10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 3 / 3
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 8 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 27,572 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The water pump failed and dumped coolant into the oil and seized the engin
- Ashland, OH, USA
2nd failed/leaking water pump since purchasing the vehicle. The water pump was replaced on 9/30/20 at 121,948 and now at less than 100,000 additional miles on 2/9/23 (210,826) the water pump is leaking again. $3000+ is an expensive repair for a $154 part.
- Orlando, FL, USA
Purchased vehicle used in November 2022 that had been inspected by the dealer i bought it from. On January 20, 2022 I had routine and recommended service completed, along with multi-point inspection at local Ford dealer. All components tested ok and was told vehicle is in good condition. One of the recommended services I had performed was a coolant flush due to mileage of 105,500. I drove home approx. 18 miles from where I had it serviced. I did not notice a leak when i picked it up because the vehicle was brought out too me from the service bay and i got in the driver's seat and drove off. I didn't notice anything wrong until the next day (Saturday) when i noticed an oily spot on my driveway. I thought during the oil and filter change the day before that oil had spilled on the frame and had dripped down on the driveway while parked. I drove approx 5 miles to pick up pizza and back home. When i arrived back home there was a fast drip of coolant dripping under the vehicle. I sent video to service department, and even though it was a Saturday evening one of the Service Reps called me back. He said they'd come pick up the vehicle if needed, and it was probably just a loose fitting or hose. From Saturday afternoon until Monday morning the vehicle sat unused due to the leak. I drove the vehicle back to Ford Service on Monday morning and dropped off first thing. It did not overhead on the drive, but it was still leaking fluid when i parked it in the service lane. I was called around noon and told the water pump failed, in no part due to the coolant flush of course, and would have to be replaced at a cost of approx. $2,200 due to the engine having to be dropped to access. I had just spent $555 in routine and recommended service so this was an inconvenience to say the least. Was told by service that these water pumps usually fail around 150,000 miles and due to location the engine has to be dropped to repair the water pump causing huge labor charges.
- Scottsboro, AL, USA
Water pump failed at 80,000 miles and cause the car to stall mid intersection putting out life at risk. This is a known issue that should be recalled. Not to mention the repair is $4,000-$6,000 mostly labor to fix. Whole motor has to be taken out to replace the water pump.
- Sandy Springs, GA, USA
Out of nowhere, my engine starting running hot and did not give me any warning. I had to take it to a local repair shop, where they stated that the air compressor quit working and blew the head gasket, resulting in a purchase of a new air compressor and a used engine. I have two daughters and our safety was put at risk because I had no indication that anything was low, I check the gauges all the time and nothing ever showed low. My car got really hot and when it was basically too late, a light came on to tell me that my car was hot. There were not messages or anything that came up prior to that. The problem has already been corrected, out of my own pocket. I can send in any paperwork needed to confirm there was a problem. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance representative. The Ford Dealership would not be able to look at it until 3 to 4 weeks after it happening and I needed it seen right then.
- Bainbridge, GA, USA
The water pump has failed causing me to breakdown going down the road. The car has less than 100k miles and did not alert me to any kind of mechanical issue before hand.
- Ararat, NC, USA
Water pump failed.
- Chester, VA, USA
Unknown system or components, smells like propane or exhaust odors inside the cab. Mostly when driving slow or at a full stop. It is a police interceptor suv with 65k miles. No warning lights or other symptoms appeared prior to odor. Odor gives me a headache/nausea.
- Wheat Ridge , CO, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle intermittently started shuddering. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the dealer at lower speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where unknown repairs were completed; however, several weeks later, the contact noticed an abnormally strong burning odor inside the vehicle while driving. Additionally, the contact stated that upon parking the vehicle, she noticed that there was oil leaking onto the ground. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the rear main seal was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the rear main seal was replaced a second time; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who contacted the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer sent out a field technician who diagnosed that the crankshaft had failed, and the small block or engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact followed up with the manufacturer who informed her that they could not assist as the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 82,700.
- Springfield, TN, USA
It has a known problem of that the water pump leaks into engine and causes engine failure. It's all over the google. Today, car dealer called me and told me, I would be better replace the water pump before it fails. It is not failed yet, but they said they saw the symptom, which will cause fatality if I don't change it. And it will cost me not to die from that design failure. Is this not a matter for a car manufacturer to cover by recalling it? When I searched on google, there is a law suit going on, and many many forum of people who's having the exact same issue with multiple ford and lincoln model. Please help people on this matter...
- West Bloomfield, MI, USA
The contact's father-in-law owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that an unknown fluid was leaking from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was discovered that the water pump was defective and needed to be replaced. The contact paid for the repair; however, soon after the repair, the failure returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it remained in their possession. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
- Dubuque, IA, USA
The water pump failed and is available for inspection. i was driving and my engine began smoking to the point of visibility loss and suffocating air fumes. I was forced onto an edge of the highway with a drastic drop into the road and had to evacuate my 5 and 2 year old daughters from their car seats. Had i not noticed the smoke im sure a fire would have put me and my kids at fatal risks. i had it taken to the dealer to check into the highspeed cooling fan. the service technician told me that he knew without checking that it was the water pump because ford knows that they have been faulty with issues up to catastrophic engine failure since their 2011 series ford explorer up to the current 2019 with the duratech 3.5 engine. it was inspected by the ford dealership. and i saw no warning or even problems prior that indicated an oncoming failure that could have endangered my kids or myself. After doign research, almost every ford explorer owner has had these issues and ford made a laughable fix to update our owners manual about the water pump. this disclosure should have been mentioned during the sale of the vehicle and had it been i would have chosen a different vehicle and manufacturing company all together. This has shown ford's negligence and complacency towards driver and consumer safety and they should have had the entire engine recalled. but thats appearantly to expensive. now i have a useless vehicle on my credit that i cant afford to fix because of their design issue and like many consumers i feel like ford owes it to us to fix these and offer a lifetime warranty for the water pumps. do your job correctly and with integrity and you wont have to fix so many problems.
- Farmington, MO, USA
Water pump failure, leaking antifreeze all over my brand new concrete
- Oshkosh , WI, USA
During inspection the dealership noted that the water pump was leaking coolant into the engine and must be replaced before catastrophic failure profit failure. The cost of the replacement is an excess of $3000
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Complete engine replacement recommended by Ford dealership. Vehicle had the Water Pump and Timing Chain replaced early 2022, has been running good since replacement but out of no where check engine light came on and started running sluggish. Had it towed to Ford and explained the engine is not building compression and recommended new engine. Since purchasing the vehicle brand new had several people we know also had to replace water pump but because of the design was $4000 to replace, find it strange with all the recalls on this vehicle that the water pump isn-??t included in the recalls. After hearing from other mechanics the compression could-??ve been caused by coolant leak (water pump) into the head gaskets. Basically one problem causing other problems but Ford not admitting any issues but redesigned the engine after 2016, sounds fishy to me.
- Youngsville , NC, USA
Air bag dashboard light turned in January 2022 until now part is back order. Secondly over heating problems at 60 mph on July 16, 2022 I was told it was the cooling fans and was fixed and didn-??t fixed the problem now I was told is the active grilled shutters malfunctioning
- Chowchilla , CA, USA
You can smell a sickly metal burning smell in the cabin when accelerating to get onto a freeway.
- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA
Water pumps failing with less than 50,000 miles causing coolant leakage and overheating
- Seattle, WA, USA
Check engine light came on low engine oil pressure light come on made loud knocking noise regular maintenance 147k miles vehicle is at mechanic shop estimate total $1500-$2500 to fix do not have money for repairs
- Anderson, AL, USA
- Williamstown, NJ, USA