2008 Ford Explorer headlight problems

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND HAS HAPPENED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT MOVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AS IT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER TO VIEW THE ROAD AND EXTERNAL SURROUNDINGS.

NHTSA complaint #11231585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW MODULE IN ORDER FOR MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESULTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND SOON. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON MODELS FROM 1999-2014, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING REPAIRS MADE THAT ARE NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE OFFICIAL FORD SITE TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE BEEN SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD.

NHTSA complaint #10714438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN SEPT 2014 ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT,AS I WAS DRIVING THE DOME LIGHTS GO ON AND THE SEAT MOVES BACK AS IT DOES WHEN IT LETS YOU OUT. IT WILL DO THIS MORE SO WITH ONE SET OF OUR KEYS THEN THE OTHER. IT'S CONTINUALLY GETTING WORSE. IT WILL SOMETIMES HAPPEN 1-15 TIMES IN A CAR TRIP.I HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN INTO AN ACCIDENT A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE VISITED MY DEALER WHO HAS ESTIMATED ABOUT $500 IN REPAIRS AND WAS AMAZED WHEN HE SEEN THIS GOING ON. HE STATED HE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS AND PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE BELIEVED ME IF HE DIDN'T SEE IT WITH HIS OWN EYES.IT ALSO HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP AND NOW I FEAR MY CAR SHUTTING OFF BECAUSE IT THINKS I'M GETTING OUT BY MOVING MY SEAT BACK AND TURNING THE LIGHTS ON WHICH MY DEALER SAYS IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY.I DRIVE WITH 2 SMALL CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE DAILY. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE A SEEN A GOOD AMOUNT OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS,HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY RECALL?? ARE YOU GOING TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO DIE TO RECALL IT?? AND IF YOU NEED TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF MY TRUCK WILL DO THIS WITHOUT FAIL FOR ANY TECHNICIAN. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A REPAIR THAT I DON'T FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A VEHICLE FOR THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY IT SHOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE! WEAR AND TARE IS ONE THING SAFETY SHOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MANUFACTURE. I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR MOST PEOPLE THAT THE NUMBER ONE QUALITY YOU LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING A VEHICLE IS SAFETY & RELIABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10705096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 EXPLORER AT ABOUT 30-40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS POP ON, THE DRIVERS SEAT GOES ALL THE WAY BACK, AND THIS ALL HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A RECALL??? THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY HAPPENED TO A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE AND IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST UNSAFE THINGS TO EVER HAPPEN INSIDE A RUNNING VEHICLE. IF MY WIFE WAS TO DRIVE MY TRUCK, AND THIS HAPPENS, SHE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE TRUCK AND POSSIBLY INJURED HERSELF OR ONE OF MY KIDS. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. CALLING FORD AND RECTIFYING THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10700576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

RAN OVER A SLIGHT BUMP AFTER WHICH THE DOME LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK SIMULTANEOUSLY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE LIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE THE SEAT BACK FORWARD. THIS SAME SITUATION HAPPENED AGAIN ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER. BOTH THE DEALER AND FORD CUSTOMER CARE PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, ALTHOUGH I SEE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD REPORTED IT TO THE COMPANY.

NHTSA complaint #10663130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE AFTER GOING OVER A BUMP OR UNEVEN GROUND, KEY FOB WILL ROCK BACK AND FORTH SLIGHTLY, WHICH IS NORMAL, BUT THE IGNITION ON THIS VEHICLE IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS FOB MOTION TRIGGERS THE COURTESY FEATURES OF THE SEAT, WHICH FLIES BACK AND LOWERS AT THE SAME TIME( BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF) . THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ALSO COME ON, BECAUSE IT SENSES THE IGNITION IS BEING TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS AND EITHER ACTION CA CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL. AS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN, I WAS ABLE TO PINPOINT THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND PROMPTLY CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND REPORTED THE ISSUE. I LET THEM KNOW I WAS A FORMER FORD TECHNICIAN AS WELL. THE WOMAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE SAID SHES " NEVER HEARD OF THAT PROBLEM BEING REPORTED " THIS ISSUE IS ALL OER THE INTERNET IN THE FORD FORUMS......NOT IMPRESSED WITH FORDS RESPONSE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10644130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD MY SEATS GO BACK, THE LIGHTS COME ON AND THE KEY COMES PARTLY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MONTHS NOW AND LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE TO PUSH THE KEY BACK INTO THE IGNITION WHILE TRYING TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL BECAUSE OF THE SEAT GOING BACK I AM TOO FAR FROM THE PEDAL.

NHTSA complaint #10608953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING OVER BUMPS, DIPS IN ROAD, ETC. TRIGGERS THE EVENT.

NHTSA complaint #10599154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. FIRST FEW INCIDENTS WERE SPREAD APART HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS PROGRESSED NOW TO ALMOST EVERY OTHER MINUTE WHILE DRIVING. DRIVING OVER BUMPS, DIPS IN ROAD, ETC. TRIGGERS THE EVENT. I HAVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO ANY "JIGGLE" OF THE KEY CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO GO ON AND OFF. FORD WANTS $250-$500 TO FIX. GOOGLE THE PROBLEM AND YOU WILL FIND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM, IGNITION SWITCH IS FAULTY. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON AT NIGHT,IT CAN BE STARTLING AND PREVENTS ME FROM SEEING OUT OF MY MIRRORS BECAUSE THE LIGHT REFLECTS OFF OF IT. ALSO I HAVE SEEN CARS SWERVE ON OCCASION WHEN THEY ARE BESIDE MY CAR AS THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS UNDER THE MIRRORS TURN ON AND I ASSUME CATCHING THEM OFF GUARD. I AM ALWAYS AFRAID I MIGHT GET PULLED OVER AS IT LOOKS LIKE I AM SENDING OUT AN S.O.S. DISTRESS CALL WITH MY LIGHTS FLASHING ON AN OFF CONSTANTLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD MORE THAN JUST THE KEY AND FOB ON THE KEY RING SAME AS IT WAS THE DAY I BOUGHT IT NEW, I CANNOT STAND A RING FULL OF KEYS SO TO SAY THAT EXCESSIVE WEIGHT CAUSED THE PROBLEM IS NOT TRUE IN MY CASE AND OF COURSE THIS PROBLEM SURFACED ONLY A COUPLE THOUSAND MILES OUT OF THE WARRANTY. FORD ALSO HAS A TSB OUT ON THIS ISSUE AS IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10595804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER POWER SEAT STARTS TO MOVE BACKWARDS AND FORWARD ,DOME LIGHTS CAME ON LIKE IF WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR . BUT THE CAR IS ON AND MOVING . AND THEN TWO OCCASIONS WHILE ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON LIKE IF NOTHING HAPPENED. I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES THEY HAVE RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY THING WRONG.DONE SOME RESEARCH ON LINE AND FOUND MORE PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!!! DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC. ITS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #10586357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

WE HAVE A 2008 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPLORER THAT WE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2008. EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN WE WENT OVER A BUMP, THE ELECTRONIC DRIVERS SEAT MOVED BACK AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED ON. IT TOOK A MOMENT FOR THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF, BUT THE SEATS DID NOT MOVE BACK IN TO PLACE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE PROBLEM IS SO FREQUENT THAT IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING, EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THERE ARE BUMPS OR NOT. AT NIGHT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE INTERIOR LIGHT IMPAIRS YOUR VISION UNTIL YOUR EYES ADJUST. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOLD ME THAT SINCE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY NOW WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO FIX IT, IF THEY CAN ISOLATE THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM CAN SERIOUSLY ENDANGER OTHER'S LIVES. I AM LUCKY BECAUSE I AM TALL, SO WHEN THE SEAT GOES BACK I CAN REACH THE PEDALS, BUT MY WIFE SOMETIMES HAS ISSUES WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WE FINALLY GOT FED UP TODAY BECAUSE IT HAPPENED 5 TIMES DURING A 20 MINUTE DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10373572 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERIOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. USUALLY AFTER HITTING A DIP IN THE ROAD OR GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS THEN WOULD GRADUALLY TURN OFF.

NHTSA complaint #10349286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATE SPEEDS RANGING FROM 5 TO 45 MPH AND WOULD GRADUALLY TURN OFF. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY AND THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,900.

NHTSA complaint #10298733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ACTIVATED, THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT AN ANGLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS NO SETTING ON THE VEHICLE TO ADJUST THE LIGHTS HORIZONTALLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE OTHER THAN ADJUST THE VERTICAL SETTING, WHICH IS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID AND THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,100.

NHTSA complaint #10211015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SHINING SIDEWAYS INSTEAD OF FORWARD. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN POOR LIGHTING. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,030 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120. THE CONSUMER STATED THE WAS VERY LOW INTENSITY WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. UPDATED 12/31/07

NHTSA complaint #10210793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.