2006 Ford Explorer vs 2008 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2006 Ford Explorer | 2008 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 630 | 148 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 40 | 23 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–16 | 15–16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 56,313 mi | 78,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 296 | 36 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 164 | 4 |
| Engine | 58 | 21 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 38 |
| Seats | 11 | 27 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 28 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 23 | 3 |
| Steering | 9 | 13 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 66 | 5 |
| Stalling | 61 | 8 |
| Shifting problems | 41 | 0 |
| Overheating | 30 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 19 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 0 |
2006 Ford Explorer
2008 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.