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2007 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

184 reports with mileage · 24 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

10 reports
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69,140 miles · Apr 21, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE LEVEL INCREASED ABNORMALLY AND A GREEN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE LEVEL INCREASED ABNORMALLY AND A GREEN FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED THE RADIATOR TO BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT AN UPDATE HAD TO BE PERFORMED ON THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,140.

NHTSA ODI #10860740

73,000 miles · Jun 20, 2014
EngineEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD REVVING NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND TWO STUDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD REVVING NOISE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND TWO STUDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10604742

92,000 miles · Apr 8, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED WHEN VEHICLE WAS 38 MONTHS OLD WITH 92,000 HIGHWAY MILES. REPAIR COST WAS $1500+ AND FORD COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY IT HAD FAILED SO SOON. AFTER ONLY 17 MONTHS AND 21,000 MILES, IT FAILED AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED UNDER THE 2-YEAR WARRANTY ON THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454442

56,000 miles · Mar 22, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE RADIATOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING 55…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE RADIATOR, WHICH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. A WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TO THE DEALER AND THE INSPECTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE INTAKE HAD SEVERAL COMPONENTS THAT WERE FOUND MELTED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI #10452681

42,000 miles · Nov 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

LEAKING RADIATOR AT 42,000 MILES. VERY COMMON WITH THIS MODEL EXPLORER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10437288

37,000 miles · Feb 26, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE HAVE A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT JUST OVER 36,000 MILES. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THE RADIATORS, SINCE THERE IS A FLAW ISSUE WITH THEM. FORD NEEDS…

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WE HAVE A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT JUST OVER 36,000 MILES. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER AND FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THE RADIATORS, SINCE THERE IS A FLAW ISSUE WITH THEM. FORD NEEDS TO BE MADE TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE RADIATORS AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM SO IT DOES NOT CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384624

22,000 miles · Nov 26, 2010
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE COMPUTER DETECTED VIA BLACK BOX THAT A CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE COMPUTER DETECTED VIA BLACK BOX THAT A CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE TECHNICIANS WERE REPLACING THE AIR BAGS, THE LINING WHERE THE AIR BAGS WERE LOCATED, AND THE BLACK BOX. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 01/19/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE ENGINE STALLED. UPDATED 04/15/11

NHTSA ODI #10367883

50,000 miles · Oct 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

RADIATOR STARTING SEEPING FLUID FROM RIGHT TOP SEAM (ALUMINUM-PLASTIC) AROUND 50,000 MILES FOR NO REASON; RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2006-2007 MODELS WITH THE V6 ENGINE. FINALLY AT 54000 MILES I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT AS THE LEAK HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND I'M AFRAID OF COMPLETE EQUIPMENT FAILURE ON …

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RADIATOR STARTING SEEPING FLUID FROM RIGHT TOP SEAM (ALUMINUM-PLASTIC) AROUND 50,000 MILES FOR NO REASON; RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH THE 2006-2007 MODELS WITH THE V6 ENGINE. FINALLY AT 54000 MILES I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT AS THE LEAK HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND I'M AFRAID OF COMPLETE EQUIPMENT FAILURE ON THE ROAD TRAVELING. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY EXPLORER OWNERS WITH SOME HAVING TO REPLACE THERE RADIATOR THREE TIMES. ONE SITE I LOOKED AT FOR PURCHASE GAVE A PART NUMBER FOR THE 2006 MODELS AND NOTED THAT THEY COULD NO LONGER HONOR A WARRANTY DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FORD MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATOR. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN MENTIONED ON THE INTERNET TOWARD FORD FOR NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND ADDRESSING THIS DEFECT ISSUE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND DON'T SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE (7) FORD VEHICLES IN THE YARD; THAT IS ALL HE HAS EVER OWNED FOR 35 YEARS. RADIATORS JUST DON'T START LEAKING - FORD HAS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10362699

53,000 miles · Feb 22, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN FEBRUARY 2008, THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY) AS IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. IN FEBRUARY 2010, THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN SO SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN FEBRUARY 2008, THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY) AS IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. IN FEBRUARY 2010, THE RADIATOR BEGAN LEAKING AGAIN SO SHE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR AGAIN AT HER OWN EXPENSE. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 53,000.

NHTSA ODI #10312814

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WELL I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SUV THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF HIS CHILDREN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO NOT WANT TO RUN AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING BACK ON US. THEN A BAD SMELL CAME IN THE TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK INSIDE THE HOOD. AS HE OPENED…

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WELL I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SUV THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF HIS CHILDREN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO NOT WANT TO RUN AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING BACK ON US. THEN A BAD SMELL CAME IN THE TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK INSIDE THE HOOD. AS HE OPENED THE HOOD A FLAME SHOT OUT AT HIM. I JUMPED OUT THE TRUCK AND INSTANTLY THAT SUV WAS ON FIRE. DOES ANYONE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TRUCKS CATCHING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON? PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN INFORM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THANK YOU , NATALIE C. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225233

Official recalls

1

07V181000 · Steering

Apr 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS DECREASED STEERING EFFECTIVENESS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08060 · 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

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