NHTSA Complaint #10538284 — 2005 FORD EXCURSION

WHILE TOWING A CAMPER, THE ENGINE OVERHEATED ABOUT 4 HOURS INTO THE TRIP. THE TRUCK AND TRAILER HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO FORD AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW OUT. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS COMMON WITH THE 6.0 DIESEL ENGINES. HE STATED THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE HEAD BOLTS STRETCHING. HE REPAIRED IT, BUT, TOLD ME I WOULD BE BACK AGAIN UNLESS I PURCHASED ARP RACING HEAD BOLTS($600). I RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND FOUND HE WAS CORRECT. I PROVIDED THE BOLTS AND FORD DID THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. IN 2008, THE EGR COOLER/OIL COOLER RUPTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (UNDER WARRANTY). IN 2009, THE FICM MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY, FORD WANTED $700 FOR THE PART, PLUS LABOR. IN 2010, THE EGR COOLER/OIL COOLER RUPTURED AGAIN. SINCE THE TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE $4000 TO REPAIR. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AGAIN AND FOUND THE WHOLE EGR DESIGN WAS FLAWED. I PURCHASED AN AFTERMARKET DESIGNED COOLER AND, SINCE THEN, HAVE HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. *JS