NHTSA Complaint #11339958 — 2011 FORD EDGE

THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SUDDENLY WENT FROM NORMAL TO HIGH. I NOTICED IT AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN THE CAR OFF. NO ALARMS OR ALERTS WENT OFF ON THE CAR AT ALL. WHEN WE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR WE NOTICED THAT THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING. MY HUSBAND ADDED MORE TO IT AND WE LEFT THE CAR THERE UNTIL WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHICH MECHANIC WOULD BE ABLE TO REPAIR THE WATER PUMP. THE LOCAL MECHANICS WE SPOKE TO WERE NOT COMFORTABLE DOING THIS REPAIR DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF LABOR REQUIRED FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE HAD THE FORD EDGE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THE WATER PUMP ENDED UP LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP SAID WAS CATASTROPHIC. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD, INSTEAD OF IN THE PARKING LOT, IT COULD HAVE SEIZED THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED INSTANTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS OR ALARMS. THE FORD TECHNICIANS SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL DAYS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ISSUE AS WELL AS A COSTLY ONE. A WATER PUMP SHOULD BE A SIMPLE REPAIR OR PROBLEM, HOWEVER THE WAY THAT IT HAPPENED CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. IT NOW REQUIRES AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS OR OPERATES IN ANY CAPACITY. I WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT SO I WAS FORTUNATE. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE AND WAS THERE ABOUT ONE MINUTE - LITERALLY. THE REPAIR FEES FOR THE WATER PUMP WERE PRICED AT $3,000. THE REPAIR FEES FOR THE USED ENGINE REPLACEMENT ARE $4,000-5,000. THIS IS A POOR VEHICLE DESIGN AND A SAFETY CONCERN FOR FORD.