Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and parked and allowed the vehicle to cool down before driving back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine and the oil main bearings, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v635000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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The weld which attaches the tail pipe to the muffler failed causing the pipe to strike the pavement while the vehicle was in motion which resulted in sparks and potential fire hazard.

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The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a minute and a half later, while attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel became firm, and added effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

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I was driving down upper pleasant ridge road caldwell id . Had cruise control on doing 50 and all of a sudden car just stopped in the middle of the road. No warning, no noise, no smoke , no check engine light nothing. I was in the middle of the road ,in the dark. Had to call the canyon county sheriff out to help me not get hit by a car waiting on the tow truck. Put jumper cables on battery my new battery bought in Jan 2025 started smoking what ever happen fried my battery . Took it to dealership waiting on info.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for an annual smog check, the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic showed that the vvt (variable valve timing) connected to the timing phasers had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,838.

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The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed and then lost motive power. The engine made ticking sounds, and the vehicle was running rough. No warning light was illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle into the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who discovered that the timing chain, spark plugs, and intake valves were fractured. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The internal water pump system on the ecoboost engine in the 2018 Ford Explorer failed after 7 years and only 63,880 miles. The vehicle was taken into the shop multiple times when the check engine light came on and the defect was not located until the vehicle failed. Due to the design, it is not easily fixed and cost an outrageous amount of money to fix for a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. This is a safety risk because if this is a common issue, which it is, and the engine fails while driving it, the driver is not able to get to a safe area to address damages and is left stranded. There are numerous complaints regarding the design flaw of having the water pump inside the engine. The manufacturer refuses to address the flaw. The check engine light came on and was taken in and wrongly diagnosed each time until the engine failed.

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1. Component/system failure: the water pump on my 2016 Ford Explorer failed, causing a significant antifreeze leak. The component is available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety risk: the failure creates a risk of engine seizure while driving. Loss of engine coolant can cause the engine to overheat suddenly, potentially leading to a dangerous situation on the road that could harm myself or other drivers. 3. Confirmation of problem: the problem has been confirmed by the dealer service department during inspection. The water pump leak was observed and diagnosed by a certified Ford service technician. 4. Inspections: the vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. I have also documented prior repairs to the vehicle, including a timing chain replacement two years ago. The water pump issue has not yet been inspected by Ford corporate. 5. Warning lamps/symptoms: prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps on the dashboard. I noticed coolant leaking from the water pump area, and the temperature gauge began to rise. The leak was first observed Aug 15.

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Torque converter issue causes shuddered, can cause driver to unexpectedly adjust speed rapidly.

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The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. While the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and shook violently. The driver noticed a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The hood was raised, and the fuel odor was much stronger. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact’s son, who is a certified mechanic, used a diagnostic machine to retrieve dtc: p0300, p0304, p0305, p0306, and p0352, indicating several cylinder misfires. The vehicle was towed to the dealer the following day and was diagnosed with three incorrectly misaligned cylinders. The contact was informed that the three cylinders had been realigned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 10,628.

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The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline and report the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that NHTSA would attach the contact’s VIN to an unknown recall that had a similar failure description. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 mph with the cruise control activated the vehicle suddenly began to sputter and reduce speed. The vehicle was driven to the the side shoulder and stalled. The engine would not restart and the vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.

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Slipping gears between 1&2nd gear, harsh/delayed shifting, some power loss. Vehicle is around 120k miles.

Manufacture hasn’t made a remedy available for the recall and it’s past its anticipated availability date. Manufacturer recall number 24s52 NHTSA recall number 24v598.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the message “engine overheating” was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and allowed the engine to cool down. After restarting the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact then noticed a fluid leak underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic and the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the water pump was leaking, causing the engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact discovered that the failure was a known issue; however, the VIN was not under recall related to the failure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon acceleration from a stop, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and the fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 63 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 72 mph, and the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle came to a complete stop and the contact called the police for traffic control and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump and the fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the coolant reservoir was almost empty, even though the vehicle had just been serviced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the water pump had failed and was replaced in February 2023. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 192,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic discovered an oil leak coming from the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under warranty and the contact was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v925000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact was then referred to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,403.

On highway was accelerating to pass another vehicle the transition froze , engine revved with no acceleration ( transmission skipped) this has happened several times over the 5 years. The lasted event we documented the date and mileage it happened date 7/13/25 mileage is 34990. These skips have put us in extremely dangerous situations. Transmission has been making growling noise now under normal driving.

The contact, who owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact reported an issue with the power steering becoming inoperable. The incident occurred when the owner's husband stopped for fuel, and upon returning, the steering wheel locked up. The maintenance engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and steering needed replacement. However, the vehicle was not repaired at the dealership. Subsequently, an independent mechanic confirmed the need for steering and rack and pinion replacement, but the parts were backordered. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The owner was referred to the NHTSA hotline. The failure occurred at approximately 102,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop at a red traffic light, the vehicle inadvertently shut off in the middle of the roadway and failed to restart. The battery warning light was illuminated. No further information was available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA action number: ea23002(engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-30 mph, the vehicle stalled, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 25v455000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact’s son started the vehicle and became aware that the "cylinder head temperature overheated" message was displayed on the instrument panel while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the engine and engine cooling system had failed due to water leaking into the turbo. The dealer stated that the sensor failed to identify and inform the driver that the engine was running hot. The contact became aware that the failure had occurred with the previous owner of the vehicle approximately 2 - 3 years ago. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced, or the turbocharger could be replaced as a temporary repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

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While driving the vehicle goes into what I have found is called sleep mode. . The check engine lite comes on and the left info panel shows that the all wheel drive is not working. The dealer tried to see what codes were set and found none. My solution is to pull off the road, put the vehicle in park and turn off the ignition. After about 30 seconds I can restart the vehicle and drive again. The restart lasts from 15 seconds to a month. I found a TSB ( 16-0139) that covered this problem. However it did not offer any cure. I am concerned that someone will hit me when this happens.

When I accelerate, the car jerks back and forth and stalls. Ford has said the car was throwing codes but the tech didnt feel the issue so they sent me on my way. . . . Well fast forward to today, I am informed my car has thrown codes 4 times in the past few days and this morning I was scared to drive my car it was bad. . . And I have a [xxx] daughter. Our safety is my top priority and it doesnt seem to matter to anyone else information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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.

The transmission failed. The electrical component also failed.

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.

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.

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.

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.