2014 FORD EXPLORER Structurebody Problems

JUST LAST YEAR, I STARTED NOTICING THAT BOTH OF MY FRONT SEATBELTS ARE NOT FULLY RETRACTING WHEN I AM BUCKLED OR UNBUCKLED. WHEN I UNBUCKLE MY SEATBELT, I HAVE TO MANUALLY RETRACTED BACK TO ITS POSITION. ALSO, WHEN I HAVE BOTH SEATBELTS BUCKLED, I HAVE TO MANUALLY RETRACTED IN ORDER TO SECURE MYSELF AND MY PASSENGER. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS THIS IS NOT SAFE ENOUGH INCASE OF AN ACCIDENT. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I HAVE IN MY VEHICLE IS THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR PANEL COMING APART. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AS THIS IS CAUSING OBSTRUCTION OF THE RIGHT REAR VIEW MIRROR BY THE PASSENGER DOOR PANEL. ALSO, THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL HAS CAUSED SCRATCHES TO MY ARM WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO DISTRACTION.

In January 2024 we were driving on the interstate when the left front A-Pillar trim part around windshield came off and hit our windshield, then flew off on the highway. We received a recall from Ford in February 2024, to date they claim they still don't have the part to repair, we now have water that leaks into the car when it rains. Which is creating issue inside our car. it has now been two years, it seems like they will never get this and my car will keep leaking. The car is titled in Virginia but the car is located at our Florida property in Clearwater Beach FL, I need it fixed down here.

Exterior A-Pillar Appliqué Trim Clip Attachments Mfr recall # 24S02 NHTSA recall # 24V031 Remedy has been unavailable @local Ford dealership too long and gave been told it’s not available to them. Approximate date given for incident occurrence is not remembered and date entered is inaccurate)

The vehicle inspection to see if our vehicle qualified for the recall to replace the A-Pillar trim was done well over a year ago. The inventory has been on backorder for over a year as well. The windshield desperately needs replaced for safety reasons and the windshield cannot be replaced without replacing these recalled pieces. We are having to pay $200 extra out of pocket to replace these defective pieces. According to Ford they will not reimburse for the repair since they notified us of the recall, but they haven't been able to fix the problem in a timely manner and we need a new windshield immediately. So I believe they should reimburse us for these parts we have to pay out of pocket for due to not being able to fix the recall.

Remedy is not yet available as of September 2025. Received letter February 2024. Regarding A pillar trim

Both sides of the windshield A pillar trims have flown off into oncoming traffic,have been trying to get it fixed for months now.Have reported before case #11640934

On [XXX] I was driving on the freeway when both A pillars came loose and the rubber trim was damaged. I had to pull over and buy some electrical tape from the gas station to somehow secure them so that I can get home. While I was looking into the repair I came across information that there is a current safety recall for the A-Pillars for the Ford Explorer and my vehicle was one of the affected vehicles. Manufacturer recall # 24S02 and NHTSA Recall # 24V031. I contacted two Ford Dealerships Performance Ford located in 2000 E. Garvey Ave West Covina, CA. 91791 and also Chino Hills Ford 4480 Chino Hills Pkwy. Chino, CA. 91710. Both businesses gave me the excuse that they did not have parts for the repair but aftermarket parts are available with other vendors. I explained that my vehicle is actually one of the affected...

A frame pieces have detached and were flapping/ flying onto the highway. We are now missing both sides of A Frame pieces and replacements for the recall are not available.

Pillar on recall has come off on left side. In traffic a dangerous near miss to car behind us on interstate. One year of recall with no replacement parts. Other pillar is loose and will come off if not replaced. Cost to repair first pillar over $600. Ford has made NO progress in getting parts for this recall for almost 2 years

I have been trying to get our car repaired for a year now. As of Nov 2024, I was told by 2) ford dealers they expected the parts soon. We have taken the car to these dealers, had pictures taken, and the issue confirmed. Getting it repaired is a whole different matter and we keep getting brushed off, being told "they are trying to source the parts". The pillar trim is loose & rattling, and ready to fly off the car. We have been extremely patient and accepting of the delay, but now believe we aren't going to see this issue resolved.

Both A Pilar Trim pieces are currently loose on my 2014 Ford Explorer. This is now a recall from Ford as of February 2024 from the notice I received in the mail. I have been trying to have these trim pieces replaced on my car since March of 2024 but the part has not been available. Prior to this recall, this piece has already been repaired on my car once on August 4, 2020. The trim piece flew off my car on the freeway and luckily didn't hit anyone on the road. I would like to get these recall A Pilar trim pieces repaired ASAP because this is a safety issue as it can and will fly off and potentially damage another vehicle, person or cause an accident. REFERENCE TO NHTSA Safety Recall 24V031

The A-pillar trim piece on the passenger side became unattached from the vehicle and flew off at approximately 55 mph. With no remedy still identified, what is my recourse?

Recalled part flew off car while on the freeway.

Due to a failed seal between the roof and the trunk door, water has leaked and corroded the exterior of the body over time. The corrosion has caused a hole to develop to the point that when it rains water leaks into the back of the car. As a result water entered the tail lights and caused the tail light to short out on one side. Some roofing tar and duck tape has helped with a temporary fix but it has been a hazardous problem because the leaking water can create a build up of moisture and mold growth within the vehicle. Another problem is the power windows and the power locking and unlocking system have become glitchy and have failed to work at times. The key pad, keyless entry has completely stopped working and the lock mechanism for the driver side of the car has completely fallen apart and...

Safety recall for A pillar not being performed after issue was confirmed by Ford dealership. I have been waiting 5 months for repairs to be made. No update given by dealership as to when repairs will be available. Safety issue

Received this recall notice from Ford in February of 2024. Dealership still advises parts are not available to complete the recall. Left side pillar cover is loose.

Vehicle has been under recall since February of 2024. The exterior A-pillar applique trim clip attachments were not properly engaged due to improper assembly. This trim piece fell off in highway traffic of 70 mph. Ford is still showing that the repair is not yet available.

The affected part that is part of the current recall, the plastic pillar piece came flying off my car tonight on my way home from work while I was on the interstate. Luckily there were no cars around me but it could have been a safety issue if there had been. I was unable to go retrieve the piece.

I was driving down the interstate when my driver side EXTERIOR A-PILLAR APPLIQUE TRIM CLIP ATTACHMENT broke off in two pieces at around 75-80 mph nearly missing the car behind me, with both pieces. The clip that holds it looks to be broken at one of the anchor points,and the adhesive that also hold it on seems to have lost it's tackiness.

My trim for my front windshield flew off while driving.

While driving on the highway, the trim piece that contours the front of the hood of the vehicle, broke off in two pieces and went flying into the air and nearly caused an accident.

APIM unit and plastic body components 2014 Explorer, Sync2 v3.10 Symptoms: Malfunction of power window controls, radio controls, rear camera and vent controls. The APIM also controls many other safety functions, such as safety lanes, park assist, backup guides, gps, cruise control, trailer/tow information, and other warnings/features. It is notable that Ford has issued recalls for the APIM due to safety issues in different year Explorer, as well as F150, F250, F350, Escape, Expedition, Fusion and Lincoln models Navigator and MK2 models, to name a few. This has been reported once, I spoke with a Ford representative and he setup an appointment at the dealership that was to setup an appoint for diagnosis before they setup a repair/replacement appointment. An appointment to setup an appointment to setup a diagnosis appointment to setup a repair appointment. Seriously, what is up with that? Finally, plastic window components had to be replaced. Ford...

The driver side windshield bar is slowly detaching. The plastic frame between the door and windshield. Also the rubber is coming off. At some point this will completely detach possibly while in movement and could cause a severe wreck if on highway. I've notice this defect on many Ford Explorers. This safety issue needs immediate attention before an accident occurs due to Ford's improper engineering. Even though this is a 2014 I've only put 48,000 miles on the vehicle.

Drivers side pillar trim has flown off the car at hiway speeds twice now. This is a very dangerous incident, that keeps happening and ford will not acknowledge that there is an issue.

I was traveling down I10 from Houston to San Antonio, somewhere near Luling. I thought a rock hit the windshield, then I few seconds later I heard it again, and then I noticed a black piece of something flapping back and forth along my passenger window. There was no place to safely stop so I reduced my speed, 75 to 60. I traveled until I could find a safe trace to stop. That is when I discovered the rubber molding along the right side of the windshield had pealed away and was flapping , hitting the side of my Explorer, the right mirror, and the passenger window. The mirror and window were so marked up because of the molding flapping I could hardly see through them. I had to continue my trip at a greatly reduced speed. The molding on the right was also loose. Once I arrived at my...

Bought the vehicle used from a dealership. The windshield wobbles at highways speeds. Noticed today that the trim on the left side of the vehicle is detached partially. Dealership will not do anything to resolve the issue. Serious safety concern.

I was driving down the freeway at 70 mph when the driver side windshield trim flipped off the car and hit the cars behind me and the roadway. Very dangerous situation. Scary to say the least. Is there a recall or a fix so this does not happen again?

While driving on the highway, the passenger front windshield trim piece flew off, causing the driver behind me to swerve to avoid being hit by it. I was not positive what happened until I was able to stop and look at the vehicle. Dealership said it was not under recall so would cost $300+ to replace the part. Previously in the same day I had heard a tapping/rattling noise but could not identify where the sound was coming from.

Driver’s side windshield molding detached while driving 70 miles per hour on highway, unknown if object hit another car. Was unaware what happened, heard loud noise. I have a picture, unable to upload below.

The drivers side pillar molding piece along the windshield flew off the car while driving down the highway. It could have struck the car behind us but luckily it missed them. The piece seemed a little loose when scraping ice off the car but didn’t seem like it would just fly off like that.

WINDSHIELD TRIM PIECES HAVE BLOWN OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAD TO BE REATTACHED BY BODY SHOP. LOCATED TRIM PIECE ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. LIKELY PUT DRIVERS IN REAR IN DANGER DUE TO FLYING DEBRIS. NO WARNING WAS GIVEN OF THE FAULTY PIECES COMING FREE FROM THE SUV.

This is about my 2014 ford explorer passenger side "windshield trim panel ",it fly away when I driving at speed around 70mph at I275 ,it did make some noise before fly away,and i found out it's the trim panel when i home. already bought a replacement but not sure when will happen to the driver side.

Three times in 8 years I have lost windshield trim panels when traveling at elevated speed (approximately 70 MPH). I believe it would have occurred more often but I grew weary in 2018 of paying the $135 to replace the trim part. Each time it occurred the trim piece left the car with a resounding & startling "crack" sound and happened without warning. All three occurrences involved the driver's side trim part on the A-pillar. Twice it occurred after a large truck passed me going the other way on a two lane road. Initially I went to the local Ford dealer but no one there seemed to care... they directed me to the parts counter... happy to take my money for this grossly overpriced part. Currently my car does not have the trim part in place

Plastic Trim piece, which covers the windshield rubber seal on driver side “A” pillar, fell off my 2014 Ford Explorer Limited. Incident happened about 2018.

Driving down the interstate and windshield A pillar panel flew off.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? WINDSHIELD TRIM How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? ONE SIDE FLEW OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? NO Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? NO Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? IT STARTED TO GET LOOSE A FEW DAYS PRIOR

Windshield trim piece on right side flew off while driving down the road.

At Christmas we noticed that there was something flapping from the side of the windshield & hitting the windshield as well as bilateral front windows. Further inspection revealed what appears to be a rubber seal keeping the body trim flush with the windshield was disintegrating. This could even be holding windshield in place. This problem is reproducible & occurs anywhere over 30mph. The faster you go, the more the trim starts to detach from the vehicle. With the seal disintegrating, the trim body pieces that cover the arm of the door (black) is becoming loose/flimsy. Photos enclosed show you there is about a 1/2 inch gap between the trim & windshield without the seal causing easy movement & potential for air to lift/detach the trim. We are fearful this is going to fall off the vehicle. It appears that this seal was keeping this body piece in place. A huge...

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while entering the driver’s side front door, she noticed that the trim panel cover material had separated at the top of the window. The contact also noticed the failure on the passenger’s side front door. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic linked the failure to the manufacturer’s Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 17N04. The dealer and the manufacturer were contacted and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and also exceeded the mileage limit for coverage under Customer Satisfaction Program Number: 17N04. The failure mileage was 83,000.

At one point the Explorer was always causing a rear wheel area to squeal really loud while driving. That finally got remedied but after 3 years of taking the vehicle in to 2 different shops. While yhe vehicle was still under warranty I was told there was nothing wrong and they can't reproduce the squeal. Once the warranty expired they said it was due to a seized brake which I ended up paying for the replacement even though they said this was a known issue on the Explorers. Another issue with the 2014 Explorer is water leaking into the rear compartments and the spare tire area in the vehicle. From online sear he's, this is also a known issue with no recalls. More recently, I was trying to get all four of my tires changed, but was told by the tire shop that they can't change my tires due to...

The right side A pillar Windshield Molding flew off at highway speed on the interstate, This molding was not showing any signs of being loose prior to it coming off. The one one the drivers (left) has been loose for some time but is still holding on

FORD SERVICE ACTION #17N04. FORD WILL NOT COMPLETE THIS SERVICE ACTION DUE TO MILEAGE. THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL IS PEELING BACK SO FAR THAT AIR CATCHES IN IT AND IS PUSHED BACK BY AIR WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE WINDOW DOWN. THE DOOR PANEL GETS PUSHED INTO THE DRIVER AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD.

DOOR PANEL HAS POPPED OFF THE TOP OF INTERIOR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND IS ALSO PULLING AWAY ON ARM REST. THIS WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL BY FORD BUT OURS DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER THE RECALL END DATE AND FORD WOULD NOT REPLACE DOOR PANEL UNLESS YOUR SHOWED THE DEFECT. FORD REFUSES TO FIX EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW ITS A FLAW.

THE DRIVER DOOR PANEL HAD BUCKLED AND COMING OFF. RECALL 17N04 BUT BECAUSE IT AFTER 5 YEARS THEY WONT COVER. THIS NOT FAIR WHEN THEY KNEW THIS WAS AN ISSUE.

I HAVE A 2014 FORD EXPLORER XLT, RECENTLY MY PASSENGER SIDE WEATHER STRIP ALONG THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. MY DRIVER SIDE DID THE SAME ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE ALONG THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, DRIVER SIDE IS LIFTING ALSO, I HAVE TRIED TO RE-GLUE SEVERAL TIMES BUT DOES NOT SEEM TO LAST. THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY FORD, I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. THESE POSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE PLASTIC TRIM PIECE BLOWS OFF ON THE HIGHWAY.

THE WINDSHIELD OUTSIDE PILLAR/TRIM MOLDING OF A 2014 FORD EXPLORER, FLEW OFF CAR WHILE DRIVING (65MPH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITHIN LESS THAN A YEAR. AND FROM WHAT I GATHERED FROM DEALERSHIP AND ONLINE RESEARCH, IT'S A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM.

YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND THE WINDSHIELD SIDE PANEL AND RUBBER FLEW OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE PLASTIC PIECE HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME OVER 500$ TO REPLACE AND THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE CAR. I ALSO MAINTAIN MY CAR WELL AND TAKE CARE OF IT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAPPEN. THE WINDSHIELD REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM ON MY CAR ALL THE TIME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAUSES A MAJOR WRECK AND SOMEONE DIES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR PANEL DETACHED FROM THE DOOR FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SOO MOTORS FORD (391 3 MILE RD, SAULT STE. MARIE, MI 49783, (906) 632-2278) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DOOR PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,382.

DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED WHILE STATIONARY.

MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF/MOON ROOF SHATTERED FOR ABSOLUTELY NOT REASON RANDOMLY TONIGHT WHILE SITTING STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY (NOT PARKED UNDER ANYTHING!). THANK GOODNESS I HAD MY VISOR CLOSED OR IT WOULD HAVE SHATTERED ALL OVER MY 2 CHILDREN