RoadVitals

2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Jul 19, 2019
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
39%
of 23 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jul 19, 2019
Fire reported

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. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO THE INTERNAL FAILURE RESULTING IN A CATASTROPHIC FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE TO DETERMINE IF THEY MAY BE ABLE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID
11233315
Incident
May 25, 2019
Mileage
81,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 4, 2017

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. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS CONDITION SINCE 2002, BUT ONLY NOTIFIED GOVERNMENT VEHICLES FOR THE FIXES.

NHTSA ID
11012735
Incident
May 15, 2017
Mileage
125,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 16, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
10966329
Incident
Feb 28, 2017
Mileage
68,530 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 8, 2016

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 WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,130.

NHTSA ID
10893946
Incident
Jul 29, 2016
Mileage
61,130 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 25, 2015

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 TO A MECHANIC AND FINALLY AFTER A LOT OF DIAGNOSTICS THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE ECM OR ELECTRONIC POWER CONTROL MODULE. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM.. FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE MODULE. OTHERS HAVE WRITTEN OF THIS SAME PROBLEM. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=UCUSQJ3-EVK I JUST WISH SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO THIS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ID
10730273
Incident
Jun 24, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 9, 2015

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 TENSIONERS ARE A PLASTIC THAT CANNOT HOLD UP TO THE HEAT AND EVENTUALLY DETERIORATE PREMATURELY. APPARENTLY WHEN ONE OF THEM FAILS THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10682121
Incident
Feb 5, 2015
Mileage
85,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2012

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 WAS THEN SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS WITH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ID
10486449
Incident
Nov 26, 2012
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2011

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 AND SIMILAR SOUND FROM ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436464
Incident
Jul 21, 2011
Mileage
81,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 6, 2011

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

NHTSA ID
10428943
Incident
Oct 4, 2011
Mileage
48,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .