2007 Ford Explorer recalls and problems

The 2007 Ford Explorer has 1 recall and 208 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

Pictured: a 2006 model; the 2007 may differ in details. Photo: 2006 Ford Explorer by IFCAR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

How the 2007 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 27 Explorer model years — 20th most.

1recalls

208complaints

11crashes

5fires

9injuries

67,500median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

1 recall

Steering

Apr 25, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V181000 · 11 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This condition could cause "clunking" noise when steering as well as decreased steering effectiveness potentially resulting in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Ford recall no. 07S52.customers May contact the national highway traffic safety administration?s vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train57

Engine37

Electrical System25

Seats24

Tires21

Vehicle Speed Control13

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

TIRE VALVE CRACKING

PE08060 · opened Oct 14, 2008 · closed Apr 9, 2009

Summary

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 STRINGE…

2007 vs. other Ford Explorer years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2007. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2007 Ford Explorer have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2007 Ford Explorer, the latest from Apr 25, 2007 (steering). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2007 Ford Explorer?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (57), engine (37), electrical system (25). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.