2008 Ford Explorer Complaint Log

WHEN MOVING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON. WENT TO FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED RECENTLY TO SEE IF THERE WAS RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS. TEST DROVE WITH A TECH TO SHOW PROBLEM OF IGNITION SWITCH CAUSING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TO COME ON WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. WHILE TEST DRIVING AND MOVING THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID COME ON. ON THE THIRD EXAMPLE, THE CAR CUT OFF. THE CAR DID NOT LOCK UP, BUT THE CAR HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED. THE LIGHTS COMING ON IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERIOR IS LIGHTED AND EXTERIOR AND ROADS ARE DARK. MY BROTHER HAD A 2008 EXPLORER THAT HE HAD RECENTLY TRADED IN ON A NEW CAR. WHEN TALKING WITH HIM, HE SAID HE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHTS, BUT ONLY HAD 80,000 MILES ON HIS 2008 EXPLORER. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT AS IN OTHER CAR TYPES RECENTLY, I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT TAKE THE PROBLEM SERIOUSLY AND RECOMMENDED I GET THE SWITCH CHANGED AS IT HAD NOT HAPPENED TO ANY OF THEIR OTHER CUSTOMERS. I WILL GET THE SWITCH CHANGED, BUT IT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THE SWITCHES LAST THAT LONG. *TR

THE EDDIE BAUER EDITION OF THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A MOVING SEAT TO ALLOW YOU TO ENTER AND EXIT. IN EITHER 2012 OR 2013 I REPORTED IT TO THE DANA MOTORS FORD DEALER THAT WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVES BACK WHILE ON THE EXPRESSWAYS THAT ARE SLIGHTLY BUMPY AND WHILE ON MAJOR STREETS WITHIN THE CITY. THE LAST OCCURRENCE WAS THIS PAST WEEKEND IN FRONT OF MY HOME WHILE EXITING MY DRIVEWAY, AGAIN DURING A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND AGAIN ON THE INTERSTATE 278 HEADED WEST BOUND TOWARD BROOKLYN, NY. IT DOES RESET WHEN YOU TAP ON THE KEY WHILE IT IS IN THE IGNITION BUT RECURS AFTER DRIVING OVER SLIGHTLY ROUGH ROADWAY AND CHANGING LANES. *TR

TRANSMISION PROBLEMS GOING INTO GEARS SLIPPING POPING NOISE WHEN PUT INTO PARK FORD IS AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH THERE TRANSMISIONS AND NO CARE TO HELP 1 BET THEY NEED THE GOV TO STEP IN NOW SO HELP US EXPLORER OWNERS. *JS

RAN OVER A SLIGHT BUMP AFTER WHICH THE DOME LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK SIMULTANEOUSLY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE LIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE THE SEAT BACK FORWARD. THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. BOTH THE DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, ALTHOUGH I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD REPORTED IT TO THE COMPANY.

AS I WAS DRIVING 2008 FORD EXPLORER XLT ON A NEWLY PAVED SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A RHYTHMIC THUMPING FROM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ABOUT ONE MILE LATER, GOING ONLY 55 MPH, MY SON AND I WERE BOUNCING UP AND DOWN IN THE FRONT SEATS. I PULLED OVER SUSPECTING A FLAT, ALTHOUGH NO SENSOR WAS LIT. ANOTHER MOTORIST WHO STOPPED TO CHECK ON ME AND I NOTICED NO FLAT TIRES OR OTHER TIRE ISSUES. I LIVE LESS THEN A MILE AWAY, AND WE SLOWLY DROVE HOME ON THE SIDE ROADS, BOUNCING ALONG THE WAY. WHEN MY HUSBAND RETURNED HOME, HE NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL WAS TILTED AT ABOUT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE OUTWARD AND 3 OF THE 5 LUG NUTS WERE COMPLETELY GONE AND THE BOLTS WERE SHEERED. THE 2 LUGS LEFT WERE ABLE TO BE UNSCREWED BY HAND. WE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, OR KNOW OF ANY RECALL. MY HUSBAND INFORMED HIM OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS WE FOUND ONLINE, THE FORD SERVICE MANAGER BLAMED OUR MECHANIC, WHO HAS MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE ON A REGULAR BASIS FROM THE PURCHASE. THE DEALER MAINTAINS, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE, NOR WILL THEY LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. FUNNY, WERE RECENTLY LOOKING TO UPGRADE TO A 2015 EXPLORER, BUT THIS IS THE LAST FORD FOR ME!! *JS

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN SEPT 2014 ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT,AS I WAS DRIVING THE DOME LIGHTS GO ON AND THE SEAT MOVES BACK AS IT DOES WHEN IT LETS YOU OUT. IT WILL DO THIS MORE SO WITH ONE SET OF OUR KEYS THEN THE OTHER. IT'S CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. IT WILL SOMETIMES HAPPEN 1-15 TIMES IN A CAR TRIP.I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE VISITED MY DEALER WHO HAS ESTIMATED ABOUT $500 IN REPAIRS AND WAS AMAZED WHEN HE SEEN THIS GOING ON. HE STATED HE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED ME IF HE DIDN'T SEE IT WITH HIS OWN EYES.IT ALSO HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP AND NOW I FEAR MY CAR SHUTTING OFF BECAUSE IT THINKS I'M GETTING OUT BY MOVING MY SEAT BACK AND TURNING THE LIGHTS ON WHICH MY DEALER SAYS IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY.I DRIVE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE DAILY. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE A SEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS,HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY RECALL?? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE TO RECALL IT?? AND IF YOU NEED TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF MY TRUCK WILL DO THIS WITHOUT FAIL FOR ANY TECHNICIAN. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A REPAIR THAT I DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A VEHICLE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE! WEAR AND TARE IS ONE THING SAFETY SHOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURE. I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT THE NUMBER ONE QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE IS SAFETY & RELIABILITY. *TR

VEHICLE LURCHES IN AND OUT OF GEAR. VEHICLE LURCHES INTO REVERSE FROM PARK, AND IS DELAYED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT HAS BEEN BUMPED HARD FROM BEHIND AS IT IS DOWNSHIFTING. IN SNOW ESPECIALLY, THIS CAN CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT SDAFETY HAZRD AND RISK OF ACCIDENT. THESE EVENTS OCCUR WHEN VEHICLE IS STAIONARY, AND WHILE IN MOTION THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DELAY IN TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT, WHICH CAN CAUSE A COLLISON. DEFINITE HAZARD WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC, WHEN IT DOES NOT RESPOND NORMALLY. THE FIX FOR MOST UNITS IS EXPENSIVE, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD 63000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. FORD REFUSED TO ASSIST WITH THIS REPAIR.

WHILE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN GROUND, KEY FOB WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FOB MOTION TRIGGERS THE COURTESY FEATURES OF THE SEAT, WHICH FLIES BACK AND LOWERS AT THE SAME TIME( BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF) . THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO COME ON, BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS AND EITHER ACTION CA CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. AS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN, I WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND PROMPTLY CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REPORTED THE ISSUE. I LET THEM KNOW I WAS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN AS WELL. THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE SAID SHES " NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM BEING REPORTED " THIS ISSUE IS ALL OER THE INTERNET IN THE FORD FORUMS......NOT IMPRESSED WITH FORDS RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

SEVERAL TIMES, WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVED INDEPENDENTLY BACKWARDS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED SAFELY. TWO DEALERSHIPS DIDN'T HAVE ANY REFERENCE TO THIS PROBLEM, WANTED TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC ANALYSIS AND REQUESTED THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT WAS MENTIONED. THIS WEB SITE PROVIDED CLUES TO POSSIBLE REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLES EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE MOVES THE DRIVERS SEAT BACKWARDS TO ALLOW THE DRIVER EASY ENTRY/EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS FEATURE IS THE POSSIBLE FAULT AND WAS DISABLED. TO TEST THIS DISABLING CONCEPT AND STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY SEVERAL PIECES OF WOOD WAS PLACED ON THE FLOOR BETWEEN THE FRONT AND MIDDLE ROW SEATS. THE WOOD LIMITS BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVERS SEAT TO ONE HALF INCH FROM THE NORMAL DRIVING POSITION. VEHICLE CONTROL IS STILL MAINTAINED FROM THIS SLIGHTLY BACK POSITION SHOULD THE EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE NOT BE THE CAUSE OF THE UNINTENDED SEAT MOVEMENT. A YEAR OF DRIVING, WITH THE EASY ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE DISABLED, THE SEAT HAS NOT MALFUNCTIONED. FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THIS DISABLING CONCEPT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WILL STILL DRIVE WITH WOOD IN PLACE AS INSURANCE.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 EXPLORER AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS POP ON, THE DRIVERS SEAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK, AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL??? THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED TO A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE AND IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNSAFE THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN INSIDE A RUNNING VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WAS TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, AND THIS HAPPENS, SHE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND POSSIBLY INJURED HERSELF OR ONE OF MY KIDS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. CALLING FORD AND RECTIFYING THIS. *TR

CAR SHUTS OFF AND BRAKE SYSTEM LOCKS UP. REPAIR SHOP AND FORD SAID IT WAS A POWER STEERING CONTROL MODULE.FORD HAS ADMITTED THAT THIS PART IS A PROBLEM AND THAT THERE ARE NONE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE US. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR OVER FOUR WEEKS. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. IT WAS A SUPPLIER PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY EXPLORER DOWN THE ROAD WHEN ONCE AGAIN THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. LEAVING ME WITH OUT POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES. THIS IS MY 2ND TIME REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA. THIS PROBLEM OF SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES BEFORE MOSTLY ON BUSY HIGHWAYS. I HAVE HAD THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES THE FIRST 2 TIMES THEY SAID THE CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ON THE THIRD TIME I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND HE FINALLY ADMITTED THAT IT IS THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE. HE ALSO SAID THAT MY EXPLORER IS NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM, AND THAT THE PART IS IN SUCH HI DEMAND THAT THE ARE BACKORDER FOR MONTHS. I ASKED IF FORD WAS PLANNING A RECALL AND HIS ANSWER WAS "NO THE PART IS VERY PRICEY AND NO ONE HAS BEEN KILLED YET" NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS PROBLEM THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

DRIVING AT NIGHT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN...ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS CAME ON...THEN WENT BACK OFF SHORTLY AFTER THEY CAME ON...CAUSED A GLARE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR... IT'S NOW HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I HAVE READ ABOUT HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME ISSUE...SOME OF THEM WORSE DUE TO THE AUTOMATIC SEATS THAT MOVE BACK WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCHED OFF...WHICH MEANS PEOPLE'S SEATS ARE MOVING BACKWARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION...TO TEMPORARY FIX THIS ISSUE COSTS $200....I FEEL THAT IT'S A SAFETY CONCERN AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. *TR

2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LUG NUTS AND WHEEL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HIS SON WAS DRIVING, WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY. UPON STOPPING, ANOTHER MOTORIST INFORMED HIM, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. THE CONSUMERS SON NOTICED TWO OF THE LUGS HAD BROKEN OFF. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED, ONLY ONE LUG NUT WAS SOMEWHAT TIGHT AND THE REMAINING LUGS WERE STRIPPED.*JB

UPON DRIVING DURING THE MONTH OF MAY AND JUNE, I WOULD NOTICE A BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD WOULD DEMONSTRATE ELEVATED ENGINE TEMP, EACH TIME I WOULD CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND I NOTICED THAT MY COOLANT RESERVOIR WOULD BE EMPTY. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS OF THIS, I TOOK IT IN TO FIRESTONE AND I HAD TO GET THE RADIATOR HOUSING, THERMOSTAT AND HOSES REPLACE BECAUSE OF A BAD LEAK. NOW AS OF SEPTEMBER, I STARTED NOTICING THAT SMELL AGAIN AND NOTICED MY COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EITHER LOW OR EMPTY AGAIN, I HAD TO REFILLED IT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THE JUNE 2014 REPAIR, NOW AFTER ANOTHER VEHICLE CHECK BY FIRESTONE IS WAS NOTED THAT I NEED TO HAVE MY RADIATOR REPLACE BECAUSE I HAVE A LEAK FROM THE RADIATOR NOW. I CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 87000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE, THIS TOO SOON TO BE REPLACING A RADIATOR. FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW ALSO WHENEVER I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE, IT IS HARD TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT, WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS FINALLY MOVED IT THE TRICK GIVES A PULL FORCE AND THEN MY TRANSMISSION SOUNDS LIKE IT IS IN OVERDRIVE OR ON 3, IT TAKES UP TO 25 MINUTES FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO CLICK OR SHIFT OVER. *TR

VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF REPAIR ON 6/16/2014 FOR ELECTRICAL DRIVER SEAT MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS DURING TRAVEL, DOME LIGHT OPERATING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY? DRIVER SEAT MOVEMENT DURING TRAVEL IS HAZARDOUS.. COLONIAL FORD 126 FEDERAL ROAD DANBURY CT 06811 WAS THE LOCATION OF DROP OFF-- 203-748-3503. *TR

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE DETACHED BECAUSE TWO LUG NUTS FRACTURED. THE FAILURE ALSO RECURRED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE LUG NUTS WERE REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE CABIN. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT COOLANT LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING WAS REPLACED. IN 2014, THE THERMOSTAT AND THERMOSTAT HOUSING WERE BOTH REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,194.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES CONNECTED TO THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

I HAVE A 2008 FORD EXPLORER, CALLED U-HAUL TODAY TO RENT A SMALL TRAILER TO TOW BEHIND IT TO MOVE SOME BOXES. U-HAUL DOES NOT RENT TRAILERS TO TOW BEHIND FORD EXPLORERS! I WAS SHOCKED AS I WOULD THINK THAT THE MINIMAL REQUIREMENT OF ANY SUV IS THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO TOW A SMALL U-HAUL TRAILER. CHECKING ONLINE I FIND I AM FAR FROM THE FIRST WITH THIS ISSUE. CALLING U-HAUL THEY SITE SAFETY CONCERNS. CALLING FORD THEY ASSURE ME THAT THEIR IS NO ISSUE IN USING A SMALL TRAILER BEHIND MY FORD EXPLORER. PER CONSUMER REPORTS, ?THE REAL LESSON HERE IS IF YOU OCCASIONALLY NEED TO RENT TRAILERS, THINK TWICE ABOUT THE NEW FORD EXPLORER. IF YOU FAVOR A FORD, THE EDGE OR A FLEX ARE EXCELLENT CHOICES. BUT THE EXPLORER, WITH ALL THE PERFORMANCE, SAFETY, AND VERSATILITY OFFERED BY ITS MODERN, UNIBODY DESIGN, WON?T BE WELCOMED AT THE LOCAL U-HAUL FRANCHISE.? MY QUESTION? AM I AT RISK TOWING A TRAILER BEHIND MY EXPLORER?? OR IS U-HAUL CREATING CONCERNS OVER NOTHING? *TR

4/1- A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE 4/1, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ON 4/1, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A SIDE STREET AND IT SHUT OFF ON ME, WITHOUT WARNING. I GOT IT TOWED TO A DEALER NEAR BY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR. DEALER CHANGED IT... 4/10 - THE WRENCH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE DEALER WAS VERY PASSIVE OF THE SITUATION - BUT ULTIMATELY, HE SAID THEY WERE OLD CODES THAT NEEDED TO BE CLEARED FROM THE COMPUTER. HE CLEARED THEM AND ALL WAS SUPPOSE TO BE WELL. 4/17 - MY HUSBAND AND I WERE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS, WHEN AGAIN THE WRENCH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. MOMENTS LATER, THE CAR SHUT OFF ON US WHILE WE WERE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE ON THE STREET. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE CALLED THE DEALER AND ARRANGED TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. WE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. 4/24 - THE DEALER TOLD US THAT THE PCM WAS BUSTED - AND THAT ALOT OF 2008 EXPLORERS WERE HAVING THIS ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY, FORD DID NOT HAVE THE PART AVAILABLE ANYWHERE AND WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AUGUST 2014 IN ORDER TO GET THE PART FIXED. RIGHT NOW, OUR CAR IS SITTING AT THE DEALER - NOT WORKING. FORD HAS DONE NOTHING TO COMPENSATE OR TO ALLEVIATE THE MENTAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS OF NOT HAVING CAR HAS DONE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT ANY SPEED , ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, SEAT MOVES ALL THE WAY BACK, I ASSUME THE PROBLEM IS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA AS I PUSH THE IGNITION IN AND THE SEAT RESETS AND LIGHT GOES OFF, THE PROBLEM WILL COME AND GO. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL ? I'M LOOKING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX PROBLEM AT NO COST DUE TO IGNITION PROBLEM NOT CAUSED BY OPERATOR OR OWNER. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD BUT THEY JUST BLEW ME OFF.. FORD MOTOR COMPANY [XXX] LOOKED ONLINE AND SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM THIS IS MY WIFE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH FROM STORE TO SCHOOL IN MIDDAY TWO MILES, STARTED TICKING AND GOT LOUDER AS TRAVELING BACK HOME(2 MILE). AT HOME POPPED HOOD, LISTENED FOR NOISE ,ENGINE IDLING SMOOTHLY ,BUT TICKING OR RATHER HITTING NOISE FROM TOP OF VALVE COVER,DRIVERS SIDE FRONT,WAS VERY PREVALENT. TURNED OFF CAR AND PULLED CHAIN TENSIONER OUT AND LOOKED INSIDE WITH SNAKE CAMERA AND SAW BROKEN PLASTIC PARTS ALL AROUND TIMING CHAIN AREA.I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FROM 1997 TO CURRENT. PLASTIC, VINYL PARTS IN THE MOTOR REPEATEDLY SHATTERING FOR YEARS, COSTING CONSUMERS THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS.THESE V-6 AND V-8 FORD MOTORS ARE FLAWED BECAUSE OF THESE WEAK PARTS. THIS IS A ENGINEERING BOMB, AND WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT, THE TIMING CHAIN GOES BAD AT 72931.5K. THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. THE MOTOR HAS TO BE PULLED TO CHANGE THE FOUR CHAIN CASSETTES, OR SINGLE CASSETTE,BECAUSE VINYL PARTS ARE IN THE PAN AND IN THE OIL GALLEYS. 18-19 HOURS ON BOOK THE REPAIRS ARE EXPENSIVE, UNREASONABLE,AND A COVER-UP. FORD COULD CHANGE THE PART, BUT CHOOSES NOT TO. AN ADDITION 3000$ TO THE COST OF OWNERSHIP IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS. THAT'S WHAT THE N.H.T.S.A. IS TO BE OBSERVING. THE CAR IS INOPERABLE, FOR FEAR OF HAVING THE VALVES CONTACT THE PISTON, AND END UP WITH METAL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. SOMEONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DECISION TO MAKE THESE PARTS OUT THE INFERIOR MEDIA. P.S. REGULAR OIL CHANGES ARE DOCUMENTED. *TR

KEY CYLINDER HAS LOOSENED INSIDE IGNITION HOUSING. THIS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR SHORTER INDIVIDUALS AS WHEN A BUMP OR CERTAIN MOTIONS CAUSE THE AUTOMATIC SEATS TO RETRACT TO "OFF POSITION" CREATING A 4-6" GAP BETWEEN FOOT AND PEDAL FOR MY WIFE IS SHE WERE WILLING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AND DEALER SERVICING KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS A LOCAL LOCKSMITH I HAD CONTACTED FOR POSSIBLE REPAIR OPTIONS. IT HAS BECOME MORE EVIDENT IN THE PAST 2 YEARS FROM THEIR KNOWLEDGE. NO CURRENT RECALL EXISTS AS NO MAJOR INJURY HAS RESULTED. THIS OCCURS IN STATIONARY POSITION OR IN MOTION OF THE VEHICLE ADDING TO CONCERNS. I WILL HAVE THIS REPAIRED AT LOCAL FORD IN THE NEXT WEEK. SEAT RETRACTS ON ITS OWN AND IF ANY BUMPS ARE HIT MAY ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE AT WILL. AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS. I AM THE ONLY OWNER FOR THE VEHICLE AND LESS THAN 70K MILES CURRENTLY

CPSC:FORD EXPLORER 2008, IGNITION SWITCH IS MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. THE KEY MECHANISM OVER TIME HAS COME LOOSE AND ALLOWS FOR MECHANICAL SEATS TO RETRACT OR ENGAGE DURING TRAVEL IF HITTING SMALL BUMPS. *BF BUMPS OR MINOR ADJUSTMENTS CAUSE THE SEAT TO RETRACT. *JS

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER POWER SEAT STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS AND FORWARD ,DOME LIGHTS CAME ON LIKE IF WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR . BUT THE CAR IS ON AND MOVING . AND THEN TWO OCCASIONS WHILE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON LIKE IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES THEY HAVE RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY THING WRONG.DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND MORE PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. ITS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN, A WRENCH ICON APPEARED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL POWER, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. I THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND STARTED IT WITHOUT A PROBLEM, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT A PROBLEM NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER, WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH THIS TIME A WRENCH DID NOT APPEAR WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER, I AGAIN WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THIS TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I AM BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD SERVICE CENTER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. *TR

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY SEATS GO BACK, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE KEY COMES PARTLY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW AND LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION WHILE TRYING TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE SEAT GOING BACK I AM TOO FAR FROM THE PEDAL. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE A WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESUMED NORMALLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE STEERING MALFUNCTION WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V453000 (POWER TRAIN). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,500.PDATED 06/10/14 *BF UPDATED 06/17/2014 *JS

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL AS 40 MPH AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE FURTHER. RPM WILL MAX OUT UNTIL VEHICLE IS SLOWED TO LOWER GEAR. UNACCEPTABLE ON FREEWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. DEALER CLAIMS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT 44,000 MILES AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ACCORDING TO SERVICE REPS AT THE DEALER BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SEAT MOVED BACKWARD WITHOUT MANUAL FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,649.

ALL SENSORS & BANDS BROKE INTO SMALL PIECES WHICH WAS CAUSING THE TIRES TO RIP FROM THE INSIDE. IF NOT TAKEN IN FOR NEW TIRES, ALL TIRES WOULD'VE BLOWN OUT & POSSIBLY CAUSED INJURY TO ME & MY TODDLER. WORST PART OF ALL, FORD WOULDN'T COVER THIS DANGEROUS MANUFACTURE DEFECT.

WHEN IN DRIVE AND MOVING AND GOING OVER A BUMP, THE POWER SEAT GOES INTO THE POSITION IT WOULD BE AS IF NO KEY IN IGNITION (GOES ALL THE WAY BACK) AND THE OVERHEAD LIGHT GOES ON. SITUATION IS EXACERBATED IF THERE ARE ITEMS ON THE IGNITION KEY CHAIN. SITUATION CAN BE INITIATED BY SIMPLY JIGGLING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. MY WIFE CANNOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE IF OCCURS, MOVES HER SO THAT SHE DOES NOT REACH GAS OR BRAKE PEDAL WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION. INFORMED TASCA FORD IN CRANSTON, RI OF SITUATION AND THEY SAID NO RECALL OR TSB. MANY REPORTS OF EXACTLY THE SAME ON THE INTERNET, AND PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. *TR

2008 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE GAS TANK. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PUMP HOSE WOULD CLICK OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AS IF SIGNALING THE TANK WAS FULL, EVEN THOUGH THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER, IT STARTED HAPPENING, BUT WENT OFF A SHORT WHILE LATER. A FLASHING RED LIGHT AND A WARNING TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE OCCURRED. AFTER SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING IT, THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. THE RED LIGHT ISSUE OCCURRED TWICE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED FORD ISSUED A TSB SEVERAL YEARS AGO, OVER THE PROBLEM, AS IT APPARENTLY OCCURRED FREQUENTLY ENOUGH IN THE MARKET PLACE.

MY 2008 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION STARTED LURCHING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT WOULD HESITATE AND ROLL BACK A FEW SECONDS AND THEN "SLAM" INTO REVERSE. I EXPECTED TO SEE MY TRANSMISSION LAYING ON THE GROUND. I HAVE ALSO HAD A 2005 FORD EXPLORER AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THIS IS MY ONLY CAR AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD. MY LAST EXPLORER ALSO HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED UNDER 75,000 MILES AND MY 2008 HAD TO HAVE TWO REPLACED BEFORE IT WAS 2 YRS OLD. THIS IS CRAZY! TOO EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THESE THINGS HAPPEN SO FREQUENTLY!! WILL NOT BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED AND HAD TO BE TURNED WITH FORCE. THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000 THE CONSUMER STATED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND BELT WAS INSTALLED ON JUNE 20, 2013

MY VEHICLE, A 2008 FORD EXPLORER WITH A 4.6L 3V V8 ENGINE, WENT INTO VEHICLE SAFE MODE WHILE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE (I-83). THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING PERIODIC MISFIRE, WHICH TRIGGERED A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER MODULE (TCM). THE VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN SHUDDERING, ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT UP WITH A WARNING TO SERVICE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY AND VEHICLE SPEED WOULD NOT EXCEED 20MPH. I WAS IN HEAVY STOP & GO TRAFFIC IN THE PASSING LANE AT TIME OF INCIDENT. I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE & ATTEMPTED TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM WITH A CODE READER. I RECEIVED TWO CODES, MISFIRE ON CYL 8 AND LOSS OF COMM WITH TCM. I PULLED THE TCM FUSE TO RESET THE TCM AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY REPLACED ALL THE COP'S & THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SPARKPLUGS REPLACED. I WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL FORD ENGINE AND THE 2-PIECE SPARKPLUG/CYLINDER HEAD ISSUE AND SUSPECTED THE PLUGS TO BE THE CULPRIT. I PAID THE FORD DEALERSHIP $420 TO REPLACE THE EIGHT SPARKPLUGS IN MY VEHICLE. ONLY TWO PLUGS BROKE DURING THE EXTRACTION AND THE CYLINDER HEAD DID NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THEY REPLACED THE POORLY DESIGNED 3V ENGINE MIDYEAR. THEY ALSO PRODUCED A 13-PAGE TSB, SPECIAL EXTRACTION TOOL TO REPLACE SPARKPLUGS. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN FLAW & INSTEAD BLAMES MECHANIC ERROR FOR BROKEN PLUGS. FORD MECHANICS BROKE TWO OF MY PLUGS, YET I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THEIR ERROR! THE VEHICLE RUNS LIKE NEW AGAIN BUT WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE SHORTLY. THIS WAS MY FIRST AND LAST FORD AS I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD'S RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUSLY POOR DESIGN FLAW. MOST IMPORTANTLY, CONTRARY TO FORD'S LAME RESPONSE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOUR VEHICLE SUDDENLY GOES INTO EMERGENCE SAFE MODE ON A 65MPH INTERSTATE! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT A MEDIUM SPEED IN MARCH 2013, THE DASHBOARD LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS BLINKING FROM THE LOW GAS TO THE CHECK ENGINE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. LUCKILY I WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR BAD WEATHER BECAUSE THIS SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME WHEN IT OCCURRED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT LABORING AND APPEARED TO BE OPERATING CORRECTLY EXCEPT FOR THE LIGHT SHOW AND AUDIBLE ALARMS GOING OFF IN THE DASHBOARD. THE ALARMS CONTINUED GOING OFF AS I TRIED TO GET THE CAR BACK HOME. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC, NO ALARMS WERE ACTIVE. THE MECHANIC TOOK A COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE THEY FINALLY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN THE END, THEY REPLACED MY ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AT A COST OF ABOUT $700. EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FIND UNTIL YESTERDAY WHEN THEN WARNING LIGHT SHOW/ALARMS RECURRED. IT'S ONLY BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST INCIDENT. IT WILL GO BACK TO MY MECHANIC TOMORROW. LUCKILY ITS STILL UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE 4X4 SYSTEM ACTIVATED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE ACCELERATION POWER. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,283. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST FEW INCIDENTS WERE SPREAD APART HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED NOW TO ALMOST EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING OVER BUMPS, DIPS IN ROAD, ETC. TRIGGERS THE EVENT. I HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO ANY "JIGGLE" OF THE KEY CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO GO ON AND OFF. FORD WANTS $250-$500 TO FIX. GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND YOU WILL FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AT NIGHT,IT CAN BE STARTLING AND PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING OUT OF MY MIRRORS BECAUSE THE LIGHT REFLECTS OFF OF IT. ALSO I HAVE SEEN CARS SWERVE ON OCCASION WHEN THEY ARE BESIDE MY CAR AS THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS UNDER THE MIRRORS TURN ON AND I ASSUME CATCHING THEM OFF GUARD. I AM ALWAYS AFRAID I MIGHT GET PULLED OVER AS IT LOOKS LIKE I AM SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. DISTRESS CALL WITH MY LIGHTS FLASHING ON AN OFF CONSTANTLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE THAN JUST THE KEY AND FOB ON THE KEY RING SAME AS IT WAS THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW, I CANNOT STAND A RING FULL OF KEYS SO TO SAY THAT EXCESSIVE WEIGHT CAUSED THE PROBLEM IS NOT TRUE IN MY CASE AND OF COURSE THIS PROBLEM SURFACED ONLY A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES OUT OF THE WARRANTY. FORD ALSO HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT. *TR

MARCH 18, 2012, 50 MPH, FRONT PASSENGER FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. ONLY ONE OUT OF FIVE STUDS STILL AT NORMAL LENGTH, THREE AT HALF THEIR NORMAL LENGTH AND THE FIFTH COMPLETELY MISSING. CAUSED BRAKES TO GO OUT, COASTED TO A CONTROLLED STOP HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE HAD MINOR, ONLY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE LUG NUTS AND STUDS. VERY LUCK THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ROLL! IN JAN 2011, WE DISCOVERED WE WERE MISSING TWO OF THE FIVE STUDS ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE TIRE OF THIS SAME VEHICLE. *TR

BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO FRONT AXLE THAT NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A CHIME SOUNDED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE RADIATOR WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE COOLANT RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT DISPENSED WATER INTO THE RESERVOIR WHICH LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE THERMOSTAT HAD FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE COOLANT TO DRAIN FROM THE RADIATOR. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 11/28/12 *CN

MY PERSONAL VEHICLE IS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE WHEEL BEARING FAILURE.I WORK FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WE HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MODEL WHEEL BEARING FAILURE...MOSTLY ON SUV I.E. *TR EXPLORER,EDGE,MOUNTAINEER,MKX...HAVE WORKED HERE FOR 20 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS AMOUNT OF WHEEL BEARING FAILURE, MOST OF THESE FAILURES ARE ON VEHICLE THAT ARE LESS THEN FIVE YEARS OLD AND NOT HIGH MILEAGE...WHEN LEFT GO AND NOT REPAIRED,THESE WHEEL BEARINGS WHICH START OUT AS BEING NOISEY, CAN QUICKLY LEAD TO FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN WHEEL SEPERATION FROM AXLE......I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE ANY FATALITIES ARE INVOLVED....

VISORS FELL APART AND MIRROR FELL OUT. TRANSMISSION CLUNKS INTO REVERSE AND SKIPS GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. *TR

MANIFOLD BOLT FAILURE, CAUSING EXHAUST GASES TO ESCAPE FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MANY OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS ON ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

VEHICLE CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON, SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE STALL WHILE IN MOTION DRIVING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND EVENTUALLY LOSS POWER, STEERING CONTROL AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. CURRENTLY AT THE MECHANIC, IT APPEARS IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION THAT CAUSED THE LOSS OF POWER. *TR