UsedScore

2008 Ford Explorer: Best bet

Owners filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 44 for every 100,000 sold: 0.3× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (5% of complaints).

Complaint index
0.3×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Explorer year
Rank
3rd of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
41
first five years; 44 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
1
campaign
4th generation, 2006–2010 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2006–2010 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer

Photo: 2006–2010 Ford Explorer Eddie Bauer · IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Air bags5% · 2 complaints
  2. Brakes12% · 5 complaints
  3. Powertrain17% · 7 complaints · median 33,000 miles
  4. Speed control2% · 1 complaints
  5. Electrical15% · 6 complaints · median 41,000 miles
  6. Engine7% · 3 complaints
  7. Steering12% · 5 complaints
  8. Seats and belts17% · 7 complaints · median 32,000 miles
  9. Lights12% · 5 complaints · median 32,000 miles
  10. Wheels and tires5% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Powertrain

Owners of the 2008 Ford Explorer commonly describe transmission and powertrain control problems, including hard or delayed shifting, lurching, and sudden loss of power, often preceded by a wrench or check-engine warning light. Repairs ranged from solenoid or PCM replacement to reprogramming, though several owners say the issue recurred or couldn't be resolved.

Warning signs:
Many report a warning wrench or check-engine light, hesitation or delay when shifting, clunking or lurching, and sudden loss of acceleration or stalling.
What shops did:
Owners describe dealers replacing driveshafts, solenoids, wiring harnesses, or PCMs, reprogramming the transmission, or in some cases being unable to find or fix the problem.
Mileage:
most between 60,000 and 120,000 miles, among 36 complaints that give it

“Transmission shifts into neutral as 40 MPH and will not accelerate further.”

“The vehicle jerked violently when shifted into gear and decelerated when shifted into drive.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (1)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 07V453000September 20071,497 vehicles

    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 may disengage from the transmission, causing a transmission fluid leak.

    Risk: If leaking transmission fluid contacts the catalytic converter, it may pose a risk of fire.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and have the transmission cooler line attachment bolt tightened free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 23 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2008 Explorer. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • SSM 51909 · September 2023When 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.
  • SSM 46412 · February 2017Some 2007-2016 edge/mkx/flex/mkt/mkz/mks/taurus/taurus police/explorer/explorer police equipped with all wheel drive (AWD) and built on or before 30-jun-2016 may exhibit a ticking and/or knocking…
  • SSM 46132 · October 2016Some 2008-2017 ford/mercury/lincoln vehicles equipped with sync may generate a vhr that identifies a concern with the brakes and suspension category indicating service is required due to a brake…
  • ASI-44429 · March 2014Ford/mercury: to prevent harness damage, on some vehicles, resulting in contact with tire or suspension components, proper routing of wiring harness for wheel speed sensor is key.
  • AS-21769 · March 2011Ford: if there is an intermittent lack of power, surge, or hesitation while driving the brakes will override acceleration.
  • TSB-08-19-3 · May 2009Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal.
  • ASI-20589 · December 2008Ford/mercury: some vehicles may exhibit various symptoms such as drivability symptoms, including but not limited to no crank with/without blown fuse, and illumination of malfunction indicator lamp.
  • TSB-08-9-5 · October 2008Ford/mercury: 4.0l/4.6l hard start/rough running; after long hot soak/dip in RPM when coming to a stop; built on or before 4/2/08.

All 2008 Explorer bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2008 Ford Explorer reliable?
Owners filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 44 for every 100,000 sold: 0.3× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year. Ratings compare Explorer years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2008 Explorer problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (5%), the brakes (12%) and the powertrain (transmission and drivetrain) (17%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2008 Ford Explorer been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Ford Explorer, the most recent in September 2007 (power train). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2008 Ford Explorer on NHTSA.gov · How we rate