Showing the 2008 Explorer XLT. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
15–16 mpgcombined; city 13–14, highway 19–20; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$20,300–$21,660U.S. average; Ohio $18,140–$19,350 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2008 Explorer. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Explorer. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
44
2
0
0
Electrical system
42
0
3
0
Engine
28
0
1
0
Seats
27
0
1
0
Steering
14
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
12
0
0
0
Unknown or other
11
0
0
0
Vehicle speed control
9
2
0
1
Wheels
9
1
0
0
Service brakes
7
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
6
1
0
0
Air bags
5
2
1
3
16 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
4
0
0
0
Seat belts
4
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
4
2
0
1
Visibility
4
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
3
0
0
0
Interior lighting
3
0
0
0
Suspension
3
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Back over prevention
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Equipment adaptive/mobility
1
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
1
0
1
0
Other/i am not sure
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, electric
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Traction control system
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Explorer over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
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.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 23 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 Explorer, the latest on Feb 24, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (7), power train (6), service brakes (5), electrical system (3), engine and engine cooling (3).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Preliminary evaluation PE08060 TIRE VALVE CRACKING · covers 3 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 Explorer.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: standard pickup trucks. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Explorer Rear-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 20 / 16
Explorer Rear-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 20 / 16
Explorer 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 19 / 15
Explorer 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 19 / 15
Explorer Sport Trac Rear-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 20 / 16
Explorer Sport Trac Rear-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 20 / 16
Explorer Sport Trac 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 19 / 15
Explorer Sport Trac 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.6 L, 8 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
13 / 19 / 15
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data