2014 Ford Explorer cruise control problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Explorer shows a pattern of throttle and acceleration control issues—unintended acceleration tied to stuck or surging throttles, and a documented exhaust smell entering the cabin during higher RPM driving that Ford addressed with TSB 12-12-4 but many owners report unresolved. Crashes and injuries have been reported; have any repairs been done, and request service records for throttle body work or exhaust-related updates.
Owners report two distinct clusters of failure. The first involves unintended acceleration: the accelerator pedal sticks, surges, or refuses to respond, with vehicle accelerating to 90 mph in one instance and crashing into a building and tree in others. Failures occur between 34,000 and 115,000 miles. One owner reported the accelerator stuck to the floorboard during highway driving; another experienced the pedal engaging hard when braking; a third saw the engine RPM spike after release of the brake. Restarting the engine cleared the problem once, but one attempt to replace the throttle body assembly did not resolve the issue. A floor mat was ruled out as the culprit.
The second cluster involves a strong odor entering the cabin during acceleration above 3200–3500 RPM. Owners describe the smell as exhaust, burnt hair, rotten egg, or sulfur and report nausea, asthma, heart palpitations, and lightheadedness. Ford issued TSB 12-12-4 for the issue—involving a parts swap from 2013 Explorer components—but owners say it did not resolve the problem. Ford claimed the odor is not exhaust but refused to disclose its composition. Dealers unable to replicate the issue stated the TSB did not apply to 2014 models. One owner reported the dealership's engineers were still working on the problem.
A third, unrelated complaint describes terrain management fault warnings and power loss, suspected throttle body involvement.
Same Ford Explorer cruise control reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration / stuck accelerator pedal
Accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive to driver input and stuck or engaged at high throttle, causing engine surge and loss of braking control or unexpected high-speed acceleration. Owners report the vehicle accelerating without foot on pedal, pedal sticking to floorboard, or engine surging when brake is released.
When: 34,000–115,000 miles; occurs sporadically while driving or parking
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input; Accelerator pedal stuck to floorboard; Engine RPM skyrockets when brake is released; Engine surge at highway speeds; Unintended acceleration to 90 mph; Transmission warning light illuminated; Loss of motive power
Codes mentioned: Throttle body assembly fault
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body assembly replacement attempted; floor mat not confirmed as cause; restarting engine cleared issue once; vehicle not repaired in most cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall associated; engineers reported to be working on exhaust smell issue; referred owner to NHTSA; case number CAS-13346113-C5W0T8 provided in one instance; factory promised contact but no resolution
Exhaust smell in cabin during acceleration above 3200–3500 RPM
Strong odor (reported as exhaust, burnt hair, rotten egg, sulfur, fuel smell) enters cabin when accelerating above 3200–3500 RPM, linked to AC system intake. Owners report nausea, asthma exacerbation, heart palpitations, lightheadedness, and concern about carbon monoxide intrusion. Smell is reproducible and persistent; lingers for minutes.
When: 30,200–115,000 miles; occurs during acceleration, highway merging, passing, or freeway entry
Symptoms owners cite: Strong exhaust or sulfur odor in cabin; Nausea and lightheadedness; Asthma exacerbation; Heart palpitations; Odor worsens with AC on or in recirculate mode; Smell lingers after acceleration ceases; Odor reportedly reproduced consistently during hard acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Parts replaced per TSB 12-12-4 (2013 Explorer parts swap) did not resolve issue in one case; dealer unable to replicate in another; dealer stated TSB did not apply to 2014 models; no parts/cost information provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB 12-12-4 issued for exhaust smell issue; Ford claimed odor is not exhaust but did not disclose chemical identity; engineers reported working on solution; one owner refused dealer diagnostic fee; case marked as unresolved in multiple complaints
Vehicle stalling or loss of power with terrain management fault
Engine loses power or stalls unpredictably while driving at various speeds; terrain management system fault warning illuminates. Issue recurs and cannot be reliably diagnosed at dealership.
When: Recurring over three-year period; no specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stops or loses power unexpectedly; Terrain management system fault warning illuminates; Recurring failure unable to be replicated at dealer
Codes mentioned: Terrain management system fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to diagnose; owner suspects throttle body involvement; vehicle not repaired
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2014 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 5,000 and 57,000 miles, with the median around 34,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 5,000; a quarter make it past 57,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.