10 of the
271 complaints about the 2007 Ford Explorer are about the
steering — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
80,728 miles.
The contact's brother-in-law owned a 2007 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her brother-in-law was driving 60-62 MPH, her husband was sitting in the front passenger's side seat, the contact was sitting in the rear passenger's side seat and her sister was sitting in the rear driver's side seat. The contact stated that the front passenger's side end of the vehicle collapsed and hit the ground inadvertently. The driver lost control of the steering wheel, and the vehicle rolled over three times and landed on its wheels. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was knocked unconscious temporarily. The contact's sister and brother-in-law were able to exit the vehicle. The contact was able to exit the vehicle and stood in front of the passenger's side door attempting to assist her husband out of the vehicle. The emergency units cut the front passenger's side seat belt and assisted the contact's husband out of the vehicle. The contact's husband was air lifted to the hospital, where it was diagnosed that he had sustained a broken neck and was paralyzed from the neck down. The contact's husband received medical assistance in the hospital for 5 months until he passed away. The contact, her sister and brother-in-law were transported to the hospital. The contact sustained a broken sternum and received medical assistance. The contact's sister sustained a fractured neck. Both the contact's sister and brother-in-law had undergone back surgery. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to tow yard, where it was totaled. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V181000 (Steering). The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11557466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Union, OR
STEERING
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON (NOT EVERY TIME) AND SEAT MOVES TO THE IGNITION OFF POSITION. TURN ENGINE OFF AND RESTART AND AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT POSITION MAY OPERATE CORRECTLY BUT NOT ALWAYS. IF IT OCCURS AGAIN, ONLY AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING A NUMBER OF TIMES WILL THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND SEAT POSITION REMAIN IN THE CORRECT POSITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11131073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 187,157 milesPottstown, PA
STEERING
I WENT TO PULL OUT FROM THE STORE BUT MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN. WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD, WE SAW THE POWER STEERING BELT HANGING OFF. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP AND WHEN THE MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK HE SAW THAT THE WHOLE POWER STEERING UNIT WAS HANGING DOWN AND THE BOLT WAS BROKEN.
NHTSA complaint #11098068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 82,000 milesBlue Island, IL
STEERING
THE TRUCK SWERVES AND MANEUVERS TO EACH OTHER SIDE ESPECIALLY ON THE EXPRESSWAY. THIS HAS ALMOST LET ME TO NUMEROUS CAR ACCIDENTS ON THE EXPRESSWAY ITS DRIVES AND SLIDES WHICHEVER WAY IT WANTS AND I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT.
NHTSA complaint #10823734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,000 milesLuling, LA
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LOOSE NUT IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #10816967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,457 milesFort Myers, FL
STEERING
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES ALL WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING UNIT REPLACED BECAUSE IT CRACKED, THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND RE CALIBRATED, REPLACED THE SHIFT SOLENOID PACK BECAUSE TRUCK WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND SHIFTED HARD. FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL OUT. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACED DUE TO POWER STEERING LEAK AND THE SWAY BAR LINK REPAIRED BECAUSE IT CAME LOOSE. FUEL FILTER REPLACED DUE TO ENGINE LIGHT CODE INDICATED ISSUES. TRUCK ONLY HAS 81000 MILES AND NOW GETTING READY TO TAKE IT IN AGAIN BECAUSE IT IS MAKING A LOUD "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN MAKING ONLY LEFT TURNS. ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON EVEN AFTER THEY RESET IT WITH EVERY REPAIR THAT HAS BEEN DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10726946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesGaithersburg, MD
STEERING
VEHICLE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE CAR WOULD HIT A BUMP. PROBLEM WOULD BE TEMPORARY RESOLVED BY JINGLING THE KEYS. AT ONE POINT DURING THIS, CAR SHUT OFF AFTER HITTING A BUMP WHILE DRIVING. TOOK IT IN AND THE TUMBLERS IN THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (AS SEEN WITH THE RECENT CHEVY RECALLS). REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #10626228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesHavelock, NCCrash
STEERING
DRIVING HOME AFTER PICKING UP DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL WHEN THE STEERING JUST GAVE OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER CAR IN THE OPPOSITE LANE.
NHTSA complaint #10609150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 32,800 milesOrinda, CA
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT NO WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,800.
NHTSA complaint #10503196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,720 milesOrinda, CA
STEERING
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST RESULTING IN NEAR CRASH THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN ON MARCH 15 2013 AT 55 MPH AND IS CONTINUING. I AM NO LONGER FEELING SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10503194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.