NHTSA Complaint #10249473 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

I NOTICED COOLANT LEAKING UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR AT AROUND 37,800 MILES. DEALER INITIALLY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE HOSE AND "REPAIRED" FOR $75 (9/30/08). LEAK CONTINUED. RETURNED TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RADIATOR WAS CRACKED (10/12/08). I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006 FORD EXPLORER. FORD SHOULD PUT A RECALL ON THE RADIATOR SO THAT IF THE RADIATOR EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS, THE REPAIRS ARE COVERED. DEALER QUOTED $630 TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR. CONTACTED FORD AND CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATED THEY WOULD ARRANGE A "DISCOUNT" FOR THE REPAIRS AT MY LOCAL DEALER. THIS PLACES THE BURDEN ON THE DEALER, WHO IS INDEPENDENT OF FORD. FORD SHOULD FURNISH THIS PART TO THE DEALER FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THEM FOR THE LABOR IN ORDER TO TAKE THE BURDEN OF A FAULTY PART OFF OF THEIR DEALERS AND THE CONSUMER. A RADIATOR SHOULD NOT CRACK WITH 37,800 MILES ON THE VEHICLE (1,800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY!). THIS IS WHEN I "NOTICED" THE PROBLEM. IT WAS PROBABLY HAPPENING PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. *TR