Model year record

2014 Ford Explorer

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 2,344 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V031000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component: Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,889,110
Reported to NHTSA: 2024-01-19
Owners notified: 2024-07-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V537000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 631,176
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-07-15
Owners notified: 2022-03-16

Defect description

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, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

Safety risk

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V675000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 454,941
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-03-12
Owners notified: 2020-11-27

Defect description

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, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V692000

Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft

Component: Power train: axle assembly: axle shaft
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 15,587
Reported to NHTSA: 2020-11-10
Owners notified: 2021-02-02

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V435000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,194,173
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-06-10
Owners notified: 2019-06-26

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V245000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 75,364
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-04-26
Owners notified: 2016-11-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A fracture of the rear suspension toe link may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S18.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Steering	518	90,000 mi
Unknown or other	379	40,000 mi
Structure	293	109,101 mi
Engine	202	38,000 mi
Electrical system	115	59,000 mi
Structure: body	110	47,000 mi
Suspension	102	80,000 mi
Power train	81	75,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	64	20,000 mi
Air bags	50	65,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	33	75,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	32	5,000 mi
Seat belts	31	70,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	29	30,200 mi
Wheels	29	72,405 mi
Service brakes	28	46,000 mi
Exterior lighting	26	3,000 mi
Back over prevention	20	80,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	18	26,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera	15	70,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	14	73,000 mi
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners	13	97,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump	11	115,395 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	9	24,800 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	7	—
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	7	—
Seats	7	60,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion	6	125,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	6	71,600 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	5	—
Traction control system	5	88,000 mi
Lane departure: assist	4	—
Steering: electric power assist system	4	143,310 mi
Suspension: rear	4	44,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	4	42,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	3	75,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	3	—
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	3	135,000 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection	3	150,705 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	3	94,000 mi
Structure: body: hood	3	36,000 mi
Tires	3	55,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel	2	150,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	2	138,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	56,556 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	2	135,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)	2	50,000 mi
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)	2	93,000 mi
Structure: exterior trim	2	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	50,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	47,412 mi
Electrical system: adas: driver monitoring: camera/sensor	1	—
Electrical system: wiring	1	60,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: seals/gaskets	1	158,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	44,300 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	1	46,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights	1	—
Firerelated	1	120,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	1	130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper	1	70,429 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: electric: control module	1	152,200 mi
Steering: column	1	118,000 mi
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)	1	160,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	1	—
Structure: frame and members: underbody shields	1	10,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: door	1	100,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm	1	18,500 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing	1	100,000 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	1	150,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: throttle	1	115,000 mi
Visibility	1	15,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	1	84,000 mi
Wheels: hub	1	89,124 mi
Wheels: hubcap/cover	1	89,124 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	1	—

The 2013 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2015 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.