NHTSA Complaint #11072959 — 2010 FORD TAURUS

ON SUNDAY, 2/11/2018, I WAS DRIVING EAST I-26 IN COLUMBIA, SC HEADING TO WORSHIP SERVICES AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY CAR SUDDENLY SHUTDOWN CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY STEERING ABILITY. I MANAGED TO GUIDE THE CAR OUT OF THE 60 MPH TRAFFIC AND CAME TO A STOP. AFTER I STOPPED, I SAW A PUFF OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE STEAM OR SMOKE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. AS I OPENED THE HOOD, I COULD NOT SEE ANY LEAKS OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF A BROKEN HOSE OR ANYTHING THAT PRODUCED THE SMOKE. I CHECKED MY FLUID LEVELS AND DISCOVERED THAT MY RADIATOR RESEVOIR WAS LOW ON FLUID. I THEN PULLED THE ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK AND DISCOVERED A CHOCOLATE MILKY SUBSTANCE ON THE DIPSTICK. I SUSPECTED THAT THE OIL AND COOLANT HAD MIXED CAUSING MY ENGINE TO FAIL. I CALLED A WRECKER SERVICE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CLASSIC FORD OF COLUMBIA. ON MONDAY, 2/12/2018, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM DEAN RAY, SERVICE PROFESSIONAL FROM CLASSIC FORD. MR. RAY TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE COOLANT AND OIL TO MIX AND POSSIBLE RUINED THE ENGINE AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. AFTER RECEIVING THIS INFORMATION, I CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED THAT FORD WAS AWARE OF THE DESIGN FLAW WITH THE FAILURE OF THE INTERNAL WATER PUMP. WHEN FAILURE OF THE WATER PUMP OCCURS, THERE IS NO WARNING GIVEN TO THE DRIVER THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN SUDDENLY. THIS INTERNAL WATER PUMP WAS PLACED IN THE 3.5 DURATEC ENGINES IN THE TAURUS, EDGE, FLEX, FUSION, AND POSSIBLY OTHER FORD CARS. THIS FAILURE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE ENGINES. MANY AUTO EXPERTS HAVE DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE. LOSS OF LIFE IS POSSIBLY WITH THIS DANGEROUS ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND AN ESTIMATED $7,300.00 ENGINE REPLACEMENT BILL. PLEASE TAKE ACTION ASAP TO AVOID DEATH AND INJURY TO FORD OWNERS. A RECALL COULD SAVE LIVES.