36 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Explorer cite power train, 24% of all 148 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.
“The contact owns a 2008 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted into park, and the vehicle rolled backwards about an inch. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the parking brake was enabled to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with possible transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.”
“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”
“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”
“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??”
“"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.”
“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.”
Showing 6 of 36 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.