Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, backup camera).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the rearview camera would display a distorted image while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure had obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact stated that they had been involved in two low-speed, parking lot accidents. The contact stated that no injuries were reported in either incident. Unknown if a police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's and driver's side A-pillar trim fractured and detached. The contact stated that the dealer arrived at the residence and inspected the vehicle; however, the contact was informed that parts were not available. The contact purchased the parts from Amazon; however, the contact had to apply tape to hold the parts in place. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the driver's side B-pillar trim had fractured and detached. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. Additionally, the back-over prevention camera screen displayed a black screen and an error message to call the dealer. …
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera briefly displayed an image, and the message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rearview camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the model year was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the image displayed on the screen was inverted, making it difficult to safely maneuver the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
My steering system needs to be replaced. While driving, my steering became very hard to control. My vehicle sways and I wrecked bc of it. Ford said it's the steering gear that needs to be replaced for $2600. My driver and lane keeping assist lights came on when this started happening. My car needs a new sensor because of the wreck as well. This has prevented me from attending to everyday activities such as work. I have lost so much money and will probably lose everything I have like my home because of this. Ford needs to fix this now!
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the back-over prevention camera displayed a black screen. In addition, the error message indicated that the back-over prevention camera was unavailable. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure description; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the back over prevention camera was malfunctioning. The contact stated that the camera was displaying an upside-down image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the back-over prevention camera had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the camera image showed a reversed image, and there were lines through the camera screen, and occasionally the camera was off. The contact stated that the image was distorted, so the contact covered up the camera. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera image turned black. The message "Camera Currently Unavailable - Contact Your Dealer" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The rear-view camera was replaced and reprogrammed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing, the rear-view camera malfunctioned and failed to display an image. The contact stated that occasionally while reversing, the rear-view camera activated and then the image suddenly disappeared, and the display screen turned black. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 70,000.
Collision Avoidance complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are collision avoidance problems on the 2014 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the driver assistance of the 2014 Ford Explorer, 2% of the model year's 1,682 complaints. The component named most often is sensing system › camera (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2014 Ford Explorer collision avoidance problems?
No. NHTSA lists no driver assistance recall for the 2014 Ford Explorer, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Ford Explorer collision avoidance problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to driver assistance problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.