2007 Ford Explorer Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe transmission trouble — slipping, hard or delayed shifts, clunking into gear, and occasionally a loss of drive — usually reported between roughly 60,000 and 90,000 miles, sometimes earlier. A second cluster involves the engine shutting down or losing power while driving, often accompanied by the wrench or check-engine light, and several owners attribute it to the electronic throttle body or to ignition coils. Power seat movement, tire valve-stem leaks and airbag non-deployment also recur in the sample, and many complaints note that dealers found no fault codes or could not reproduce the problem.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, hard shifting and lost gears

   • 42 complaints (20%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,850 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners describe the transmission slipping, clunking or thudding when shifted into gear, hesitating or lunging between first and second, and sometimes refusing to accelerate or losing a gear entirely. Several say a dealer replaced or needed to replace the transmission, and others report that fluid service, solenoid-pack replacement or a calibration/reprogramming of the transmission memory helped only partially or not at all. Some complaints mention hard shifting into reverse and a vehicle that would roll while in park. Most reports fall between roughly 45,000 and 100,000 miles, with a few at very low mileage.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test drive from cold through several upshifts and downshifts, and check for clunks or delays engaging drive and reverse. Ask whether the transmission fluid was serviced and whether any calibration or reprogramming was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this vehicle used through a certified Ford dealership where my father works and I had bought all my previous cars in april 2012. It only had one previous owner, no major history and was completely upgraded by the previous owner. I had it completely checked out, had the tranny flushed, twice, and all seemed okay. No warranty of any kind was available due to Ford policy... Supposedly. I moved to texas in june of 2012 and it did okay. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10502595, filed 2013-03, 110,000 miles

   “I and many other people have had transmission problems with our v8 explorers. The transmission began clucking, jerking, and slipping without reason. The problem is getting worse as time progresses. I am very upset that Ford has not announced a recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10745637, filed 2015-08, 86,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power while driving (throttle body

   • 17 complaints (8%)
   • median 74,424 mi at 8.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2019

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or dropping power at speed, with dashboard lights coming on and, in some cases, loss of power steering assist; several owners had to coast or be towed. Owners and independent shops often point to the electronic throttle body, and one report describes repeated ignition-coil replacement without a lasting fix. Dealers in some cases found no stored codes or could not reproduce the condition, and a few reports mention fractured pistons or a melted intake requiring major engine work. Reported from about 20,000 to 140,000 miles, with many between 55,000 and 90,000 miles, and often at steady speeds around 45–55 mph.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or ignition coils have been replaced and whether any stored codes were cleared. During a test drive, note any hesitation, surging or wrench light, and have a scan tool check for pending codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10993383, filed 2017-06, 110,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11233749, filed 2019-07, 74,424 miles
3. 3
   Tires

   Tire valve-stem leaks and sudden pressure loss

   • 19 complaints (9%)
   • median 25,000 mi at 2.1 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2007–2014

   Several owners describe the low-pressure warning coming on and finding a cracked or leaking valve stem, sometimes on more than one tire within weeks; a few report tires going flat or shredding at speed without a road hazard. In other reports the tire sidewall separated from the bead at highway speed. Owners say tire shops identified the stem leak by flexing it, and some note they were not told about a known stem issue at the dealer. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 62,000 miles, often on original factory tires.

   What to check: Inspect the valve stems on all five wheels for cracking, and ask whether the stems have been replaced. Check tire date codes, since many complaints involve older original tires.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Within approximately one week in august, I've had two faulty tire valve stems cause low tire pressure and necessitate a trip to the dealer for repairs. These were on the same side of the car (right front and right rear). I park in a carport and the right side of my car is the more exposed side. The mechanic identified the problem by pressing sideways on the tire stem and hearing the air hiss as it escaped. This seems to be the cracking problem that I've read about in consumer reports magazine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10242420, filed 2008-09, 32,000 miles

   “2007 Ford Explorer with original factory tires. Approximately may or early june 2008 my vehicle low tire pressure light came on. I discovered a cracked valve stem causing leak. Dealer repaired and attempted to file road hazard claim. No paperwork, exact date or mileage available. Approximately aug 08, 2008 low pressure indicator again came on. Discovered another cracked stem leaking air on a different tire. Vehicle mileage was approximately 34,700. Repaired at dealer on aug 09 2008 for a fee. Invoice available. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10244253, filed 2008-10, 34,700 miles
4. 4
   Seats

   Driver power seat moves on its own

   • 28 complaints (13%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2023

   Owners report the driver's power seat moving backward or forward without being commanded, sometimes while the vehicle is in motion, leaving shorter drivers unable to reach the pedals. Some link the movement to bumps in the road, turns, or to the ignition switch position, and a few note interior lights turning on at the same time. Dealers often said the movement could not be duplicated or that nothing was wrong, and some owners had it repaired without a lasting fix. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles, and described as intermittent and worsening over time.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: With the engine running, operate the seat through its full travel and watch for any uncommanded movement; also note whether interior lights flicker. Ask whether the seat switch or track assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #11151456, filed 2018-11, 144,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10789022, filed 2015-11, 40,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying and airbag warning light

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2009–2023

   Complaints describe the airbag indicator staying lit and, in a few cases, airbags failing to deploy in an impact. One owner was told a driver-side impact airbag and its electrical harness needed replacement; another reports a bulging side airbag in the seat. Some owners had no prior accident history and questioned why the system required repairs at their own cost. Reported between about 81,000 and 144,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   What to check: Confirm the airbag warning light goes out after the bulb-check on startup, and ask for any records of airbag or wiring repairs. A diagnostic scan can show stored airbag codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Airbag indicator light came on my vehicle. After bringing it to a dealership I was informed I need a new drivers side impact airbag and electrical harness. My vehicle has never been in an accident and I feel the manufacturer should correct this serious safety defect. Also my ABS wheel speed sensor wiring was severed by suspension parts due to placement of wiring causing loss af ABS and traction control function without any fault of mine. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10684233, filed 2015-02, 85,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2007 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while traveling 35 MPH, the vehicle crashed into an unknown object and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the leg and was transported to the hospital. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was 81,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10595821, filed 2014-06, 81,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this generation is worthwhile, with attention to transmission shift quality, stored engine and throttle-body codes, and the airbag warning light. Service records showing fluid services and any calibration or throttle-body work give a clearer picture than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.