What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Explorer?

Steering is the group named most often, with 499 of 1,682 NHTSA complaints. In a small sample of texts we read, owners describe lost power steering assist and fumes in the cabin.

How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2014 model year. They cover the rear toe link, a front axle bracket and A-pillar trim.

What is the gas mileage of a 2014 Ford Explorer?

EPA ratings run from 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined for the 3.5L turbo AWD to 20 / 28 / 23 for the 2.0L turbo FWD.

How safe is the 2014 Ford Explorer in a crash?

NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover, in both AWD and FWD versions.

Is 2014 a better Explorer year than 2013 or 2015?

It has fewer complaints (1,682) than 2013 (2,237) and 2015 (1,815). It also has fewer recalls (6 against 11 and 8). These counts are not adjusted for sales.

2014 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls and MPG

Owners have filed 1,682 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Explorer, and steering is the area named most often^[1]^[2]. The car also has six recalls on file, including repeated recalls for the rear suspension toe link^[3]^[4]^[5].

1,682owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[3]

18–23MPG combined (EPA)^[6]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[7]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

NHTSA lists 1,682 owner complaints for this model year^[1]. Of those, 32 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 38 injuries and 2 deaths^[1]. These are unverified reports from owners. One complaint can name more than one part, so the group counts below overlap.

Component group	Complaints	Crashes	Median miles at failure
Steering^[2]	499	10	90,000
Unknown or other^[8]	337	5	40,000
Structure^[9]	276	0	92,500
Engine^[10]	260	0	37,500
Suspension^[11]	103	8	82,500
Electrical system^[12]	100	1	60,000
Power train^[13]	80	1	75,207
Fuel/propulsion system^[14]	63	0	27,700

These counts are not adjusted for how many Explorers were sold, so they show what owners reported, not how often a part fails.

We also read a small sample of complaint texts for four groups. It is too small to say how common anything is, but it shows what owners describe^[2]^[10]^[11]^[9]:

Steering. In a sample of complaints we read, 7 of 12 texts describe losing power steering assist, often with a warning message on the dash^[2]. Some owners say the car had to be towed or the steering gear replaced^[2].
Engine. In 8 of 12 sampled texts, owners describe exhaust-like fumes or a strong odor coming into the cabin, often during hard acceleration^[10]. A few others describe hesitation, a misfire or the engine shutting off while driving^[10]. Engine complaints have a median failure mileage of 37,500^[10].
Suspension. In 4 of 12 sampled texts, owners describe a lower control arm that broke or fractured, often described as the front one, and some of those reports end in a crash or loss of control^[11]. Three more texts are owners asking about a suspension recall or waiting for parts^[11]^[5].
Structure. Fumes in the cabin show up here too, in 5 of 12 sampled texts, and two of those look like the same report^[9]. Four describe body or trim parts, such as a cracked panel, a dented hood or a windshield panel coming off^[9].

The 8 crashes among 103 suspension complaints stand out against the other small groups^[11].

Recalls

Six recalls are on file, newest first. A free repair at a dealer is part of each one. Whether your car was already fixed is not something these records tell us, so check the VIN with Ford or NHTSA.

A-pillar trim (24V031). Filed January 19, 2024, for certain 2011 to 2019 Explorers^[15]. Clips holding the A-pillar trim may not be fully engaged, so the trim can come off and land on the road. That is a road hazard and raises crash risk. Dealers inspect and replace the trim as needed. The fix is rolled out in phases by model year, so ask Ford when your year is covered^[15].
Rear toe link, expanded (21V537). Filed July 15, 2021, for certain 2013 to 2017 Explorers sold or ever registered in a list of 22 states and Washington, DC that includes New York, Ohio and Michigan^[16]. Road salt can corrode and seize a ball joint, which can break the rear toe link and cause a loss of steering control. Dealers inspect and replace the knuckle and toe links. Some cars repaired earlier need to come back for this new fix^[16].
Rear toe link, repeat repair (20V675). Filed March 12, 2021, for certain 2013 to 2017 Explorers in a similar list of states that were already repaired under 16V245 or 19V435^[17]. The toe link can still fracture, with the same risk of losing steering control. Dealers inspect the knuckle and replace it as needed^[17].
Front axle bracket (20V692). Filed November 10, 2020, for certain 2014 to 2016 Explorers with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front-wheel drive^[18]. A support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft can fail. That can mean losing the park function, so the car may roll, or losing power while driving. The notice said parts were not available yet and a second letter would go out when they arrived in January 2021. Dealers replace the bracket for free once parts are in, so confirm with Ford that the remedy is available^[18].
Rear toe link (19V435). Filed June 10, 2019, for certain 2011 to 2017 Explorers^[4]. The rear toe links can fracture from stress on the rear suspension, which changes how the car handles suddenly and raises crash risk. Dealers replace the toe links, check both ball joints and replace the rear wheel knuckles if needed^[4].
Welded toe links (16V245). Filed April 26, 2016, for 2014 and 2015 Explorers built between January 17 and May 31, 2014^[5]. Rear toe links may have been poorly welded and could fracture, risking a loss of steering control. Dealers replace the toe links^[5].

Fuel economy

EPA lists several versions of the 2014 Explorer. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate using its current fuel price assumptions, not prices from when the car was new.

Version	City / Hwy / Combined MPG	Est. yearly fuel cost
2.0L 4-cyl turbo, FWD, regular^[6]	20 / 28 / 23	$2,900
3.5L 6-cyl, FWD, regular^[19]	17 / 24 / 20	$3,350
3.5L 6-cyl, FWD, gasoline or E85^[20]	17 / 24 / 20	$3,350
3.5L 6-cyl, AWD, regular^[21]	17 / 23 / 19	$3,550
3.5L 6-cyl, AWD, gasoline or E85^[22]	17 / 23 / 19	$3,550
3.5L 6-cyl turbo, AWD, regular^[23]	16 / 22 / 18	$3,700

The 2.0L turbo is the thriftiest at 23 combined MPG, and the 3.5L turbo AWD is the thirstiest at 18^[6]^[23].

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, 5 for frontal crashes, 5 for side crashes and 4 for rollover^[7]. Its rollover risk is 17.4%^[7]. The front-wheel-drive version gets the same star ratings, with a rollover risk of 16.9%^[24].

Engine and size

EPA test cars list these horsepower ratings:

2.0L 4-cylinder: 237 hp^[25]
3.5L 6-cylinder: 287 hp^[26]
3.7L 6-cylinder: 300 hp^[27]

Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

	AWD	FWD
Length^[28]^[29]	197 in	197 in
Width	79 in	79 in
Height	70 in	70 in
Wheelbase	113 in	113 in
Curb weight	4,731 lb	4,557 lb

How 2014 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Explorer model year. The 2014 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	843	5
1996	1,450	6
1997	1,773	7
1998	2,085	9
1999	1,441	9
2000	1,026	10
2001	730	8
2002	3,572	7
2003	1,274	2
2004	1,408	0
2005	568	0
2006	635	1
2007	308	1
2008	171	1
2009	39	0
2010	146	1
2011	1,197	6
2012	829	5
2013	2,237	11
2014	1,682	6
2015	1,815	8
2016	2,483	14
2017	1,712	14
2018	737	7
2019	299	6
2020	1,245	35
2021	455	27
2022	272	25
2023	113	15
2024	21	10
2025	108	22
2026	42	15

NHTSA shows 1,682 complaints and 6 recalls for 2014^[3]. Neighboring years look like this^[3]:

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2012	829	5
2013	2,237	11
2014	1,682	6
2015	1,815	8
2016	2,483	14
2017	1,712	14

2014 has fewer complaints than 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017, and more than 2011 (1,197) and 2012^[3]. Across every Explorer year NHTSA lists, seven years have more complaints than 2014, so it ranks eighth^[3]. It has more recalls than 2012 and the same number as 2011, which also has 6^[3]. Complaint counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat this as a rough guide only.

Should you buy a used 2014 Explorer?

The record is mixed. Owners report steering and suspension failures that sometimes ended in crashes, and the recalls show repeated work on the rear toe link^[2]^[11]^[4]^[5]. On the other side, the crash ratings are strong at 5 stars overall^[7]^[24], and 2014 has fewer complaints than 2015, 2016 and 2017^[3]. If you are looking at one, run the VIN for open recalls, ask for proof that the rear suspension and axle recalls were done, and have a mechanic check the steering and front control arms^[2]^[11]. Our data cannot tell you about price, towing or long-term reliability.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Ford Explorer?: Steering is the group named most often, with 499 of 1,682 NHTSA complaints^[1]^[2]. In a small sample of texts we read, owners describe lost power steering assist and fumes in the cabin^[2]^[10].
How many recalls does the 2014 Ford Explorer have?: NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2014 model year^[3]. They cover the rear toe link, a front axle bracket and A-pillar trim^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[4]^[5].
What is the gas mileage of a 2014 Ford Explorer?: EPA ratings run from 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined for the 3.5L turbo AWD to 20 / 28 / 23 for the 2.0L turbo FWD^[23]^[6].
How safe is the 2014 Ford Explorer in a crash?: NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover, in both AWD and FWD versions^[7]^[24].
Is 2014 a better Explorer year than 2013 or 2015?: It has fewer complaints (1,682) than 2013 (2,237) and 2015 (1,815)^[3]. It also has fewer recalls (6 against 11 and 8)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales.

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 1,682 owner complaints on file for the 2014 Ford Explorer (32 mention a crash, 6 a fire, 38 injuries, 2 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
499 complaints name the steering component group (10 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Ford Explorer model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V435, filed June 10, 2019: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V245, filed April 26, 2016: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Explorer FWD, 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,900. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 17.4%. NHTSA vehicle records
337 complaints name the unknown or other component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 11 injuries, median mileage at failure 40,000). NHTSA vehicle records
276 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 92,500). NHTSA vehicle records
260 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 6 injuries, median mileage at failure 37,500). NHTSA vehicle records
103 complaints name the suspension component group (8 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 82,500). NHTSA vehicle records
100 complaints name the electrical system component group (1 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 60,000). NHTSA vehicle records
80 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,207). NHTSA vehicle records
63 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,700). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 24V031, filed January 19, 2024: Structure › Body › Roof And Pillars. NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V537, filed July 15, 2021: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V675, filed March 12, 2021: Suspension › Rear. NHTSA recall database
Recall 20V692, filed November 10, 2020: Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Explorer FWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Explorer 2WD FFV, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Gasoline or E85, Front-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Explorer AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Explorer AWD FFV, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Gasoline or E85, All-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Explorer AWD, 3.5L 6-cyl turbo, Automatic (S6), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 16.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Ford Explorer with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 237 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Ford Explorer with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 287 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2014 Ford Explorer with 3.7L 6-cylinder: rated 300 hp. www.epa.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, EXPLORER 4DR SUV AWD BASE/XLT/LIMITED/SPORT: length 197 in, width 79 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,731 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, EXPLORER 4DR SUV FWD BASE/XLT: length 197 in, width 79 in, height 70 in, wheelbase 113 in, curb weight 4,557 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2014 Ford Explorer: problems, recalls and fuel economy