NHTSA data · free2008 Ford ExplorerProblems: Top Complaints, Recalls & Failures (NHTSA)
Every owner complaint and safety recall the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has on file for the 2008 Ford Explorer, ranked by the component that failed most.
Complaints on file
148
Recalls issued
3
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
3
What breaks most
- Electrical System38 complaints · 25.7%
- Power Train36 complaints · 24.3%
- Seats27 complaints · 18.2%
- Engine21 complaints · 14.2%
- Steering13 complaints · 8.8%
Recalls on this model year
- Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
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 FEDER
Campaign 07E104000 · reported 11/12/2007 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Equipment
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 S
Campaign 10E043000 · reported 03/09/2010 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit And Lines
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
Campaign 07V453000 · reported 26/09/2007 · recall work is free at any franchised dealer
What owners report
Electrical System
- 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
- 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 T
- 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 SERVI
Power Train
- The contact owns a 2008 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park, and the vehicle rolled backwards about an inch. No warning
- 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 T
- 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.
Seats
- 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
- WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL ACTIVATE THE MEMORY SEAT FUNCTION CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO ACTIVATE AND THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARD LEAVING THE DRIVER UNABLE TO REACH PEDALS
- KEY CYLINDER HAS LOOSENED INSIDE IGNITION HOUSING. THIS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR SHORTER INDIVIDUALS AS WHEN A BUMP OR CERTAIN MOTIONS CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SEATS TO RETRACT
Engine
- Stalling in mid traffic. I was told it is poor quality of timing components. The vehicle has less than 200,000 miles and has had routine maintenance as it was a police investigation car
- 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 warra
- 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
Steering
- 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.
- 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
- 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 EFFECTE
Excerpts are anonymized owner complaints as filed with NHTSA, trimmed to 200 characters.
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