPOSED TO ODORLESS CARBON MONOXIDE ALL THE TIME AND JUST SMELL THE EXHAUST WHEN THE TWIN TURBOS PUT MORE AIR INTO THE ENGINE AND THE EXHAUST IS UNDERSIZED AND LEAKS FROM THE PRESSURE?

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I HAVE FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCED A STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST AND/OR BURNING OIL IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING AND/OR UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION OR CLIMBING STEEP GRADES. I HAD MENTIONED THIS A FEW TIMES TO 2 LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS AND WAS ADVISED BY ONE THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF POSSIBLE ISSUES INVOLVING A CHEMICAL OR "PROPANE" SMELL, BUT NOT EXHAUST FUMES. THE OTHER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.

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EXHAUST ODOR WHILE 1) OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH FULL THROTTLE APPLICATIONS (E.G., CLIMBING STEEP GRADES OR MERGING ONTO FREEWAY RAMPS), AND OR 2) USE OF THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IN RECIRCULATION MODE BOTH CONTRIBUTE TO EXHAUST GAS BEING DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. HAVE HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE THREE TIMES. THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT AFTER REPAIRS.

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FOR THE PAST ROUGHLY 20K MILES, WE HAVE BEEN SMELLING EXHAUST IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. SO BAD THAT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO STOP DRIVING IT, AND IT HAS MADE MY FAMILY ILL. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE DEALER, WHOM CLAIMS THEY EITHER CANNOT REPLICATE, OR THAT IT IS LEAKING OIL. I HAVE CALLED THEM ON THEIR BS MULTIPLE TIMES, TO NO AVAIL.

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