NHTSA Complaint #11349751 — 2016 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2016 FORD EXPLORER WHICH HAS 78,146 MILES AND WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM EVERETT FORD IN BENTON, ARKANSAS LESS THAN A YEAR AGO AND HAVE HAD NORMAL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ACCORDING THE THE OWNERS MANUAL. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC TAKE A LOOK IT IS A RESULT OF A FAULTY WATER PUMP IN WHICH I WAS QUOTED $2500-$3500 FOR A REPLACEMENT IN ADDITION THE ENGINE WOULD BE SEVERAL THOUSAND. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE WATER PUMP IS INSIDE THE ENGINE AND SO WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILS IT DESTROYS THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING BY MIXING THE COOLANT WITH THE ENGINE OIL. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS FURTHER THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT AND THE THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS THAT WERE AFFECTED BUT CONTINUE TO ADVERTISE 'BUILT FORD TOUGH'TO DRIVE SALES AND DID NOT WARN CUSTOMERS OR MAKE THEM AWARE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ALL OWNERS OF THE FORD DURATEC V6 ENGINE AND THERE SHOULD BE A FORCED RECALL BY THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. DO NOT WAIT FOR THERE TO BE DEATHS FROM THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT BEFORE TAKING ACTION. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER OF FORD BUT WILL BE GETTING RID OF MY VEHICLE AND MAKING SURE ALL FORD OWNERS ARE AWARE AND YOU CANNOT TRUST FORD WHEN THEY ARE AWARE OF A SAFETY RELATED MECHANICAL FAILURE AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY OR EVEN NOTIFYING ITS LOYAL CUSTOMERS!