Complaints
215
per 10K Sold
27.4
US Sales
78,439
Crashes
8
Fires
4
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2008 Ford Explorer Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#137 complaints
Electrical Faults
Avg mileage:81,418 mi
Fires:2
#231 complaints
Transmission / Drivetrain
Avg mileage:98,221 mi
Crash-related:1
#327 complaints
Seat-Related Issues
Avg mileage:67,131 mi
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Ford Explorer.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 37 | — | 2 | 81,418 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 31 | 1 | — | 98,221 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 27 | — | 1 | 67,131 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 20 | — | — | 98,956 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 12 | — | — | 86,623 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 10 | — | — | 71,826 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 2 | — | 109,908 mi | |
| Wheel Issues | 7 | 1 | — | 74,588 mi | |
| Brakes | 5 | — | — | 125,548 mi | |
| Airbags | 4 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Other/I Am Not Sure | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical Faults
37
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
81,418
Transmission / Drivetrain
31
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,221
Seat-Related Issues
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
67,131
Engine Problems
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,956
Steering Defects
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
86,623
Headlight/Taillight Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
71,826
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
109,908
Wheel Issues
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,588
Brakes
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
125,548
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Interior Lighting
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Back Over Prevention: Warnings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other Equipment
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:High/Low Beam Dimmer Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other/I Am Not Sure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Ford Explorer. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Explorer Years
2008 Ford Explorer — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Ford Explorer reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2008 Ford Explorer has 215 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 37 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Ford Explorer?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (37 complaints, avg 81,418 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (31 complaints, avg 98,221 mi); Seat-Related Issues (27 complaints, avg 67,131 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Ford Explorer?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 86,705 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Ford Explorer include 8 crash-related reports, 4 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2008 Ford Explorer as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2008 Ford Explorer?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2008 Ford Explorer
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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