NHTSA Complaint #10186319 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES: FORD ACKNOWLEDGES ISSUES INTERNALLY WITH THE TIMING CARTRIDGES ON THE 2002 E CODE 4.0L V6 SOHC ENGINE THROUGH SEVERAL TSB'S, HOWEVER DOES NOT NOTIFY THE PUBLIC THAT THIS ISSUE EXISTS. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ISSUE AFTER APPARENTLY BLOWING THE ENTIRE ENGINE ON MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER. NOW, INSTEAD OF HAVING A REPAIR DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT COULD COST A LITTLE, I HAVE TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM GREATLY THANKFUL THAT THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. APPARENTLY, FORD USED SEVERAL PLASTIC GUIDE WAY PARTS TO TENSION THE CHAIN, AND THESE PARTS FAIL EASILY BECAUSE THEY ARE OIL STARVED AT ENGINE STARTUP. BECAUSE THEY ARE PLASTIC, THEY CAN FATIGUE AND BREAK AT ANY TIME, CAUSING SEVERE VALVE AND PISTON DAMAGE, AND LEAVING THE OPERATOR OF THE CAR WITH NO CONTROL OF THE AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE OF LOSS OF VACUUM FOR BREAKS, AND AUTOMATIC STEERING. CORRECTION OF FAILURE: FORD REFUSES TO PAY ANYTHING TO HELP REPAIR OR REPLACE PARTS EVEN WITH KNOWN ISSUES. *JB