2008 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 148 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 6 involved a crash and 3 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
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.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
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.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, glass, side/rearDec 11, 2007
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."
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT(S) MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY SHATTERED GLASS.
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.
Campaign 07E104000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, cooling unit and linesSep 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.
IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.
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.
Campaign 07V453000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: steering
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Oct 27, 2019
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.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2018
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
Steering, Mar 20, 2018
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
Steering, Service brakes, Jun 24, 2016
BRAKES FAILED ! I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ( ABOUT 80 ANGLE ) INTO A STORE PLAZA THAT HAS A SLIGHT HILL . WHILE MAKING THE TURN THERE WAS A SINGLE THUMP. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO TURNING POSITION THEN RELEASED , DEPRESSED THE BREAKS AS I HIT THE BREAKS THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED MADE SEVERAL QUICK ATTEMPTS THEN BRAKES WENT TO NORMAL OPERATION.
Steering, Sep 25, 2014
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
Steering, Power train, Apr 3, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESUMED NORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V453000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500.PDATED 06/10/14 *BF UPDATED 06/17/2014 *JS
Steering, Jun 13, 2013
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
Steering, Oct 4, 2012
NOISE COMING FROM STEERING, FELT IN STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING, IN THE FORM OF A SHUDDER ACCOMPANIED WITH A PULSATING GROANING TYPE NOISE. THIS OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AS TIME HAS GONE BY, NOW IT HAPPENS MORE FREQUENTLY AND WITH AN ADDITIONAL SOUND OF FLUID BYPASSING IN THE STEERING RACK, LIKE WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH ANY VEHICLES STEERING SYSTEM WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED ALL THE WAY FULL RIGHT OR FULL LEFT. IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE THAT ONLY TURNING THE WHEEL NORMALLY, NOT TO ITS WHEEL STOPS. ALSO IT FEELS LIKE SOME POWER ASSIST IS LOST AND NOT THERE LIKE IT SHOULD BE, CAUSING INCREASED STEERING WHEEL EFFORT. I AM CONCERNED THAT TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING MAY HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN TIME! HAD IT IN TO DEALER AND THEY IGNORED MY CONCERN THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, STEERING PUMP PRESSURE TESTS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DID THIS. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Service brakes, Jun 12, 2012
VEHICLE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALL WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND EVENTUALLY LOSS POWER, STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. CURRENTLY AT THE MECHANIC, IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. *TR
Steering, Service brakes, Hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Mar 1, 2012
FRONT BRAKES HAS A RUBBING, SCREAMING SOUND, LOUDER WHEN TURNING OR APPLYING BRAKES, SOMETIMES THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING, NOT FOR SURE IF THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE FRONT, MIDDLE OR THE BACK IT IS SO LOUD, WE HAVE 4 YEARS OF THE SOUND ON TAPES. THOUGHT THE TAPPING WOULD HELP FORD MOTOR COMPANY AT BLUEBONNET FIND THE PROBLEM, INSTEAD WE WERE LAUGHED AT AND TREATED RUDELY.THE GEAR SHIFT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE BY FORD AND STILL HAS STICKING PROBLEM, WE EVEN HAD THE FORD CORP INVOLVED, NO SOLUTION OF THE MATTER HAS BEEN RESOLVED AS OF TODAY, FORD CORP OFFICE OFFERED US A EMPLOYEE RATE, BUT WHEN SPEAKING WITH A SALESPERSON FROM BLUE BONNETT FORD, WE WOULD LOOSE THE $10,000.00 WE PUT DOWN, I HAVE A VEHICLE WE REFUSE TO DRIVE LONG DISTANCE, IN FACT WE RENT A VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF TOWN, BECAUSE FORD COULD NOT TELL ME IF IT IS SAFE OR UNSAFE, WE HAS OWNER FEEL IT IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Steering, Jan 30, 2012
WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME LOOSE AND AS I DROVE IT GOT WORSE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ROCKING SIDE TO SIDE AND UP AND DOWN NO LESS THAN 2-3 INCHES. THIS WAS SCARY! I CALLED , AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME TO BRING IT IN, WHICH I DID ASAP. THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY, AND TOLD ME THE BOLT/NUT THAT HOLDS THE STEERING WHEEL ON WAS COMING LOOSE. IT WAS REPAIRED AND TREADWELL FORD CHARGED ME $99.98 FOR TIGHTENING UP THE BOLT/NUT. IF THIS HAD COME LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN BIG TROUBLE, AND I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CHARGED FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS DEFINATELY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I COMPLAINED TO THEM, BUT AT TREADWELL FORD, THE DOLLAR IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PERSON. I HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE, AND I HOPE NO ONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT
Steering, Sep 15, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SEIZE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SHUT OFF AFTER THE FAILURE AND UPON RESTART, THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Steering, Apr 14, 2008
THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK FROM DRIVE. IT SNAPPED AT THE BASE CONNECTING TO THE COLUMN. *TR