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
208 reports, newest first.
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
Structure, Electrical system, Oct 16, 2007
2007 FORD EXPLORER INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT VISIBLE DURING THE DAY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE CANNOT SEE THE ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE AND GAS GAUGE CAN BE IN A SHADOW AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROTRUSION INTO THE FLOOR AREA OF THE SEATS AND FRONT SEAT RAILS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FRONT SEAT ANCHORS AND RAILS SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY SHIELD. *JB
Fuel system, Gasoline, Equipment, Sep 11, 2007, fire
MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AFTER REPEATED COMPLAINTS TO MY LOCAL DEALER OF A FUEL SMELL ON 9 -10-07 WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT ,IT BURNT TO THE GROUND THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM THAT STARTED ON TOP OF THE MOTOR NOW WHAT DO I DO? I AM LUCKY NOT TO BE HURT OR WORSE. *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
Tires, May 17, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT ORIGINALLY OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, UNDER THE LEMON LAW, INFORMED FORD TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE WITH THE 2007 MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS A FEATURE CALLED IRON MAN WITH 18 INCH MICHELIN TIRES, HOWEVER, THE SPARE TIRE IS A SMALLER 17 INCH GOODYEAR MUD AND SNOW TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS THE RSC FEATURE WHICH MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSTABLE. FORD STATED THAT THEY CAN DO AS THEY PLEASE. THIS OCCURRED APRIL 2, 2007. THE VEHICLE ARRIVED STRAIGHT FROM THE FACTORY AND THE STICKER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO HAVE A SPECIFIC TIRE, BUT FORD DISAGREES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FORD HAS BEEN UNSTABLE SINCE THE BEGINNING AND NEEDS TO BE REPORTED. HE STATED THAT FORD ONLY INSTALLS CERTAIN TIRES ON VEHICLES FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND HE FEELS THAT THIS IS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 2,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALER AFTER BEING CONTACTED BY NHTSA THAT THEY WOULD IN FACT REPLACE THE TIRE FOR THE CORRECT TYPE AND SIZE AS THE OTHERS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED ON 06/07/07 A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS PROVIDED. UPDATED 06/26/07 *TR
Electrical system, Equipment, Mar 10, 2007
THE COMPUTER SYSTEM GOT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CD PLAYER WAS JUMPING BETWEEN CD'S AND ALSO THE AUTOMATIC STIRRUP GOT STUCK AND COULD NOT GET DOWN WHEN DOORS ARE OPEN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT YET. *JB
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 17, 2007
RUNNING AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING. TAIL AND RUNNING LIGHTS WILL NOT COME ON WITH USE OF MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC LIGHT CONTROLS. FOUND BLOWN FUSE AND REPLACED FUSE. FUSE FAILED AGAIN WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN ON RUNNING AND TAIL LIGHTS. BRAKE AND TURNING LIGHTS WORK. DEALERS SERVICE WRITER REPORTED THAT INSPECTION FOUND UNDER THE DASH "SMART JUNCTION BOX" FAULTY AND A SECOND 2007 EXPLORER WAS IN THE SHOP THAT DAY FOR THE SAME REASON. *JB
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