2014 Ford Explorer: harsh or hard shifting

Filed Feb 1, 2023 · Visibility · MI

While driving on my local highway I heard a large clunk and scraping noise as the windshield trim flew off my vehicle and scrapped down the side and flew behind me. It was very startling and dangerous.

Filed Nov 21, 2022 · Steering · TX

2014 Ford Explorer Sport. Have owned vehicle since new. Electric power steering module failed, first exhibiting a squealing noise on movement, then mechanical clunking when turning, followed by difficulty steering and finally seizure on arrival to Ford repair dealer. Seizure confirmed by Ford service center. Replacement part on back-order, suggesting high replacement rates. I will attempt to keep steering unit after replacement of new unit by Ford. Had been driving on freeway at 65mph in the minutes before steering seizure at dealer. Dangerous safety issue: vehicle is family car and used for school run daily, 30min commute each way on freeway at 65mph. Intermittent warnings from vehicle management system in days before failure: 4WD, cruise control, etc. No open recall on vehicle, but very similar to other year recalls on Ford Explorers, ref. the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 14V286000.

Filed Apr 7, 2022 · Steering · FL

Took to dealership to fix previous recall issues and was told clunking noise when turning right is do to needing new rack and pinion system. Previous recall for this excludes the 2014 explorer but covers the 2013 thru 2017.

Filed Aug 5, 2019 · Steering · 63,000 miles · MN

The electrical steering control module went out on my car (63k miles) and has been replaced by the dealer at my cost for $3300. When driving down the road at any speed, worse at freeway speeds, the car started grinding while switching lanes and turning without any fault lights on. It did not feel like a safety issue but was scary as [xxx]. When parked and I would turn the wheel it would make a clunking noise. I got it home and stopped driving it until I could get in to an appointment at the dealer a couple days later. They explained that they had to replace the entire steering rack because the pieces of the rack are not serviceable - 3k after the warranty runs out - how convenient for ford! Then I go digging online and find they have recalled this unit in other explorers and escapes but not the 2014. Bogus! I have never owned a car where the steering went out, but know [xxx] well a new steering pump or mechanicals in a hydraulic system would be $200-$500 max. This youtube video indicates it is likely an engineering flaw in the design and ford won't cover or fess up to their own engineering flaw that creates high heat in the steering mechanics and they have failed to mitigate for effectively - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhmxwcp9fo. So angry. And I fully expect this problem to recur at my expense again, who knows when because of this engineering flaw. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *js

Filed Mar 14, 2019 · Steering · 78,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford explorer. When the steering wheel was turned in either direction, a clunking noise was heard coming from the steering column and the steering wheel became more difficult to turn. The vehicle was taken to banner ford (1943 n. Causeway blvd, mandeville, la) where it was diagnosed that the steering wheel gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2019 · Steering · 68,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 ford explorer. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle started to make a clunking sound and the steering seized. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, which was still pending. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Apr 12, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 35,000 miles · MT

"driver side door ajar" light continues to come on each time I start the car. I have to open and shut the door to get it to turn off. That occurred for one month. Now the light will not turn off and the "transmission is not in park" light turns on while I am driving. In addition, the dome lights will not go off when I park the car unless I constantly adjust the light dial and eventually the dome light will go off when the doors are locked (30 minutes to get it off the other night). Regarding the rear transmission noise. Over 50 percent of the time when I am backing out of a parking spot, I hear a clunking sound as though I struck an object only to find that nothing is behind me. Finally, when I enter my car and start it, I hear a loud popping sound in the front windshield like the windshield glass is cracking. No idea what that may be.

Filed Oct 3, 2017 · Suspension, Transmission · 75,000 miles · CA

My ford explorer has a constant exhaust smell in the cabin. The dealership completed a recall when I first purchased the vehicle and now the dealer is telling me they do not know of any exhaust in the cabin issues. Strange now the dealership knows nothing about a problem they tried to fix. The front suspension has been replaced 3 times now. About every 20k miles the front suspension start to fail and makes loud clunking noises and we loose alignment in the front end. This last time the tow in the front tires changed and caused for unusual steering on the freeway. The turbo's on the 3.5 ecoboost have a known oil leak issue that causes damage to the catalytic converter. Ford refuses to cover the catalytic converters even if you have their in house extended service plan.

Filed Aug 6, 2015 · Brakes, Electrical · 9,898 miles · MD

When applying full braking at a stop sign or red light the vehicle stops but the engine and transmission continue to race at full speed. The brake pulsates like the anti lock braking system is engaged. In order to get the vehicle back to normal the engine must be shut off or the transmission disengaged. It will then start up normally. We have had 11 occasions within the past 2 months where this has occurred, this has occurred when coming down from highway long distance driving and it has also happened on a parking lot very low speed. It is all I could do to press hard enough on the brakes to stop. The vehicle has been returned to the dealership, their diagnostics show nothing and the dealership states they must be able to experience the problem first (duplicate it). Ford motor company has been called the regional sales manager told me to take the vehicle to another ford dealership to have them look at it. Mr. Mchale the manager at fmc (866‑631‑3788 ext. 77713) assigned a case number 7644437 to the problem but he also stated that they would have to duplicate the problem before it could be resolved. I told him if I misjudge or am unable to bring the vehicle to a stop that I may be pushing up daisies. They do not seem to understand the severity of the problem. It would seem to me that a mechanic would look for a sensor or switch that would disengage the trans mission when the brake was applied or a sensor or control that slows the engine. I am getting to the point I fear for my life driving this vehicle until it is repaired. I also mentioned that when I turn the vehicle off during the incident there is a lot of clunking from the engine and transmission, I am sure damage has been done to them.