NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Ford Explorer. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I got the car from my landlord, my husband never checked the oil or fluids even though I was on him, it died 2 months after we got it, the guy said before we purchased it that it still was under warranty for transmission, so when it died I thought ok it's covered, so the landlord said it was the motor it seized he said had no coolant and was 2qts of oil over I said well he never added anything & I said it never overheated, he said I don't know how it was done but it will cost $3800 to fix, so I was hoping that there might be a recall that can fix this or also he puts new rear in the car a week after I got it, does any of this sound like it is his side that is reliable to fix it?
The stickers are not on properly. My childs safety wasnt put at risk. I asked a CPST to help with a fit and intall check and we noticed the defected stickers.
Report #1 - My grandma brought this 08' Explorer back in 2014, and after she passed, my mom drove it for the next 2 years. It started having general maintenance issues, then the cats were stolen, but then, one night my mother was coming home from a relative's house, when she was trying to keep up with the flow of traffic on [XXX] , and she noticed that the vehicle was not accelerating at all and the vehicle stalled out. She had it towed home and it sat on the streetside for some time. After digging through the internet, I figured that Ford designed the throttle-body wiring to settle next to the cooling hoses, and after time, the wires rot from the hot temperatures of the hoses and crack/snap causing the vehicle to either stall, or possibly have unintended acceleration. Ford never recalled this issue! Also, it had a massive coolant leak, from which was believed to be the cheap plastic T-Stat housings that Ford never recalled, and to top it all off: the right rear turn-indicator failed from the faulty wiring harnesses... As a result, we ended up having it scrapped/junked. It was sad to see her go, but obviously Ford doesn't care about their customers safety and will find any loophole to avoid recalling a vehicle... Ford needs to get their stuff together or they need to be shut down!... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AN ORANGE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON ON MY DASHBOARD AND I CAN'T PICK UP SPEED. I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT A FEW TIMES AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THERE'S BEEN MANY PEOPLE ON YOUTUBE COMPLAINING OF THE SAMETHING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY, LUCKILY THE INTERSTATE WASN'T BUSY WHEN MY TRUCK LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I COULD'VE CAUSE A CAR PILE UP AND THERE COULD'VE BEEN MANY LIVES LOST
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 TO STEER AT ALL ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK ON THE FREEWAY. I LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL AT THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM ICON CAME ON ALSO. I HAD TO COMPLETELY PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND PUT IT IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE CAR. I THEN HAD TO RESTART THE CAR WHICH STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND STARTED TO DRIVE FINE AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS MORE THAN ONCE A DAY, MY FRIEND HAS CHECKED THE CHARGING SYSTEM AND CLEANED THE BATTERY CABLES AND HAS OVER 14 VOLTS CHARGING FROM ALTERNATOR TO BATTERY AND STILL HAPPENS. THE DTC CODE WAS PULLED AND WAS A P0607. CONTROL MODULE FAILURE OR CORRUPT.
ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT ALL CAME ON AND CAR WENT TO IDLE AND WOULD NOT REV UP LIKE IT WAS STUCK OM IDLE--THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 60 MILES PER HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I WAS ALMOST REARENDED OVER IT.
The wiring harness going into the back of what I believe is the throttle position sensor has a 180° turn in the wiring in a very short distance. There are four wires involved in that portion of the wiring harness. The wiring is also next to the hot, cooling system hoses coming out of the firewall. These factors caused the wiring to crack prematurely creating surges in the idle and the vehicle speed to be uncontrollable due to shorts/arcing in the electrical wiring. An extremely dangerous situation. My daughter ran into a bullard because she started the vehicle, put it in drive, and it took off on her. Vehicle would drive at 20 to 25 miles per hour on its own without stepping on the gas pedal. After two or three attempts, I was able to satisfactorily fix the wiring. Please note that the attached pictures do not show the original condition of the wiring. I attempted to use liquid electrical tape on one of my first attempts but that soon cracked as well. You will see that in one of the photos. I may have original pictures of the electrical wiring on my desktop computer and will gladly submit those at a later time if I can find them. This failure in the wiring should be easy to identify in any 2008 Ford Explorer.
TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD EXPLORER V8 4.6 LIMITED NOT CHANGING INTO LAST GEAR. WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP TRANSMISSION JERKS SLIGHTLY. AT 61000 MILES NOW ..... I DIDN'T EXPECT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS ARE HUMMING..... I HAD THIS WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM BEFORE ON MY OTHER 2008 FORD EXPLORER XLT 6 CYLINDER 4.0
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, IF I GO THROUGH A PUDDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING FAILS FOR VARYING AMOUNTS OF TIME. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, THROUGH THE LIFE OF THE CAR. I ONLY JUST FOUND OUT I COULD MAKE A COMPLAINT.
STOPPED AT THE 4 WAY ..AND MY TURN TO GO..MY CAR GOES MAYBE 2 SECONDS THEN IT REVVS WHEN I PRESSED THE PEDAL BIT MYCAR DOESNT ENGAGE . THE TOOL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. I RODE IT TO THE SIDE ..TURNED IT OFF. THEN STARTED IT AGAIN..GETTING BACK ON THE ROAD AGAIN..AND ONCE AGAIN I MOVE SOME..THEN THE ENGINE REVVVS BUT THE CAR DOESN T FO..TWICE I ALMOSTGOT SIDE SWIPED BY ON COMING VARS UP BEHIND ME. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC..AS I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN JULY LAST YEAR..HESAID ITS A FORD THING..COMMOM.. BUT NO ONE HAS THE CORRECT ANSWER..TRIAL AND ERROR..OR SPEND THOUSANDS ON A NEW TRANSMISSION. A FEW PEOPLE SAID ITS THE TRANSMOSSION WIRE HARNESS??
INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AS IT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER TO VIEW THE ROAD AND EXTERNAL SURROUNDINGS.
MY FRIEND LET ME USE HIS VEHICLE BUT HE ALTERED IT AND IT IS MALFUNCTIONING . HE EXPLAINS AS IF WHEN I DON'T "BEHAVE" I HAVE REPERCUSSIONS. HE HAS ALTERED THE VEHICLE TREMENDOUSLY. IF WE GET AN ARGUMENT HE WILL TELL ME I HAVE X AMOUNT OF DAYS AND IN THOSE EXACT X AMOUNT OF DAYS THE CAR ENDS UP MESSING UP AND STOPPING. I WAS DRIVING FROM THE HOSPITAL ONE DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING AND HE TOLD ME BECAUSE ITS HIS VEHICLE THAT HE WILL FIX IT HIM SELF. HE IS A CHEMICAL ENGINEER NOT A LICENSED MECHANIC TO TOUCH THE OBD ON THE CAR. HE CLAIMS HE IS BETTER THAN GENERAL MOTORS.
ON OR ABOUT MAY 15TH, 2019, WHILE SITTING STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, MY 2008 EXPLORER SUDDENLY STARTED TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ON MAY 28TH, 2019 THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN THE HOME DRIVEWAY. ON MAY 29TH, 2019 I TOOK THE EXPLORER TO AKINS FORD IN WINDER, GA. ON JUNE 3RD, 2019 THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THEIR TECH HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHICH FORD CAN NOT SEEM TO ADDRESS.
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CAR STOPS ACCELERATING. THE WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON BUT THE ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING BUT WHEN PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THE OPERATOR CAN STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AND THIS SEEMS TO CLEAR THE FAULT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT STOPS IN TRAFFIC OR IN A TURN AND THIS CREATES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OPERATOR. THE CODE DIRECTS ME TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE THROTTLE BODY. THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH THE TPS AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THERE SHOULD BE A FIX FOR THIS AS I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS IN REGARDS TO THIS AND THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH IT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS SOFTWARE CHANGE THAT CAN BE MADE TO THE CAR SO THAT IT WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO SHUTDOWN LIKE THIS IF IT GETS A FAULT OR PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE BODY.
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, FRONT DRIVER SEAT WILL NOT ADJUST BEFORE GOING OUT WOULD MOVE ON ITS OWN AND CAUSE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON. PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VEHICLE IN AFTER PURCHASE FOR HARD SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION AND NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS NOT DISCLOSED TO ME AT TIME OF PURCHASE.
TRANSMISSION GOING OUT AT 100,000MILES AND COOLIANT PROBLEMS.
"TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AT 100233 MILES THE WRENCH AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME WHILE DRIVING. UPON PARKING & TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT WORK. CUT THRU ALL GEARS LIKE BUTTER. WOUND NOT "ENTER" INTO ANY GEAR. TOWED. AFTER VEHICLE COOLED, TRANSMISSION WORKS AGAIN, ONLY TO BECOME HOT, REPEAT TOW. CODE P0775. AFTER COOLING, SAME EVENT. TRANSMISSION SOLENOID GOES OUT WHILE HOT, IN A HOT CLIMATE. MANUFACTURER DEFECT. NEEDS SAFETY RECALL.
STIFFNESS IN STEERING WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL . NO SOUNDS COMING FROM POWER STEERING/BELT OR ANYTHING FOR THAT MATTER .. JUST WHEN YOU SLOW TO TURN IT'S STIFF
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL ACTIVATE THE DRIVER'S SEAT, CAUSING IT TO MOVE FORWARD AND BACKWARD, LEAVING THE DRIVER FULLY UNABLE TO REACH THE GAS PEDAL, STEERING WHEEL, OR BRAKES. THIS OCCURS ON STREETS AND HIGHWAYS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, AND CREATES A MOST UNSAFE AND PERHAPS DEADLY SITUATION. THERE IS NO CURRENT VIDEO OF THIS AVAILABLE AS THE IGNITION SWITCH FAULT AND SEAT MOVEMENT OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
LOSS OF STEERING. "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND FORD IS 'SELECTIVELY' CHOOSING TO CHERRY-PICK COVERAGE ON RECALL. THIS NEEDS TO BE COVERED ON ALL EFFECTED VEHICLES NOT CHERRY PICKED! I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY 2-$3,000 + FOR A REPAIR THAT'S BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION SWITCH WILL ACTIVATE THE MEMORY SEAT FUNCTION CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO ACTIVATE AND THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE BACKWARD LEAVING THE DRIVER UNABLE TO REACH PEDALS OR STEERING WHEEL WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. OCCURS ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. UNSEEN CAUSE TRIGGERS THE EVENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A MAIN COMPUTER CHIP HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,334.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. AFTER DRIVING A BLOCK, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V453000 (POWER TRAIN). NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.
THE DRIVER'S SAFETY DEVICE (SEAT BELT) DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO CLICK/LOCK IT IN PLACE, EVEN WITH FORCEFUL PRESSURE. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT WILL COME UNLOCKED. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT IN MOTION. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE (NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATING IT IS NOT) BUT THEN IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION. WHAT GOOD IS A SEAT BELT IF IT DOESN'T WORK? THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AND ME.
I'VE HAD MY 2008 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER JUST OVER A YEAR. AS I'M DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD, IT STARTS ACTING LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO CUT OFF. I GET TO A RED LIGHT AND AS I'M ABOUT TO TAKE OFF, IT SHUTS OFF. I PLACED IT IN PARK AND RESTARTED IT THEN IT SPUTTERS AND THEN CATCHES. A FEW MINUTES LATER THIS ERROR MESSAGE COMES UP ON THE DASH WITH A WRENCH. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST AUTO STORE, THEY PLACED IT ON THE MACHINE AND SAID IT LOOKS LIKE MY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS OR ECM/PCM. I HAD THE HARNESS REPLACED (ALMOST $900) AND A WEEK LATER THE WRENCH ERROR MESSAGE RETURNED AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AS WELL.
WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IT CAME FROM NOWHERE. I WAS DRIVING AS NORMAL THEN THERE WAS AN INITIAL LOSS OF POWER AS I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND AN UNFAMILIAR ORANGE WRENCH WERE NOW ILLUMINATED. SEEMING AS I HAD NO POWER I CAUTIOUSLY GUIDED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE EXPRESSWAY. SINCE THEN I'VE TRIED HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED TO NO AVAIL, BECAUSE IT'S INTERMITTENT AND FORD THEMSELVES HAVE NO REMEDY. ALSO, TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO CONTACT FORD TO BE TOLD THE VEHICLE IS PAST WARRANTY SO GO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE AND STILL OCCURRING OCCASIONALLY.
WHILE I AM DRIVING THE DRIVERS SEAT AUTOMATICALLY SLIDES AS FAR BACK AS IT CAN, AND THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS COME ON. THIS IS AN ACTION THAT WOULD ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY IS PULLED FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THIS IS HAPPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING PULLING ME AWAY FROM THE GAS, BRAKES AND STEERING WHEEL. THE ONLY IMMEDIATE FIX I CAN DO IS JIGGLE THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION TO GET THE SEAT TO COME BACK. I FEEL THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS, AS TURNING INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WHILE DARK CAN BE DISTRACTING AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUTSIDE, NOT TO MENTION BEING PULLED AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND BRAKES CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE GO OUT OF CONTROL. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO FORD AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE AND NOT CONSIDERED ANYTHING ELSE SUCH AS A RECALL. *TR
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 IN A FATALITY WOULD BE ACCUSED OF NOT FASTENING HIS SEAT BELT WHEN HE THOUGHT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATING THE SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT LOCKED IN PLACE MAKING THE DRIVER THINK THAT THE BELT IS SECURE WHEN IT IS NOT.
WHEN THE ABS SENSORS IN THE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES FAIL, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM GOES INTO A SPORADIC LIMP MODE THAT CUTS POWER TO THE WHEELS CAUSING A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL LEAVING THE VEHICLE POWERLESS IN ON COMING TRAFFIC. THIS EVENT USUALLY OCCURS WHEN TURNING ON TO A ROAD WAY, BRAKING WHILE TURNING, OR ACCELERATING ON THE EXPRESSWAY. *TR
IF I HIT A BUMP WHILE DRIVING OR THE KEYS JIGGLE IN THE IGNITION THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WILL MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND THE DOME LIGHTS COME ON. I HAD THIS PROBLEM THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION IN 2010 AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED AT NO COST. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS BACK ONLY THIS TIME I'M TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE AN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE WHICH I PERSONALLY DON'T THINK SO BECAUSE IT'S NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE.
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MY SUV COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I COULDN'T STEER IT AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP. THE SUV STOPPED DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS. I DRIVE 95% ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY TO WRITE THIS. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND HAD TO PAY $1200 TO REPLACE THE PCM ( POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) OR THE BRAIN TO MY SUV. THIS IS WHAT TELLS THE TRUCK TO RUN BASICALLY. TERRIFIED ME TO THINK I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED.
TIRE SENSOR WAS ON AND TRANSMISSOIN IS LEAKING
BRAKES FAILED ! I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ( ABOUT 80 ANGLE ) INTO A STORE PLAZA THAT HAS A SLIGHT HILL . WHILE MAKING THE TURN THERE WAS A SINGLE THUMP. STEERING WHEEL LOCKED INTO TURNING POSITION THEN RELEASED , DEPRESSED THE BREAKS AS I HIT THE BREAKS THE BREAK PEDDLE WENT TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED MADE SEVERAL QUICK ATTEMPTS THEN BRAKES WENT TO NORMAL OPERATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT, WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR MOVING, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM REBUILT ITSELF IN ORDER FOR THE POWER TO RETURN SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE FUNCTIONAL. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION AND RECONFIGURED THE WIRING ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
IN MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER, WHILE DRIVING, STOPPED OR BACKING AT ANY TIME IF THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION GET JIGGLED, IF BY BUMP IN ROAD OR BY KNEE, THE POWER DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS. THERE IS A FEATURE CALLED EASY ENTRY WHERE THE SEAT MOVES COMPLETELY BACK TO ALLOW YOU TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EASIER, THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE IGNITION AREA THE AREA WHERE THE KEY IS INSERTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT BECOMES LOOSE OVER TIME AND AS A RESULT THE SENSOR IN THERE FOR THE EASY ENTRY IS COMPROMISED. WHEN THE KEYS GET JIGGLED, ON ACCIDENT OR ON PURPOSE THE SEATS MOVE, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR IT TO HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT MOVES BACK SO FAR THAT NO ONE CAN REACH THE PETALS TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE ON RECALL IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR SHORT OR TALL PEOPLE. IT COULD CAUSE MANY MANY ACCIDENTS AND MANY MANY INJURIES. IF NEEDED I CAN PROVIDE VIDEO OF THIS HAPPENING.
TRANSMISSION KEEPS TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT, THIS WAS A PROBLEM A FEW YEARS AGO. FREDRICK FORD IN SEAFORD DELAWARE HAD TO REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. NOW IT'S STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AGAIN. I SEE WHERE THERE ARE SOME RECALLS ON LATER MODELS, FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS.
SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER'S POWERED SEAT MOVES BACK.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING I FELT THE SEAT MOVE AND NOTICED THAT IF I WOULD HIT THE KEY WHILE IT WAS IN THE IGNITION THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH SPORADICALLY. ALSO THE DOME LIGHTS FROM FRONT TO BACK WOULD GO OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY WHILE THE SEAT MOVED. THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT ON THE KEY RING DOES NOT MATTER IT HAPPENS WHETHER YOU HAVE JUST THE KEY OR A WHOLE BUNCH OF KEYS HANGING FROM IT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED OUT OF POSITION WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE ELECTRONIC FUNCTION WORKED TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD AND BACKWARD, BUT THE SEAT FAILED TO REMAIN STATIONARY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. ....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/30/16.*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE WINDSHIELD BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE AND THE RADIATOR WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
WHILE STATIONARY, WHEN THE KEY IS PUT IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE, SOMETIMES THE POWER SEAT WILL GO BACKWARDS AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS GO ON. LAST NIGHT, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 TO 50 MPH, THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARDS AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS I COULDN'T REACH THE PEDALS. I HAD TO MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD WITH THE SEAT ADJUSTER BUTTONS WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS CONTINUED ON AND OFF FOUR TIMES IN A SPAN OF 2 MILES. FINALLY, I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND DROVE HOME WITHOUT THE SEAT MOVING AGAIN, BUT I KEPT MY HAND DOWN BY THE SEAT ADJUSTMENT BUTTON THE WHOLE WAY HOME. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS A LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST YEAR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING. TWICE THIS VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIR, BUT THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SEAT MOTOR ONCE.
I SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE DURING MY WORK DAY. SUDDENLY, STEAM CAME POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND I STOPPED AND LET THE VEHICLE COOL OFF. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE SEAM ON THE PLASTIC THERMOSTAT HOUSING HAD SPLIT, POURING COOLANT ALL OVER THE CENTER OF THE ENGINE. PARTS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED WERE THE THERMOSTAT, RUBBER GASKETS AND THE ENTIRE THERMOSTAT HOUSING, UPPER AND LOWER. I REPLACED THIS PART MYSELF, AS I USED TO BE A FORD MECHANIC. I DID THIS REPAIR MYSELF, AND IT COST APPROXIMATELY 200.00 WITH THE COOLANT REPLACEMENT COST. AGAIN, THIS CAN CREATE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION, AND SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A CAR WITH 80K AND ONLY 7 YEARS OLD.
WHILE IN OPERATION, VEHICLE SEAT GOES BACK AND FORTH, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND GO OFF AND PEDAL HEIGHTS MOVE. UPON SOME TRIAL AND ERROR INVESTIGATION, TRYING TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT IT WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO KEY CHAIN MOVEMENT. ANY BUMPS, MODERATE BRAKING OR HARD BRAKING RESULTED IN THE SEAT BEING THROWN BACK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COMING ON. ( THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD, AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A CRASH, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT ) THE IGNITION TUMBLER IS FAULTY. ONCE THE IGNITION TUMBLER WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALER, THE PROBLEMS HAVE NOT REOCCURRED. I WAITED A NUMBER OF MONTHS TO REPORT THIS SO THAT I WOULD BE SURE THE SOLUTION WORKED AND DID NOT RE-OCUR. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHO REFUSED TO ASSIST. THIS REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY 300.00
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND DECELERATED WHEN SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES, THE TPMS REGISTERS MONITOR THEN SENSOR FAULT READING. AT REDUCED SPEED, OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE FAULT MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. THE DEALER CAN NOT REPAIR PROBLEM UNTIL FAULT READING REMAINS CONSTANT. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN 6 MONTHS, NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE DEALER AND MULTIPLE CALLS TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. I BELIEVE THAT A FEDERALLY MANDATED SAFETY FEATURE THAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A PROBLEM.
THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW MODULE IN ORDER FOR MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESULTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND SOON. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON MODELS FROM 1999-2014, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING REPAIRS MADE THAT ARE NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE OFFICIAL FORD SITE TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE BEEN SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH OVER A BUMP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT INDEPENDENTLY MOVED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CAUTION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WOULD ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULE TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,416.
THE PASSENGER SEAT IN OUR 2008 FORD EXPLORER STARTED ON FIRE, LIKELY FROM THE SEAT HEATER. THIS RESULTED IN MASSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO FAULTY SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WAS UNSECURED AND WAS MOVING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRACK WAS OFFLINE AND THAT THE TRACK NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026