2008 Ford Explorer Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 5%of 148 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 117,316miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2008 Ford Explorer, 5% of the 148 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 117,316 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On or about may 15th, 2019, while sitting stopped at an intersection, my 2008 Explorer suddenly started to accelerate with my foot on the brake. On may 28th, 2019 this happened again while sitting in the home driveway. On may 29th, 2019 I took the Explorer to akins Ford in winder, ga. On june 3rd, 2019 the dealership advised that their tech had not been able to duplicate the problem. I picked up the car and drove it home. This is a potentially dangerous problem which Ford can not seem to address.”
NHTSA complaint #11217584, filed 2019-06, 134,632 miles“Transmission starting shifting hard going into 2nd and 3rd. I've talked to a number of Ford Explorer owners . They all have experienced similar problems. Transmission have been replaced . All out of warranty. Googled Ford transmission problems and seems like Ford doesn't want to recognized that their 5 speed transmissions have a problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10654818, filed 2014-11, 65,000 miles“Engine light and traction control light and wrench light all came on and car went to idle and would not rev up like it was stuck om idle--this happened while driving 60 miles per hour in heavy traffic and I was almost rearended over it.”
NHTSA complaint #11342729, filed 2020-08, 140,000 miles“The contact owns a 2008 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while traveling various speeds, the vehicle erroneously accelerated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10561704, filed 2014-01, 100,000 miles“The wiring harness going into the back of what I believe is the throttle position sensor has a 180° turn in the wiring in a very short distance. There are four wires involved in that portion of the wiring harness. The wiring is also next to the hot, cooling system hoses coming out of the firewall. These factors caused the wiring to crack prematurely creating surges in the idle and the vehicle speed to be uncontrollable due to shorts/arcing in the electrical wiring. An extremely dangerous situation. …”
NHTSA complaint #11430807, filed 2021-08Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 7 | 7% |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% |
| 2022 | 7 | 3% |
| 2021 | 15 | 3% |
| 2020 | 29 | 2% |
| 2019 | 1 | 0% |
| 2018 | 10 | 1% |
| 2017 | 21 | 1% |
| 2016 | 76 | 3% |
| 2015 | 16 | 1% |
| 2014 | 29 | 2% |
| 2013 | 38 | 2% |
| 2012 | 17 | 2% |
| 2011 | 18 | 2% |
| 2010 | 14 | 12% |
| 2009 | 5 | 15% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 13 | 6% |
| 2006 | 28 | 4% |
| 2005 | 44 | 9% |
| 2004 | 76 | 6% |
| 2003 | 37 | 3% |
| 2002 | 152 | 5% |
| 2001 | 36 | 10% |
| 2000 | 113 | 12% |
| 1999 | 148 | 11% |
| 1998 | 281 | 14% |
| 1997 | 202 | 12% |
| 1996 | 148 | 10% |
| 1995 | 81 | 10% |
| 1994 | 51 | 4% |
| 1993 | 38 | 4% |
| 1992 | 14 | 2% |
| 1991 | 30 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2008 Ford Explorer
38 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
36 complaintsSeats
27 complaintsEngine
21 complaintsSteering
13 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsWheels
9 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsAir bags
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology