Most common 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems
Share of the 23 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac complaints by model year
Best Explorer Sport Trac years: 2006, 2009, 1997. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002, 2007, 2004, 2003. Compare all years →
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac:
Tire valve cracking
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…
What 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac owners say
Engine & cooling
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 was pulled over as they exited the vehicle. Upon inspecting the vehicle, it was noticed that there was a small fire near the transmission area, fluid had leaked onto the catalytic converter as the fire progressed to destroying the vehicle with the fire becoming extensive which had erupted all the way to the fuel system to the fuel tank. The fire department had arrived and extinguished the remaining flames. The insurance company had not rendered any assistance to inspect the cause of the fire. A dealer had not diagnosed the cause of the fire yet. …
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 to local Ford dealer; replaced spark plugs and upstream o2 sensor; took it home; still ran rough seems like it is about to stall an a light or sitting in traffic; took it back; they had it for 3 days; mechanic drove it; could not figure out what was wrong and said they thought it was OK because mechanic could not make it drive like it was mis firing or anything unusual; drove home and it immediately started acting like one cylinder was mis firing. Am going to take it to a repair shop that is highly recommended and let the see if they can find out what is the matter.
Transmission & drivetrain
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 the fence not been there.
2008 Sport Trac v8 4 wheel drive. I must wait approximately 30 seconds before backing truck out of my garage...any sooner and the engine just revs but will slowly move after reaching 6,000 RPM. Truck also advances slowly from a stop. 1st dealer advised me it actually was 21 seconds and that I should just wait the 21 seconds before shifting to reverse. 2nd dealer cannot duplicate problem because it is intermittent and seems worse when weather is warm and humid. 1st dealer indicated they did a reflash of transmission but 2nd dealer confirmed they did not and accomplished it and shifting improved. Truck still does not downshift correctly to first gear upon coming to a stop or near stop and truck will remain in higher gear unless full stop and one second both occur. …
Brakes
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 independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the brake pedal failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
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 the fence not been there.
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 13 / 20 / 16 |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 19 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: Full-size pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Explorer Sport Trac rates better than average: 49% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Explorer Sport Trac at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The engine & cooling — 9 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (8) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac have?
There is 1 recall for the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac, the most recent from September 26, 2007 (cooling unit and lines). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2006, 2009 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001, 2002, 2007, 2004 and 2003. See the full Ford Explorer Sport Trac years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 69,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.