The water pump in my 2014 Ford explorer 3.5l v6 engine began leaking coolant. The water pump had to be replaced at 79,000 miles. I became aware of this problem after getting an oil change. The coolant reservoir had to be filled and I was informed of a possible coolant leak. Two weeks after getting the coolant filled, my radiator fan began running fast and loud. I brought it into the shop and was…
2014 Ford Explorer powertrain problems
moderate 69 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
69
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 69 powertrain complaints filed for the 2014 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 69 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Avoid the 2014 Explorer: catastrophic transmission, transfer case, and water pump failures strike without warning across 24,000–152,000 miles, leaving owners stranded or facing $1,800–$7,500 repairs. Exhaust fumes causing nausea and false gear-position warnings add serious safety concerns; Ford denies warranty claims and has issued few recalls despite widespread complaints.
Owners report a constellation of powertrain failures across transmission, transfer case, and related systems that strike without warning and at varying mileages. Transmission-related complaints dominate: vehicles refusing to shift, slipping under acceleration, jerking violently, or losing power entirely during normal driving—highway and city both. Some owners report the gear position indicator falsely showing "Transmission not in Park" while parked, causing the vehicle to refuse shutdown and drain the battery. A few document reverse-gear engagement when Drive is selected, creating collision hazards.
Transfer case and power transfer unit (PTU) failures appear early—some at 24,000 miles—with grinding, clanking, and smoke, sometimes forcing vehicles to lock up mid-turn or mid-intersection. Owners cite $1,800–$7,500 repair bills. Water pump failure on 3.5L V6 engines requires 14–16 hours labor to remove and replace the pump (which costs under $150), totaling nearly $1,840 out-of-warranty. Exhaust odor—propane or sulfur-like—accompanies many powertrain complaints; carbon monoxide detectors in vehicles have activated, causing lightheadedness, nausea, and vomiting on drives over an hour. Engine hesitation, stalling, and throttle-body-related loss of power occur during acceleration or lane merges, occasionally on empty tank. Dealers either cannot duplicate failures or find no diagnostic codes. Ford's responses range from refusal to investigate pre-warranty claims to citing VINs outside recall scope.
Same Ford Explorer powertrain reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission loss of power / slipping / failure to shift
Transmission refuses to shift gears, slips out of Drive into Manual, loses all forward motion, or fails to accelerate despite pedal input. Occurs mid-drive at various speeds.
When: 2,000–152,000 miles; some failures within first month of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerks, makes grinding or loud noise, or stalls without warning; RPMs spike without speed increase; Vehicle restricted to 10–15 MPH maximum; Requires engine restart to restore normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement $7,500; dealership repairs not completed in several cases; Ford denied coverage out-of-warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 20V692000 (Powertrain) referenced by some owners; VINs not included in recall per dealers; some denied any assistance
Transfer case / PTU (power transfer unit) failure
Transfer case or integrated PTU develops cracks, leaks fluid, loses seal integrity, or seizes. Non-serviceable design; requires full replacement. Failures occur at rest or during turning.
When: 24,000–107,000 miles; one reported at 24,326 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding, clanking, or loud metallic noise from drivetrain; Smoke from front or underneath hood; Fluid leaks visible on driveway or carport; Vehicle locks up during turning or refuses to move forward/backward; Burning smell accompanies grinding
Repairs/costs cited: $1,850–$2,000 replacement cost out-of-warranty; one owner noted 'over a hundred' replacements at single dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall; Mazda has recalled similar part in same model era; dealers confirm common problem but offer no warranty support post-warranty
Exhaust odor in cabin (propane/sulfur/CO-like)
Propane, sulfur, or unburned fuel smell enters cabin, often tied to PTU or transmission breakdown. Odor worsens under load, high RPM, or AC operation. Carbon monoxide detectors activate in some vehicles.
When: 50,000–102,000 miles; sometimes early after purchase (59,000 miles reported)
Symptoms owners cite: Persistent pungent smell (propane, sulfur, or unburned fuel odor); Lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, headache during extended drives; Smell worse under acceleration or high load; Passengers and driver both affected; Windows-down required to tolerate cabin air
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership technicians confirmed presence of exhaust fumes; repair orders document persistent odor after investigation; no fix identified in narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford negotiating lemon-law buyback in one case; repair orders confirm issue but no TSB or recall issued; some dealers state no remedy available
Water pump failure / coolant leak (3.5L V6)
Integrated water pump develops bearing or gasket failure, allowing coolant to leak and mix with engine oil. Pump is not separately replaceable; requires engine disassembly.
When: 79,000 miles (one reported); design inherent to EcoBoost 3.5L V6
Symptoms owners cite: Coolant level drops rapidly after filling; Radiator fan runs fast and loud; Sweet smell of coolant; Engine may overheat and shut down
Repairs/costs cited: Pump itself <$150; labor 14–16 hours to access; total repair $1,839.82 out-of-warranty; dealership refused to cover, referred to Ford
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership confirmed leak; Ford refused coverage; owner states problem documented across many Ford 3.5L V6 engines but no recall identified
Gear position indicator false "Not in Park" warning
Dashboard displays 'Transmission Not in Park' or 'Transmission Not in Park' alert when vehicle is in Park, or intermittently fails to recognize park. Vehicle may refuse to turn off, draining battery.
When: 50,000–111,000 miles; one report at 1,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Warning light illuminates while parked in Drive or Park; Vehicle engine will not shut off despite being in Park; Requires multiple start/stop cycles or manual shifter adjustments to clear alert; Battery drained overnight when vehicle will not power down; Intermittent—comes and goes over months
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $1,000+ for unspecified repair; one owner mentions shifter replacement required but repair not completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealers confirm hearing about issue but state no recall available; some VINs stated to be outside recall scope (20V692000)
Unexpected gear shift (forward to reverse, Park to Reverse)
Vehicle shifts into unintended gear without driver action. Drive selection results in Reverse motion; Park selection results in vehicle rolling. Safety-critical failure.
When: 1 month after purchase (August 2013); 111,000 miles (no parking brake set)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while display shows Drive (D) selected; Vehicle rolls backward from Park while parked on incline (parking brake not set); Collision or near-miss with other vehicles or objects; Gear display indicator contradicts actual vehicle motion
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted in documented cases; one vehicle rolled into roadway; owner unprepared for unexpected motion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented; no recall cited
Engine hesitation / stalling on acceleration
Engine bogs, sputters, misfires, or stalls when driver accelerates from stop or at highway speeds. Throttle response lost temporarily; recovery requires engine restart or repeated pedal inputs.
When: 1–4 months of ownership; recurring over months; 16,000–90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine loses response when accelerator depressed; Choking, stuttering, or hesitation lasting 1–2 seconds; Vehicle restricted to 10–15 MPH until engine restarted; Occurs during passing, U-turns, lane changes, or simple acceleration; No warning light; dealer unable to replicate or retrieve fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership technicians unable to simulate failure; one owner blamed for 'hitting steering wheel controls'; no diagnosis or repair made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers refer to throttle-body defect (owner mentions 'many' other Ford drivers report same); no TSB or recall cited
Torque converter failure / degradation
Torque converter internal wear or seal failure causes transmission to slip, shudder, or fail to transmit power under load. Progressive degradation or sudden failure.
When: 116,000 miles (one); 130,000 miles (one)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle sputters and engine misfires at 30–40 MPH; Poor response at 60–65 MPH acceleration; Jerking or abnormal vibration; No warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Torque converter replacement required; not completed in documented cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V427000 referenced; Customer Satisfaction Program 20N07 offered but VIN stated not included; manufacturer denied coverage
Transmission / powertrain vibration, grinding, or abnormal noise
Vehicle vibrates or makes grinding, clanking, popping, or rattling sounds from transmission, transfer case, or drivetrain. Often occurs during acceleration, turning, or at specific speeds.
When: 35–110,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud grinding, clanking, or popping sound from front/rear or underneath; Abnormal vibration at various speeds or during acceleration; Grinding sound when depressing accelerator at stop light; Sound worse during turns or heavy acceleration; No warning light
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; one owner reports 'Takata Recall' header but complaint concerns transmission (not airbag); repair estimated $2,000 labor + parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 20V692000 referenced; some VINs not included in recall
Drive axle / link shaft bracket failure
Front-right drive axle breaks off internally and jams into transmission, or link-shaft bracket fails. Sudden loss of power; vehicle immobilized.
When: 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power/acceleration while driving normally; Vehicle will not move forward, backward, or roll freely; Grinding noise may accompany failure; Rolls off tow truck like it is in Neutral when supposedly in Park
Repairs/costs cited: Ford technicians unfamiliar with failure mode; transmission damage resulted; repair cost unknown; owner questioned if Ford covering up root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall exists for link shaft bracket, but vehicle built 4 months before recall effective date; no coverage
Synthesized from 69 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had powertrain trouble with your 2014 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2014 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 69 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 52 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 39,789 and 98,500 miles, with the median around 79,072. A quarter of owners report trouble before 39,789; a quarter make it past 98,500. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.