My truck was put in park and I couldn't put the car in gear. I was stranded with my family for 1 1/2 . I had to do research so I went to the internet on my cell phone and found out that it was the break light switch. I also read the manual and it said to replace the fuse . I did that and it still wouldn't go into gear. I had my wife stand in the back of the car while I depressed the brakes and…
2008 Ford Expedition powertrain problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Expedition has widespread powertrain problems: transmissions jerk and shift erratically even after dealer repairs, vehicles can roll away while parked in Park, and brake-light-switch failures can strand you unable to shift into gear. Dealers often cannot diagnose these issues, and Ford does not appear to recognize them as recalls.
The 2008 Expedition powertrain shows recurring problems that dealers struggle to fix. Transmission issues—jerking at low speeds, sluggish acceleration, knocking noises, and erratic shifting—appear across multiple vehicles, sometimes from as early as 12,000 miles. One owner had the plate assembly, drive plate, and screen assembly replaced; others got PCM and TCM reprogramming. None of these repairs worked. One transmission was deemed needing replacement at 121,000 miles.
Equally serious: several owners report the vehicle rolling backward while parked in Park, even on level ground, with no emergency brake engaged. These incidents caused collisions with other vehicles and property damage. Dealers could not identify the cause, and Ford stated no recall exists.
A brake light switch malfunction prevents gear engagement altogether, leaving owners stranded. Owner self-help (jiggling the switch under the dash) provides only temporary relief. One owner also reports driveshaft failure during early 4WD use; the dealership denied warranty work, claiming abuse despite the owner's assertion of normal operation. Paint peeling and delayed shifting round out the complaints.
Same Ford Expedition powertrain reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission shift delay and jerking
Transmission exhibits difficulty shifting between gears, jerking forward during low-speed maneuvers and acceleration attempts, knocking noises during shifting, and erratic shifting at higher gears. Multiple owners report the vehicle hesitates before engaging gears or lurches unexpectedly.
When: From 12,000 to 121,000 miles; one owner reports the problem from purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Jerking forward when slowing to make turns; Continued jerking after acceleration attempts; Knocking noise from transmission; Sluggish acceleration; Erratic shifting at higher gears; Takes a while before shifting gears; Tickling noise at engine start until first gear engages
Repairs/costs cited: Plate assembly/drive plate and screen assembly replaced on one vehicle without resolving the issue. PCM and TCM reprogrammed on another without resolving the problem. Transmission replacement recommended in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls mentioned. Dealers unable to duplicate failure on at least one vehicle despite repeated complaints.
Vehicle rolling away in Park without brake engagement
Vehicles parked on level ground and inclines roll backward when in Park, even with the ignition off, causing property damage and entrapment. No emergency brake was engaged in at least one incident, but the Park mechanism itself appears to be failing.
When: Mileage 47,000 to 130,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while parked in Park; Occurs on level ground and on inclines; Vehicle accelerates in reverse while rolling; Makes loud clicking noise as if trying to engage gear
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. Vehicles were drivable after the rolling incidents.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated no recall exists. Dealers unable to identify the cause.
Brake light switch malfunction preventing gear engagement
Brake light switch failure prevents vehicle from being placed into gear, leaving the driver stranded. The switch malfunctions intermittently and requires manual jiggling to restore function. This appears to be a shift-lock solenoid interlock issue tied to brake signal.
When: Mileage not specified; problem recurs repeatedly
Symptoms owners cite: Cannot put vehicle in gear when parked in Park; Brake light does not illuminate when pedal is pressed; Switch malfunction is intermittent
Repairs/costs cited: Owner replaced fuse per manual; problem persisted. Manual jiggling of switch under the dashboard near brake pedal temporarily restores function. Problem recurs.
4WD driveshaft failure
Driveshaft twists into failure during the second use of 4WD at low speeds. Loud clanking noise occurs on first 4WD engagement, indicating internal damage.
When: Early vehicle use after purchase in 2009
Symptoms owners cite: Loud clanking sound when 4WD first engaged; Driveshaft twists and fails during low-speed 4WD use
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership denied warranty claim, citing abuse, despite owner's assertion of normal use and no evidence of abuse. Ford Customer Service upheld the dealership denial.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford expedition. While parked for ten minutes, the vehicle rolled backwards and crashed into a brick wall. The failure caused $4500 worth of damages. The Ford manufacturer was sent pictures, police reports and an eye witness testimony of what happened. She has not received a response. The technicians at the dealer could not identify the cause of the failure. The…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Ford Expedition?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 20,035 and 88,342 miles, with the median around 47,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,035; a quarter make it past 88,342. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Ford/Expedition.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.