NHTSA Complaint #10663047 — 2010 FORD TAURUS

MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY RAN HOT WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AS MY EXIT WAS APPROACHING AND WITHIN 1/2 FOUND A SAFE PLACE TO PARK. THE ENGINE HAD STEAM COMING FROM THE RADIATOR. AFTER CALLING AAA FOR A TOW, IT WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL AAA AND THEN TO THE CLASSIC FORD DEALERSHIP. AS THE CAR ARRIVED ON A FRIDAY, FORD DID NOT CHECK IT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY. I RECEIVED A QUOTE FROM FORD THAT IT NEEDED AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE,TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP FOR $7, 400.00! CALLS TO THE CORPORATE FORD DID NO GOOD AS THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT FORD COULD DO BUT TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS IN CASE A RECALL WAS EVER ANNOUNCED. I CALLED ANOTHER MECHANIC THAT I HAD USED IN THE PAST AND HE WAS ABLE TO FIX THE ENGINE FOR $1800.00. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE DESIGN WAS FAULTY AND THAT IF IT EVER RAN HOT AGAIN, IT WOULD DO THE SAME DAMAGE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. *TR