RoadVitals

2007 Ford Explorer Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
39
Latest Jun 17, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
19%
of 208 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 39 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

The 25 most recent of 39, in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 17, 2024

The contact owns a 2007 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the contact became aware of a failure with the transmission. The contact attempted to shift the gear shifter and the vehicle made a loud clanking sound and the vehicle was rattling. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed as a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 150,076.

NHTSA ID
11594800
Incident
Jun 17, 2024
Mileage
150,076 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 8, 2020

WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE HIGHWAY ON RAMP THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO ACCELERATE AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SCANNED 16 TRANSMISSION OBD CODES CAME UP. THE CAUSE OF THE CODES WAS A CORRODED CONNECTOR GOING TO THE TRANSMISSION. IT CORRODED FROM WATER INTRUSION FROM WATER LEAKING FROM THE A/C DRAIN ONTO THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO GET FIXED AND PAID BY FORD FOR POOR ENGINEERING.

NHTSA ID
11338306
Incident
Jul 8, 2020
Mileage
123,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 13, 2019

OUT TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF IT. IT IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT A MAINTENANCE PROBLEM. WE WERE DRIVING ON 25 HEADED EAST OUT OF BAY CITY GOING STRAIGHT AT 55 MILES AN HOUR.

NHTSA ID
11219835
Incident
Sep 1, 2017
EnginePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Dec 4, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT DRIVES A 2007 FORD EXPLORER OWNED BY THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR WAS DETACHED AND WAS RE-ATTACHED WITH A PIECE OF GLASS AND TAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE REPORTED TO THE SUPERVISOR AS WELL AS DOCUMENTED IN A VEHICLE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER FORD EXPLORERS IN THE PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT FLEET WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THEY EXHIBITED HESITATION AND STALLING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11155978
Incident
Jun 14, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 11, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLODER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD CRACKED. THE CONTACT CALLED FORMULA FORD LOCATED AT 4318 MIDDLE RUTLAND VT 05701 800-906-6065. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID
11053982
Incident
Nov 20, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SLIGHTLY DETACHED. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A BACKORDER ON THE DRIVE SHAFTS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10995481
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Mileage
70,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 5, 2017

YES DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE POWER TRAIN LIGHT CAME ON PULL UP AT THE STOPLIGHT TAKING OFF THE CAR WENT INTO A LOWER GEAR PULLING VERY HARD SO I PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. AND TURN IT BACK ON THE TRUCK CONTINUE TO PULLED HARD. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO TRANSMISSION SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT FOR FIVE DIFFERENT CODE CAME UP IN THE COMPUTER.

NHTSA ID
10970810
Incident
Mar 20, 2017
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2017

THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, OR PARK TO DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR. YOU HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN THE GEAR YOU WANT AND WAIT FOR IT TO SHIFT. IT THEN GIVES A JOLT WHEN IT SHIFTS, AND THEN YOU CAN MOVE. AT TIMES, THE CAR WILL SHIFT TO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPING FOR RED LIGHT, AND YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE GEAR TO ANOTHER GEAR THEN BACK TO DRIVE ON GREEN TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 73,950.9 MILES AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE DATE BELOW IS AN ESTIMATED DATE. WE HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR.

NHTSA ID
10944514
Incident
Sep 1, 2015
Mileage
72,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 14, 2016

VEHICLE WILL JOLT, SHIFT HARD WHILE SHIFTING TO REVERSE. HAVE TAKEN TO MECHANIC TO LOOK AT AND IT WILL NOT SHOW ANY CODES FOR TRANSMISSION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND I ONLY HAVE APPX 85,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES AT 94,000.

NHTSA ID
10935316
Incident
Dec 14, 2016
Mileage
85,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2016

I HAVE A 2007 FORD EXPLORER WITH 94,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND GRINDING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING BAD AT THE LOW OF MILES.

NHTSA ID
10918049
Incident
May 1, 2016
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 5, 2016

I HAVE A 2007 FORD EXPLORER WITH 71,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND GRINDING. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE GOING BAD AT THE LOW OF MILES

NHTSA ID
10863441
Incident
Mar 15, 2016
Mileage
71,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TROUBLE SHIFTING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 30 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK POWER TRAIN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE MORE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,681.

NHTSA ID
10863072
Incident
Oct 29, 2012
Mileage
84,681 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 20, 2016

WHEN TRYING TO GIVE GAS IT ESATATES, STALLS AND JERKS. WHEN THIS STARTED WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE FUEL. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WE GOT IT TO THE DEALER IT HAD 59000 MILES ON IT AND WE WERE 20 DAYS OVER THE WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE MIGHT NEED A TORQUE CONVERTER OR A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2800 OR $5400. THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS STILL DOING IT AND WE WORREY THAT IT MAY CAUSE A SERIES ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10860526
Incident
May 5, 2014
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 29, 2016

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. IT WOULD SLIP BETWEEN 3RD AND FOURTH GEAR WHEN GOING ABOVE 40 MPH AND DO IT ONLY ONE OR TWO TIMES WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THEN OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START. I SEE SEVERAL POSTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION. MAYBE NHTSA SHOULD RECALL IT BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10838961
Incident
Jun 5, 2015
Mileage
82,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2016

TRANSMISSION STARTED TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING, SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. JUMPS VERY HARD WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. THIS PROBLEM ONLY STARTED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE CAR ONLY HAD 73000 MILES ON IT WHEN IT STARED TO ACT WRONG. IT WOULD SLIP BETWEEN 3RD AND FOURTH GEAR WHEN GOING ABOVE 40 MPH AND DO IT ONLY ONE OR TWO TIMES WHEN STARTING TO DRIVE THEN OPERATE NORMALLY UNTIL THE NEXT COLD START. TRUCK HAS MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES AND JUST STARTED DRIVING CITY ROUTES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. I SEE SEVERAL POSTED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL TRANSMISSION. MAYBE NHTSA SHOULD RECALL IT BEFORE SOMEONE HAS A BAD ACCIDENT DUE TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10836814
Incident
Nov 17, 2015
Mileage
73,700 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 8, 2016

WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS. BOUGHT NEW IN 2007 WITH EXT WARRANTY. CAR WITH <THAN 60K MLS, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT, TAKEN CARE OF. 01/31/2016 SUN WHILE DRIVING APPROX 10 MPH ON A SIDE STREET IT LOST POWER AND SHUTOFF WITHOUT WARNING. RESTARTED AFTER A FEW MIN. ON 02/01 MON 7:00 AM THE SAME HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROX 45 MPH. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO STEER THE ROLLING CAR OFF TO THE SHOULDER. AFTER 15 MIN RESTARTED AND TOOK IT STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. WRENCH LIGHT WAS ON. PROMISED TO HAVE IT READY IN 4 HRS. AT 4:00 PM HASN'T BEEN LOOKED AT YET. AT 6:00 PM IT WAS ALLEGEDLY LOOKED AT BY 2 TECHS AND DETERMINED IT'S A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND WE WERE NOW IN LINE FOR A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WITH 14 CARS AHEAD OF US (BY ITSELF EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE IN FORDS). ON THUR 02/04 (4TH DAY) GOT A CALL AT 6:PM THAT THERE IS A SHORT INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND HAVE IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY. $1,400 TO FIX. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND OPENED A CASE AS TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS ARE FREQUENT. WE WERE LUCKY THAT THERE WASN'T A SEMI BEHIND MY HUSBAND ON THE HIGHWAY ON MON. ON FRI 02/05 I'M TOLD THE PART WASN'T ORDERED ON THUR BECAUSE OF 4:00 PM CUTOFF. HE SAID IT WAS BEING ORDERED ON FRI AND FIXED ON SAT. ON SAT 02/06 I'M TOLD THEY NEVER HAVE TRANSMISSION MECHANICS WORKING ON SAT AND IT WILL BE FIXED ON MON. NOON ON MON I'M TOLD FORD OFFERS NO REMEDY FOR CARS OLDER THAN 6 YRS AND CASE CLOSED. STATUS OF REPAIR - HE WOULD CHECK IF THE PART CAME IN WHEN HE GETS BACK FROM LUNCH. A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR, NO INFORMATION, PART MAYBE ORDERED, CAR NOT FIXED AND FORD DOESN'T CARE IF WE DIE ON THE ROAD AND WE HAVE TO PAY FOR A FAULTY SOLENOID AND NON-REUSABLE PARTS THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO FIX THIS. FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS BOUGHT 4 NEW FORDS WITH EXT WARRANTY (NOT USED). FORD COULDN'T CARE LESS ABOUT CUSTOMERS OR THEIR SAFETY. NO MORE FORDS!!

NHTSA ID
10824886
Incident
Jan 31, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 13, 2015

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AS I WAS DRIVING WHICH DID NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC AS NEEDED. I TOOK TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY INDICATED THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $3800.

NHTSA ID
10763410
Incident
Sep 8, 2015
Mileage
89,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THAT THE 02 SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE 02 SENSOR, HE NOTICED SEVERAL BARE WIRES. THE INSULATION ON THE WIRES HAD ROTTED AND FALLEN OFF THE SENSORS. AS A RESULT, THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT PULLED DOWN THE TRANSMISSION WIRE HARNESS AND NOTICED THAT 15 WIRES WERE AFFECTED. ALSO, THE COOLING TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 11/12/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10746738
Incident
Jun 6, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 2, 2015

I AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH OUR V8 EXPLORERS. THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN CLUCKING, JERKING, AND SLIPPING WITHOUT REASON. THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AS TIME PROGRESSES. I AM VERY UPSET THAT FORD HAS NOT ANNOUNCED A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10745637
Incident
Oct 15, 2014
Mileage
86,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 23, 2015

UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT JERKING OR HESITATION. FELT LIKE TRUCK WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH WRENCH LIGHT. SHIFTED HARD. ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE SHIFT SOLENOID PACK, HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND RE CALIBRATED AND STILL HAVE ISSUES WITH POOR ACCELERATION . PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID
10726932
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
78,727 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2015

TRANSMISSION FAILED. TOOK IT IN TO BE REBUILT AND IT NEVER SHIFTED RIGHT SO I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND THEY REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL STRAP; STILL NOT SHIFTING RIGHT. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN TO BE LOOKED AT. GOT IT BACK TODAY AND WHEN I LEFT THE SHOP IT WAS OK, LATER IN THE DAY I RAN AN ERRAND AND WHEN I GOT IN TO COME HOME I DIDN'T HAVE ANY GEARS, NOTHING AND PUTTING IT IN PARK WAS VERY DIFFICULT. FINALLY GOT REVERSE AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF SHIFTING UP AND DOWN; PUT IT IN PARK AGAIN; AFTER MANY MANY ATTEMPTS I FINALLY GOT DRIVE BUT IN THE 2 POSITION ON THE SHIFTER. I HAD NOTICED THAT THE SHIFTER WAS REALLY LOOSE WHEN I FIRST GOT IN BUT THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS THAT WAY BEFORE BUT I JUST HADN'T NOTICED. GOT HOME AND HAD TO FORCE IT IN TO PARK AND THEN TRIED TO GO IN REVERSE OR DRIVE AGAIN AND HAD NOTHING.

NHTSA ID
10716866
Incident
Mar 28, 2014
Mileage
128,590 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 11, 2015

WHEN DRIVING 30 TO 35 MPH 2007 FORD EXPLORER WON'T TO PICK UP SPEED THEN A VIOLENTLY JERK COME WITH ACCELERATION AND SPEED. DEEMING THE VEHICLE TO BE DANGEROUS AND HARMFUL. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT FIT FOR A FAMILY OR ANY PERSON.

NHTSA ID
10715593
Incident
Dec 31, 2014
Mileage
160,380 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 23, 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR MODE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. ....UPDATED 06/09/15*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 7/16/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10701122
Incident
Mar 9, 2015
Mileage
58,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 16, 2015

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694427
Incident
Jul 11, 2012
Mileage
71,001 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 23, 2014

THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS IN PARK. IT MAY TAKE UP TO 10 MINUTES OF WHEEL TURNING AND GEAR SHIFTING BEFORE CAR WILL RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. FORD SERVE STATED THAT THEY COULD TAKE CAR APART AN FOUR IT TOGETHER AND NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638451
Incident
Jul 1, 2011

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .