Ford · Explorer · 2008
3
Recalls
146
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2008 Ford Explorer has 3 recalls and 146 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (19 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy Status
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
CERTAIN CURVED TEMPERED REPLACEMENT GLASS MANUFACTURED BY HANGZHOU SAFETY GLASS LTD AND SUPPLIED TO SAFELITE BY AUTO TEMP INC., IDENTIFIED AS DOT-430, AND SOLD FOR USE ON CERTAIN DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN VEHICLES MAY NOT BREAK INTO SMALL PIECES AS EXPECTED OF TEMPERED GLASS AND FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 205, "GLAZING MATERIALS."
Remedy Status
SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS RETAIL CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE GLASS FREE OF CHARGE. RETAIL CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE TOLL FREE AT 1-888-843-2906. SAFELITE WILL NOTIFY ITS WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS AND REIMBURSE WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS FOR CURRENT INVENTORY AND AT A SPECIFIED RATE FOR REPLACING THEIR CUSTOMER'S GLASS. WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT SAFELITE'S WHOLESALE DIVISION, SERVICE AUTOGLASS TOLL FREE AT 1-888-246-6298. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
I got the car from my landlord, my husband never checked the oil or fluids even though I was on him, it died 2 months after we got it, the guy said before we purchased it that it still was under warranty for transmission, so when it died I thought ok it's covered, so the landlord said it was the motor it seized he said had no coolant and was 2qts of oil over I said well he never added anything & I said it never overheated, he said I don't know how it was done but it will cost $3800 to fix, so I was hoping that there might be a recall that can fix this or also he puts new rear in the car a week after I got it, does any of this sound like it is his side that is reliable to fix it?
The stickers are not on properly. My childs safety wasnt put at risk. I asked a CPST to help with a fit and intall check and we noticed the defected stickers.
Report #1 - My grandma brought this 08' Explorer back in 2014, and after she passed, my mom drove it for the next 2 years. It started having general maintenance issues, then the cats were stolen, but then, one night my mother was coming home from a relative's house, when she was trying to keep up with the flow of traffic on [XXX] , and she noticed that the vehicle was not accelerating at all and the vehicle stalled out. She had it towed home and it sat on the streetside for some time. After digging through the internet, I figured that Ford designed the throttle-body wiring to settle next to the cooling hoses, and after time, the wires rot from the hot temperatures of the hoses and crack/snap causing the vehicle to either stall, or possibly have unintended acceleration. Ford never recalled this issue! Also, it had a massive coolant leak, from which was believed to be the cheap plastic T-Stat housings that Ford never recalled, and to top it all off: the right rear turn-indicator failed from the faulty wiring harnesses... As a result, we ended up having it scrapped/junked. It was sad to see her go, but obviously Ford doesn't care about their customers safety and will find any loophole to avoid recalling a vehicle... Ford needs to get their stuff together or they need to be shut down!... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AN ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON ON MY DASHBOARD AND I CAN'T PICK UP SPEED. I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT A FEW TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THERE'S BEEN MANY PEOPLE ON YOUTUBE COMPLAINING OF THE SAMETHING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY, LUCKILY THE INTERSTATE WASN'T BUSY WHEN MY TRUCK LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I COULD'VE CAUSE A CAR PILE UP AND THERE COULD'VE BEEN MANY LIVES LOST
MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES RECENTLY WHERE IT TURNS OVER AND WILL NOT START, THEN WILL START. TODAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE SERVICE WRENCH AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER AND THE STEERING STIFFENED UP AND WAS HARD TO STEER AT ALL ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK ON THE FREEWAY. I LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL AT THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM ICON CAME ON ALSO. I HAD TO COMPLETELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE CAR. I THEN HAD TO RESTART THE CAR WHICH STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND STARTED TO DRIVE FINE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN ONCE A DAY, MY FRIEND HAS CHECKED THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND CLEANED THE BATTERY CABLES AND HAS OVER 14 VOLTS CHARGING FROM ALTERNATOR TO BATTERY AND STILL HAPPENS. THE DTC CODE WAS PULLED AND WAS A P0607. CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OR CORRUPT.
ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND CAR WENT TO IDLE AND WOULD NOT REV UP LIKE IT WAS STUCK OM IDLE--THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES PER HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WAS ALMOST REARENDED OVER IT.
The wiring harness going into the back of what I believe is the throttle position sensor has a 180° turn in the wiring in a very short distance. There are four wires involved in that portion of the wiring harness. The wiring is also next to the hot, cooling system hoses coming out of the firewall. These factors caused the wiring to crack prematurely creating surges in the idle and the vehicle speed to be uncontrollable due to shorts/arcing in the electrical wiring. An extremely dangerous situation. My daughter ran into a bullard because she started the vehicle, put it in drive, and it took off on her. Vehicle would drive at 20 to 25 miles per hour on its own without stepping on the gas pedal. After two or three attempts, I was able to satisfactorily fix the wiring. Please note that the attached pictures do not show the original condition of the wiring. I attempted to use liquid electrical tape on one of my first attempts but that soon cracked as well. You will see that in one of the photos. I may have original pictures of the electrical wiring on my desktop computer and will gladly submit those at a later time if I can find them. This failure in the wiring should be easy to identify in any 2008 Ford Explorer.
TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD EXPLORER V8 4.6 LIMITED NOT CHANGING INTO LAST GEAR. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TRANSMISSION JERKS SLIGHTLY. AT 61000 MILES NOW ..... I DIDN'T EXPECT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE HUMMING..... I HAD THIS WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM BEFORE ON MY OTHER 2008 FORD EXPLORER XLT 6 CYLINDER 4.0
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, IF I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING FAILS FOR VARYING AMOUNTS OF TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I ONLY JUST FOUND OUT I COULD MAKE A COMPLAINT.
STOPPED AT THE 4 WAY ..AND MY TURN TO GO..MY CAR GOES MAYBE 2 SECONDS THEN IT REVVS WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL BIT MYCAR DOESNT ENGAGE . THE TOOL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. I RODE IT TO THE SIDE ..TURNED IT OFF. THEN STARTED IT AGAIN..GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN..AND ONCE AGAIN I MOVE SOME..THEN THE ENGINE REVVVS BUT THE CAR DOESN T FO..TWICE I ALMOSTGOT SIDE SWIPED BY ON COMING VARS UP BEHIND ME. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC..AS I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JULY LAST YEAR..HESAID ITS A FORD THING..COMMOM.. BUT NO ONE HAS THE CORRECT ANSWER..TRIAL AND ERROR..OR SPEND THOUSANDS ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. A FEW PEOPLE SAID ITS THE TRANSMOSSION WIRE HARNESS??
INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AS IT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER TO VIEW THE ROAD AND EXTERNAL SURROUNDINGS.
MY FRIEND LET ME USE HIS VEHICLE BUT HE ALTERED IT AND IT IS MALFUNCTIONING . HE EXPLAINS AS IF WHEN I DON'T "BEHAVE" I HAVE REPERCUSSIONS. HE HAS ALTERED THE VEHICLE TREMENDOUSLY. IF WE GET AN ARGUMENT HE WILL TELL ME I HAVE X AMOUNT OF DAYS AND IN THOSE EXACT X AMOUNT OF DAYS THE CAR ENDS UP MESSING UP AND STOPPING. I WAS DRIVING FROM THE HOSPITAL ONE DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND HE TOLD ME BECAUSE ITS HIS VEHICLE THAT HE WILL FIX IT HIM SELF. HE IS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER NOT A LICENSED MECHANIC TO TOUCH THE OBD ON THE CAR. HE CLAIMS HE IS BETTER THAN GENERAL MOTORS.
ON OR ABOUT MAY 15TH, 2019, WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, MY 2008 EXPLORER SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ON MAY 28TH, 2019 THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN THE HOME DRIVEWAY. ON MAY 29TH, 2019 I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO AKINS FORD IN WINDER, GA. ON JUNE 3RD, 2019 THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THEIR TECH HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH FORD CAN NOT SEEM TO ADDRESS.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE OPERATOR CAN STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AND THIS SEEMS TO CLEAR THE FAULT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT STOPS IN TRAFFIC OR IN A TURN AND THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OPERATOR. THE CODE DIRECTS ME TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TPS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THERE SHOULD BE A FIX FOR THIS AS I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS AND THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS SOFTWARE CHANGE THAT CAN BE MADE TO THE CAR SO THAT IT WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO SHUTDOWN LIKE THIS IF IT GETS A FAULT OR PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FRONT DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT ADJUST BEFORE GOING OUT WOULD MOVE ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON. PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN AFTER PURCHASE FOR HARD SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE.
TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 100,000MILES AND COOLIANT PROBLEMS.
"TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AT 100233 MILES THE WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME WHILE DRIVING. UPON PARKING & TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT WORK. CUT THRU ALL GEARS LIKE BUTTER. WOUND NOT "ENTER" INTO ANY GEAR. TOWED. AFTER VEHICLE COOLED, TRANSMISSION WORKS AGAIN, ONLY TO BECOME HOT, REPEAT TOW. CODE P0775. AFTER COOLING, SAME EVENT. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID GOES OUT WHILE HOT, IN A HOT CLIMATE. MANUFACTURER DEFECT. NEEDS SAFETY RECALL.
STIFFNESS IN STEERING WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL . NO SOUNDS COMING FROM POWER STEERING/BELT OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER .. JUST WHEN YOU SLOW TO TURN IT'S STIFF
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL ACTIVATE THE DRIVER'S SEAT, CAUSING IT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD, LEAVING THE DRIVER FULLY UNABLE TO REACH THE GAS PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL, OR BRAKES. THIS OCCURS ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AND CREATES A MOST UNSAFE AND PERHAPS DEADLY SITUATION. THERE IS NO CURRENT VIDEO OF THIS AVAILABLE AS THE IGNITION SWITCH FAULT AND SEAT MOVEMENT OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
LOSS OF STEERING. "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND FORD IS 'SELECTIVELY' CHOOSING TO CHERRY-PICK COVERAGE ON RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO BE COVERED ON ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES NOT CHERRY PICKED! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY 2-$3,000 + FOR A REPAIR THAT'S BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2008 Ford Explorer has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 146 owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Ford Explorer.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2008 Ford Explorer.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2008 Ford Explorer are power train (19 reports), electrical system (15 reports), seats (12 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2008 Ford Explorer. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.