2008 Ford Explorer electrical problems

Filed Jan 10, 2024 · Acceleration, Electrical · MI

Report #1 - My grandma brought this 08' Explorer back in 2014, and after she passed, my mom drove it for the next 2 years. It started having general maintenance issues, then the cats were stolen, but then, one night my mother was coming home from a relative's house, when she was trying to keep up with the flow of traffic on [XXX] , and she noticed that the vehicle was not accelerating at all and the vehicle stalled out. She had it towed home and it sat on the streetside for some time. After digging through the internet, I figured that Ford designed the throttle-body wiring to settle next to the cooling hoses, and after time, the wires rot from the hot temperatures of the hoses and crack/snap causing the vehicle to either stall, or possibly have unintended acceleration. Ford never recalled this issue! Also, it had a massive coolant leak, from which was believed to be the cheap plastic T-Stat housings that Ford never recalled, and to top it all off: the right rear turn-indicator failed from the faulty wiring harnesses... As a result, we ended up having it scrapped/junked. It was sad to see her go, but obviously Ford doesn't care about their customers safety and will find any loophole to avoid recalling a vehicle... Ford needs to get their stuff together or they need to be shut down!... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 1, 2021 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 197,000 miles · VA

An orange wrench light comes on on my dashboard and I can't pick up speed. I've had it looked at a few times and no one can figure out the problem. There's been many people on youtube complaining of the samething. This is very dangerous and should be investigated immediately, luckily the interstate wasn't busy when my truck lost its ability to accelerate. I could've cause a car pile up and there could've been many lives lost

Filed Dec 17, 2020 · Electrical · 127,000 miles · CA

My 2008 ford explorer has been having issues recently where it turns over and will not start, then will start. Today while driving on the freeway at 65 MPH my check engine light came on with the service wrench and the car lost all power and the steering stiffened up and was hard to steer at all almost causing me to wreck on the freeway. I lost all power and control at the gas pedal and then the check charging system icon came on also. I had to completely pull over to the shoulder and put it in park then shut off the car. I then had to restart the car which started right away and started to drive fine again. This happens more than once a day, my friend has checked the charging system and cleaned the battery cables and has over 14 volts charging from alternator to battery and still happens. The dtc code was pulled and was a p0607. Control module failure or corrupt.

Filed Jul 13, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 190,000 miles · TX

My friend let me use his vehicle but he altered it and it is malfunctioning . He explains as if when I don't "behave" I have repercussions. He has altered the vehicle tremendously. If we get an argument he will tell me I have x amount of days and in those exact x amount of days the car ends up messing up and stopping. I was driving from the hospital one day and all of a sudden the vehicle started smoking and he told me because its his vehicle that he will fix it him self. He is a chemical engineer not a licensed mechanic to touch the obd on the car. He claims he is better than general motors.

Filed Aug 12, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 100,232 miles · FL

"transmission failure" at 100233 miles the wrench and engine light came while driving. Upon parking & turning off the vehicle, the transmission would not work. Cut thru all gears like butter. Wound not "enter" into any gear. Towed. After vehicle cooled, transmission works again, only to become hot, repeat tow. Code p0775. After cooling, same event. Transmission solenoid goes out while hot, in a hot climate. Manufacturer defect. Needs safety recall.

Filed Aug 4, 2018 · Electrical · 170,000 miles · GA

When driving the vehicle, the ignition switch will activate the driver's seat, causing it to move forward and backward, leaving the driver fully unable to reach the gas pedal, steering wheel, or brakes. This occurs on streets and highways when the vehicle is in motion, and creates a most unsafe and perhaps deadly situation. There is no current video of this available as the ignition switch fault and seat movement occur without warning.

Filed Mar 22, 2018 · Electrical, Seats · NC

While driving the vehicle, the ignition switch will activate the memory seat function causing interior lights to activate and the driver seat to move backward leaving the driver unable to reach pedals or steering wheel while vehicle is in motion. Occurs on both city streets and highways. Unseen cause triggers the event.

Filed Mar 12, 2018 · Electrical · 62,334 miles · HI

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford explorer. While making a left turn, the vehicle stalled and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was later taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a main computer chip had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 62,334.

Filed Jul 19, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 117,809 miles · FL

I've had my 2008 eddie bauer ford explorer just over a year. As I'm driving on a local road, it starts acting like it's about to cut off. I get to a red light and as I'm about to take off, it shuts off. I placed it in park and restarted it then it sputters and then catches. A few minutes later this error message comes up on the dash with a wrench. I took it to the nearest auto store, they placed it on the machine and said it looks like my engine wiring harness or ECM/PCM. I had the harness replaced (almost $900) and a week later the wrench error message returned and the problem has returned as well.

Filed May 17, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 156,000 miles · MD

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 ford explorer. At any given moment, whether the vehicle was idling or moving, the service engine warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle lost all power. The contact would have to wait until the vehicle's computer system rebuilt itself in order for the power to return so the vehicle could be functional. The contact's husband, a certified mechanic, rebuilt the transmission and reconfigured the wiring on the vehicle, but the failure recurred. A certified mechanic diagnosed that the vehicle's PCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 156,000.