Complaint 2202864

Complaint Summary

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner Narrative

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2017 Ford Explorer XLT with the 3.5L V6 engine due to a known internal water pump design defect. The water pump is located internally and driven by the timing chain. When it fails, coolant can leak directly into the engine crankcase and mix with motor oil instead of leaking externally where it would be easier to detect. This creates a serious safety hazard because the engine can suffer catastrophic damage, sudden failure, loss of power, or complete shutdown, sometimes with little or no warning. In my case, the vehicle experienced symptoms consistent with internal water pump failure, including my car overheating out of nowhere, forcing me to coast to the side of the highway in very unsafe conditions. This defect can destroy the engine and create dangerous driving conditions, especially if power loss occurs while driving with children or passengers, thankfully I didn't have any of my three children with me when this happened. This appears to affect many Ford Explorer vehicles from similar model years, and numerous owners have reported similar failures. The repair cost is extremely high because replacement often requires major engine disassembly or full engine replacement. I am currently financing this vehicle with a balance of $14,000 left to pay and have already paid close to $28,000. This is extremely unfair and the cost to repair is close to $5,000. I don't see a way for myself to afford that. I believe Ford should be required to address this issue because: The design can allow coolant contamination inside the engine without obvious external leakage. Failure can occur suddenly and create safety risks. Repair costs are excessive for what appears to be a widespread defect. Owners may not receive sufficient warning before catastrophic failure. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this defect for safety implications and determine whether a recall or broader manufacturer accountability is warranted. Thank you for your time.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.