2007 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
208 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
67,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 184 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 39 of 208 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 22.6% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 15.4% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 17 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 39 |
| Engine | 28 |
| Seats | 24 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 17 |
| Tires | 16 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
Power Train: 39; Engine: 28; Seats: 24; Electrical System: 22; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Tires: 16; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Air Bags: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 32 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 31 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 32 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 32; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 31; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 12
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 12 |
| 2010 | 19 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2013 | 15 |
| 2014 | 29 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 |
2007: 11; 2008: 16; 2009: 12; 2010: 19; 2011: 18; 2012: 11; 2013: 15; 2014: 29; 2015: 25; 2016: 21; 2017: 9; 2018: 11; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10178273 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT INTERSECTION IN MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER. AS I BRAKED TO STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ON ITS OWN DOWNSHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED PUSHING ME INTO THE INTERSECTION. AN ALERT DRIVER ENTERING THE INTERSECTION SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND STOPPED IN TIME AVOIDING WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME THAT DAY WAS TO CAREFULLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL EACH TIME I WANTED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, W…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178273 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210158 · 2007-11-28 (November 28, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. AS OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,588.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182849 · 2007-02-17 (February 17, 2007)
RUNNING AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING. TAIL AND RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON WITH USE OF MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROLS. FOUND BLOWN FUSE AND REPLACED FUSE. FUSE FAILED AGAIN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON RUNNING AND TAIL LIGHTS. BRAKE AND TURNING LIGHTS WORK. DEALERS SERVICE WRITER REPORTED THAT INSPECTION FOUND UNDER THE DASH "SMART JUNCTION BOX" FAULTY AND A SECOND 2007 EXPLORER WAS IN THE SHOP THAT DAY FOR THE SAME REASON. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193841 · 2007-06-20 (June 20, 2007)
IN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN OUR COMPANY'S 2007 FORD EXPLORER I INADVERTENTLY PRESSED BOTH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE SAME FOOT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED UP INSTEAD. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED THIS IN A RENTAL FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES, OTHER THAN A BRIEF PANIC ATTACK. MY SOLUTION WAS NOT DRIVE THE COMPANY'S VEHICLE, BUT INSTEAD DRIVE MY OWN CHEVROLET. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10206734 · 2007-10-24 (October 24, 2007)
NEW VEHICLE PURCHASE IN ORLANDO, FL ON 09-07-07. TOOK TO LOCAL FORD DEALER IN MEMPHIS, TN ON 09-10-07 WITH ISSUE OF VEHICLE PULLING AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING, (1300 MILES ON VEHICLE). FORD SAID THE ROTORS WERE GLAZED AND WARPED, (FORD SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW OR WHY THIS OCCURRED WITH ONLY 1300 MILE ON VEHICLE). FORD RESURFACED ROTORS,(FORD STATED THEY ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO RESURFACE ROTORS, NOT REPLACE THEM UNDER WARRANTY). FORD DID NOT REPLACE BRAKE PADS OR DO ANY OTHER BRAKE JOB ASSOCIATED REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. RO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10206734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256941 · 2009-01-30 (January 30, 2009)
THERE IS A NEW DESIGN TO HAVE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AT THE TOP OF THE DOOR PANEL. IT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE STEERING COLUMN. THE PAINT THAT IS ON THE HANDLE IS CHIPPING OFF DUE TO WATCHES AND JEWELRY RUBBING IT. THIS LOOKS TACKY. IT IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND IS ALREADY SHOWING SCRATCHES AND WEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10256941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295069 · 2009-12-09 (December 9, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER FUELING THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE CAME TO COMPLETE STOP, WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE ABS BRAKING GEAR HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367883 · 2010-11-26 (November 26, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE COMPUTER DETECTED VIA BLACK BOX THAT A CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE TECHNICIANS WERE REPLACING THE AIR BAGS, THE LINING WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE LOCATED, AND THE BLACK BOX. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 01/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR THE AIR BAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10210990 · 2007-12-06 (December 6, 2007)
THE LATEST COMPLAINT/ISSUE IS THAT I AM GETTING A BLINKING "O/D OFF" LIGHT AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IN MY EXPLORER. I HAD JUST HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR SOME EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT, FOLLOWING A LITANY OF BACK-TO-BACK ELECTRICAL ISSUES (FULL BATTERY FAILURE, FAILURE OF THE 4WD COMPONENT, BROKEN OR DETACHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO LOCK/ALARM THAT DOOR WITH REMOTE) AS WELL AS, LONG AS IT WAS IN THERE, THE 60K MAINTENANCE CYCLE (WHICH INCLUDED ELECTRICAL, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AND AXLE CHECKUP). THEN, PROBLEMS AGAIN …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10274711 · 2009-06-23 (June 23, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO LIGHT INDICATION ON THE GEAR SHIFTER. AT NIGHT, HE IS UNABLE TO TELL WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, NEUTRAL, OR DRIVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO ELECTRICAL BOLTS IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS DEALERS AND THEY ALL CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THIS MANNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274711 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10893571 · 2016-08-05 (August 5, 2016)
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE FUEL TANK IT TAKES FUEL VERY SLOWLY AND MOST OF THE TIME FUEL WILL COME BACK OUT OF THE FILL TUBE GETTING ON ANYONE FILLING THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES DUE TO THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND FUEL COULD CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. THIS IS ALSO AN ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DUE TO FUEL ALSO GETS ON THE GROUND THE VEHICLE AND ANYTHING ELSE WITHIN 2 FEET OF THE FILLER DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL TANK IS NOT VENTING PROBABLY TO LET THE FUEL ENTER AND AIR TO ESCAPE WHICH MAKES THE FUEL BACK UP INTO THE FILL TUBE AND WHEN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10893571 at NHTSA ↗