BumperScan
Powered byNHTSA|EPA|Community Reports|Updated
Your report: 3 of 4 steps complete75%
Car identifiedData collectedBasic analysisFull AI analysis

Free Preview

#BS-2014-FOREXP-33C9

2014 Ford ExplorerProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 2,057 owners and 7 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
2,057
Crashes
49
Fires
10
Recalls
7
TSBs
130
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 2,057 complaints, 49 crashes, 10 fires, and 7 recalls. Complaint rate is 7.1x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

exhaust fumes in cab

41 complaints • Severity 7.7/10

$X,XXX
2

paint is bubbling

32 complaints • Severity 6.8/10

$X,XXX
3

power steering failure

30 complaints • Severity 9.2/10

$X,XXX
4

windshield trim falling off

15 complaints • Severity 6.9/10

$X,XXX
5

ac heater not working properly

14 complaints • Severity 7.3/10

$X,XXX

Preview: What's in your full report

Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $2.00

Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the SteeringHIGH

487 owners reported steering issues — failures commonly reported around 64K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

282
0–30K
283
30–60K
276
60–90K
218
90–120K
114
120–150K
80
150K+

Peak failure range: 30–60K miles (283 reports) • Median: 64K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Steering (487 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Steering487 (24%)
Other337 (16%)
Engine228 (11%)
Structure179 (9%)
Suspension97 (5%)
Electrical96 (5%)
Structure:body92 (4%)
Drivetrain75 (4%)

2014 Ford Explorer: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Steering Issues

Steering complaints account for 24% of all reports filed for the 2014 Ford Explorer, with 487 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 64,415 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 64K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 11% of all reports filed for the 2014 Ford Explorer, with 228 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 9% of all reports filed for the 2014 Ford Explorer, with 179 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Suspension Issues

Suspension complaints account for 5% of all reports filed for the 2014 Ford Explorer, with 97 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to suspension-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

11
13
99
14
61
15
143
16
326
17
143
18
181
19
116
20
115
21
156
22
190
23
206
24
229
25
81
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2014 Ford Explorer. Recent trend: decreasing.

Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own

Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

Get Report — From $2.00

Recall History (7 recalls)

16V245000Nov 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.

17E048000Jul 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 feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

19V435000Jun 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.

20V675000Nov 2020

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, 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.

20V692000Feb 2021

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.

+ 2 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

Unlock

2014 Ford Explorer NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (4)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA15005ClosedOpened Sep 2015 · closed Nov 2018

Front Brake Hose Failure

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

EA17002ClosedOpened Jul 2017 · closed Jan 2023

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PE16008ClosedOpened Jul 2016 · closed Sep 2017

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

PE23001ClosedOpened Jan 2023 · closed Feb 2024

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

The worst model year for the Ford Explorer is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2014 Ford Explorer vs. Class Average (Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

2,057

Class avg

290

7.1x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical standard sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2,057 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 7 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford Explorer Model Years

20272026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198819871986
View all Ford Explorer years →

2014 Ford Explorer: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2014 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2014 Ford Explorer is related to the steering, with 487 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2014 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2014 Ford Explorer has 2,057 complaints, 49 crash reports, and 10 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 7.1x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2014 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA rates the 2014 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2014 Ford Explorer problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2014 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes, the 2014 Ford Explorer has 7 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Explorer problems start?
Based on 1253 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 64,415 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 30–60K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2014 Ford Explorer data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
RaccoonEagleRoverCat

Get the Full 2014 Ford Explorer Report

10 sections of AI analysis based on 2,057 owner reports. Know before you buy.

Get Full Report — From $2.00Money-back guarantee
Instant delivery|One-time purchase|No hidden fees