2014 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Seat belt or seat problems
- 31owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- $350median quote
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Feb 9, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
31 of the 1,607 complaints on this car describe seat belt.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Seat belt 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: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group covers the belt and the seat it's bolted to: buckles that won't latch or won't let go, belts that lock up and won't pull out, and seats that shift or rock in their tracks. It's a wide bucket, with over 9,000 complaints across the vehicles on this site, and a quarter of them mention a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the buckle (10 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the seat belts covers the 2014 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the seat belts on the Explorer
Front seat back recliner attachment. Closed sep 5, 2003, led to recall 03V-281.
Safety belt assembly failure. Closed may 21, 2003.
Safety belt assembly. Closed jul 2, 2002.
Seat belt webbing. Closed apr 25, 2002.
Seat belt webbing. Closed feb 26, 2001.
Front seat track failure. Closed feb 26, 1993.
None of these investigations covers the 2014 model year.
What owners paid
7 of the 31 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $150 to $565.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 59,813 and 99,852 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices 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.
Certain 2014-2016 Model Year Explorer Vehicles 2nd Row Inflatable Seat Belt - In all of the affected vehicles, the air bag light may illuminate as a result of a worn or damaged connection to the rear inflatable seat belt connector.
Some vehicles may have a concern where the safety belt retractor webbing does not extract from the stowed position or exhibits excessive pressure on the occupant during use.
SOME 2009-2010 F-150 AND 2011-2016 EXPLORER VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SEAT CUSHION COVER THAT APPEARS LOOSE NEAR THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SEAT CUSHION COVER J-RETAINER BECOMING DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT CUSHION PAN FLANGE.
LINCOLN/FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES AND TRUCKS, THERE IS A POPPING, SQUEALING, BINDING OR GRINDING NOISE COME FROM POWER SEATS WHEN MOVING BACKWARDS OR FORWARD. MODEL 2009-2015 F-150, TAURUS, FLEX, MKT, MKS, F-SUPER DUTY, EXPLORER. *PE
What owners wrote
“Driver side seatbelt is malfunctioning and will not buckle properly unless you press the red release button to get it to buckle you in. If you don't press the red button the buckle will not engage and you will not be able to buckle up. The back passenger seat belt buckles were doing the same thing and we're unusable.”
Filed May 24, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 31 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. 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 Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
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 overheats or leaks coolant 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
- Water leaks into the cabin 31 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 27 reports