2014 Ford Explorer: check engine light

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Engine · 170,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and then the engine stalled. After several attempts, the vehicle was restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, when the contact was able to restart the vehicle, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

Filed Aug 4, 2025 · Steering · 131,590 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 65 MPH, the power steering assist feature was disabled, and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. The messages "Service Advance-trac" and "Steering Loss - Stop Safely" were displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 131,590.

Filed Jun 25, 2025 · Engine · 84,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced hard start-ups, and the engine was revving high while idling, with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the timing chain, crankshaft, and cam shaft sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 84,000.

Filed Jan 21, 2025 · Engine · 135,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed exhaust Y-pipe. The contact was informed that the exhaust Y-pipe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Filed Dec 17, 2024 · Steering · 131,856 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering control module (PSCM) had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 131,856.

Filed Oct 1, 2024 · Body, Engine · 100,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side door panel had started to detach from the body of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, there was an abnormal whining sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that the rear wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The dealer repaired the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light later was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Aug 2, 2024 · Engine · CA

Vehicle engine light came on. Took car into mechanic and found out a code points to a problem with the timing chain/cam position sensor. Prior to the engine light coming on car previously had (2) ransom issues that now after getting the diagnosis makes sense why the car was at times making a flutter sound when starting along with the engine randomly at times acting like to was going to stop running while driving the vehicle. I told ford and the mechanic about it previously but they both said as long as there's no alarms keep driving it. The vehicle still drives good, but I was advised not to drive it until repairs made. The repair is $4,000.00 and putting that kind of money into a vehicle that is currently valued at $8 to 10k with 136,000 based off my research is not prudent considering other things that will eventually need expensive repairs. I have taken good care of the vehicle along with keeping up on all services. Discussed with a couple experienced ford mechanics and this repair is unfortunately very common. I bought the extended warranty when the car was new for your information. I hope ford can stand behind this mechanical failure that apparently is a know issue and accommodate me for my loss of equity in a vehicle that should not be having this kind of well known breakdown. 1. Vehicle is available for inspection 2. Safety at risk when engine loses power and almost stops running 3. Yes, yesterday I was at the local ford dealership met there top "heavy end" mechanic who was very familiar with the problem along with (2) independent expert mechanics familiar with the diagnosis. 4. The manufacturer yesterday saw the vehicle, after talking to the head mechanic, based off the code and systems I decided it was not prudent to throw money away on getting an official diagnosis based off my comfort level from the discussions with the mechanics. 5. Yes, the check engine light came on and I had the car promptly inspected by a mechanic.

Filed Apr 19, 2024 · Engine · 151,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed failures with the camshaft position sensor and the ABS. The vehicle was not repaired. Later, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the temperature gauge began to indicate that the engine was overheating. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the coolant level was abnormally low. The vehicle was taken back to an independent mechanic, who determined that coolant was leaking into the engine, resulting in damages to the engine, and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N12. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 151,000.

Filed Apr 7, 2023 · Steering, Suspension · 171,679 miles · CO · crash

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after making a left turn, the vehicle jerked in the opposite direction, and then the steering wheel became difficult to turn, and she crashed into a parked vehicle. The check engine and air bag warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, she noticed a fluid leak underneath. The vehicle had not yet been taken to an independent mechanic or a local dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V675000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. The contact stated that the air bags never deployed at the time of the incident. Also, it is difficult to click the seatbelt clip in. The local Ford Service Team was contacted but offered no help, stating that the accident had no correlation to the recall. They stated that they would not be covering the cost of repair for that incident.

Filed Jan 25, 2023 · Transmission · TX

Check engine light came on at approximately 79000 miles for timing components that will cost over $4000 to repair.

Filed Oct 18, 2022 · Engine · 128,000 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle started to shake and the engine overheated. The check engine warning light and the temperature gauge warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle off the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to Midas where it was diagnosed again that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was guaranteed a 2-year warranty, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

Filed Jun 26, 2022 · Engine · TX

Faulty water pump went out on roadtrip, hours away from home. It left me and my children stranded for 4 hours in 100° conditions. No engine light or indicators came on to warn there was a problem. Coolant mixed in with oil and engine started misfiring. I immediately turned vehicle off until a Mechanic could diagnose the problem.