Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2014 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2014 Ford Explorer has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,684 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #24V031000 Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V537000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V675000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V692000 Link Shaft Brackets May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V435000 Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17E048000 Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V245000 Rear Suspension Toe Link may be Improperly Welded NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Steering 500 complaints
- Unknown or Other 337 complaints
- Structure 276 complaints
- Engine 198 complaints
- Suspension 103 complaints
- Electrical System 100 complaints
Of the 1,684 complaints on file, 32 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 1,684 complaints, owners report 38 injuries and 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,500–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2014 Ford Explorer has critical issues, especially with rear suspension and steering, tied to numerous recalls and complaints. The high number of complaints for essential vehicle systems necessitates cautious consideration, contributing to a below-average reliability rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| rear suspension | 50,000–80,000 miles | $450–$700 | very common |
| steering | 60,000–90,000 miles | $400–$600 | common |
| engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $900–$1,500 | common |
| axle shaft | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$500 | occasional |
| electrical system | 30,000–60,000 miles | $200–$400 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- replace brake pads every 30,000 miles
- oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- rotate tires every 10,000 miles
- replace air filter annually
- full vehicle inspection twice annually
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- steering stiffness or noises
- unresponsive or fluctuating engine performance
- squeaking or grinding suspension noise
- dashboard electrical failure
- unusual tire wear patterns
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2014 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.