2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. This model year has 23 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 9 | — | 1 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Brake System | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 23 most recent complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that on three occasions while the vehicle was in drive but stationary, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle accelerated unintendedly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON THE SAND IN A BEACH AREA THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE OF WHICH A STRONG BURNING ODOR STARTED, EXCESS HEAT WAS FELT BY THE DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER AND 3 REAR PASSENGERS. THE VEHICLE …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEP…
BROKE DOWN ON A VERY HIGH TRAFFIC BRIDGE, THAT HAD NO SAFETY LANE TO PULL OVER. VERY DANGEROUS, WITH NO TIME TO PULL OVER WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. REPEAT, THIS HAPPENS TO ALL FORD SPORT TRACS WITH PLASTIC RADIATOR HOUSING. THERE ARE SOME CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS ACROSS THE USA. FO…
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE STARTED MISSING AND CAR SHAKING; PULLED IN TO FORD DEALER IN NEXT TOWN; DIAGNOSIS SAID COULD BE THIS OR THAT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT BUT GOT CAR RUNNING SMOTHER; WE WENT ANOTHER 300 MILES TO OUR DESTINATION; TOOK CAR T…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V181000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE VIN W…
DRIVING THE CAR IT BEGAN TO LOSE POWER, THEN GET POWER, THEN IT SHUT OFF. RESTARTED THE CAR, STARTED DRIVING AND IT SURGED UNEXPECTEDLY THEN BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AGAIN, THEN IT SHUT OFF. THIS SCARED MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WAS GOING TO SURGE OR LOSE POWER. TOOK IT…
AFTER TURNING ONTO THE MAIN ROAD OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT START. THE CAR BEHIND US NEARLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE TENSIONERS USED FOR THE TIMING CHAINS ON THE MOTOR IN THIS VEHICLE. THE TENSIO…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WRENCH ICON ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHO STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE M…
TRUCK CUT OFF 4 TIMES IN MIDDLE TRAFFIC WOULD NOT STAY ON. NO WARNING LIGHT CHANGE TRIED TO PULL OFF TRUCK JUST KEPT CUTTING OFF. *TR
PARKED VEHICLE. TURNED OFF IGNITION. KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION. CYCLED THE AUTO SHIFT LEVER TO MAKE SURE IN PARK. AT THIS POINT NOTED THAT I COULD SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT MY FOOT BEING ON THE BRAKE. VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY BY PULLING THE…
THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON. SOME TIME IF YOU SHUTOFF THE ENGINE IT WILL RESET BUT SOMETIMES WONT RESET. I TOOK IT TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEN CALLED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY AND THEY SAID ITS NOT COVERED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, ISN'T IT A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANUFACTUR…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIATOR BEGAN TO LEAK ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE PARTS NEEDED TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE FROM AN INDEPENDENT PARTS DEALER, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PART. THE VEHICLE WA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL, SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL, SHIFT OUT OF OVER DRIVE OR WOULD SHIFT INTO VARIOUS GEARS ERRATICALLY. A LOCAL MECH…
VEHICLE DEVELOPED AN EXHAUST LEAK FROM THE LEFT SIDE MANIFOLD. REPAIRED AT A COST OF 250 DOLLARS. LEAK WAS NOTICEABLE BY EXHAUST SMELL IN CAB AND SOUND FROM LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE. SECOND LEAK HAS NOW DEVELOPED ON RIGHT SIDE, STILL NEED TO REPAIR, HAVE EXHAUST SMELL IN CAB AN…
RADIATOR STARTED LEAKING AT BOTTOM GASKET /O RING SEAL OF TANK. ALSO INTERIOR LIGHT GOES OFF AND ON WHEN HIT BUMPS. FOUND IT IS TIED INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF LIGHT COMES ON AFTER HITTING BUMP ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GIGGLE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT TO GO BACK OFF. *TR
BRAKE OR TRANSMISSION IS MALFUNCTIONING, TRUCK WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND NOT RUNNING, IN PARK, LOCKED AND AFTER A BOUT AN HOUR THE TRUCK BEGAN ROLLING, AN WAS STOPPED MY A PIECE OF WROUGHT IRON FENCE, DAMAGING THE FRONT BUMPER. IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE HAD …
2008 FORD SPORT TRAC WHEN PULLING ONTO HIGHWAY TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND BRAKES LOCKED UP WOULD NOT GO OR ABLE TO STOP BRAKE PEDAL FELT LIKE A JACK HAMMER WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHT OFF WAS TO SHUT THE TRUCK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD FORD HAS DON…
2008 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC, V6. TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE; TRUCK HAS DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND WILL ROLL BACKWARDS FROM A STOP IF ON AN INCLINE. TRANSMISSION ALSO 'SLAMS' GEARS AND FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. DEALERSHIP …
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac.
Recalls for 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
1 campaignNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 23 NHTSA owner complaints, 1 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (9 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?▾
#1: Engine Problems (9 complaints). #2: Transmission / Drivetrain (8 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (4 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?▾
The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has 1 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 23 total NHTSA complaints. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have any recalls?▾
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affect the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The largest issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?▾
The 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Ford Explorer Sport Trac reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.