Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Ford explorer sport trac xlt with difinity dakota a/t tires, line size p235/70/r16. The contact was driving approximately 75 MPH when the rear driver side left quarter tire shredded. The tires were replaced. The manufacturer was informed of the failure but offered no assistance to the contact. The contact purchased the vehicle used two months prior to the failure…
2007 Ford Explorer tires problems
moderate 18 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
When does it fail?
Of the 18 tires complaints filed for the 2007 Ford Explorer, 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
Among the 7 model years of Ford Explorer in our records for tires problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 15 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Valve stem failures dominate complaints on 2007 Explorers. Multiple owners discovered cracked or split factory valve stems between 25 and 34,700 miles, starting around May 2008. The defect causes repeated low-pressure warnings—some owners dealt with it monthly, others four times before 12,000 miles. Owners identified failures by hearing air hiss when pressing the stem sideways or observing visible cracks. Ford denied any defect existed on their original equipment and refused proactive replacement at one dealer, claiming "we don't fix things that aren't broke." Individual valve stem replacements cost owners $0–$250 depending on dealer cooperation.
Goodyear Fortera tires (P235/70R16) exhibited dangerous sidewall deterioration and bead separation at the bead—the same defect across multiple tires on the same vehicle and across different owners. One blowout occurred at 70 mph; another at 30 mph. Tire carcasses showed the sidewall separated from the bead for approximately one-quarter of the diameter with no road hazard evident.
Separately, Michelin tires wore past wear bars at just 13,000 miles despite 6,000-mile rotation intervals. Goodyear Fortera tires with 60,000-mile warranties wore out at 15,000–18,000 miles; the manufacturer attributed this to intentionally soft rubber compound designed for early wear. One vehicle came from the factory with a mismatched 17-inch spare against 18-inch primaries, creating RSC instability that Ford eventually corrected after NHTSA involvement.
Failure modes owners describe
Cracked valve stems
Factory-installed valve stems splitting or cracking, causing air leaks and low tire pressure warnings. Owners report discovering cracks by pressing on stems and hearing air escape, with splitting visible on the stems themselves. Multiple owners found the same defect across all four original equipment tires on the same vehicle.
When: May–June 2008 onwards; vehicles reported at mileage 25–34,700 miles and beyond. Initial failures reported 2008–2009; later complaint filed 2009 from used purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Low tire pressure warning light comes on repeatedly; Visible cracking or splitting of valve stems; Air hissing from stem when pressed sideways; Tire goes flat while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer or third-party tire shops replaced individual valve stems. Costs ranged from $0 to $250 total for multiple stems; one owner paid $204.50 per tire replacement, others paid repair fees at dealer or got free replacement from dealer after owner request. One owner reported $140 total out-of-pocket for 5 stems and 1 tire replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford stated their original equipment was not subject to the same Dill valve stem issue (NHTSA Action PE08036) that prompted a recall. Dealer told one owner there were no recalls on their vehicle and declined to proactively replace other stems. Ford customer service representative stated no recalls existed and "we don't fix things that aren't broke." One dealer replaced remaining stems at no charge after owner contacted dealer directly.
Tire sidewall deterioration and bead separation
Goodyear Fortera HL P235/70R16 tires exhibited premature deterioration at the bead and perpendicular sidewall separation from the bead. Multiple owners of the same vehicle and tire brand/model reported this across separate incidents, with sidewall separating from the bead approximately one-quarter of the tire diameter. One owner reported this defect on three different tires on the same vehicle.
When: Mid-to-late 2008 (failure dates in July–October 2008); vehicle mileage approximately 43,200 miles at one failure. Photos retained by owners for inspection until June 30, 2009.
Symptoms owners cite: Tire blowout at highway speeds (70–75 mph); Sidewall separation from bead visible on inspection; Significant sidewall deterioration at bead; Tire shredded while driving at moderate speed (30 mph)
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced. One owner reported the tire was ruined with half its tread life remaining. No manufacturer assistance offered. Tire carcasses retained by owners for independent inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No assistance offered to contact. No recalls or warranties for the tires.
Excessive tire wear
Factory tires wearing out prematurely and unevenly despite proper maintenance (rotation every 6,000 miles as recommended). Michelin tires worn past wear bars at 13,000 miles (tire rated for 65,000 miles). Goodyear Fortera tires with 60,000 mile warranty wearing out at 15,000–18,000 miles. One owner reported consistent uneven wear requiring frequent premature replacement.
When: Early use of vehicle; one complaint filed with 13,000 miles on lease vehicle. Issues reported throughout vehicle ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Tires worn past wear bars at low mileage despite regular rotation; Uneven wear pattern requiring frequent replacement; Tires unsafe for wet-weather driving at 13,000 miles
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tires purchased far more often than normal. One tire shop advised adding extra air monthly and waiting for new tires. Owner spent over $250 total on tire replacements and repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Goodyear company indicated tires are made of soft rubber and designed to wear out early. No recall or warranty action.
Mismatched spare tire
Vehicle came equipped with 18-inch Michelin tires (Iron Man feature) but spare tire was smaller 17-inch Goodyear Mud and Snow tire. Factory sticker indicated specific tire requirement, but Ford stated they could install whichever tire they chose. Vehicle equipped with RSC feature, which made it unstable with the mismatched spare.
When: April 2, 2007 (vehicle arrived from factory); discovered at 25 miles; corrected June 7, 2007.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle unstable with mismatched spare tire installed; Spare tire size and brand different from primary tires
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement tire of correct type and size provided June 7, 2007.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford initially stated they could do as they pleased regarding tire specification. After NHTSA contact, dealer agreed to replace the spare with the correct type and size.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tire valve stems failed eventually on all 5 tires. Gradually on each tire over time and sometimes at highway speeds. 1 tire was ruined and had to be replaced with half it's tread life left. I did replaced all valve stems at my expense. Total $140.00 1 new tire 5 stems. I feel Ford should have notified me of the defect for the safety of my family and me. I was not notified by Ford of the stem…
While driving tire went suddenly flat and tire shredded (2nd time one of my Ford explorers went flat or low pressure). Took tire to a dealer was not notified of any recalls or known valve stem problems. Wanted to charge too much for replacement ,so took tire to 3rd party vendor and had it replaced for $204.50. They also did not inform me any stem issues at the 3rd party...............to date…
Had tires trouble with your 2007 Ford Explorer?
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 tires problem on the 2007 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 18 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 16,837 and 56,000 miles, with the median around 32,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,837; a quarter make it past 56,000. 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 $150 for tires 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 tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires 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/Explorer.
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.