Is the 2014 Ford EXPLORER reliable?

The 2014 Ford EXPLORER has 2036 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.0x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: STEERING problems.

What are common problems with the 2014 Ford EXPLORER?

Top problems: STEERING (495 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (339 complaints, avg repair $500); BODY/STRUCTURE (273 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2014 Ford EXPLORER?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): SUSPENSION:REAR, WHEELS:HUB, SUSPENSION:REAR, POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT, SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR, STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2014 Ford EXPLORER?

The 2014 Ford EXPLORER has an EPA rating of 20 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $3842. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2014 Ford EXPLORER?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2014 Ford EXPLORER is approximately $1,708/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2014 Ford EXPLORER qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2014 Ford EXPLORER may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2014 Ford EXPLORER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Ford EXPLORER has 2036 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.0x the segment average of 1024. The most common issue is steering problems (24% of all complaints), specifically: to avoid hitting another vehicle that illegally came into the lane i was entering (they were driving on the shoulder), i had to take evasive action, which caused me to turn my vehicle into a curb. at the time, i was traveling 15 to maybe 20 mph. after hitting the curb, my vehicle came to a stop an. There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 25 crash reports 34 injuries

2036

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

STEERING

495 complaints

24%

• TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE LANE I WAS ENTERING (THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER), I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, WHICH CAUSED ME TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO A CURB. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING 15 TO MAYBE 20 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE CURB, MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AN
• LUCKILY WE WERE COMING TO A STOP ANYWAY WHEN WE LOST POWER STEERING. LOUD WARNING BEEPS WITH A MESSAGE SAYING "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULTY" APPEARED. WE WERE ABLE TO STOP AND START THE ENGINE TO RESET THIS, BUT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WE TOOK OUR NEW 2014 FORD TO OUR CULLMAN, ALABAMA ECK
• VEHICLE STOPPED TO LET PASSENGERS OFF. STOPPED ENGINE. RESTARTED THE ENGINE, STARTED TO PULL AWAY FROM CURVE AND POWER STEERING FAILED AND RECEIVED STEERING ASSIST FAULT ALARM. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DRIVEN WITH NO POWER STEERING. ALSO, NOTED THE FOLLOWING: TERRAIN MANAGEMENT FAULT, SERVICE ADVANC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 10 crashes

“TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE LANE I WAS ENTERING (THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER), I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, WHICH CAUSED ME TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO A CURB. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING 15 TO MAYBE 20 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE CURB, MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2014 Ford EXPLORER

Based on 1,250 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 64K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 60-100K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

282

30-60K

283

60-100K

346

100-150K

261

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

Earlier than typicalmedian 38K mi · 196 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

Earlier than typicalmedian 26K mi · 54 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SPEED CONTROL

Earlier than typicalmedian 30K mi · 27 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

Earlier than typicalmedian 19K mi · 14 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Reported earliermedian 40K mi · 200 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

Reported earliermedian 60K mi · 62 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (7)

SUSPENSION:REAR10/06/2019

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.

Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2014 Ford EXPLORER

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$3,807

Per month

$317

Per mile

31.7¢

kWh/mi

1.69

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2014 Ford EXPLORER

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,708

Full coverage / month

$142

Liability only / year

$638

vs US avg

+2%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1708

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford EXPLORER Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2014 EXPLORER, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2014 Ford EXPLORER

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2036 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE LANE I WAS ENTERING (THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER), I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, WHICH CAUSED ME TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO A CURB. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING 15 TO MAYBE 20 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE CURB, MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WHEN DRIVING MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY TERRAIN, THE EXHAUST FUMES ENTER INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR IS EXTREME, CAUSES HEADACHES, NAUSEA, AND TENDS TO BURN MY EYES AS WELL AS MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WHO IS WITH ME MOST OF THE TIME. BECAUSE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ENOUGH PEOP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR CUP HOLDER BUT FOUR OF HIS FINGERS BECAME STUCK INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HOLDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD TO PRY THE HOLDER OPEN IN ORDER TO RELEASE HIS FINGERS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPLORER 2014 ON JULY 1ST 2013. ON AUGUST 1ST, 2013, MY CAR DID NOT MOVE FORWARD WHILE I STARTED THE CAR AND PUT IT TO 'D' (DRIVE) IN A PARKING LOT. INSTEAD, THE CAR WENT BACKWARDS WHILE I STEPPED ON GAS. I WAS VERY CONFUSED, AND THOUGHT IT WAS MY ILLUSION. SO I STEPPED ON BRAKE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)