Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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.

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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!!!.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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.

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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).

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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.

I believe I am getting the cam phaser rattle sound in my 2018 Ford Explorer platinum with the 3. 5l ecoboost engine. Through research I have seen that this is a common problem among other 3. 5l ecoboost engines like the f-150, expedition, and navigator. This happens at cold start ups I noticed. I have tried calling my dealership and Ford corporate about this issue and they say that they can't cover this at all. My vehicle is at 65k miles (just outside the warranty).

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The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was idling rough while shifted into drive or reverse. The contact stated that the vehicle operated normally while moving. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced technical service bulletin: 20-2271; as a possible cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

There was cam phaser situation that I was never informed of when this car was purchased. I just hit 80 k and I am now having issues. It appears there is a lawsuit for this. What is Ford doing to fix.

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced hard start-ups, and the engine was revving high while idling, with the check engine warning light remaining illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the timing chain, crankshaft, and cam shaft sensors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 84,000.

The water pump failed. It is internal in the engine. Not sure yet if coolant got into the motor. It is not safe to drive the vehicle and have to get it towed for this expensive repair. Water pumps should not fail at the rate they do on the Ford 3. 5 motors. They need to have a recall on them.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the contact became aware that there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the turbocharger oil supply tubes had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 68 mph, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. After the failure, the engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 16v925000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was determined there was water in the engine oil. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 164,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved dtc: p0303 (misfire in cylinder #3). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, who confirmed the failure. The dealer replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after the contact had the tires serviced, and the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the torque converter and engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

The vehicle has intermittent issues with bucking, running poorly, and not shifting properly. It results in several warning lights which will clear at random. The dealer has told us it needed a new alternator. The repair was made but the problem resurfaced again today. This is not a new issue as it has occurred many times before.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his sister was driving 55-60 mph, the engine started to overheat, and there was fluid leaking from the vehicle. The contact stated that there was oil in the coolant overflow tank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle started vibrating excessively and the vehicle hesitated with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while driving uphill the message "hill start assist not available" was displayed. The contact was able to drive uphill; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle was not able to pull into the driveway. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed that there were metal shards found in the engine and that the transmission had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

The engine did not start and had a burning smell coming out. The SUV was towed to a Ford dealer to find out the engine block has to be replace. The SUV has been well maintain through out the years of ownership. It has 84000. 00 miles on it. After some research, my SUV is not the only one that this has happened. It seems Ford Explorer with an ecoboost engine have this issue. 2017 Ford explore with an ecoboost engine-engine long block and retesting (verified concern and performed diagnosis, found coolant bottle empty and engine to not crank but when turning key the engine attempts to crank but stops, hand verified that crank shaft was locked and found hydro-locked engine due to coolant intrusion) fail $11,690. 90.

Coolant on garage floor. Researched and found common among this engine, called dealer. Said do not drive and get to dealer. Can cause engine seizure and breakdown if internal coolant leakage has started. Dealer stated they see at least one a week of this water pump problem.

At 40,000 miles my head gasket failed, causing the engine to have to be replaced. This has now happened again at 112,000 miles. In reading on line, this is a common problem for the design of this engine. How can a car engine have to be replaced twice? this seems to be a significant design flaw and safety issue.

See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound, went into limp mode, and failed to exceed 25 mph. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact shifted to reverse(r), but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact called the independent mechanic whom the vehicle was purchased from, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with catastrophic transmission damage. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. There was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the contact was notified by the Ford app that the check engine warning light was illuminated and the message “fuel door open" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle previously had a transmission software update due to the vehicle hesitating to accelerate while driving. Additionally, the speedometer intermittently failed to function as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was water intrusion into the body control module fuse panel. The contact was informed that the battery and body control module fuse panel 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 61,500.

Water pump.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the vehicle lost automotive power and failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.