NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
23 reportsClear category filter1,054 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Power Train
2007 SPORT TRAC,V8 WITH 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION, 2-WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE AT TIMES IS SLOW TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE REVS BUT YOU DO NOT MOVE AS FAST AS YOU SHOULD WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR TO OBTAIN PROPER…
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2007 SPORT TRAC,V8 WITH 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION, 2-WHEEL DRIVE. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE AT TIMES IS SLOW TO RESPOND. THE ENGINE REVS BUT YOU DO NOT MOVE AS FAST AS YOU SHOULD WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE MANUALLY DOWNSHIFTED THE TRANSMISSION TO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR TO OBTAIN PROPER ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT SO YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. THE TRANSMISSION HAS THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT TO THE PROPER LOWER GEAR AND THEREFORE TRIES TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN HIGH GEAR WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE SLOW ACCELERATION AND HIGH REV. I'VE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN THREE TIMES TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS PROBLEM AND BOTH STATE THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, THIS IS INTERMITTENT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY CHECKED TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS FULL. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW THEY WERE ABLE TO DO THIS SINCE THIS IS A SEALED TRANSMISSION -- YOU CAN'T CHECK THE FLUID LEVEL. I KNOW OF THREE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND BOTH LOCAL DEALERSHIPS GAVE THE SAME RESPONSE SAYING THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION THEREFORE; THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IF I KNOW OF THREE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION, THEN THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG. BOTTOM-LINE, A PROBLEM EXISTS WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND FORD (OR ALT LEAST THE DEALERSHIPS) REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGES IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310905
100 miles · Mar 19, 2009
Power Train
2007JUN 08 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC LIMITED V6 * AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION * 8,000 MILES "I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DOORS FREEZING SHUT. WATER RUN ALONG THE RUBBER SEAL & FREEZES IN COLD WEATHER OR POOLS WHEN IT RAINS. LAST WEEK ALL DOORS WERE FROZE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IN, THERE WAS AN INCH OF ICE IN BOTH BOTTOM B…
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2007JUN 08 EXPLORER SPORT TRAC LIMITED V6 * AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION * 8,000 MILES "I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY DOORS FREEZING SHUT. WATER RUN ALONG THE RUBBER SEAL & FREEZES IN COLD WEATHER OR POOLS WHEN IT RAINS. LAST WEEK ALL DOORS WERE FROZE. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IN, THERE WAS AN INCH OF ICE IN BOTH BOTTOM BACK DOOR WELLS & 12" TO 14" ICICLES HANGING IN THE HINGES IN BOTH FRONT DOORS. THE DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL, DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE THIS PROBLEM? I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY DEALER, BERT WOLFE FORD, CHARLESTON, WV 3 TIMES. I'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE IN MY AREA, THEIRS DOESN'T DO THIS. ONE LADY ACTUALLY WENT TO BERT WOLFE WITH ME ON A RAINY DAY TO SHOW HERS DID NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. JAMIE SIX, SERVICE MANAGER SAID, "ED @ WATER DOCTOR SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE TO FIX IT, THEY ALL DO THIS." I TOLD JAMIE I DIDN'T BUY IT FROM ED. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD SINCE I WENT THROUGH THE CHANNELS, 2 YEARS & NO RESOLUTION. I WONDER WHO WILL FIX THE RUBBER & RUST ONCE THE WARRANTY IS UP? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262486
13,613 miles · Nov 10, 2008
Power Train
I HAVE HAD MY 2007 SPORTRAC 8 CYL. FOR 1-1/2 YEARS. EVERY MORNING WHEN I START MY VEHICLE, I MUST WAIT A FULL THIRTY SECONDS OR MORE BEFORE I CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. IF I DO IT SOONER, THEN THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. IF I REV THE ENGINE TO 6,000 RPM IT WILL BUDGE A BIT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE FOR THIS…
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I HAVE HAD MY 2007 SPORTRAC 8 CYL. FOR 1-1/2 YEARS. EVERY MORNING WHEN I START MY VEHICLE, I MUST WAIT A FULL THIRTY SECONDS OR MORE BEFORE I CAN PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. IF I DO IT SOONER, THEN THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE. IF I REV THE ENGINE TO 6,000 RPM IT WILL BUDGE A BIT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE FOR THIS AND THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. ADDITIONALLY, I AM ONLY GETTING ABOUT 9.5 MPG, AND I FEEL IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248306
20,000 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Power Train
FORD SPORTS TRAC 07, 8 CYLINDER. AUTOMATIC, 44000. IT BEGAN AROUND 20000. WHEN ONE COMES TO A STOP, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE OR TRANSMISSION KICKS IN AND THE VEHICLE JUMPS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE MORE I DRIVE IT. ALSO, A LOT OF BLIND SPOTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10239903
9,300 miles · Aug 16, 2008
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
DRIVING AT APPROX. 25-30 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES AT LIGHT BUT WHEELS KEEP SPINNING. SHOVE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, THEN INTO PARK. CUT OFF IGNITION, START UP AGAIN AND THINGS ARE OK. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I COULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR REAR END A CAR, OR WIND…
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DRIVING AT APPROX. 25-30 MPH. APPLIED BRAKES AT LIGHT BUT WHEELS KEEP SPINNING. SHOVE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, THEN INTO PARK. CUT OFF IGNITION, START UP AGAIN AND THINGS ARE OK. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT I COULD HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR REAR END A CAR, OR WIND-UP IN AN INTERSECTION WHERE CARS ARE MOVING. WILL CONTACT DEALER NEXT WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10238477
7 miles · Feb 11, 2008
Power Train
TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD FROM DAY ONE OF OUR PURCHASE. PUT THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP AND THE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RE-SET. TRUCK RAN AND SHIFTED PERFECTLY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TOOK IT BACK IN AGAIN THIS TIME THE DOWNLOADED A FIX FROM FORD. PROBLEM WENT AW…
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TRANSMISSION HAS SHIFTED HARD FROM DAY ONE OF OUR PURCHASE. PUT THE TRUCK IN THE SHOP AND THE COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THIS TIME THE SAID THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RE-SET. TRUCK RAN AND SHIFTED PERFECTLY FOR ABOUT A MONTH. TOOK IT BACK IN AGAIN THIS TIME THE DOWNLOADED A FIX FROM FORD. PROBLEM WENT AWAY AND WAS VERY PLEASED. TOOK THE TRUCK TO CALIFORNIA ON VACATION AND WITHIN 300 MILES IT STARTED UP AGAIN. TRUCK SHIFTS HARD FROM THE START, LUNGES, SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR UNLESS YOU BACK OFF OF THE GAS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP WITH PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND I GET THE SAME RESPONSE FORM THE DEALER. FORD HASN'T COME UP WITH A FIX YET. BUT IF YOU NOTICE THEY HAVE GONE BACK TO THERE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE 2008 YEAR MODEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10217719
36,400 miles · Jan 14, 2008
Power TrainTiresCrash
2007 SPORTTRAC, STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TOOK TO FREEPORT, IL DEALER WHO ADJUSTED PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, THIS MADE THE DOWNSHIFTING MUCH BETTER FOR A FEW MONTHS, IT IS BACK NOW AND WORSE THAN EVER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE AND DON'T STOP VERY CLOSE TO ANY VEHICLE OR PROPERTY…
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2007 SPORTTRAC, STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP, TOOK TO FREEPORT, IL DEALER WHO ADJUSTED PARTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, THIS MADE THE DOWNSHIFTING MUCH BETTER FOR A FEW MONTHS, IT IS BACK NOW AND WORSE THAN EVER. YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE AND DON'T STOP VERY CLOSE TO ANY VEHICLE OR PROPERTY IN FRONT OF YOU. I LEARNED HARD WAY LAST WEEK AND HIT A CEMENT POST WITH THE FRONT BUMPER, I HAD ACTUALLY STOPPED MAYBE 6 INCHES FROM THE POST BUT THE SURGE AFTER STOPPED PROPELLED ME MAYBE 7-8", IT IS A VERY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND SAID THE SURGE WHEN DOWNSHIFING WAS SOMEWHAT SLIGHTLY BACK AGAIN, BUT MY MAIN CONCERN THEN WAS THAT THE CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE CONTINUALLY, THIS WAS DETERMINED DUE TO THE SOUND AND WHINING OF GEARS, I WAS NOT IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT, I BOUGHT NEW TIRES THINKING AS THE DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAID, IT MIGHT BE THE TIRES, IT WASN'T. NOW I HAVE THE SOUND AND THE DANGEROUS SURGE. I'M GOING BACK TO THE DEALER WITH APPOINTMENT TOMORROW. AS I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME DOWNSHIFT SURGE PROBLEM THERE DEFINITELY SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THE DEFECT ISSUED BY FORD. THIS IS MY FIRST COMPLAINT FILING SO DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214734
2,155 miles · Dec 12, 2007
Power Train
TRUCK SOMETIMES STAYS IN 1ST GEAR FOR A LONGER THAN NORMAL PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO HESITATES/JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING IN 1ST GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10211746
4,200 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Power Train
TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS FROM START. ENGINE SURGES AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO JUMP. NO GOOD IDEA WHEN GOING THROUGH MILITARY GATE ENTRANCES. TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF. TRANSMISSION MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN YOU STOP. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE CRASHES INTO VEHICLE. ACTION NOT SAFE FOR RUSH-HOUR FREEWAY DR…
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TRANSMISSION JUMPS INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS FROM START. ENGINE SURGES AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO JUMP. NO GOOD IDEA WHEN GOING THROUGH MILITARY GATE ENTRANCES. TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN TAKING OFF. TRANSMISSION MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN YOU STOP. FEELS LIKE SOMEONE CRASHES INTO VEHICLE. ACTION NOT SAFE FOR RUSH-HOUR FREEWAY DRIVING OR ANY DRIVING WHEN YOU MUST DRIVE SLOW. SUCH, AS IN ICE AND SNOW. DEALER TRIED TO FIX, BUT STATED WAS FACTORY DEFECT AND THAN FORD WAS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM WITH A MODIFICATION. PROBLEM NO EVIDENT WHEN VEHICLE IS HOT RODDED. BUT SAFE FOR AVERAGE DRIVERS. AFTER ALMOST HITTING A MARINE GUARD AT CAMP PENDLEDTON, I NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON BASE DURING RUSH HOURS OR WHEN THERE ARE FORMATIONS FOR FEAR OF HITTING MARCHERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10211402
6,000 miles · Nov 1, 2007
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SURGES WHEN DOWNSHIFTING WHEN BRAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10207618
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO