Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2007 Ford Expedition powertrain problems
moderate 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 24 powertrain complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 18 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Expedition powertrain cluster includes 24 complaints centered on transmission malfunction and vehicle control loss. The most common failure is transmission hesitation and sluggish acceleration—vehicle lingers in high gear at stops, downshifts hard, or refuses to accelerate smoothly from rest. Multiple owners note this happens from very low mileage (20 miles on one vehicle) and recurs even after Ford dealer recalibrations and ECM software updates. One owner reports the transmission enters a "safety mode" with restricted power for 1–2 seconds when accelerating from stops at intersections—a serious hazard on multi-lane highways.
Park lock failure appears in multiple reports: vehicles roll on flat or sloped surfaces with shifter in park and keys removed. One incident involved a child and dog rolling downhill into a creek. With aftermarket remote starters, shifters move freely without keys in the ignition for 3–10 seconds during engine shutdown—enough time for an unattended child to shift out of park.
Other complaints describe sudden full-throttle downshifts to first gear on highways (causing rear-tire lockup and skids), violent forward lunges at stops, transmission going into neutral mid-drive, and stalling. One owner documents wiring harness degradation from catalytic converter heat, allowing contact and insulation melt that sends erroneous signals to the transmission control module. Multiple dealers told owners the transmission was "designed" to behave this way or that no remedy existed at time of service.
Same Ford Expedition powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission slipping, hesitation, and sluggish acceleration
Transmission fails to engage smoothly during acceleration from stops or low-speed maneuvers. Vehicle hesitates before taking off, stays in high gear when slowing, downshifts hard at stops, or exhibits reduced power output. Owners report the vehicle enters a 'safety mode' with little acceleration authority.
When: From new (as early as 20 miles) through higher mileage; particularly noticeable at stops, pulling into traffic, or merging on highways; on inclines; when towing.
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from stop; Vehicle stays in high gear when slowing down; Hard downshift when coming to stop; Sluggish acceleration; Reduced power output; Vehicle enters limp mode (restricted power); Transmission does not engage when depressing accelerator on incline
Codes mentioned: ECM software issues (owners cite ECM updates as attempted fix)
Repairs/costs cited: Ford dealers performed ECM recalibration and software updates as temporary fixes; dealers told owners transmission was 'designed to downshift' and no permanent remedy existed at time of complaint. Updates sometimes worked for a week before problem returned.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers issued temporary ECM recalibrations and software updates (mentioned November 2006 timeframe). Multiple owners report being told 'memo to not work on transmission until software update issued' and dealership awareness of the issue but lack of fix.
Sudden downshift to first gear on highway
While accelerating to pass at highway speed, transmission unexpectedly downshifts all the way to first gear, causing engine to rev to redline and rear tires to lock up and smoke. Vehicle skids sideways and off the road. Problem occurs on 6R75 transmission (predecessor to recalled 6R80).
When: While driving at 70 mph accelerating to pass
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden downshift to 1st gear while passing; Engine revs to redline (5000 rpm); Rear tires slow and start smoking; Vehicle skids sideways off road; Loss of vehicle control
Codes mentioned: 6R75 transmission issue (not covered under 6R80 recall)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; owner drove vehicle home after regaining control on embankment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has recall for 2012 Expeditions and 2011-2012 F-150s with 6R80 transmission for this issue, but 2007 Expedition with 6R75 transmission is not included in recall.
Vehicle goes into neutral at stops with delayed engagement on acceleration
When vehicle comes to a complete stop in drive, transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral. When accelerator is pressed, vehicle enters a restricted power mode for 1–2 seconds before gradually accelerating with minimal power. Restarting engine clears condition. Owners report this creates dangerous intersection situations.
When: At stops, particularly at intersections on multi-lane highways
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission goes into neutral when coming to stop; Vehicle enters safety-restricted power mode (gear zero); 1–2 second delay before acceleration; Vehicle moves with very little power after delay; No warning indicator illuminates; Engine RPMs increase but vehicle does not accelerate normally
Codes mentioned: 6R80 transmission safety mode (as noted by owners researching online)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner could restore normal function by shutting off and restarting engine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owners cite internet reports identifying this as common issue with 6R80 transmissions on Ford vehicles.
Park lock failure – vehicle rolls when parked
Transmission park lock does not hold vehicle in park. Vehicle rolls on flat or sloped surfaces with keys out of ignition and shifter in park position. One incident involved a child and dog in vehicle rolling down a hill into a creek. Remote start feature allows shifter movement without key in ignition.
When: While parked on flat or sloped surfaces; also when remote starter used with no keys in ignition
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls despite shifter in park; Vehicle drifts on flat surface; Vehicle drifts noticeably on hills in park or reverse; Shifter can be moved out of park without key in ignition (remote start); Vehicle continues to roll after shifter moved out of park
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealer advised owner with remote starter not to remote start with doors unlocked. No recall or fix mentioned.
Violent forward lunge when coming to complete stop
Vehicle lurches or lunges forward when coming to a complete stop, sometimes with enough force to feel like being hit from behind. Condition worsens over time and recurs immediately after temporary fixes.
When: When coming to complete stop; condition noted 6 months after purchase and progressed
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle lurches forward at stop; Aggressive forward push sensation; Feels like being hit from behind; Vehicle lunges forward out of control (in one incident, plowed into mailbox despite foot on brake)
Repairs/costs cited: Ford dealer performed RPM reset and recalibration; failure recurred within a week.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated transmission was designed to downshift and no current remedy available. Recalibration orders issued in October 2007.
Engine stall during driving
Vehicle stalls during normal driving operation. One occurrence at 40 mph; another owner reports stalling after warm-up at stops and traffic lights.
When: One failure at 40 mph; another at stops after vehicle warms up in morning
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while driving at highway speed; Vehicle stalls at stops or traffic lights after warm-up; ABS warning indicator illuminated during stall event
Codes mentioned: Failed transmission sensor (in one case, sensor next to transmission replaced)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle repaired at independent mechanic by replacing failed transmission sensor; other stalls not documented as repaired.
Transmission wiring harness degradation from catalytic converter heat
Wiring harness from transmission to engine compartment crosses over catalytic converter on passenger side. Plastic clips holding harness degrade from heat and fail, allowing harness to contact hot catalytic converter. Contact melts wiring insulation, causing ECM to receive erroneous transmission signals. Risk of transmission limp mode, failure, or fire.
When: During normal vehicle use as clips degrade over time
Symptoms owners cite: Wiring harness contacts catalytic converter; ECM receives erroneous transmission signals; Transmission enters limp mode; Wiring insulation destroyed
Codes mentioned: ECM error signals from damaged wiring
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided in narrative.
Harsh shift into reverse
When putting vehicle into reverse, transmission slams hard into reverse. Occurs on multiple occasions but dealer cannot reproduce condition.
When: When shifting into reverse; occurs on several occasions
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slams into reverse; Harsh engagement
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer checked for ECM updates; most current updates already installed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to duplicate concern; ECM software verified as current.
Engine surge, lurch, and power hesitation on startup
Vehicle lurches forward or surges when first starting in the morning. Vehicle may hesitate and then surge with power. Condition may persist during initial driving before normalizing.
When: On cold morning startup; during initial drive before warm-up
Symptoms owners cite: Forward lurch on startup; Sluggish behavior followed by surge of power; Hesitation during acceleration after startup
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reflashed ECM after finding available update; vehicle then operated as designed per test drive.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: ECM reflash performed by dealer; no further issues reported after update.
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
On two occasions in the last month, the vehicle while in park and the keys out of the ignition, the vehicle on its own rolled backwards at least 20 feet. *tr
I purchased a 2007 expedition in oct. 06 and about 6 months ago, I noticed that when I came to a stop I felt a kick afterwards. Slowly it progressed to a harder push, where it actually feels like someone hit me from behind. I took it for service at my local Ford dealer in october 07 and they had orders from Ford to recalibrate the transmission for now until they found a fix for the problem in…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2007 Ford Expedition?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2007 Ford Expedition?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 10,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 18,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2007/Ford/Expedition.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.