2008 Ford Explorer problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Seats (26) · Power Train (25) · Electrical System (14)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Ford Explorer model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
129 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Equipment 2010-09-03 · campaign 10E043000 · 294 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (23)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-02-24 · SSM 54601 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
ford and lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
Equipment 2024-04-24 · SSM 52476 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
all accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code. if the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicle s owner during initial delivery. unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad,
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2023-09-07 · SSM 51909 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
when performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving mercon sp, mercon lv has replaced all versions of mercon sp and can be used going forward. mixing mercon lv and mercon sp in the same transmission is acceptable. after 30-jun-2023, mercon sp atf will no longer be manufactured and wi
Structure 2019-02-07 · TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2000 and newer ford, lincoln and mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is recommended. follow the service procedure steps to correct the condition
Structure 2019-02-07 · TSB 19-2026 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2000 and newer ford, lincoln and mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without accompanying white dust. panel replacement is recommended. follow the service procedure steps to correct the condition
Steering 2018-10-02 · DOR-S3J9G-11 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sku is a front upper ball joint. the customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.
Showing the 6 most recent of 23 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-07-10 · Power Train · 165,000 mi“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 lights were illuminated. the contact stated that the parking brake was enabled to stop the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, …”
2026-06-07 · 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 …”
2025-04-27 · Unknown Or Other“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 o…”
2024-05-31 · Other/I Am Not Sure“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. …”
2024-01-10 · Vehicle Speed Control“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 …”
2021-08-27 · Vehicle Speed Control · 💥 crash“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 premature…”
2021-02-01 · Power Train · 197,000 mi“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 acce…”
2020-12-17 · Electrical System · 127,000 mi“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 …”
2020-08-01 · Vehicle Speed Control · 140,000 mi“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.…”
2019-11-13 · Wheels · 61,000 mi“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…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.