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: vehicle speed control
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Jun 6, 2017
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.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Sep 15, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE IGNITION KEY MOVED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 31, 2016
I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A FORD DEALER USED 2 YEARS AGO. IT WAS A ONE OWNER VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE AND HAS BEEN CONTINUING SINCE AND OVER THE LAST 3 MONTHS HAS BEEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. CAR WILL SUDDENLY DISPLAY THE YELLOW BOX AND WRENCH ON THE STATUS SCREEN IN DASH BOARD AND IF CRUISE IS SET, THE CRUISE WILL TURN OFF. IT WILL START LUNGING, THEN STOP COMPLETELY. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES I CAN FINALLY GET IT STARTED. THEN IT WILL START RUNNING, STOP, START AND WILL ONLY REV TO LOW RPM'S AND MOVE VERY SLOWLY. THE SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS WHEN IT COMPLETELY STOPS RUNNING SUDDENLY WHILE TRAVELING AT 40-70 MPH. THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS AND THE POWER BRAKES ARE VERY HARD TO USE.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 23, 2015
CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUDDEN ENGINE SURGES AND STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS AND NOW THE "WRENCH" ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Sep 30, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WRENCH AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,200.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Feb 12, 2014
VEHICLE STARTED LOOSING COOLANT THEN DEVELOPED CONDITION WHERE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE IT WOULD JUMP LIKE YOU FLOORED IT. CONDITION HAS GOTTEN SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE TO WHERE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO DRIVE, BUT WILL JUST REV UP TO APPROX 4000 RPMS. *TR
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
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
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
Vehicle speed control, Jan 28, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, FOLLOWED BY AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER EXERTED EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POLICE RADAR DETENTION CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/14/2011 *CN UPDATED 02/23/11
Vehicle speed control, Nov 3, 2007, crash
WE HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2007 FORD EXPLORER, HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING IT FOR THREE WEEKS, WE'D HADN'T EVEN MADE OUR FIRST PAYMENT YET. WE WERE AT A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, WHEN THE EXPLORER TOOK OFF BY ITSELF. BY THIS, I MEAN BOTH OF MY HUSBAND'S FEET WERE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EXPLORER STARTED SURGING FORWARD BY ITSELF. TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF US, HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN BETWEEN THE TWO LANES, AND SCRAPED DOWN THE SIDES OF OTHER CARS. THE VEHICLE ONLY FINALLY STOPPED WHEN MY HUSBAND THREW THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK. THERE WAS VEHICLE DAMAGE TO TWO VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PERFORMED COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE HAD SUPPLIED THEM WITH COPIES OF 30-100 OTHER FORMAL COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SURGING IN THEIR EXPLORERS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRING ANYTHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT! WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS, MANY SERVICE BULLETINS TO FORD, YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEAST SOME OTHER RECOURSE BESIDES "SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, HAVE A NICE DAY." *TR
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
Vehicle speed control, Jan 10, 2007
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT INTERSECTION IN MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER. AS I BRAKED TO STOP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE ON ITS OWN DOWNSHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED PUSHING ME INTO THE INTERSECTION. AN ALERT DRIVER ENTERING THE INTERSECTION SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND STOPPED IN TIME AVOIDING WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE ONLY WAY I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME THAT DAY WAS TO CAREFULLY PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL EACH TIME I WANTED TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *JB