NHTSA Complaint #11606448 — 2016 FORD ESCAPE

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Escape. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the engine overheated and an alarm sounded. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the thermostat was replaced; however, the failure recurred while driving 23 MPH. The contact pulled to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine block had fractured, causing coolant intrusion in the cylinders. The mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The dealer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.