What 1,669 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ROWE FORD AUBURN (699 CENTER ST, AUBURN, ME 04210) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. CONSUMER ALSO STATED EXHAUST WAS LEAKING FUMES INTO CARGO AREA, WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES AND LIGHT HEADINESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *CW*JB

NHTSA ODI 11276874

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO NHTSA ID 11019920 FILED 8/26/17. EXHAUST ODOR, SMELLS LIKE SULFUR, STRONG, PUNGENT, COMING THROUGH DAHS BOARD VENTS DURING SUSTAINED ACCELERATION AND SHORTLY AFTER. THE PROBLEM IS REPEATABLE EVERY TIME: PUT VENT SYSTEM IN RECIRCULATION MODE, SUSTAINED ACCELERATION OVER 3,000 RPM, WAIT 5 SECONDS, STRONG SULFUR ODOR COMES THROUGH DASH BOARD VENTS. I AM NOW EXPERIENCING HEADACHES ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN FOR COMMUTING SINCE PURCHASING IT IN MARCH 2017 WITH 25K MILES. I AM SEEING A DOCTOR AND AM BUILDING A CASE FOR MORE SEVERE HEADACHES WITH INCREASED DRIVING IN MY EXPLORER. TODAY, I DECIDED TO LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE - I AM INCLUDING PHOTOS OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH SHOWS A CRACK NEAR THE PIPE-TO-FLANGE CONNECTION. AND, NO, MY VEHICLE IS NOT A POLICE CRUISER AND IT DOES NOT HAVE AFTERMARKET PARTS INSTALLED. HOW MANY MORE COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED? TSB 14-0130 IS FORD'S CHEAP ATTEMPT TO HIDE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND AVOID A COSTLY RECALL OF OVER 1 MILLION VEHICLES. THE EVIDENCE CONTINUES TO MOUNT, INJURIES HAVE OCCURRED, COUNTLESS EXPLORER OWNERS HAVE EXPENDED MUCH RESOURCES IN FILING COMPLAINTS, AND FORD SAYS, "THESE VEHICLES ARE SAFE. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A SAFETY ISSUE HERE". FORD HAS ISSUED TSBS WHICH DO NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THEIR LATEST INSULT TO OFFER TO "INSPECT AND REPAIR" REAR LIFT GATES AND DRAIN VALVES, AND REPROGRAM THE AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM IS LAUGHABLE, NOTHING MORE THAN A DISTRACTION TO HIDE THE REAL PROBLEM. FORD SHOULD PUT EVERY EXPLORER ON A LIFT AND INSPECT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS, AND DO EXTENSIVE TESTING OF THE VACUUM SYSTEM THAT IS CONNECTED TO THE AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM. NHTSA: WHY IS IT TAKING YOU SO LONG TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE YOU OR FORD TAKE THIS MATTER SERIOUSLY? YOU HAVE THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED TO FORCE A RECALL, NOW! *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11035558

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING THE EXHAUST CAN BE SMELLED INSIDE THE CABIN. THIS HAPPENS TO A NOTICEABLE LEVEL WHEN THE VEHICLE IS EXCELERATED AT A FASTER PACE BY PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL QUICKLY TO EXCELERATE QUICKLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAN BE REPRODUCED BY FAST EXCELERATION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR LEFT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED.*JS

NHTSA ODI 11011430

AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2014 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED. 3.5L 4WD LESS THAN 2 HOURS PRIOR, MY WIFE AND 2 CHILDREN WERE DRIVING HOME DOWN THE FREEWAY. AFTER A HARD ACCELERATION AN AWFUL SMELL FILLED THE CABIN. MY WIFE STARTED COUGHING AND I INSTANTLY FELT NAUSEOUS. I PULLED OVER THINKING SOMETHING WAS BURNING, MY WIFE THOUGHT IT WAS BURNING WIRES. I CHECKED OF THE VEHICLE BUT FOUND NOTHING BURNING. I DID HOWEVER WALK TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS OVERPOWERED BY THE SAME SMELL. I NARROWED IN DOWN TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. AFTER GETTING HOME I DID A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS EVEN A LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST FORD OVER IT. THE DEALER MUST HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT... I WANT TO RETURN THIS VEHICLE , FORD HAS TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS OR SHOULD HAVE. THEY PUT MY CHILDREN AT RISK AND I AM NOT HAPPY. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 3 HOURS AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10631312