NHTSA Complaint #10325227 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

A FRIEND WITH 2006 FORD EXPLORER HAD THEIR ENGINE SEIZE ($5000) ON THE HIGHWAY DURING A FAMILY TRIP OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DUE TO A DEFECTIVE RADIATOR AND NO ENGINE TEMPERATURE SENSOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. I BEGAN CHECKING MY 2006 FORD EXPLORER BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TAKE A SPRING BREAK FAMILY TRIP AND NOTICED LOW ANITFREEZE ON MY TRUCK OVERFLOW TANK AND LEAKAGE ON THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE OF THE RADIATOR. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL CAR MECHANIC AND HE SAID HE CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY WANTED $800 FOR A NEW RADIATOR. MY MECHANIC FIXED THE TRUCK BUT HIS PARTS CONTACT SAID THE RADIATOR IS ON A NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER BECAUSE OF THE ALL THE DEFECTIVE RADIATORS IN 2006-2007 FORD EXPLORER TYPE VEHICLES. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPAIR ABOUT 4 OR 5 A YEAR AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL. AFTER THE REPAIR I FOUND OUT THERE IS A TSB RECOMMENDATION FROM THE MANUFACTURE IN ORDER TO GET A LIFETIME WARRANTY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CAN ONLY DO THIS AND FOR $95 THE TSB WILL CORRECT THE TEMPERATURE COMPUTER SETTINGS SO THE COOLING FAN WILL TURN ON SOONER. THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES MAY BE THE REASON THIS RADIATOR IS FAILING BECAUSE THEY SHOULD LAST 10 PLUS YEARS OF THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. THE GASKET SEAL BETWEEN PLASTIC AND ALUMINUM ON THE UPPER DRIVER SIDE IS THE CAUSING THE PROBLEM, SO IT'S OBVIOUS THERE IS A COMBINATION OF IMPROPER TEMPERATURE SETTINGS AND DEFECTIVE PART. THIS PART SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A DEFECTIVE ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE DIRECT OR INDIRECT DEATHS AND/OR INJURIES. IT COST ME $530 INSTALLED AT A LOCAL RADIATOR REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. *TR