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 powertrain problems
moderate 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
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 COUPLE…
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 WITH…
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 DE…
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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.