2007 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 208 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 9 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
SteeringApr 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.
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS DECREASED STEERING EFFECTIVENESS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
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.
Campaign 07V181000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: seats
24 reports, newest first. Show all
Seats, Mar 23, 2021
HIT A BUMP AND THE DRIVER SEAT RANDOMLY MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE POINT I COULD NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS.
Air bags, Seats, Nov 14, 2018
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.
Seats, Jul 26, 2018
DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS WHILE DRIVING ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THIS HAS STARTED HAPPENING OCTOBER 2017. SINCE THEN IT HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND WILL HAPPEN AT RANDOM SO THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. SPEEDS CAN RANGE FROM 40 MPH TO 70 MPH. WHICH RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH THE BREAK OR GAS PEDAL. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IN AN EMERGENCY BREAKING SITUATION.
Seats, Nov 9, 2017
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.
Seats, Jun 22, 2017
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.
Seats, Oct 25, 2016
SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR THE DRIVERS SEAT INADVERTENTLY MOVES FORWARD AND BACK WHILE DRIVING. I CANNOT ASSOCIATE THIS MOVEMENT WITH ANY OTHER SITUATION OR ACTION. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Seats, Aug 24, 2016
SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S POWERED SEAT MOVES BACK
Seats, Aug 15, 2016
DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INABILITY TO REACH GAS/BREAK PEDALS. OCCURS AT TIMES WHEN HIT BUMPS, WHILE TURNING, AND/OR UNKNOWN REASONS. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN RESULT IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS/FATALITIES. I CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK BY TAPPING THE KEY. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. NEVER KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN WHICH MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS. SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH.
Seats, Jun 27, 2016
DRIVER'S SEAT MOVES BACKWARD WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INABILITY TO REACH GAS/BREAK PEDALS. OCCURS AT TIMES WHEN HIT BUMPS, WHILE TURNING, AND/OR UNKNOWN REASONS WHEN DRIVING 70MPH. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND CAN RESULT IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS/FATALITIES. DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME. NEVER KNOW WHEN TO EXPECT IT TO HAPPEN WHICH MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS. STARTED OCCURRING AFTER VEHICLE REACHED 125,000 MILES APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AND HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 4X/MONTH SINCE STARTED IN OCTOBER 2015.
Seats, Dec 27, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HIT A BUMP AND THE SEAT WENT ALL THE WAY BACK. I COULD NOT REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD TO MANUALLY PUT THE SEAT FORWARD. ALSO, THE DOME LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I BRAKED HARD.
Electrical system, Seats, Dec 17, 2015
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING DURING THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, THE POWER SEAT HAS MOVED BACKWARDS ON ITS OWN, CAUSING PROBLEMS IN REACHING THE PEDALS SAFELY. IN SEVERAL INCIDENTS WHEN THIS OCCURRED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO TURNED ON. TWO OF THE TIMES THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS WHEN I HAD TO HONK THE HORN, BUT HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER OCCASIONS AS WELL. TONIGHT, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS, THEN THE VEHICLE DIED - ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WENT DEAD. I COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED WHILE TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE RE-STARTED AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
Seats, Nov 10, 2015
WHILE IN MOTION, THE DRIVER POWER SEAT WILL MAKE UN-COMMANDED MOVEMENT BACKWARDS AND AWAY FROM STEERING WHEEL AND PEDALS. THIS SCENARIO TYPICALLY, BUT NOT ALWAYS, OCCURS DURING A TURN OR ACCELERATION. IT HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHILE AT A STEADY SPEED IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. IT APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE IGNITION LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AND SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. SPEEDS AT WHICH THIS OCCURS RANGE BETWEEN INITIAL ACCELERATION UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS (70 MPH)
Seats, Nov 7, 2015
MY 2007 EXPLORER DRIVER SEAT MOVE AT WILL, FORWARD OR BACKWARD EVEN WHILE DRIVING. I AM SHORT AND THE POWER SEAT MOVES BACK TO WHERE MY FEET NO LONGER REACH THE PEDALS. THIS HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHEN DRIVING OR JUST STATIONARY WHILE CHANGING GEARS AND HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO HAVE REPAIRED BUT THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. A NET SEARCH REVEALS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Seats, Apr 29, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVERS SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK INTO PLACE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Seats, Feb 10, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOVED BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Seats, Sep 10, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC DRIVERS SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REQUIRED TO HOLD ON TO THE SEAT WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER FOR THE SEAT TO STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Seats, Apr 14, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Seats, Oct 8, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEGAN TO RELEASE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HER BODY FORWARD IN ORDER TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE POWER SEAT OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,965.
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Seats, Jan 3, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE BACKWARD AND FORWARD WITHOUT BEING ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE SEAT FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR WOULD SEND FAULTY SIGNALS TO THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER'S SEAT, INDICATING THAT THE DOOR WAS BEING OPENED AND CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN UPDATED 08/25/2014 *JS
Electrical system, Seats, Sep 18, 2012
WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT MOVED TO THE FULL BACK POSITION. THIS AS HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED MANY TIMES IN THE PASS FEW MONTHS. A SHORT OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CAN NOT APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE IF NEEDED. YOU MUST REACH DOWN AND MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD WITH THE POWER SWITCH LOCATED ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. THIS PROCEDURE TAKES TO LONG IF YOU NEED TO COME TO A QUICK STOP. THIS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AS NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Seats, Mar 12, 2012
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, IF YOU HIT A BUMP, THE SEAT WILL RETRACT (MOVE AWAY FROM) THE CONTROLS. THE SEAT WILL MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE "EXIT THE VEHICLE" MODE. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, IF YOU HIT A BUMP, AND YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE, THE SEAT WILL RETRACT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL, ALL THE WAY BACK. THE SEAT MOVES BACK AT ABOUT THE SAME RATE YOU ARE APPLYING BRAKING PRESSURE. IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION, YOU COULD EASILY REAR END SOME ONE. WHEN TURNING OFF A STREET, YOU HIT THE CURB DRAIN ALONG SIDE ALL BUSINESS ENTRANCES OF THE ROAD, THE SEAT MAY MOVE BACK AND FORTH SEVERAL SHORT TIMES, CAUSING YOU TO HIT THE THROTTLE FAST WHILE COMING INTO A PARKING LOT OR IT MAY CAUSE TO TAKE YOUR FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE TURNING. I WAS DRIVING IN A BLIZZARD ON BAD ROADS AND FOR WHATEVER REASON, RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSED THE SEAT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE GAS PEDAL. WHICH IS DANGEROUS WHEN YOU HAVE A CAR MOVING UP FROM BEHIND. VERY DANGEROUS. BEEN TO FORD FOR A FIX, IT LASTED ONE MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED BACK UP. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND NO FURTHER ATTEMPT TO REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Seats, Sep 24, 2010
FORD EXPLORER 2007 POWER DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK WITHOUT WARNING. POSSIBLE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE DRIVE CAN'T REACH GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Seats, Aug 9, 2010
2007 FORD EXPLORER 2 WHEEL DRIVE V6 AUTOMATIC TRANS WITH AN ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC ADJUSTING DRIVERS SEAT. THE AUTO SET BUTTON HAS TWO (2) SEAT SELECTIONS, ONE FOR EACH OF TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS. THE UNSAFE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH, UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN. TWICE TODAY, 8/9/10 THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE I-20 WEST. WHEN THE SEAT MOVES BACK IT PULLS MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. SCARES THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF ME BECAUSE NOW I CANNOT REACH THE PEDAL AND HAVE NO BRAKE UNTIL I MOVE THE SEAT BACK TOWARDS THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE I CAN REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT IS A GOOD THING I DO NOT TAILGATE. *TR
Seats, Jul 22, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WOULD MOVE BACKWARDS AND FORWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ISSUE COULD OCCUR 3-4 TIMES PER DAY OR NOT AT ALL. IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY INITIALLY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE IDENTIFIED. THEY LATER INFORMED HER THAT THE DOOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE IGNITION SWITCH TO REMEDY THE FAILURE, TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND THOUGHT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CORRECTED. AFTER THE REMEDY, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED. WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN, SHE NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE WAS STILL OCCURRING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,519 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000. UPDATED 09/13/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER FIXED THE SEATS. UPDATED 09/17/08. *JB