Is the 2007 Ford Explorer a bad year?
207 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 57, 1.4× a quiet Explorer year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 50k–86k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2007 Explorer owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 69,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 57 (28%) | 50k–86k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 32 (15%) | 52k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 25 (12%) | 51k–93k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seats | 24 (12%) | 66k–112k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed control | 13 (6%) | 12k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 12 (6%) | 38k–101k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Steering | 10 (5%) | 48k–105k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Wheels | 10 (5%) | 53k–94k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (4%) | 34k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 21 (10%) | 11k–57k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 12 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 69,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 207 complaints: 11 mention a crash · 5 mention a fire · 5 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While driving vehicle at any speed, if you hit a bump, the seat will retract (Move away from) the controls. The seat will move all the way back to the "Exit the vehicle" Mode.
I and many other people have had transmission problems with our V8 explorers. The transmission began clucking, jerking, and slipping without reason.
Check engine light came on and after a diagnostic, it appears that there is an issue with the transmission. From reading online, there are a lot of owners that have had transmission issues with the '07 explorer.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 69,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2007 Ford Explorer: 3
These seat covers are made of heavier thread and are not compatible with seats containing side airbags. The heavier seat cover could interfere with full deployment of the airbag in the event of a crash. An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as DOT-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle… In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(S) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
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. This condition could cause "Clunking" Noise when steering as well as decreased steering effectiveness potentially resulting in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 9
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2007 Ford Explorer. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Various vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine…
Ford/lincoln/mercury: if battery was disconnected or dead, vehicles/trucks may experience hard starts and engine idle RPM fluctuation and exhibit diagnostic…
Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive…
If there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Tire valve cracking
Neighbouring years
2006 Explorer: 630 complaints, consider selling · 2008 Explorer: 148 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Explorer year
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Questions
Is the 2007 Ford Explorer a bad year?
207 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 57, 1.4× a quiet Explorer year. At 69,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 50k–86k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2007 Ford Explorer?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (57), engine (32), electrical system (25), seats (24), speed control (13). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 50k–86k miles.
How many recalls does the 2007 Ford Explorer have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Equipment (NHTSA 10E043000), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 07E104000), Steering (NHTSA 07V-181). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.