IllustrationTHROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY STALLED IN TRAFFIC, HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID BEING HIT. HAPPENED ON 3 OCCASIONS.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
320–25K
2525–50K
5250–75K
3175–100K
32100–150K
12150K+
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
What owners actually said
208 reports"TAKATA RECALL": WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON A STRAIGHT LOCAL ROAD, OUR FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO PEPBOYS GARAGE. THEY SAID THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN DOWN. AS SOON AS THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CAR WORKED. UNKNOWN TO US, AN "UNOF…
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"TAKATA RECALL": WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ON A STRAIGHT LOCAL ROAD, OUR FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE WRENCH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO PEPBOYS GARAGE. THEY SAID THAT THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN DOWN. AS SOON AS THE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED, THE CAR WORKED. UNKNOWN TO US, AN "UNOFFICIAL" RECALL OF THIS ASSEMBLY HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE TO MANY FORD MODELS. OF COURSE, OUR VEHICLE CONTAINED THIS SAME DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. HENCE, WE REQUEST THAT FORD PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PART AND FOR THE LABOR CHARGE INVOLVED. THE CONSEQUENCE OF THIS DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF THE STALL HAD OCCURRED ON THE EXPRESSWAY! MY HUSBAND HAD HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED. IT WAS POURING RAIN AND HE HAD TO WAIT IN THE CAR FOR TWO HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. HE HAD SPINAL SURGERY IN OCTOBER AND IS SCHEDULED FOR MORE SPINAL SURGERY ON JUNE 19TH, SO THIS WAS VERY PAINFUL FOR HIM AND HE HAD MUCH DIFFICULTY WALKING FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLODER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD CRACKED. THE CONTACT CALLED FORMULA FORD LOCATED AT 4318 MIDDLE RUTLAND VT 05701 800-906-6065. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
WHEN I WOULD TURN MY VEHICLE SEAT WILL ADJUST AND, NOW WHEN I AM DRIVING THE SEAT MOVES BACK BY ITSELF. AND I HAVE TROUBLE REACHING FOR THE BRAKES. IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE KEY IGNITION SWITCH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S UNBORN BABY WAS FATALLY WOUNDED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AND COLLAPSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,0…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT FAILED AND COLLAPSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SLIGHTLY DETACHED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SLIGHTLY DETACHED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A BACKORDER ON THE DRIVE SHAFTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND IT LOST POWER, RODE ROUGH AND WOULD ONLY MOVE ABOUT 5MPH. WRENCH LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE NORMAL. IT WOULD REVERSE BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. HAD TO TOW TO DEALER. DEALER TURNED ON AND SAID IT WAS FUNCTIONING. WE HAD NO WARNING ABOUT AN ISSUE BEFORE TH…
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DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND IT LOST POWER, RODE ROUGH AND WOULD ONLY MOVE ABOUT 5MPH. WRENCH LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE. ALL OTHER FUNCTIONS WERE NORMAL. IT WOULD REVERSE BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. HAD TO TOW TO DEALER. DEALER TURNED ON AND SAID IT WAS FUNCTIONING. WE HAD NO WARNING ABOUT AN ISSUE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED BEFORE. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT CAN STOP WITHOUT WARNING IN DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. WE FEEL IT IS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY AS MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THEIR FORD VEHICLES.
YES DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON PULL UP AT THE STOPLIGHT TAKING OFF THE CAR WENT INTO A LOWER GEAR PULLING VERY HARD SO I PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. AND TURN IT BACK ON THE TRUCK CONTINUE TO PULLED HARD. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR FIVE DIFFERENT CODE CAME UP I…
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YES DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON PULL UP AT THE STOPLIGHT TAKING OFF THE CAR WENT INTO A LOWER GEAR PULLING VERY HARD SO I PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. AND TURN IT BACK ON THE TRUCK CONTINUE TO PULLED HARD. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR FIVE DIFFERENT CODE CAME UP IN THE COMPUTER.
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT, I HAD JUST EXITED THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND IT WAS STILL OPEN, THE TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED
Official recalls
107V181000 · 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
1PE08060 · 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