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critical Owners of the 2007 Ford Explorer have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 81,457 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Explorer | 15 |
| 2006 Explorer | 9 |
| 2007 Explorer (this page) | 10 |
| 2008 Explorer | 13 |
| 2010 Explorer | 4 |
| 2011 Explorer | 738 |
Of the 10 steering complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Explorer, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
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.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
This condition could cause "clunking" noise when steering as well as decreased steering effectiveness potentially resulting in a crash.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering 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.
This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT POP/CLUNK NOISE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners report power steering assist failing without warning at highway speeds—55 mph and higher—leaving them unable to steer. One owner at 32,800 miles had the wheel lock up; another experienced repeated loss of assist in 2013. No dash warning lights appeared before these failures. When manufacturers were contacted, they offered no help because those vehicles weren't under recall.
A separate failure involved the power steering pump's mounting bolt breaking, causing the entire unit to drop and the belt to slip off. One owner's steering wheel became loose and shook at various speeds due to a loose nut in the steering column.
Another owner reported unpredictable swerving side-to-side on expressways with loss of directional control. One catastrophic incident involved the front passenger-side end collapsing during normal highway driving, which triggered a rollover. The owner related this to NHTSA Campaign 07V181000 (Steering). Air bags did not deploy.
Several failures resulted in collisions. Most repairs went unperformed or occurred after accidents; one owner had a power steering pressure switch replaced for a leak. The 2007 Explorer's steering system shows a pattern of intermittent assist loss and hardware failures.
Same Ford Explorer steering reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2008
Power steering system loses hydraulic pressure or electrical assist without warning, rendering steering extremely difficult or impossible. Occurs at highway speeds (55 mph and above) with no warning lamps illuminating beforehand.
When: 32,800 miles; 55 mph; recurring incidents at various speeds including 55 mph
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel becomes extremely hard to maneuver; sudden complete loss of steering control; no warning lamps illuminated; loss of power steering assist at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported power steering pressure switch replacement due to power steering leak; other incidents not repaired or were unrepairable after collisions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware but did not offer assistance; vehicle not included in recalls
Fastener in steering column becomes loose, causing excessive play and vibration in the steering wheel. Diagnosed by independent mechanic.
When: 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel loose; steering wheel shakes uncontrollably; loose nut in steering column
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired
Mounting bolt for power steering pump assembly breaks, causing the entire power steering unit to hang down and the belt to slip off. Results in complete loss of steering assist.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: steering wheel would not turn; power steering belt hanging off; power steering unit hanging down
Repairs/costs cited: Broken bolt on power steering unit mounting; vehicle towed to shop for repair
Vehicle swerves unpredictably side-to-side, particularly on expressways, with driver reporting loss of directional control. Characterization as handling instability versus power steering failure unclear from narrative.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: truck swerves and maneuvers to each side; especially on expressway; no control over steering direction; drives and slides whichever way it wants
Front passenger-side end of vehicle collapsed while driving 60–62 mph, causing loss of steering control and three-point rollover. Air bags did not deploy. Police report filed; vehicle totaled. Related to NHTSA Campaign 07V181000 (Steering).
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: front passenger-side end collapsed; hit the ground; loss of steering control; vehicle rolled over three times; air bags failed to deploy
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed and totaled; no repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 07V181000 (Steering); dealer and manufacturer not notified
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
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.
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…
It's a serious issue. 10 complaints have been filed, including 2 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 59,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 81,457. A quarter of owners report trouble before 59,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering 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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover steering issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.