2008 Ford Explorer vs 2009 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 | 2008 Ford Explorer | 2009 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 148 | 33 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 23 | 20 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 15–16 | 15–17 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 81,466 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 38 | 2 |
| Power Train | 36 | 3 |
| Seats | 27 | 3 |
| Engine | 21 | 4 |
| Steering | 13 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 0 |
| Wheels | 9 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
2008 Ford Explorer
2009 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.