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2007 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

184 reports with mileage · 24 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Seats complaints

24 reports
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95,000 miles · Dec 17, 2015
Electrical SystemSeats

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE POWER SEAT HAS MOVED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN, CAUSING PROBLEMS IN REACHING THE PEDALS SAFELY. IN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO TURNED ON. TWO OF THE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS WHEN I HAD TO HONK THE HORN, BUT HAS HAPPENED ON OT…

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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE POWER SEAT HAS MOVED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN, CAUSING PROBLEMS IN REACHING THE PEDALS SAFELY. IN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO TURNED ON. TWO OF THE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS WHEN I HAD TO HONK THE HORN, BUT HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER OCCASIONS AS WELL. TONIGHT, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS, THEN THE VEHICLE DIED - ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WENT DEAD. I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED WHILE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE RE-STARTED AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10811051

97,000 miles · Nov 10, 2015
Seats

WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WILL MAKE UN-COMMANDED MOVEMENT BACKWARDS AND AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THIS SCENARIO TYPICALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, OCCURS DURING A TURN OR ACCELERATION. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT A STEADY SPEED IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION LOCATE…

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WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WILL MAKE UN-COMMANDED MOVEMENT BACKWARDS AND AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THIS SCENARIO TYPICALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, OCCURS DURING A TURN OR ACCELERATION. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT A STEADY SPEED IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. SPEEDS AT WHICH THIS OCCURS RANGE BETWEEN INITIAL ACCELERATION UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH)

NHTSA ODI #10789630

40,000 miles · Nov 7, 2015
Seats

MY 2007 EXPLORER DRIVER SEAT MOVE AT WILL, FORWARD OR BACKWARD EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I AM SHORT AND THE POWER SEAT MOVES BACK TO WHERE MY FEET NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OR JUST STATIONARY WHILE CHANGING GEARS AND HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE RE…

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MY 2007 EXPLORER DRIVER SEAT MOVE AT WILL, FORWARD OR BACKWARD EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I AM SHORT AND THE POWER SEAT MOVES BACK TO WHERE MY FEET NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OR JUST STATIONARY WHILE CHANGING GEARS AND HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. A NET SEARCH REVEALS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10789022

66,000 miles · Apr 29, 2015
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO PLACE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO PLACE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10713544

110,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOVED BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOVED BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10682453

80,000 miles · Sep 10, 2014
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC DRIVERS SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REQUIRED TO HOLD ON TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING IN OR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC DRIVERS SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REQUIRED TO HOLD ON TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER FOR THE SEAT TO STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10632193

60,000 miles · Apr 14, 2014
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUF…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10579685

65,965 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO RELEASE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HER BODY FORWARD IN ORDER TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE POWER SEAT OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES HOWEVER, TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO RELEASE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HER BODY FORWARD IN ORDER TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE POWER SEAT OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,965.

NHTSA ODI #10547240

123,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSeats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEAL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SEAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD SEND FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT, INDICATING THAT THE DOOR WAS BEING OPENED AND CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN UPDATED 08/25/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10490857

58,175 miles · Sep 18, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT MOVED TO THE FULL BACK POSITION. THIS AS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED MANY TIMES IN THE PASS FEW MONTHS. A SHORT OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CAN NOT APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED. YOU MUST REACH DOWN AND MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD WITH THE POWER SWITCH LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE DRI…

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WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT MOVED TO THE FULL BACK POSITION. THIS AS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED MANY TIMES IN THE PASS FEW MONTHS. A SHORT OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CAN NOT APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED. YOU MUST REACH DOWN AND MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD WITH THE POWER SWITCH LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS PROCEDURE TAKES TO LONG IF YOU NEED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP. THIS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10475809

Official recalls

1

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

1

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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