Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems

Owners filed 100 complaints about the 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac with NHTSA between Jun 2006 and Oct 2024. The most-cited component is power train (23).

Complaints
100
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
10
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train23
  2. Electrical system14
  3. Engine11
  4. Tires10
  5. Engine and engine cooling10
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic10
  7. Suspension4
  8. Steering4
  9. Fuel/propulsion system4
  10. Vehicle speed control4
  11. Wheels4
  12. Visibility4
  13. Air bags3
  14. Exterior lighting3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20066
200712
200816
20095
201011
20119
201210
20136
20140
20157
20168
20171
20185
20191
20201
20210
20221
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

23 reports2 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT NOTICED POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING IN THE CARPORT. HE HAD TO ADD POWER STEERING FLUID EVERY TWO WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE EMERGING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V1812000 (STEERING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 21, 2019Steering, Power trainODI 11221714

Electrical system

14 reports1 fire
“Tire pressure monitoring system will incorrectly display tire sensor fault after driving over 55mph for approximately 15 miles After repeated repair attempts, Ford dealer has not been able to fix it and the TPMS is in constant alert with message Tire Monitor Fault. Dealer states that Ford no longer supports this government mandated safety feature.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2024Electrical systemODI 11618847

Engine

11 reports1 crash
“ISSUE FEB 2018 - PRESENT I BOUGHT MY 2ND- HAND 2007 FORD SPORT TRAC IN FEBRUARY 2018, FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. WE HAD EXPERIENCED 2 CAT-FIVE HURRICANES; POWER AND INTERNET WAS ALMOST NONEXISTENT, SO I COULD NOT RESEARCH THE TRUCK. ON THE SECOND DAY AFTER MY PURCHASE, WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STREET AT ABOUT 30 MPH, IT STALLED. I HAD VERY LITTLE BREAKS AND NO STEERING. WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK IT, IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE HAD NO LUCK FIXING THE ISSUE. UPON RESEARCH, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BLOGS/ QUESTIONS / ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR FROM OWNERS TRYING TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE. ONE BLOG SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN REQUESTED FOR FORD TO DO A RECALL, BUT FORD DENIED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE. IT MAY DRIVE GREAT FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEN WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A STEEP, CURVY MOUNTAIN IN TRAFFIC, IT TURNS OFF WITH NO WAY TO STOP QUICKLY OR CONTROL THE STEERING. IF YOU DRIVE TOO SLOWLY OR SOMEONE PULLS IN FRONT OF YOU AND DRIVES 5 MILES AN HOUR, IT WILL STOP. IF YOU PUNCH THE GAS PEDAL TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION, IT WILL OFTEN STALL. SOMETIMES IT WON'T DRIVE, AND THEN IT SURGES FORWARD. IT OFTEN SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL IS RUNNING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2020Steering, Service brakes, EngineODI 11309675

Tires

10 reports1 crash
“SPARE TIRE IS NO GOOD. I HAD TO USE MY SPARE TIRE FOR THE FIRST TIME 2 WEEKS AGO, AND THE RIM IS BAD. I COULD ONLY TRAVEL 20 MPH BEFORE IT STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING NOISES. I CALLED STEVENS FORD IN PATCHOGUE, NY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME I HAD TO USE IT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2010TiresODI 10356109

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports
“SPARK PLUGS MAY BE CONTRIBUTING TO A SKIP UNDER LOAD. HOWEVER, FORD HAS USED SOME UNUSUAL SPARK PLUG THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR END USERS TO EITHER CHANGE THEMSELVES OR EXTRAORDINARILY EXPENSIVE FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE CHANGED BY FORD. FORD SERVICE QUOTE IS $300.00 TO HAVE CHANGED. THIS IS A TERRIBLE DESIGN AND ENGINEERING SCREW UP THAT IS RIDICULOUS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND ADMIT THEY HAVE A POOR DESIGN AND NOT KEEP CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR THEIR MISTAKE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 18, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10452125

Service brakes, hydraulic

10 reports1 crash
“I WAS AT THE YIELD SIGN AT THE FEEDER LANE APPROACHING THE NASA BYPASS IN WEBSTER, TEXAS WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS ANOTHER CAR WAS AHEAD OF ME AND HAD STOPPED. INSTEAD OF BRAKING, MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND I RUN INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR AHEAD. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN IN THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN DEPRESSED IS LOWER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. IF THE BRAKE IS NOT APPLIED EXACTLY RIGHT A PERSON CAN UNINTENTIONALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORTS TRAC TRUCK. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10416611
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.