2014 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

196Engine complaints

11.7%Of all 1,670 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STEERING483 · 28.9%

Unspecified / other332 · 19.9%

ENGINE196 · 11.7%

STRUCTURE178 · 10.7%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM96 · 5.7%

Share of the 1,670 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2014 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“EXPERIENCING VERY STRONG EXHAUST / SULFUR SMELL IN CABIN AREA UPON MEDIUM TO HARD ACCELERATION. BOUGHT CAR IN SPRING OF 2014 AND NOTICED IT WITHIN…”NHTSA complaint 10787074 — filed 10/29/2015

“A SULFUR SMELLING STENCH COMING THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHEN DRIVING OVER A HIGH RPM RATE. THE SMELL ENTERS THE CABIN EVEN WITH THE AC…”NHTSA complaint 10680410 — filed 02/01/2015

“TWICE WHILE DRIVING (ONCE ACCELERATING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC AND ONCE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN) AN EXHAUST SMELL ENTERED THE CABIN THROUGH THE AC SYSTEM…”NHTSA complaint 10653747 — filed 11/09/2014

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2014 Ford Explorer have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2014 Ford Explorer: 196 of 1,670 complaints on file (11.7%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2014 Ford Explorer have in total?

1,670 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 32 involved a crash, 6 involved a fire, 38 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.