VehicleVerdict

2008 Ford Explorer electrical system problems

The 2008 Ford Explorer has 42 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA — 19% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

42

Electrical System complaints

19%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Electrical System complaints by year

Explorer electrical system complaints by model year211 complaints1988: 2 complaints1991: 63 complaints1992: 54 complaints1993: 51 complaints1994: 89 complaints1995: 64 complaints1996: 50 complaints1997: 96 complaints1998: 139 complaints1999: 108 complaints2000: 86 complaints2001: 34 complaints2002: 157 complaints2003: 61 complaints2004: 61 complaints2005: 39 complaints2006: 52 complaints2007: 28 complaints2008: 42 complaints2009: 4 complaints2010: 16 complaints2011: 129 complaints2012: 87 complaints2013: 211 complaints2014: 119 complaints2015: 106 complaints2016: 148 complaints2017: 95 complaints2018: 63 complaints2019: 21 complaints2020: 187 complaints2021: 42 complaints2022: 36 complaints2023: 13 complaints2024: 2 complaints2025: 17 complaints2026: 4 complaints
Explorer electrical system complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“THE PASSENGER SEAT IN OUR 2008 FORD EXPLORER STARTED ON FIRE, LIKELY FROM THE SEAT HEATER. THIS RESULTED IN MASSIVE FIRE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO FAULTY SEAT HEATING ELEMENTS. *TR”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 12, 2015 · fire

Common questions

How many electrical system complaints does the 2008 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA has 42 complaints about the 2008 Ford Explorer electrical system — 19% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.