While in motion, the vehicle developed a problem with the engine. The cause of the vehicle failure was the crankshaft. The crankshaft had a crack half way through which has been there for a while due to weathering on the area.

- Sudbury, MA, USA

Timing chain was making a rattle noise and we had it checked out and they said that they had a safety recall.

- Roanoke, IL, USA

There is a constant rattling noise when driving. Dealer determined it was the timing chain. Please provide additional information.

- Roanoke, IL, USA

I was making a left turn in my 1997 Ford Explorer. All of a sudden the car engine just died and I lost steering power and the car would not start again. After having it towed to the dealer they examined the vehicle and told me that the crankshaft had broken and that it was unrepairable, and that my only option was to have the engine replace. From my understanding if I had been travling at a high rated speed I could have been seriously injured from that piece breaking off.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Cranckshaf/pulley disconnected from engine.

- Miami, FL, USA

While driving crankshaft sheared off. Vehicle then completely shut down. Consumer contacted the dealer. However, problem has not been resolved as of yet.

- Miami, FL, USA

Drivers door lock not working properly, gasket cylinder front cover, torque converter shudder, catalytic converter, rt bank exhaust manifold; these problems have been corrected, but new ones mount every week. Now there is a problem with the steering, being checked tomorrow.

- Marysville, PA, USA

While backing out of our yard, the engine just stopped working. Had it towed to a local automotive repair service. Was told that the crankshaft was sheared off. Ford Motor Co. Will not admit any equipment fault, leaving me with a $4200 price tag to get it fixed.. I have been told that crankshafts do not just shear or break off by other mechanics that I have talked to. Looking at your site has shown me that this is not just an isolated case and it should be looked into by Ford. I am thankful that this didn't happen while traveling at highway speeds which could have caused injury.thank you.

- Mohawk, MI, USA

While driving vehicle completely shutsdown without warning, cause unknown.

- Mapleton, GA, USA

Cylinder heads or head gasgets failed causing coolant leak into cylinders and out exhaust. Suspect faulty heater valve leaked coolant causing engine to overheat and damage heads or gasgets.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

The crankshaft fell out while driving, as the crankshaft fell out it caused the vehicle to lockup resulting in the vehicle not steering or braking very well. Nlm

- Saxapahaw, NC, USA

Cam tensioner broke. Metal piece from tensioner ran through engine and damaged it. There was a recall on vehicle's make/model; but, consumer's vehicle was not included because it exceeded 100000 mile warranty. Consumer bought vehicle and didn't know recall.

- Lansing, MI, USA

Ford definitely has an engineering problem. Is the NHTSA gonna deal with it or, are we going to wait till we have another wilderness tire issue. My Explorer has consistently shown severe skip/miss for the past 2-months. At first indication....I scheduled it in to my local dealer (rochester auto collection - a division of Ford), who determined that it needed new ignition wires. (mind you, this vehicle only has 42,000 original miles, as I bought it new). Three hundred bucks later, I notice the vehicle performing no better on the day I picked it up. So....we schedule a second visit. During that visit, they "dink around" with the throttle. Again, the day I picked it up, I noticed it was no better. So....in we go for a third visit. During that visit I am advised that the timing chain tensioner has broken off and that they will need to pull the engine out to repair. So, we schedule that 3-day service visit. And here I am today.....after having picked up the vehicle, and now it is worse!! this is a $30,000 vehicle with 43,000 miles that runs worse than my son's '95 cavalier. As I review the database of consumer complaints, I note many, many issues relating to this timing belt tensioner. So......when is the NHTSA gonna step up to the plate, and make Ford get their "ducks in a row" and fix this issue. As it is right now, between the tire incident and then this, I sincerely doubt I will ever buy a Ford again.

- Victor, NY, USA

When vehicle is sitting or moving there is a ticking noise coming from engine. Vehicle was at repair shop, and mechanic told consumer that vehicle needed a cam chain guide. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer replaced the timing chanin, also the brake light was inoperative.

- Atlantic City, NJ, USA

An unknown cause lead to the head gasket cracking and the cyclinders blowing-out on the vehicle, which now requires a new engine. Vehicle was purchased with 46M miles and the return of a lease orignated with the delaership that sold the same vehicle to us. This was Ford certified lease vehicle we were told, which means it supposedly wnet through the highest inspection upon it being turned in from the lease. The vehicle broke-down on 8/12/01 on busy interstate 84 at the juction of the merge of interstate 91 and 84, stranding my wife ( who ws driving) between two heavily used highways. Both the dealership and Ford have refused to take responsibility for the inherent defect in the manufacturing of the vehicle. Acordig to the dealership a their Ford representative, taryn, stated Ford refuses to pay fany part of the repair becuse the vehicle was bought used and we did not do our service (oil changes) with the dealership, although we did do so at other places. We want Ford and the delearship to pay for the full cost of repairing this vehicle.

- Hartford, CT, USA

Ever owner I know who owns a Ford Explorer has a failure on this valve. I feel this should be recalled by Ford.

- Fuquay-Varina, NC, USA

While driving vehicle heard a loud noise and vehicle stalled. Also, opened hood to check, and found a hole in engine block, size of a silver dollar. Consumer had gotten notices for camshaft guide and retentioner, but was not honored because vehicle had gone over the mileage. Contacted dealer, could find nothing, but did see metal shavings.

- Danville, CA, USA

Ford is aware of a recurring problem, the particular problem being a worn or broken cam chain guide which creates a noisy symptom which my vehicle has, then Ford should be willing, if not liable, to fix it.

- San Antonia, TX, USA

Vehicle had shutdown while driving. Dealer was notified, and informed consumer that camshaft had failed. Part was not covered under a manufacturer's recall, and was out of its warranty. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Middlefield, CT, USA

30 mph, camshaft breaks. Dealer says new engine required, $4500 est. Ford contacted and offers $2000 assistance. This should be a safety recall and Ford should be forced to pay for all damages B/C the forceful stop caused by engine failure could have caused serious injury to passengers or other vehicle due to skidding. This is not normal wear on a vehicle, is obviosly a Ford defect.

- Brandon, MS, USA