2014 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Engine overheats or leaks coolant
- 45owner reports
- 113,535median miles
- $2,900median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Nov 6, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
215 of the 1,607 complaints on this car are about the engine. 45 of those describe overheating.
Tick what matches of 45 reports
Overheating on other Explorer years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Most owners in this group notice the coolant before they notice the heat: a reservoir that keeps dropping, a sweet smell, or a bright puddle under the front of the car. Across the vehicles on this site, about four in five of these complaints mention coolant, a leak or a puddle, and roughly two in five mention the temperature gauge or overheating.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the water pump (36 reports), the coolant hose or reservoir (4 reports) and the radiator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Explorer
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Exhaust odor in passenger cab. Closed jan 17, 2023.
Ford explorer exhaust odor. Closed sep 12, 2017.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Engine cooling fan cracks. Closed aug 31, 1994.
What owners paid
10 of the 45 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,839 to $3,300.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 91,000 and 133,553 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2014 Ford Explorer that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
FORD: SOME MODEL VEHICLES MANUAL FOR POWERTRAIN CONTROL/EMISSION DIAGNOSTIC (PC/ED) HAS BEEN UPDATED REGARDING IMPROVED COOLING FAN CIRCUIT DUE TO A LACK OF AIR CONDITIONING, A MALFUNCTIONING INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND OVERHEATING. *PE
What owners wrote
“I was driving my car stopped at a gas station went to leave and had no power steering. Replaced the power steering angle sensor still didn't fix the problem had to have the rack and pinion replaced all in cost almost $3000. Now my car is leaking coolant from the motor where the water pump is located”
Filed Jun 3, 2023
“Ford built the motor with a water pump when it leaks leaks right into the crank case where the oil is so the motor seizes up and thatâs what happened to my car now my car is shot”
Filed May 15, 2023
“Driving my explorer and the water pump went bad. Got overheat warnings and now I find this happens to all of these engines. A class action suit has been filed. The cost to repair is nearly $4000 for an issue does knew about it? Not recalling and fixing these is negligent and dangerous.”
Filed Mar 20, 2023 · 115,395 miles
“My ford Explorer has a 3.5L V6 motor. This motor was designed with the water pump installed in the crank shaft. As a result of this when the water pump fails and leaks coolant can leak into the motor and mix with the oil costing thousands of dollars in damages.”
Filed Jan 31, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 45 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Which lights mean pull over now? Warning lights by color and urgency
Other problems on this car
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 301 reports
- Trim or a body panel comes off while driving 162 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 116 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 102 reports
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 80 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 79 reports
- Steering wheel clicks, clunks or grinds when I turn 64 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 45 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks 35 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 32 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 31 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 31 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports