Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Ford Explorer problems

Owners filed 208 complaints about the 2007 Ford Explorer with NHTSA between Jan 2007 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is power train (57).

Complaints
208
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train57
  2. Engine28
  3. Electrical system25
  4. Seats24
  5. Tires21
  6. Vehicle speed control13
  7. Air bags12
  8. Structure11
  9. Steering10
  10. Engine and engine cooling10
  11. Wheels10
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  13. Suspension6
  14. Visibility6

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 Nov 7, 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
200711
200816
200912
201019
201118
201211
201315
201429
201525
201621
20179
201811
20195
20201
20211
20220
20231
20243

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

57 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2007 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact attempted to shift the gear shifter and the vehicle made a loud clanking sound and the vehicle was rattling. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,076.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2024Power trainODI 11594800

Engine

28 reports1 fire
“WE WERE DRIVING HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. NO ENGINE, NO STEERING, ETC. MY HUSBAND WAS REDUCING SPEED (45 TO 35) USING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL. EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP, ENGINE, WRENCH. OIL CAN. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WE TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSTICS TWICE (ONCE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY AND ONCE TO A DEALERSHIP). BOTH SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY ERROR CODES. THE ABS TONE RING WAS REPLACED AND A NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. THESE REPAIRS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!! SO FAR THIS HAS COST US $465.00. I WILL BE MAKING ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP TODAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2019EngineODI 11233749

Electrical system

25 reports1 fire
“I am writing to formally express my concerns regarding a persistent issue with the throttle body system in my Ford Explorer. I have addressed this problem multiple times, having repaired the throttle body system, replaced the sensor, and even substituted the entire assembly on two separate occasions. Despite these efforts, the same diagnostic code continues to appear. Through my research, I have discovered that the throttle body issues in this particular year and model are not uncommon. I find myself at a loss regarding the next steps to take, particularly since I am certainly not the only Ford Explorer owner experiencing this challenge. This ongoing issue poses a significant safety risk, as exemplified by a recent incident where my vehicle ceased accelerating in the middle of a busy street just two days ago, nearly resulting in a collision. The car has only been examined by my mechanic; no police or other authorities have inspected it. Each time the throttle body-related code activates, I observe the wrench icon and the check engine light illuminating on the dashboard. Despite having undertaken extensive replacement of components associated with the throttle…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 6, 2024Electrical systemODI 11606826

Seats

24 reports
“WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT WILL MOVE BY ITSELF. IT'S HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS VERY SCARY KNOWING I CANT REACH THE GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENS. MY HEATED SEAT DOESNT WORK PROPERLY EITHER I DONT KNOW IF THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PROBLEM OR NOT. THE SIDE AIRBAG ON MY DRIVER SEAT ALSO IS BULGED OUT MORE THEN IT SHOULD BE I BELIEVE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2018Air bags, SeatsODI 11151456

Tires

21 reports
“FORD EXPLORER 2007 EB. TIRE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HAD FORD DEALER CHECK. ADJUSTED AIR PRESSURE. CONTINUED TO OCCUR. DEALER WOULD TRY TO RETRAIN SENSORS. NEVER HELPED. SAID THEY THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH AN AFTERMARKET CHARGER FOR THE CELL PHONE AFFECTING THE COMPUTER. THEY SAID IT IS HAPPENING IN A LOT OF CARS. PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER SENSOR RETRAINED EVEN IF PHONE HAD NOT BEEN PLUGGED IN. NEW TIRES INSTALLED NOV. 2012 AT SAM'S. THEY MADE A NOTATION ON THE INVOICE ABOUT SENSOR SHOWING FAULT. WENT SEVERAL TIMES TO DEALER AND THEY WOULD RETRAIN SENSORS. NEVER HELPED. WOULD START AGAIN. FINALLY IN OCT 2013 ASKED DEALER TO CHECK ALL FOUR SENSORS FOR CRACKS OR DAMAGE. THEY BROKE DOWN TIRES, INSPECTED TPMS AND NO CRACKS FOUND. RETRAINED SENSORS AGAIN. NOTHING THEY HAVE TRIED HAS STOPPED THE PROBLEM. SOMETIMES NOW IT WILL SAY TIRE SENSOR FAULT THEN CHANGE TO TIRE MONITOR FAULT. I JUST HIT THE RESET BUTTON UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT, WHICH IS USUALLY JUST A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD. LIGHT TURNS OFF WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF, BUT DOES IT AGAIN THE NEXT TIME I'M ON THE ROAD. READY TO JUST HAVE THE SENSOR DISCONNECTED. FRUSTRATING. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2014Electrical system, Exterior lighting, TiresODI 10662208

Vehicle speed control

13 reports1 crash
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 10993383
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

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