Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the vehicle had experienced rough operation, white exhaust smoke was present and the check engine light had illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that engine coolant was present inside the engine cylinders. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 110,000.

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The transmission failed. The electrical component also failed.

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The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, they noticed black smoke started to come from the rear end of the vehicle. The contact pulled to the side of the road and turned off. The contact noticed the smoke continued and that black smoke was now coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed a fire starting near the engine on the driver's side, closer towards the windshield. The fire department arrived and was able to put out the fire. The fire diagnosed a mechanical error was the cause of the fire. A police report was made. The vehicle was towed and deemed totaled. The contact had not received any injuries and did not need medical assistance. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure, and a complaint was made. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

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The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost automotive power, with the abs, traction control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the abs control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,443.

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On Thursday, June 14, 2025, the check engine light illuminated on my 2018 Ford Explorer, which has fewer than 75,000 miles. I promptly contacted my trusted local mechanic, bananno automotive, to schedule an oil change and requested that they also inspect and diagnose the cause of the warning light. During their inspection, they performed a diagnostic scan and identified stored engine code p0430 – catalyst system efficiency below threshold (bank 2), which corresponds to the catalytic converter on the left side of the radiator. Concerned that delaying the repair could lead to increased emissions and potential damage to the engine, I authorized the necessary repairs. All work was completed by June 23, 2025. It was only after the repairs were finalized that I reviewed the Ford warranty guide and discovered that this issue is, in fact, covered under warranty. Unfortunately, Ford has denied reimbursement solely because the repairs were not performed at a Ford dealership. This is deeply disappointing, especially considering the repair cost exceeded $1,800, and no alternative solution or support has been offered. My intention in sharing this is to ensure that other Ford owners are not similarly affected by this type of parts failure and warranty denial.

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated, and the temperature gauge had increased to high with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the water pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 116,000.

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I am writing to formally report a significant mechanical issue involving the water pump in my 2018 Ford Explorer with the 3. 5l v6 engine. This vehicle recently experienced a sudden failure of the internal water pump, a problem I have since learned is common across this model and others using the same engine design. In my case, the water pump failure occurred just outside of the vehicle’s extended warranty coverage, leading to engine overheating and a substantial repair cost. What makes this issue particularly concerning is the design flaw in which the water pump is located internally, driven by the timing chain. When the pump fails, it can leak coolant internally, potentially leading to catastrophic engine failure without warning. This design not only makes the part extremely costly to repair (often $2,000–$4,000 or more), but it also introduces a serious safety risk—drivers may experience engine overheating or seizure while on the road, with minimal to no warning. This poses a clear hazard, especially at highway speeds or in high-traffic situations. I understand that many other Ford owners have reported similar failures, yet no recall or customer satisfaction program (csp) has been issued to address the problem. Given the frequency of these incidents and the potential danger involved, I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether this condition qualifies as a safety-related defect. I have included my vehicle details below for your reference: make/model/year: 2018 Ford Explorer engine: 3. 5l v6 (non-ecoboost) mileage at failure: 101345 failure description: internal water pump failure leading to coolant leak and overheating repair estimate: $4511. 19.

Recall action soon issue since 06-20-2025 unrequested second-row seat movement unrequested second-row seat movement recall incomplete recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now. We will inform you when the service is available. Or, you can contact your dealer. Contact dealer issue date 2025-06-13 campaign 25s67/25v393 description on your vehicle, it is possible that the easy entry seat fold switch on the second-row outboard seats may bind or stick if its surrounding trim bezel was installed incorrectly. If the button is stuck in the down position, the seat may unlatch, fold and or slide unexpectedly, potentially while driving. Safety risk a seat that unexpectedly folds or slides while driving could increase the risk of injury, particularly in a crash. Remedy Ford motor company is working to provide parts for this repair. When the remedy becomes available, Ford motor company will notify you via mail to schedule a service appointment with your dealer for repairs to be completed free of charge.

Recall action soon issue since 06-20-2025 unrequested second-row seat movement for more information telematics generated issue.

I was stoped at a red light with cars in front of me and behind me when with my foot on the break the car accelerated forward like my foot was on the gas pedal but my foot was not on pedal, the car surged forward and came close to hitting the car in front of me I pressed the break and got stopped didn’t happen again but sometimes I can feel the car wanting to keep surging forward when breaking. If there is a problem this could cause me to hit someone in the rear or even worse could hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk please check this out.

The car makes a ticking/rattle sound on cold startup. Preliminary diagnosis is the cam phasers. This is a 2017 Ford Explorer with 77,000. It is the same 3. 5l v6 ecoboost (gtdi) engine that was in Ford customer satisfaction program: 21n03. The issue mirrors tgat in the program document, but the Explorer is not covered by the program.

When vehicle is on and either in park or at a stop, rpms will idle at about 800-1000 rpm then randomly shoot up between 2000-2500 rpms then drop to below 500 rpms before returning to idle. It’ll do this randomly.

This problem started about 2 months ago and it happened 3 different times so far. While driving, when pressing the gas, the vehicle will all of a sudden not go. You just drift as if the car is not getting gas. On 2 of the occasions, a shift error message appears on the dash but quickly disappears. This can be very dangerous while driving and cause an accident. I have not had the vehicle looked at yet because I feel it should apart of the new recall for the other Ford Explorers.

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I periodically have unintended acceleration ; it has occurred off and on for the past two years . The Ford dealer said no faults were detected so they can't fix the problem . It most often when I am shifting into reverse then the rpms increase dramatically and when I put it in neutral they shoot up even more . A few days ago I was putting the car into the garage , waiting for the door to open , with my foot on the brake and the shift in drive when the rpms started to increase . Feeling the car starting to move I shifted to neutral when the rpms shot up tremendously . This is a dangerous situation where someone can get injured or killed . Ford should be able to correct the problem !!!.

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended and turned off for a few hours, it caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the failure. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries airbag deployment or crash. The vehicle was towed to a police tow lot. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who assisted with a claim. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

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Engine light turning off and on. Engine overheating light on. Told by Ford dealership that I need engine replacement.

6/2/25 tried to start vehicle, codes coming up and car would not start 6/6/25 car was in park running, starting chiming with alarms, the same alarms that came up a few days before.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon engaging the parking brake, the parking brake failed to remain engaged. Additionally, the contact stated that upon activating the a/c, the a/c was blowing hot air. The vehicle was taken to a Mazda dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was a blockage in the engine block heater. The dealer informed the contact that no authorization was provided to repair the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon start-up there was an abnormally loud rattling sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The cause of the failure has not yet been determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.

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The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle jolted forward while parking. The brakes were locking up. While driving 5 mph, the steering wheel locked up. The 4-wd fault light was illuminated. The contact stated that the pre-collision assist, hill assist and reverse messages were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to technical service bulletin: 23-2174. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the awd actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 89,156.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled after coming from a stop. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The contact stated that the water pump had previously been replaced twice, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was coolant intrusion in engine and the water pump needed to be replaced for the third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 177,000.

I’ve had it twice be an issue where the engine didn’t run quite right. The first time I took it to the mechanic it was determined the timing chain was bad and they also said this is a well known issue with the ecoboost engines in these Explorers. Only about a year later after replacing that and the water pump I went to start the Explorer and it wouldn’t start. Took it to the mechanic again and they found that the timing chain, again, had failed and this time it also caused damage to a piston rod. They said they were surprised it wasn’t catastrophic damage to the engine because of this. I’ve now had to spend literally thousands of dollars on this vehicle for timing chain related issues alone in just over 3 years of owning it. Searching online finds unending reports of similar issues to this as well as massive issues with the turbos and the cam phasers that also commonly are causing catastrophic engine failures despite routine preventative maintenance being performed. And the a pillar recall issue. I had it inspected December of 2024 and determined it needed them replaced. I was not given a time frame when that would be completed. I got a call over a month ago from the dealer saying to call them to schedule a repair. I did so and then was told that while I was on the list they still are unable to get any parts from Ford to repair this mandated recall and also cannot get a timeline on when said parts would be available. I’m almost six months past them saying it’s been ordered and still no idea when it’ll be repaired. And now a second recall was just announced for the b post coverings and I’m sure this will be just as bad. As many issues as this car is having I think Ford should have to pay for a lot more recalls than they have so far. I also had to have two other recalls fixed that the selling dealer didn’t address before selling to me.

Adas system malfunctions, 4wd malfunctions, vehicle will randomly shut off during driving.

While our 2021 Ford Explorer with 47,000 miles to work the vehicle warning light came on stating the vehicle was overheated and shut down. We allowed the vehicle to cool for 20 minutes as recommended by the owners manual and then restarted the vehicle which immediately overheated again. We had the vehicle towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the issue as coolant in the oil forcing a replacement of the engine and coolant systems.

I brought my vehicle from a used certified dealer at the time of test drive I asked why such a rough transition when going from gear to gear and I was told it was the ecoboost engine packed with power. Fast forward after multiple repairs and recalls on this vehicle I’ve made it to my breaking point when my SUV shut down as I was turning onto a busy street coming from my son’s school. The engine literally cut off almost causing a head on collision. This idle function is extremely dangerous. I had multiple belts repaired and many things checked after my car overheated and couldn’t find the culprit. One mechanic explained my fan wasn’t working to assist in cooling off the engine and the vents/grill in front of car was shut causing the engine to over heat. After opening the vents and connecting the car to diagnostic machine there were no codes to fix. Over the next month my SUV would become significantly worse rattling when I stop at a red light almost drifting into a car in front of me. No longer overheating but now feeling the car physically shifting gears as if I drive a stick shift and I have an automatic transmission. After doing careful research I learned was some recalls on the fan and eco boost engine explaining the same issues that I’am currently having. Don’t mention fixing the recalls because all the certified dealers are 2-3 weeks behind on fixing and diagnosing these same vehicles. They won’t loan you a car while being repaired which is another cost associated with this vehicle. Please look into this ecoboost engine and overheating issues. Also I was told my engine would go soon do the oxygen intake not exchanging enough oxygen causing oil to push into spark plugs and other parts of the engine it doesn’t belong. This SUV is a complete lemon and should be recalled right away before someone dies from this awful feature. Just last week I saw someone on the interstate with my same vehicle stopping mid traffic. This is dangerous!!!.

Noticing a problem with the steering and wheel suspension that is affecting other Ford Explorers between 2018 and 2025. Engine oil blow by. Causing oil to leak and ending up under the carriage and on the back of the vehicle. Rear camera problems.

The factory installed headlight screw punctured the coolant line of my 2015 Ford Explorer causing my transmission to stop working properly. This resulted in a $725 tow bill and $1,067. 56 in repairs. The certified mechanic verified that the screw was an original part and it punctured the line, likely after some time rubbing against it. The transmission did not appear to be damaged however my safety was at risk trying to pull over to when the vehicle would no longer shift gears. I have a video of the leak that lines up with the screw placement but was not able to upload it. . . I am happy to email it to you.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 50 mph after the vehicle had been serviced, the check engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that there was coolant inside the water pump, and the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

Took the family SUV in for a standard oil change and 100k service to Ford dealership. Upon performing a coolant flush, the water pump began leaking. It was found that the internal water pump was leaking and needed to be replaced along with the primary timing chain and tensioner items. There were no warning lamps or indicators to let us know this was an issue. The dealer service center replaced the internal water pump, refilled system and test drove. It was re inspected and leak has been corrected. However, this cost us $4, 366. 80 for an issue Ford knows is a reoccurring issue in this model of SUV and a huge hazard for families.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power after coming to a stop. The contact stated that the oil pressure message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred thirty days after an oil change. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

The contact owned a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking off after yielding to a stop sign, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of an intersection. As a result, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the rear driver's side door, sending the vehicle careening back through the inspection past the stop sign before coming to a complete stop. All air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The occupants did not immediately receive medical attention but later transported themselves or were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. The contact received a full-body mri and was treated for whiplash, neck pain, and various bruising caused by the seat belt, while her husband received a cat scan and was treated for whiplash, neck pain, back pain, and bruising on his arms. Meanwhile, the [xxx] occupant was transported to his primary care physician by his parents and treated for a neck burn caused by the seat belt. The contact also stated that the driver of the other vehicle was transported to an area hospital by emt but was unaware of her condition or treatment. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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Engine block timing plate cover has a defect crack in it causing an oil leak and fire hazard.

Fuel purge valve not working properly causing the vehicle to not start after filling with gas, needing to keep vehicle running while filling with gas, safety issue. Turbo faulty causing car to loose power while driving and towing. Safely concern for multiple reasons. Flex exhaust pipe broken and mesh ripped causing burning smell and dangerous debris.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. In addition, while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving 40 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the vehicle jerked before slamming into gear. The check engine warning light was continuously illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was leaking oil onto the ground and the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with coolant intrusion into a cylinder, which caused the engine failure. The spark plugs were replaced. The mechanic also informed the contact that the transmission had failed. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 52,590.

Own a 2017 Ford Explorer 2. 3l ecoboost with 116k miles, out of the blue the vehicle started to overheat the engine, with no coolant left in the reservoir. Took it to a mechanic who stated that the engine is not that old and that it was unsure of why the head gasket was blown. It is believed by many including a class action law suite that Ford is aware of the possible overheating issues with their ecoboost engines.