NHTSA Complaint #11611950 — 2018 FORD EXPLORER

Our 2018 Ecoboost Ford Explorer started releasing smoke from the tailpipe when starting in April 2023. I took it in to the Ford of Kirkland dealership in early May 2023. They kept my car for 9 weeks, and then said there is nothing wrong with it and gave it back in July 2023. The car kept having the same issue. This was while it was still under warranty about 96,000 miles. Fast forward to February 2024, the car has continued to smoke this entire time since the dealership gave it back in July. In February, I was driving home on the freeway going up hill when the car suddenly decelerated rapidly. I was able to get off the freeway and have my husband come and he got it home. We contacted the dealership (Ford of Kirkland) the same one that did nothing in 2023. They trailered it in for a look. The response we got from the service manager was that "The engine needs replaced due to scoring in the cylinder and low compression". We could not afford to pay for an engine replacement, so we wrote a letter to Ford, who responded "thank you for letting us know, but there are no recalls and it is out of warranty, so save your receipts and if a recall comes up you could potentially be reimbursed". I received this response from Ford in June 2024, so basically they were unwilling to help. Imagine my surprise that a recall was just announced today for the exact issue we have with our car in other model years, but not our model year. I would like to know my rights. I am still paying on a car that has a failed engine, with Ford basically having told me they will do nothing. As noted, this issue is confirmed by the Ford of Kirkland dealership, which I have in writing from the service manager. The car has not been inspected by the manufacturer directly, but IS available for inspection if you would like. The car has been sitting for several months now, while we try to figure out what to do. We don't have $10,000 to replace a motor that we should not need to replace.