NHTSA Complaint #11329871 — 2020 FORD EXPLORER

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH, 2020 AT 12:10 PM, I WAS HEADED EAST BOUND ON A TWO LANE STATE ROAD WITH DOUBLE YELLOW LINES. MY VEHICLE (NEW FORD EXPLORER ST, 2407 MILES ON ODOMETER) WAS ON INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL SET FOR 37 MPH AND IN 'NORMAL DRIVE' MODE. WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE ENGINE APPEARED TO BE RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP ABOUT 300 FEET FROM WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTED. THE ENGINE WAS STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES. CALLED AAA AND THEY CALLED LOCAL POLICE. AN OFFICER DIRECTED TRAFFIC AS I WAS BLOCKING THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OFF ON. ROAD WAS IN RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH CURBS. A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AT 12:35 PM AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. FAULT CODE SHOWED A DEFECTIVE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. THERE ALSO IS EVIDENCE THAT THE TIMING BELT HAS SLIPPED. SCORING CAN BE SEEN ON TOP OF #6 PISTON THROUGH BORESCOPE. THE #6 SPARK PLUG SHOWS IMPACT DAMAGE FROM PISTON. BATTERY IS DRAINING AND CAR IS GOING INTO SLEEP MODE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER STATED THE ENGINE WILL LIKELY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED FORD ENGINEERING AND ESTABLISHED A CASE NUMBER. DEALERSHIP IS WORKING WITH FORD ENGINEERING TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE. A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE OF THIS TYPE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. THREE DAYS EARLIER, A 140 MILE ROUND TRIP WAS MADE TO BOSTON WITHOUT INCIDENT. IF THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON I-93 TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS.