NHTSA Complaint #10427736 — 2004 FORD EXCURSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXCURSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAN WOULD INTERMITTENTLY CREATE A VERY LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 11/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE EGR COOLER FAILURE RESULTED IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT AND THERE WAS NO WARNING ON THE DASHBOARD FROM THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. WHITE CLOUDS EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE AND AUXILIARY FAN ACTIVATION, WHICH WERE BOTH INTERMITTENT AND INCONSISTENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER A ONE WEEK PERIOD. WHEN THE CONSUMER STARTED THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED A BILLOWING OF WHITE CLOUDS COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE. THE BILLOWING CLOUDS STOPPED AS THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE, ONLY TO REAPPEAR INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE NEXT WEEK.