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.

Complaints by model year
  1. 208

Of the 2007 reports, 11 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 9 people were injured and 2 people died.

Primary concernPower train57 reports · 27% of complaints
Owner complaints208Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship3 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Power train57
  2. Engine28
  3. Electrical system25
  4. Seats24
  5. Tires21
  6. Vehicle speed control13
  7. Air bags12
  8. Service brakes12

Recalls and investigations

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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: service brakes

12 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Service brakes, Feb 13, 2019

    POWER BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED SUDDENLY CAUSING A HARD TIME TO STOP WHEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY. NO CRASH INVOLVED BUT HAD TO USE THE SHOULDER FOR EXTRA STOPPING DISTANCE.

  2. Service brakes, Sep 5, 2014

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

  3. Service brakes, Sep 10, 2013

    WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 90 F AND 100 F, APPLYING SERVICE BRAKES, A GROANING NOISE IS GENERATED BY THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE SLIGHTLY COMPROMISED. THE NOISE OR LOSS OF EFFECTIVENESS IS NOT PRESENT IN TEMPERATURES BELOW 90 F. I HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON A 2011 MUSTANG GT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOSTER UNDER WARRANTY, PROBLEM SOLVED. THEY TOLD ME FORD WAS RE-DESIGNING THE COMPONENT. *TR

  4. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jul 28, 2012

    I WAS COASTING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND BEGAN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE STOPPING THE CAR AND I REALIZED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT 3000 RPMS WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES. SO THE ACCELERATION OCCURRED AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO A STOP AND PUT IT INTO PARK WITHOUT HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION IMMEDIATELY AFTER STOPPING AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WILL NOT HAVE AN ANSWER FROM THEM BEFORE MONDAY. *TR

  5. Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 3, 2012

    THIS ISSUE IS ONE WHERE A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING AND HAS NOT BEEN REPEATABLE ON DEMAND. NORMALLY, THIS OCCURS ON FLAT, DRY, PAVED ROAD AT SPEED OF UNDER 30MPH. THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON, THE BRAKES BEGIN TO HAMMER, MAKING THE PEDAL UNRESPONSIVE, AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HARD TO MOVE, PULLING THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. AFTER THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP (OF ALMOST TO A STOP)... PRESSING AND HOLDING THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT/BUTTON RESOLVES THE PROBLEM, AT LEAST UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE, WHICH COULD BE DAYS, WEEKS OR MONTHS LATER. VISITS TO VARIOUS FORD MOTOR COMPANY DEALERSHIPS HAVE RESULTED IN "NOTHING FOUND" -- THEY ALWAYS SAY THAT THE PROBLEM DIDN'T HAPPEN WHILE THEY HAD THE CAR AND THAT NO CODES WERE FOUND IN ANY OF THE CAR'S SYSTEMS. AS OF TODAY, THE CAR IS AT JOE MYERS FORD, HOUSTON, TX WHERE THIS SAME SCENARIO HAS PLAYED OUT. *TR

  6. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jul 25, 2011

    WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS HARD AND WOULDN'T DEPRESS. THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME OR ANY CROSS TRAFFIC. RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING WITH THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO STOP. CAREFULLY DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS THE FRONT HUBS BEING DEFECTIVE. THE HUB BEARINGS WERE SO LOOSE THAT THE ABS SENSOR AND SPEED RING WERE NOT IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER. DEALER REPLACED HUBS AND VEHICLE IS NOW FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TR

  7. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 27, 2010

    THE MASTERCYLINDER IS GOING UP ON MY 07 EXPLORE AND IT TAKES ME 2 TIME THE SPACE TO STOP. *TR

  8. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Mar 10, 2010

    ALMOST FROM DAY ONE I THOUGHT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. FORD NEVER INFORMED ME, SO I WAITED UNTIL IT WAS NOTICEABLE ENOUGH TO DROP IT OFF AT A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE TRANSMISSION KICKED AS IF SOMEONE HAD RUN INTO THE BACK OF US OR THE TRANSMISSION WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGE THE SUV FORWARD AS IT CAME TO A STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED IN ORDER FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE PROBLEM, THEY HAD TO REPROGRAM AND REPLACE THE BAD SOFTWARE PART WITH A NEW SOFTWARE PART. EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPROGRAMMED, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE PROBLEM MOST LIKELY WOULD RETURN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. UPDATED 04/07/10.

  9. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 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.

  10. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Oct 2, 2008

    I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES BLEEDING DOWN IT IS TO GO IN THE SHOP IN A COUPLE OF DAYS..I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SURGING PROBLEM AS OTHERS HAVE HAD. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WERE THEY KEEP IT FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THEY DID HAVE TO RESET THE COMPUTER AND THE SURGING HAS STOPPED AND HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. *TR

  11. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Oct 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. ROTORS WERE RESURFACED WITH OVER HALF USABLE BRAKE SURFACE REMOVED. I EXPLAINED TO FORD THAT WITH SO MUCH BRAKE SURFACE GONE THE NEXT TIME THE ROTORS ARE SERVICED, THE ROTORS WILL MOST CERTAINLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. (THIS REPAIR HAS ELIMINATED THE FIRST RESURFACING OPTION FOR THE CONSUMER). *TR

  12. Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jun 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