FordExpedition2008Overview/ford/expedition/2008/base/

2008 Ford Expedition

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Expedition.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2008 Ford Expedition is an SUV equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, its engine requiring 7.0 quarts of 5W-20 API oil while delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 12 mpg city, 18 mpg highway, and 14 mpg combined. Within the model's 1991-2027 complaint history, this model year generated 146 owner complaints—primarily regarding structure—along with 5 recalls, a volume substantially below the 1999 peak of 1,007 yet significantly above the 1991 low of a single complaint. This positioning indicates moderate reliability, placing the 2008 model distant from the line's most troubled years while remaining well above its historical best.

Model year202520242023202120202019201820172008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity7.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy12/18/14 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size255-70R18OEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length206.7 in
Overall width78.7 in
Overall height77.2 in
Wheelbase118.9 in
Curb weight5805 lb
Track (front / rear)66.9 / 67.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined12 / 18 / 14 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Expedition of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 2008 King Ranch
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008King Ranch 5.4L V88.10 sec16.10 sec300 hp4x4
2007EL Limited 5.4L V88.40 sec16.20 sec300 hp4x4
2007EL Eddie Bauer 5.4L V89.00 sec16.80 sec300 hp4x4
2007EL Eddie Bauer 5.4L V89.10 sec16.90 sec300 hp4x4
2015Platinum 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.40 sec15.00 sec365 hp4x4
2015EL King Ranch 3.5L Twin-Turbo V66.50 sec15.10 sec365 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 7.0 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, SYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 10.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity11
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.2 Pints, Rear
Differential Gear OilSYNTHETIC · 75W-140 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.2 Pints, Rear
Engine Oil5W-20 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Transfer Case Fill Plug11.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug11.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub258 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub20 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub254 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Ignition Timing10

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityLess auxiliary A/C, 1.38. With auxiliary A/C, 2.06. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Optional BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM62-69 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-18 na ohms
Engine Oil Pressure40-125 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM2500 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket41 ft-lbs / 28 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle148 ft-lbs / 140 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.118 in
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.118; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.001 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.283 in / 0.771 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.259 in / 0.748 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
132 ft. lbs., Step 2: 10532 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5915 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.6 ft. lbs., step 2: 7.43.6 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Temperature Controlled Seat Air Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miWheel Bearing (repack)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · PCV Valve (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 Ford Expedition sits in the early portion of its generation, which launched in 2007, and the federal data shows a clear downward arc in complaints across this platform. Complaints fell from 215 in the 2007 launch year to 146 in 2008, then dropped sharply to just 28 by 2009, suggesting that early-generation issues were being actively resolved by Ford—though recalls actually rose from 2 in 2007 to 5 in 2008, indicating regulators were still identifying safety deficiencies requiring corrective action. By comparison, the prior generation (2003–2006) consistently logged 296–655 complaints annually, so the 2008 figure of 146 represents meaningful improvement, and TSB volume held steady at 31 versus 33 the year before, showing ongoing but manageable service attention. The top complaint areas for 2008 are Structure (29 complaints), Service Brakes (13), Vehicle Speed Control (9), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (9), with 24 crash complaints and 2 fire complaints recorded; the data does not specify root causes for any of these categories. Within the full generation arc, 2008 represents a stabilizing but not yet fully mature year—better than the launch year but not as clean as 2009 or 2010, where complaints fell to 28 and 58 respectively. **Bottom line:** the 2008 is a reasonable but not optimal purchase within this generation; if you have the flexibility, a 2009 or 2010 model offers a dramatically lower complaint profile with comparable or better TSB coverage, making those years stronger value picks.

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
31
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
146
Owner complaints
24 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 146 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure29
Service Brakes13
Vehicle Speed Control9
Service Brakes, Hydraulic9
Power Train8
Fuel/Propulsion System6
Electrical System6
Suspension4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08V166000Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating SystemsReported 11/04/2008

FORD IS RECALLING 158 MY 2008 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) AND THE LIMO BUILDERS PACKAGE FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR… Remedy: DEALERS WILL RECONFIGURE THE TPMS THRESHOLDS TO THE APPROPRIATE PRESSURES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

08V058000Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:LatchReported 05/02/2008

FORD IS RECALLING 123,632 MY 2007-2008 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES. THE DOOR HANDLE HOUSING EMBOSSMENT RETAINING THE BOTTOM OF THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SPRING ON ALL SIDE DOORS MAY FRACTURE DURING NORMAL… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INTERIOR HANDLE SPRING ON ALL SIDE DOORS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 31 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 546012026-02-23Electrical SystemFord and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory…
TSB 24-21882024-07-24WheelsThis article supersedes TSB 22-2219 to update the Parts List and Service Procedure to…
SSM 524762024-04-24EquipmentAll accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the…
SSM 519092023-09-07Power TrainWhen performing any transmission fluid changes or topoffs involving MERCON SP, MERCON LV…
SSM 515362023-04-04StructureFor 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Expedition. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Expedition take?

7.0 qt of 5W-20 API MEETING FORD SPECIFICATION WSS-M2C945-A, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Expedition have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Expedition get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 18 highway / 14 combined mpg.