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Light NHTSA footprint — 23 owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 23 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 6 complaints, typically surfacing around 73,755 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Explorer Sport Trac | 0 | 1 |
| 2007 Explorer Sport Trac | 100 | 1 |
| 2008 Explorer Sport Trac (this page) | 23 | 1 |
| 2009 Explorer Sport Trac | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 Explorer Sport Trac | 30 | 1 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 37,189 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 8.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford explorer. While driving various speeds and attempting to stop, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The brakes eventually stopped the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the radiator began to leak abnormally. The contact attempted to locate the parts needed to make repairs to the vehicle from an independent parts dealer, but was unable to locate the part. The vehicle…
2008 Ford sport trac has a problem with the transmission. *nj the consumer noticed that after coming to a stop, the vehicle was not making a smooth stop, but rather lurching several times in stopping. The dealer performed a program on the transmission, however the continued.…
Vehicle developed an exhaust leak from the left side manifold. Repaired at a cost of 250 dollars. Leak was noticeable by exhaust smell in cab and sound from left side of engine. Second leak has now developed on right side, still need to repair, have exhaust smell in cab…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
If leaking transmission fluid contacts the catalytic converter, it may pose a risk of fire.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
On the NHTSA data, the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 6 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 73,755 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 23 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 73,755 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 6 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 73,755 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 73,755 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 23 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.