YearToAvoid

2008 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems

NHTSA has 46 owner complaints about electrical problems in the 2008 Ford Explorer, 31% of all 148 complaints for this model year. That is #11 highest electrical complaint count among 21 Explorer model years. These complaints report 2 fires. Median mileage at failure: 70,000 miles.

Electrical System complaints
46
31% of 148
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
70,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2008 Ford Explorer electrical complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 4, 2007, latest Jan 10, 2024.

2008 Ford Explorer electrical system complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2007Aug 2010Jun 2012Jun 2014Jan 2015Oct 2015May 2017Jul 2019
46 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2007 to Jan 2024; peak Mar 2015 (4).

Electrical System recalls for the 2008 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Electrical System complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200538 (8%)
  2. 200641 (7%)
  3. 200727 (13%)
  4. 200846 (31%)
  5. 20093 (9%)
  6. 201014 (12%)
  7. 201199 (8%)
  8. 201267 (8%)
  9. 2013183 (8%)
  10. 2014121 (7%)
  11. 2015105 (6%)
  12. 2016130 (5%)
  13. 201799 (6%)
  14. 201862 (8%)
  15. 201919 (6%)
  16. 2020230 (19%)
  17. 202151 (12%)
  18. 202242 (16%)
  19. 202314 (13%)
  20. 20242 (10%)
  21. 202523 (23%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Ford Explorer have electrical problems?
NHTSA has 46 owner complaints about the electrical in the 2008 Ford Explorer, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 70,000 miles.
Which Ford Explorer year has the most electrical complaints?
The 2020 Ford Explorer has the most electrical complaints (230), compared with 46 for the 2008.
Is there a electrical recall for the 2008 Ford Explorer?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2008 Ford Explorer is classified under electrical system. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.