Problems · by component

2007 Ford Explorer engine problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2007 Ford Explorer cite engine, 13% of all 208 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
13% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT DRIVES A 2007 FORD EXPLORER OWNED BY THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS DETACHED AND WAS RE-ATTACHED WITH A PIECE OF GLASS AND TAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE REPORTED TO THE SUPERVISOR AS WELL AS DOCUMENTED IN A VEHICLE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORERS IN THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT FLEET WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THEY EXHIBITED HESITATION AND STALLING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2018Power train, Engine, Visibility/wiperODI 11155978
“HARMONIC BALANCER IS BAD ON A LOT OF FORD EXPLORERS. MY GIRLFRIEND AND I JUST PURCHASED A 2007 FORD EXPLORER AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE NOTICE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FAN BELT NEEDING REPLACED. REPLACED THAT ITS GOT WORSE. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT A LOT OF FORD CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS ISSUE. ALL THE VIDEOS AND FORUM SEARCHES LEADS TO THE HARMONIC BALANCER. THESE THINGS GO BAD AND CAUSES MORE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE PULLEY BELT SYSTEM, EVEN ENGINE FAILURE. I'M ONLY MAKING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE FORD HASN'T MADE ANY ADJUSTMENTS OR ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND ITS THE PURPOSE OF ENGINE FAILURE IN A LOT OF FORD EXPLORERS, EXPEDITIONS, ETC. THE SQUEAL OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. IT STOPS PERIODICALLY, BUT STARTS UP AGAIN AT TAKE OFF FROM STOPS AND ITS CONSTANT WHEN DRIVING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE A FEEL OF LOST OF POWER. ALOT OF THE CUSTOMERS ARE DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE THEMSELVES. SOME DOESN'T MAKE IT TO GETTING IT FIXED BECAUSE SHOPS SAYING ITS A BELT AND NEVER GET THE REAL PROBLEM FIXED. FORD NEEDS TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2018EngineODI 11138883
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2018EngineODI 11123339
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD AND FLUID LEAKED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 158,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 26, 2018EngineFire reportedODI 11113989
“"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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2018EngineODI 11084798

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2007 Explorer problem areas