2007 Ford F-150 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2007 F-150 report a wide spread of problems, with no single dominant failure. Engine complaints lead the sample, followed by brake shudder and worn rotors, driveline and transmission noise, and intermittent surging or unintended acceleration. Many reports come in the first 30,000 to 60,000 miles, while engine, frame and fuel-tank reports tend to appear well past 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Intermittent surging or unwanted acceleration

   • 84 complaints (17%)
   • median 49,917 mi at 4.6 yrs old (81 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $600 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2025

   Owners describe the engine revving and the truck lurching or accelerating on its own, often while slowing for a stop sign or traffic light, and sometimes while braking. Some say the vehicle shut down entirely with no throttle response, and others report the engine racing at idle. Dealers reportedly pointed to the throttle body or electronic throttle control, and some complaints followed a fire in the engine bay area related to speed control wiring. Reported across a wide mileage range, from near-new vehicles to over 150,000 miles, often in stop-and-go or downhill driving.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been cleaned or replaced and whether any throttle-related software updates were applied. Note any idle fluctuation or hesitation during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While slowing down to stop the engine revved and the truck accelerated. We were out of town and within a short while the same thing happened 4 times. Now 2 more times. The dealer said it might be the throttle control box but he could do a 75 dollar diagnostic too. I declined. This has happened before but not as bad, I thought my foot hit the gas pedal which is definitely not the case.”

   NHTSA complaint #10513698, filed 2013-05, 58,000 miles

   “My wife and baby were traveling down the 405 freeway at 70mph when out of no where the trucks dashboard lit up and the truck completely shut down in the fast lane. The gas pedal did nothing and there was no way out of the fast lane safely. I normally wouldn't file a complaint except in this situation we had just purchased this certified used vehicle, it put my family in extreme danger, and the service consultant at Ford had indicated to me that this was a common problem with the f150 model. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10426420, filed 2011-09, 75,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Spark plugs break or blow out of the cylinder head

   • 48 complaints (10%)
   • median 90,750 mi at 7.5 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $949 (median of 14 quotes)
   • filed 2007–2024

   Complaints describe spark plug work on the 5.4L and 4.6L engines as difficult and expensive because plugs can snap off in the head during removal. Several owners report a plug blowing out of the head while driving, with a loud noise, strong fuel smell, rough running and heavy vibration. Shops reportedly quote high estimates for a tune-up in case a plug breaks, and some repairs ended with a cylinder head replacement. Typically reported between 70,000 and 125,000 miles, often during routine plug replacement.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the spark plugs have been replaced and who did the work; on these engines a careful removal procedure matters. Listen for a ticking or puffing sound from the engine bay at idle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving on a posted 40 MPH county road approaching a stop sign. The vehicle made a loud noise from the engine compartment and lost 80% power. Took it to a local mechanic and they explained that the spark plug(s) were bad and the tune up would be $500-$800 depending on if one or all of them broke during removal. One had already blown out during aforementioned incident. I understand that this was a problem for a lot of Ford vehicles during the years 2004 thru 2008. I believe this should have been a recall repair. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10662429, filed 2014-12, 114,050 miles

   “Vehicle taken to dealer for tune up which was quoted at a minimum to be $500 for parts and labor due to known engineering flaw with the spark plugs. Spark plugs break when attempting to remove and one plug remained in the cylinder head. This lead to replacing the head with a final total of $3,500. This has been a known problem with model years 2004-2008 and Ford has not issued a recall or disclosed this known defect. Previously instructed by dealer to not have plugs changed until engine started having problems.”

   NHTSA complaint #10423669, filed 2011-09, 118,800 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brake pedal vibration, warped or grooved front rotors

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe front-end wobble and shudder when braking, most noticeable from highway speeds, along with heavy brake dust and grooving or warping of the front rotors. Some reports mention a seized or locked front brake and a broken or failed brake pedal. Dealers and shops reportedly resurfaced the rotors or replaced pads, sometimes saying the problem would return. Mostly reported from about 22,000 to 40,000 miles, with some much later reports.

   What to check: Test-brake from highway speed and feel for steering wheel shake. Check front rotor surfaces for deep grooves and ask for brake service records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2007 Ford, f150 extended cab, the brake rotor have warped. This could be a safety problem if this a regular occurrence with this model. The shop which I carried my vehicle to told me that if the company used certain brands of rotors that were made in foreign countries won't stand up to heat. If Ford used these products on the assembly line because they're cheaper, something should be done.”

   NHTSA complaint #10277344, filed 2009-07, 38,255 miles

   “2007 f150 4x4 supercrew: after 12000 miles front brake rotor wear was noted as abnormal by technician. Deep groves have continued to form in both front brake rotors. Vehicle mileage is currently at 26,000 and groves in both front rotors continue to get deeper. Technicians at dealership continue to say, quote, the brake pads are really hard on the rotors but the only thing we can do is turn the rotors, but it will just get worse unless I replace the pads. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10248034, filed 2008-11, 26,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Driveshaft, carrier bearing and rear-end noise

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe a loud thump or bang followed by severe vibration, with the driveshaft found loose, slid back, or broken at the yoke. Some owners report the driveshaft carrier bearing slipping out of its bracket, and others a shudder from the driveline during low-speed turns. Repairs described range from replacing the carrier bearing or driveshaft to replacing the whole driveline assembly. Reported from very low mileage up to around 160,000 miles, with several cases between 30,000 and 120,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, listen for clunks or thumps on acceleration from a stop, and have the driveshaft, u-joints and carrier bearing inspected on a lift.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at a traffic light, when the light turned green I gave the truck some gas and it started making noise and acted as if something was about ready to fly apart and severly vibrating. I had to stop as quick as possible with cars behind me swerving to get around me. I had to call a tow service to get my truck home, after inspection of the driveshaft I found that the carrier bearing had slip out of it's housing and the driveshaft was bouncing around in the bearing bracket. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11043570, filed 2017-11, 32,000 miles

   “Started to accelerate out of a parking lot and heard a loud thumping so I pulled over got out looked at the driveshaft seen it had slid back. A bit out of the transmission also out of the carrier bearing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10667831, filed 2014-12, 160,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Power steering stiffness or loss of assist

   • 22 complaints (5%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2024

   Owners report the steering suddenly becoming very stiff or failing to return to center after a turn, sometimes with fluid leaking from the pump. Some complaints describe the assist coming and going at various speeds, and independently diagnosed seized or worn steering shaft joints. Dealers reportedly recommended replacing the steering rack or shaft at the owner's expense. Usually reported between about 45,000 and 140,000 miles, on trucks driven in varied conditions.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock with the engine running and listen for noise or binding, check for fluid leaks at the pump and rack, and inspect the steering shaft joints for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was just leaving a business. As I was pulling out of the parking lot my steering had gotten very stiff and would not go back to center after turning a corner. It was a little scary because I had 50 miles to drive and get back home. Out of the blue this happened. I have had no problem before this!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10638248, filed 2014-09, 109,268 miles

   “Steering column shaft has 2 universal joints in it. The joints are non serviceable and seized up due to corrosion. The truck became almost impossible to steer and the steering column would not return when going around a corner. Very dangerous.”

   NHTSA complaint #10609284, filed 2014-07, 92,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with these trucks is worthwhile, focusing on the brakes, driveshaft and steering, and asking for service records on spark plugs and the throttle body. Condition and maintenance history matter more than mileage on this model year.

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.