NHTSA Complaint #10207604 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THIS IS TO ADD INFORMATION TO A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT. ODI NUMBER 10207581. THERE WAS A SUDDEN FAILURE OF THE ENGINE THAT RESULTED IN SUDDEN LOCKUP OF THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL. THIS HAPPENED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT LOW SPEED. HOWEVER A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC HAD JUST BEEN NAVIGATED. IF THE FAILURE HAD HAPPENED AT THAT INTERSECTION, THE FAILURE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY RESULTED IN SEVERE INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING. BY SUDDEN, MY WIFE DESCRIBED THE NOISE AS RATTLE, CRUNCH, BANG WITH EVERYTHING LOCKING UP IN LESS THAN 5 SECONDS. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY UP TO THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM THE EXHAUST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE AND MY WIFE FEARED THE VEHICLE WAS CATCHING ON FIRE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, A LARGE QUANTITY (1 TO 2 QUARTS)OF ENGINE COOLANT DRAINED FROM THE MUFFLER. THIS INDICATES TO ME THAT A SUDDEN FAILURE OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE SEAL, GASKET, MANIFOLD, ETC. IF A PART FAILS THIS SUDDENLY, THE PART WAS EITHER DEFECTIVE, IMPROPERLY DESIGNED, OR IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED. *TR