IllustrationTL* 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.
2008 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
130–25K
2025–50K
2850–75K
2875–100K
30100–150K
10150K+
129 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
Visibility complaints
4 reportsDRIVER & PASSENGER MIRROR LIDS ON SUN VISORS HAVE BROKEN APART. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PLASTIC USED WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY. LIDS BREAK OFF, MIRROR LIGHT STAYS ON AND: 1) RUNS BATTERY DOWN OR 2) POTENTIALLY CAUSES FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF MATERIALS. *TR
DRIVER & PASSENGER MIRROR LIDS ON SUN VISORS HAVE BROKEN APART. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PLASTIC USED WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY. AFTER READING MANY ONLINE POSTS I CAN SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. LIDS BREAK OFF, MIRROR LIGHT STAYS ON AND: 1) RUNS BATTERY DOWN OR 2) POTENTIALLY CAUSES FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF MATER…
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DRIVER & PASSENGER MIRROR LIDS ON SUN VISORS HAVE BROKEN APART. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE PLASTIC USED WAS OF INFERIOR QUALITY. AFTER READING MANY ONLINE POSTS I CAN SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. LIDS BREAK OFF, MIRROR LIGHT STAYS ON AND: 1) RUNS BATTERY DOWN OR 2) POTENTIALLY CAUSES FIRE DUE TO OVERHEATING OF MATERIALS. *TR
IN FREEZING WEATHER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD UNDERNEATH THE CENTER OF THE WIPER BLADE. THIS CAUSES WATER, ICE, OR SNOW TO BUILD UP IN A LARGE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S VISION. THIS MAKES IT NECESSARY TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND MANUALLY CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, AS…
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IN FREEZING WEATHER, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE WINDSHIELD UNDERNEATH THE CENTER OF THE WIPER BLADE. THIS CAUSES WATER, ICE, OR SNOW TO BUILD UP IN A LARGE AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD IN THE CENTER OF THE DRIVER'S VISION. THIS MAKES IT NECESSARY TO PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND MANUALLY CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD, AS ACTIVATING THE WINDSHIELD WASHERS MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT OCCURS WITH NO WARNING, AND CAN BEGIN TO OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE OF A JOURNEY EVEN IF IT WASN'T AN ISSUE AT THE OUTSET. ALTHOUGH MY CURRENT MODEL IS A 2008, I HAD THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH MY 2006 MODEL AS WELL. *TR
Official recalls
107V453000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Sep 26, 2007
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO