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The 2008 Ford Explorer has 148 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2008 Ford Explorer has 148 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 35 complaints, typically surfacing around 95,952 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Explorer | 568 | 3 |
| 2006 Explorer | 635 | 4 |
| 2007 Explorer | 208 | 3 |
| 2008 Explorer (this page) | 148 | 3 |
| 2009 Explorer | 33 | 1 |
| 2010 Explorer | 115 | 2 |
| 2011 Explorer | 1,192 | 8 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
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: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 72,899 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 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.
When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.
"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.
We have a 2008 eddie bauer Ford explorer that we purchased from the dealership in 2008. Earlier this year when we went over a bump, the electronic drivers seat moved back and the interior lights turned on. It took a moment for the lights to turn off, but the seats did not move…
My 2008 Ford explorer has been having issues recently where it turns over and will not start, then will start. Today while driving on the freeway at 65 MPH my check engine light came on with the service wrench and the car lost all power and the steering stiffened up and was hard…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford explorer. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the front driver's side seat moved backward independently as the interior dome light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the key…
The driver safety seat belt does not easily lock in place even with a hard push and comes out of the retainer under pressure on the belt - only repeated hard pushes until a click sounds is effective! The locking mechanism appears to be locked when in fact it is not. The driver…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An improperly deployed airbag could result in serious injury.
In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) may be seriously injured by shattered glass.
If leaking transmission fluid contacts the catalytic converter, it may pose a risk of fire.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Ford Explorer is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2008 Ford Explorer is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 31 complaints, classified severe, failures cluster 42,000–100,000 mi; Reliability score 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 35 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 95,952 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 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 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 148 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 95,952 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 powertrain, with 35 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 95,952 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 95,952 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 148 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, 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.