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2008 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

129 reports with mileage · 19 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

148 reports
82,649 miles · Sep 27, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,649.

NHTSA ODI #10545623

83,000 miles · Sep 19, 2013
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARD WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10544478

99,000 miles · Aug 30, 2013
Wheels

ALL SENSORS & BANDS BROKE INTO SMALL PIECES WHICH WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO RIP FROM THE INSIDE. IF NOT TAKEN IN FOR NEW TIRES, ALL TIRES WOULD'VE BLOWN OUT & POSSIBLY CAUSED INJURY TO ME & MY TODDLER. WORST PART OF ALL, FORD WOULDN'T COVER THIS DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT.

NHTSA ODI #10538167

164,000 miles · Aug 23, 2013
Power Train

MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND ROLL BACK A FEW SECONDS AND THEN "SLAM" INTO REVERSE. I EXPECTED TO SEE MY TRANSMISSION LAYING ON THE GROUND. I HAVE ALSO HAD A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS …

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MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND ROLL BACK A FEW SECONDS AND THEN "SLAM" INTO REVERSE. I EXPECTED TO SEE MY TRANSMISSION LAYING ON THE GROUND. I HAVE ALSO HAD A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD. MY LAST EXPLORER ALSO HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED UNDER 75,000 MILES AND MY 2008 HAD TO HAVE TWO REPLACED BEFORE IT WAS 2 YRS OLD. THIS IS CRAZY! TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THESE THINGS HAPPEN SO FREQUENTLY!! WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536979

60,000 miles · Jul 10, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE 4X4 SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE 4X4 SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,283. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10524208

113,000 miles · Jul 1, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE GAS TANK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PUMP HOSE WOULD CLICK OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AS IF SIGNALING THE TANK WAS FULL, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLU…

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2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE GAS TANK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PUMP HOSE WOULD CLICK OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AS IF SIGNALING THE TANK WAS FULL, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER, IT STARTED HAPPENING, BUT WENT OFF A SHORT WHILE LATER. A FLASHING RED LIGHT AND A WARNING TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE OCCURRED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THE RED LIGHT ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED FORD ISSUED A TSB SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OVER THE PROBLEM, AS IT APPARENTLY OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH IN THE MARKET PLACE.

NHTSA ODI #10522367

80,000 miles · Jun 16, 2013
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT A MEDIUM SPEED IN MARCH 2013, THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BLINKING FROM THE LOW GAS TO THE CHECK ENGINE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR BAD WEATHER BECAUSE THIS SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT LABOR…

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WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT A MEDIUM SPEED IN MARCH 2013, THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BLINKING FROM THE LOW GAS TO THE CHECK ENGINE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR BAD WEATHER BECAUSE THIS SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT LABORING AND APPEARED TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHT SHOW AND AUDIBLE ALARMS GOING OFF IN THE DASHBOARD. THE ALARMS CONTINUED GOING OFF AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR BACK HOME. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC, NO ALARMS WERE ACTIVE. THE MECHANIC TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE THEY FINALLY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN THE END, THEY REPLACED MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT A COST OF ABOUT $700. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FIND UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THEN WARNING LIGHT SHOW/ALARMS RECURRED. IT'S ONLY BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. IT WILL GO BACK TO MY MECHANIC TOMORROW. LUCKILY ITS STILL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10520032

99,000 miles · Jun 13, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELT WAS INSTALLED ON JUNE 20, 2013

NHTSA ODI #10519634

65,000 miles · May 29, 2013
Power Train

VISORS FELL APART AND MIRROR FELL OUT. TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO REVERSE AND SKIPS GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10514108

135,000 miles · May 3, 2013
EnginePower Train

MY VEHICLE, A 2008 FORD EXPLORER WITH A 4.6L 3V V8 ENGINE, WENT INTO VEHICLE SAFE MODE WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-83). THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PERIODIC MISFIRE, WHICH TRIGGERED A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER MODULE (TCM). THE VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN SHUDDERING, ALL THE DASHBOAR…

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MY VEHICLE, A 2008 FORD EXPLORER WITH A 4.6L 3V V8 ENGINE, WENT INTO VEHICLE SAFE MODE WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-83). THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PERIODIC MISFIRE, WHICH TRIGGERED A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER MODULE (TCM). THE VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN SHUDDERING, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP WITH A WARNING TO SERVICE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND VEHICLE SPEED WOULD NOT EXCEED 20MPH. I WAS IN HEAVY STOP & GO TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE AT TIME OF INCIDENT. I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE & ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM WITH A CODE READER. I RECEIVED TWO CODES, MISFIRE ON CYL 8 AND LOSS OF COMM WITH TCM. I PULLED THE TCM FUSE TO RESET THE TCM AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL THE COP'S & THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SPARKPLUGS REPLACED. I WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL FORD ENGINE AND THE 2-PIECE SPARKPLUG/CYLINDER HEAD ISSUE AND SUSPECTED THE PLUGS TO BE THE CULPRIT. I PAID THE FORD DEALERSHIP $420 TO REPLACE THE EIGHT SPARKPLUGS IN MY VEHICLE. ONLY TWO PLUGS BROKE DURING THE EXTRACTION AND THE CYLINDER HEAD DID NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THEY REPLACED THE POORLY DESIGNED 3V ENGINE MIDYEAR. THEY ALSO PRODUCED A 13-PAGE TSB, SPECIAL EXTRACTION TOOL TO REPLACE SPARKPLUGS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN FLAW & INSTEAD BLAMES MECHANIC ERROR FOR BROKEN PLUGS. FORD MECHANICS BROKE TWO OF MY PLUGS, YET I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR ERROR! THE VEHICLE RUNS LIKE NEW AGAIN BUT WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE SHORTLY. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST FORD AS I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD'S RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUSLY POOR DESIGN FLAW. MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONTRARY TO FORD'S LAME RESPONSE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOES INTO EMERGENCE SAFE MODE ON A 65MPH INTERSTATE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510487

Official recalls

1

07V453000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Sep 26, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO

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