FORD: IF THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT LACK OF POWER, SURGE, OR HESITATION WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES WILL OVERRIDE ACCELERATION.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac powertrain problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 6 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 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
Powertrain accounts for 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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. *jb
2008 Ford explorer sport trac, 5 speed automatic, v6. Transmission fails to engage; truck has difficulty accelerating from a stop and will roll backwards from a stop if on an incline. Transmission also 'slams' gears and feels like the vehicle has been hit from behind. Dealership has failed to repair and has worked on the vehicle for over four weeks with no permanent resolution. Fixes last a…
Parked vehicle. Turned off ignition. Key would not release from the ignition. Cycled the auto shift lever to make sure in park. At this point noted that I could shift out of park without my foot being on the brake. Very dangerous. I was able to remove the key by pulling the ignition fuse. I pulled the fuse and removed the key. Reinstalled the fuse. Was still able to shift out of park…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford explorer. The contact stated that the check engine light and wrench icon illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test, who stated that the torque converter would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. The current mileage was 92,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford explorer sport trac. The contact stated that the vehicle would lunge forward when attempting to shift gears. The vehicle would also stall, shift out of neutral, shift out of over drive or would shift into various gears erratically. A local mechanic replaced the transmission, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer requested to receive information from the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
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 Explorer Sport Trac?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 6 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 48,600 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/Explorer Sport Trac.
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.