2014 Ford Explorer: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 1,672 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 7 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
1,672
Complaints
7
Recalls
32
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
38
Injuries
32.8
Severity index
Severity index 32.8 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 139 2014 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2014 Ford Explorer ranks 117 of 139 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 16% of its model-year peers. See the full 2014 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| STEERING | 496 | 29.7% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 334 | 20.0% |
| STRUCTURE | 274 | 16.4% |
| ENGINE | 196 | 11.7% |
| SUSPENSION | 102 | 6.1% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 100 | 6.0% |
| POWER TRAIN | 79 | 4.7% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 67 | 4.0% |
The single most-reported system is STEERING, cited in 496 of 1,672 complaints (29.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 116 |
| 2017 | 259 |
| 2018 | 118 |
| 2019 | 148 |
| 2020 | 103 |
| 2021 | 102 |
| 2022 | 138 |
| 2023 | 155 |
| 2024 | 170 |
| 2025 | 200 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 50 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.5x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V435000 | 10/06/2019 | SUSPENSION:REAR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension. |
| 17E048000 | 28/08/2017 | WHEELS:HUB | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feat |
| 16V245000 | 26/04/2016 | SUSPENSION:REAR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture. |
| 20V692000 | 10/11/2020 | POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail. |
| 21V537000 | 15/07/2021 | SUSPENSION:REAR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, P |
| 20V675000 | 12/03/2021 | SUSPENSION:REAR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, |
| 24V031000 | 19/01/2024 | STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.