Thermostat housing is outrageously expensive and should last the lifetime of the car--this plastic item lasted 101K miles but is a part that should not crack--and really should be aluminum and not plastic. It incorporates the thermostat itself. Also had to replace the temperature sensor and seal as a part of the repair--the parts alone were $294 which seems insane for a 12 year old car--total repair cost was just shy of $550! It's a relatively simple fix but if I wasn't as vigilant on my maintenance, I could have easily fried the engine by running it out of coolant. Hopefully the replacement part from NAPA will be better made and last another 100K at least.

When pulling in to my garage[thank GOD]steam was pouring out from under my hood,and when I open hood coolant was all over the place and pouring on to my garage floor.It was so bad that i couldn't figure out where it was coming from.After having my car TOWED to my trustworthy mechanic,he told me it was a cracked thermostat housing. WTF this is something that never happens to a car that is meticulously maintained.After talking to my "FRIEND"[that will go unnamed] at the local Ford store,he told me that this happens on all Mustang,and Explorers w/ the 4.0 6 cyl.,and they know this. Now for the editorial Ford is keeping this a secret because they are making millions off off the sell of this 104.00 part ,and if it's installed at the service department they also make the 100.00 an hour to install the part [I was charged 80.00 for 1.5 hrs at my trusty place to have this done.Their is no telling how many people have been stuck in very bad places because of this problem,or burned their vehicle's engine up not know what to do.This is a flawed thermostat housing that should be recalled, due to a weakness in a seam on the PLASTIC thermostat housing,AND THE DEALERS KNOW IT.A thermostat housing should last the lifetime of vehicle,but mine went out at less than 75000 miles.I love my Mustang,but FORD should recognize this as a RECALL, because why else would a dealer stock 9 of these.Most other cars you would have to order this part,because they DON"T GO BAD. SHAME ON YOU FORD for screwing the public like this with such a piece of S_ _T part.