NHTSA Complaint #11154840 — 2014 FORD FUSION

LOUD NOISE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR ON THANKSGIVING DAY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHICH IS 2 MILES FROM OUR HOME. HE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AS A BAD WATER PUMP BUT WAS CONFUSED AS TO WHY THE WATER PUMP WOULD GO BAD AT ONLY 77K MILES. WHEN HE WENT TO ORDER THE PART HE FOUND OUT THAT THE EXISTING WATER PUMP HAD BEEN DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED BY A WATER PUMP THAT NO LONGER USED THE ELECTRONICS THAT THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP USED. FORD (FROM LOCAL DEALERSHIP)TECHS EXPLAINED THAT THE EXISTING WIRES SHOULD JUST BE CUT AND SHRINKWRAPPED AS THEY WERE NO LONGER NEEDED. HE ALSO LEARNED THAT TO DO THE INSTALL OF THE NEWER VERSION WATER PUMP THAT THE TIMING BELT WOULD NEED TO BE ADJUSTED AND A 'SPECIAL TIMING KIT' WOULD BE NEEDED. THIS REPAIR ACTUALLY INVOLVED REMOVING THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE TO USE THE 'SPECIAL TIMING KIT'. I CAN FIND NO RECALL ON THE ORIGINAL WATER PUMP EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED WITH AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PART. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND A PHONE COMPLAINT WITH FORD CORPORATE WAS FILED TODAY. FORD REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON WHY THE PUMP WAS DISCONTINUED AND OFFERED NO HELP IN COVERING THIS WEEK LONG EXPENSIVE REPAIR. MY LOCAL MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY RECALL WORTHY BUT A SAFETY HAZARD AND I SHOULD REPORT IT TO YOU IMMEDIATELY.