NHTSA Complaint #10186439 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

2000 EXPLORER XLT WITH APPROXIMATELY 55000 MILES. TAKEN TO DEALER TO BE SERVED C FOR STALLING AND FAILURE TO RESTART WITH HIGH TEMPERATURE. DEALER REPORTED THAT ENGINE HDS COOLANT AND OIL MIXING AND WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED, $3500 COST. WHEN I OBJECTED, DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED, AND THAT THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE TORN DOWN TO FIX , 2,000. . I OBJECTED AGAIN, AND DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE GASKET, FLUSH OIL, COOLANT SYSTEMS, AND RETURN TO THE ROAD , $1100. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FUTURE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COOLANT IN ENGINE. I INVESTIGATED, AND FOUND SECRET WARRANTY SERVICE BULLETIN , NETS NUMBER 616816. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER COST OF REPAIR UNDER SB, DEALER REFUSED, CLAIMING THAT SB EXTENSION WAS OVER , ENDED DECEMBER 2006. THIS VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN THE LIMITED MILEAGE UNDER THE WARRANTY, AND OBVIOUS DRIVING RATES LESS THAN EXPECTED UNDER THE WARRANTY , ORIGINAL AND SECRET EXTENSION.. CUSTOMERS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS SECRET WARRANTY EXTENSION. ENGINE GASKETS, INCLUDING HEAD GASKETS AND MANIFOLD GASKETS WERE NOT OWNER SERVICED ITEMS, AND WERE EXPECTED TO LIVE AS LONG AS THE POWER PLANT. I EXPECTED FORD TO LIVE UP TO THEIR PRODUCT HYPE AND FIX THIS VEHICLE FOR FREE, INCLUDING COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IF REQUIRED.*AK