YearToAvoid

2014 Ford Explorer Fuel System Problems

NHTSA lists 71 Fuel System complaints for the 2014 Ford Explorer, 4% of its 1,678 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 26,250 miles. There is one reported fire and four injuries but no related recalls on file.

Fuel System complaints
71
4% of 1,678
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
26,250 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical fuel system symptoms owners report

  • Owners report exhaust or burning-plastic odor entering the cabin during hard acceleration or highway merging, often described as strong and repeatable.
  • Some drivers say the fume smell worsens on long uphill grades or sustained high-rpm driving, sometimes causing lightheadedness or headaches.
  • One owner reported gasoline actively leaking and pooling on top of the exhaust pipes after noticing a persistent fuel smell around the vehicle.
  • A separate complaint describes the engine shutting off without warning while driving at highway speed, then restarting normally with no diagnostic code found.
  • One case involved a burning odor at highway speed that a dealer technician linked to possible cracks in a fuel system component, coinciding with a reported fire incident.

When 2014 Ford Explorer fuel system complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 22, 2013, latest Apr 15, 2026.

2014 Ford Explorer fuel system complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2013Oct 2014Jul 2016Mar 2017Sep 2017Sep 2018Sep 2020Apr 2026
71 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2013 to Apr 2026; peak Oct 2014 (4).

Fuel System recalls for the 2014 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Fuel System complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20109 (8%)
  2. 201140 (3%)
  3. 201234 (4%)
  4. 2013153 (7%)
  5. 201471 (4%)
  6. 201594 (5%)
  7. 2016112 (5%)
  8. 201749 (3%)
  9. 201823 (3%)
  10. 201917 (6%)
  11. 202042 (3%)
  12. 202126 (6%)
  13. 202236 (13%)
  14. 20233 (3%)
  15. 20240 (0%)
  16. 20253 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 2014 Ford Explorer have?
NHTSA lists 71 Fuel System complaints for the 2014 Explorer, which is 4% of all 1,678 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a fuel system recall for the 2014 Ford Explorer?
No. The JSON data shows no related recalls listed for the Fuel System component on the 2014 Explorer.
At what mileage do fuel system problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure for fuel system complaints on the 2014 Explorer is 26,250 miles.
Are the fuel system complaints serious?
NHTSA data shows zero crashes but one fire and four injuries tied to fuel system complaints on the 2014 Explorer.
How does the 2014 Explorer compare to other years for fuel system complaints?
The 2014 model's 71 complaints (4% share) is lower than 2013's 153 complaints (7% share) and 2016's 112 complaints (5% share), based on the year-by-year complaint counts.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.