NHTSA Complaint #11290969 — 2014 FORD EXPLORER

THE WATER PUMP IN MY 2014 FORD EXPLORER 3.5L V6 ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT. THE WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 79,000 MILES. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAD TO BE FILLED AND I WAS INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE COOLANT LEAK. TWO WEEKS AFTER GETTING THE COOLANT FILLED, MY RADIATOR FAN BEGAN RUNNING FAST AND LOUD. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SHOP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A LEAKING WATER PUMP. THERE WAS ONLY ONE INCH LEFT OF COOLANT IN THE RESERVOIR AFTER JUST BEING FILLED UP. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WOULD TAKE 14-16 HOURS OF LABOR TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WHICH ITSELF COSTS LESS THAN $150. I WAS REFERRED BY THE SHOP TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE WORK NEEDED WAS EXTENSIVE AND BECAUSE IT INVOLVED A FORD PART. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS AND REFERRED ME TO FORD. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE WATER PUMP LEAK. BASICALLY, THE ENGINE HAD TO BE TAKEN APART TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, BECAUSE THE PUMP IS MADE PART OF THE ENGINE ITSELF. I BELIEVE THE FORD ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP IS DEFECTIVE. THE GASKETS OR BEARINGS IN THE WATER PUMP FAIL AND THERE ARE WEEP HOLES IN THE WATER PUMP WHICH ALLOW COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND MIX WITH THE ENGINE OIL. MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. I SPENT $1,839.82 TO FIX A SINGLE WATER PUMP! THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT DUE TO THE BURDEN IT PLACES ON THE PUBLIC. THERE ARE ALSO SAFETY ISSUES CAUSED BY THIS DUE TO VEHICLES BEING SO AFFECTED BY THE COOLANT LEAKS THE ENGINES SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE IN USE. I UNDERSTAND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY OTHER FORD 3.5L V6 ENGINES. I HAVE THE MY VEHICLE REPAIR RECORDS IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO REVIEW THEM.