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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
65,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TRANSMISSION STARTING SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND AND 3RD. I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS . THEY ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED . ALL OUT OF WARRANTY. GOOGLED FORD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SEEMS LIKE FORD DOESN'T WANT TO RECOGNIZED THAT THEIR 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION…

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TRANSMISSION STARTING SHIFTING HARD GOING INTO 2ND AND 3RD. I'VE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF FORD EXPLORER OWNERS . THEY ALL HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TRANSMISSION HAVE BEEN REPLACED . ALL OUT OF WARRANTY. GOOGLED FORD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SEEMS LIKE FORD DOESN'T WANT TO RECOGNIZED THAT THEIR 5 SPEED TRANSMISSIONS HAVE A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654818

63,256 miles · Oct 12, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats

WHILE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN GROUND, KEY FOB WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FOB MOTION TRIGGERS THE COURTESY FEATURES OF THE SEAT, WHICH FLIES BACK AND LOWERS AT THE SAME TIME( BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF) . THE INTERI…

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WHILE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN GROUND, KEY FOB WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FOB MOTION TRIGGERS THE COURTESY FEATURES OF THE SEAT, WHICH FLIES BACK AND LOWERS AT THE SAME TIME( BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF) . THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO COME ON, BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS AND EITHER ACTION CA CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. AS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN, I WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND PROMPTLY CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REPORTED THE ISSUE. I LET THEM KNOW I WAS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN AS WELL. THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE SAID SHES " NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM BEING REPORTED " THIS ISSUE IS ALL OER THE INTERNET IN THE FORD FORUMS......NOT IMPRESSED WITH FORDS RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644130

117,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Steering

CAR SHUTS OFF AND BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP. REPAIR SHOP AND FORD SAID IT WAS A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS PART IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING TH…

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CAR SHUTS OFF AND BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP. REPAIR SHOP AND FORD SAID IT WAS A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS PART IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT WAS A SUPPLIER PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639083

86,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
EnginePower Train

UPON DRIVING DURING THE MONTH OF MAY AND JUNE, I WOULD NOTICE A BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD WOULD DEMONSTRATE ELEVATED ENGINE TEMP, EACH TIME I WOULD CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR WOULD BE EMPTY. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THIS, I TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE AND I HAD TO GET THE RADIA…

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UPON DRIVING DURING THE MONTH OF MAY AND JUNE, I WOULD NOTICE A BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD WOULD DEMONSTRATE ELEVATED ENGINE TEMP, EACH TIME I WOULD CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR WOULD BE EMPTY. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THIS, I TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE AND I HAD TO GET THE RADIATOR HOUSING, THERMOSTAT AND HOSES REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BAD LEAK. NOW AS OF SEPTEMBER, I STARTED NOTICING THAT SMELL AGAIN AND NOTICED MY COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EITHER LOW OR EMPTY AGAIN, I HAD TO REFILLED IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE JUNE 2014 REPAIR, NOW AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE CHECK BY FIRESTONE IS WAS NOTED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY RADIATOR REPLACE BECAUSE I HAVE A LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR NOW. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 87000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THIS TOO SOON TO BE REPLACING A RADIATOR. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ALSO WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE, IT IS HARD TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS FINALLY MOVED IT THE TRICK GIVES A PULL FORCE AND THEN MY TRANSMISSION SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IN OVERDRIVE OR ON 3, IT TAKES UP TO 25 MINUTES FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO CLICK OR SHIFT OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632865

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2014
Wheels

2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LUG NUTS AND WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON WAS DRIVING, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON STOPPING, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED HIM, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. THE CONSUMERS SON NOTICED TWO OF THE LUGS HAD BROKEN OFF. FURTHER…

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2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LUG NUTS AND WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON WAS DRIVING, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON STOPPING, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED HIM, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. THE CONSUMERS SON NOTICED TWO OF THE LUGS HAD BROKEN OFF. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED, ONLY ONE LUG NUT WAS SOMEWHAT TIGHT AND THE REMAINING LUGS WERE STRIPPED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10626715

110,200 miles · Aug 19, 2014
EnginePower Train

I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THIS IS MY 2ND TIME REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA. THIS PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES BEFORE MOSTLY ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. I HAVE HAD THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES THE…

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I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THIS IS MY 2ND TIME REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA. THIS PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES BEFORE MOSTLY ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. I HAVE HAD THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES THE FIRST 2 TIMES THEY SAID THE CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ON THE THIRD TIME I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND HE FINALLY ADMITTED THAT IT IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. HE ALSO SAID THAT MY EXPLORER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THE PART IS IN SUCH HI DEMAND THAT THE ARE BACKORDER FOR MONTHS. I ASKED IF FORD WAS PLANNING A RECALL AND HIS ANSWER WAS "NO THE PART IS VERY PRICEY AND NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET" NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626272

69,500 miles · Jul 20, 2014
Electrical System

VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF REPAIR ON 6/16/2014 FOR ELECTRICAL DRIVER SEAT MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS DURING TRAVEL, DOME LIGHT OPERATING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY? DRIVER SEAT MOVEMENT DURING TRAVEL IS HAZARDOUS.. COLONIAL FORD 126 FEDERAL ROAD DANBURY CT 06811 WAS THE LOCATION OF DROP OFF-- 203-748-3503. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614848

101,000 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeats

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY SEATS GO BACK, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE KEY COMES PARTLY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW AND LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION WHILE TRYING TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE SEAT GOING BACK I AM TOO FAR F…

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WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY SEATS GO BACK, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE KEY COMES PARTLY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW AND LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION WHILE TRYING TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE SEAT GOING BACK I AM TOO FAR FROM THE PEDAL. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608953

8,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING OVER BUMPS, DIPS IN ROAD, ETC. TRIGGERS THE EVENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599154

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2014
Engine

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10597654

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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