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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

57 reports

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71,000 miles · May 5, 2016

Power Train

I HAVE A 2007 FORD EXPLORER WITH 71,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND GRINDING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING BAD AT THE LOW OF MILES

NHTSA ODI #10863441

84,681 miles · May 4, 2016

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE SHIFTING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 30 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK POWER TRAIN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE MORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,681.

NHTSA ODI #10863072

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2016

Power Train

WHEN TRYING TO GIVE GAS IT ESATATES, STALLS AND JERKS. WHEN THIS STARTED WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE GOT IT TO THE DEALER IT HAD 59000 MILES ON IT AND WE WERE 20 DAYS OVER THE WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE MIGHT NEED A TORQUE CONVERTER OR A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2800 OR $5400. THEY WOULD NOT COVER…

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NHTSA ODI #10860526

82,000 miles · Feb 29, 2016

Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. IT WOULD SLIP BETWEEN 3RD AND FOURTH GEAR WHEN GOING ABOVE 40 MPH AND DO IT ONLY ONE OR TWO TIMES WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THEN OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START. I SEE SEVERAL POSTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS …

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NHTSA ODI #10838961

73,700 miles · Feb 17, 2016

Power Train

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TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM ONLY STARTED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE CAR ONLY HAD 73000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT STARED TO ACT WRONG. IT WOULD SLIP BETWEEN 3RD AND FOURTH GEAR WHEN GOING ABOVE 40 MPH AND DO IT ONLY ONE OR TWO TIMES WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THEN OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START. TRUCK HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES AND JUST STARTED DRIVING CITY ROUTES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I SEE SEVERAL POSTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION. MAYBE NHTSA SHOULD RECALL IT BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #10836814

60,000 miles · Feb 8, 2016

Power Train

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WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. BOUGHT NEW IN 2007 WITH EXT WARRANTY. CAR WITH <THAN 60K MLS, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT, TAKEN CARE OF. 01/31/2016 SUN WHILE DRIVING APPROX 10 MPH ON A SIDE STREET IT LOST POWER AND SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MIN. ON 02/01 MON 7:00 AM THE SAME HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 45 MPH. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO STEER THE ROLLING CAR OFF TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER 15 MIN RESTARTED AND TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. PROMISED TO HAVE IT READY IN 4 HRS. AT 4:00 PM HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT YET. AT 6:00 PM IT WAS ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT BY 2 TECHS AND DETERMINED IT'S A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WE WERE NOW IN LINE FOR A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WITH 14 CARS AHEAD OF US (BY ITSELF EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN FORDS). ON THUR 02/04 (4TH DAY) GOT A CALL AT 6:PM THAT THERE IS A SHORT INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND HAVE IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY. $1,400 TO FIX. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPENED A CASE AS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS ARE FREQUENT. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE WASN'T A SEMI BEHIND MY HUSBAND ON THE HIGHWAY ON MON. ON FRI 02/05 I'M TOLD THE PART WASN'T ORDERED ON THUR BECAUSE OF 4:00 PM CUTOFF. HE SAID IT WAS BEING ORDERED ON FRI AND FIXED ON SAT. ON SAT 02/06 I'M TOLD THEY NEVER HAVE TRANSMISSION MECHANICS WORKING ON SAT AND IT WILL BE FIXED ON MON. NOON ON MON I'M TOLD FORD OFFERS NO REMEDY FOR CARS OLDER THAN 6 YRS AND CASE CLOSED. STATUS OF REPAIR - HE WOULD CHECK IF THE PART CAME IN WHEN HE GETS BACK FROM LUNCH. A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR, NO INFORMATION, PART MAYBE ORDERED, CAR NOT FIXED AND FORD DOESN'T CARE IF WE DIE ON THE ROAD AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAULTY SOLENOID AND NON-REUSABLE PARTS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO FIX THIS. FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS BOUGHT 4 NEW FORDS WITH EXT WARRANTY (NOT USED). FORD COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT CUSTOMERS OR THEIR SAFETY. NO MORE FORDS!!

NHTSA ODI #10824886

55,000 miles · Dec 31, 2015

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAIL…

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NHTSA ODI #10817191

89,000 miles · Sep 13, 2015

Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AS I WAS DRIVING WHICH DID NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC AS NEEDED. I TOOK TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3800.

NHTSA ODI #10763410

140,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015

EnginePower Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE 02 SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE 02 SENSOR, HE NOTICED SEVERAL BARE WIRES. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD ROTTED AND FALLEN OFF THE SENSORS. AS A RESULT, THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT PULLED DOWN THE TRANSMISSION WIRE HARNESS AND NOTICED THAT 15 WIRES WERE AFFECTED. ALSO, THE COOLING TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10746738

86,000 miles · Aug 2, 2015

Power Train

I AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH OUR V8 EXPLORERS. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN CLUCKING, JERKING, AND SLIPPING WITHOUT REASON. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME PROGRESSES. I AM VERY UPSET THAT FORD HAS NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10745637

Official recalls

07V181000 · Steering

Apr 25, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH OF THE BOLTS FRACTURING, CAUSING THE STEERING GEAR TO BECOME LOOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS DECREASED STEERING EFFECTIVENESS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO

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