2014 Ford Explorer Reliability
The 2014 Ford Explorer has 1,684 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and unknown or other. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
1,684
NHTSA owner complaints
7
Recall campaigns
32
Complaints citing a crash
6
Complaints citing a fire
2014 Ford Explorer complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2014 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 500 | 30% |
| Unknown or other | 337 | 20% |
| Body structure | 276 | 16% |
| Engine | 198 | 12% |
| Suspension | 103 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 100 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 80 | 5% |
| Engine & cooling | 67 | 4% |
2014 Ford Explorer recalls
7 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2014 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V245000 | Apr 26, 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. |
| 17E048000 | Aug 28, 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… |
| 19V435000 | Jun 10, 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. |
| 20V692000 | Nov 10, 2020 | Powertrain / transmission — 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. |
| 20V675000 | Mar 12, 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,… |
| 21V537000 | Jul 15, 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… |
| 24V031000 | Jan 19, 2024 | Body 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. |
How the 2014 compares with nearby Explorer years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Explorer analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 830 | 7 | Steering | Caution |
| 2013 | 2,237 | 12 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2014 (this page) | 1,684 | 7 | Steering | Avoid |
| 2015 | 1,822 | 9 | Body structure | Avoid |
| 2016 | 2,485 | 15 | Body structure | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
The 2014 Ford Explorer on the used market
- 81 of 1,369 2014 Ford Explorer listings in CarWhere's lifespan study showed 200,000 miles or more.
What to check on a used 2014 Ford Explorer
- Steering: check for a steering warning light, heavy or notchy steering and clunks over bumps; power-steering faults show up at low speed.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 7 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2014 Ford Explorer can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2014 Ford Explorer reliability FAQ
Is the 2014 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2014 Ford Explorer has 1,684 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about steering and unknown or other. Compared with other Explorer model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Explorer's typical year.
What are the most common 2014 Ford Explorer problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2014 Ford Explorer are steering (500), unknown or other (337), body structure (276), engine (198). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2014 Ford Explorer have recalls?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2014 Ford Explorer, including 16V245000 (suspension — rear) and 17E048000 (wheels — hub). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2014 Ford Explorer compare with the 2013 and 2015 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2013 has 2,237 complaints and 12 recalls (avoid); the 2015 has 1,822 complaints and 9 recalls (avoid). The 2014 has 1,684 complaints and 7 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2014 Ford Explorer?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Ford Explorer research
Other Ford Explorer model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2014 Explorer, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.