2006 Ford Explorer

I NOTICED A YELLOW FLUID LEAKING FROM THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE MANIFOLD, PROBABLY THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. WE REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND BRAND NEW O-RINGS AND ADDED SILICONE SEALANT AROUND THE AFFECTED AREAS. WE ARE STILL SEEING THE LEAKING. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT NUMEROUS TIMES AND IT IS TIME THAT FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLASTIC PARTS THAT ARE CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE. FORD MUST USE METAL PARTS TO REPLACE THESE FOR ME BECAUSE PLASTIC WARPS IN THE HEAT OF FLORIDA. THE AFFECTED PARTS ARE THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING AND IT'S CONNECTION TO THE ENGINE. I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER 4.0 WITH 55K MILEAGE. GOOD MAINTENANCE ALWAYS, OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, FLUIDS CHECKED AND MAINTAINED REGULARLY. FORD MUST FIX THIS! *JS

I DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE RADIATOR AFTER NOTICING THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE WAS BOUNCING AROUND AT AN IDLE. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STARTED STEAMING. WE ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED AT A COST OF $600. (IT WAS ALSO OVER 90 DEGREES THAT DAY AND I WAS STRANDED WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN, THE YOUNGEST WAS 4 MONTHS OLD.) THEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IN MAY 2012, I WAS AT A GROCERY STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO ENTER THE VEHICLE I NOTED A LARGE PUDDLE OF ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND AND IT WAS DRIPPING FROM THE RADIATOR. WE HAD TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED, AGAIN AT A COST OF $600. THE SAME MECHANIC REPAIRED IT BOTH TIMES AND SAID IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE FIRST ONE. NOW WE ARE HAVING TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKING FROM THE COOLING LINE THAT LEADS FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE RADIATOR. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE CAUSED US SERIOUS HARDSHIPS FINANCIALLY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED PHYSICAL INJURY DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT OUT ON BOTH OCCASIONS AND I HAD SMALL CHILDREN WITH ME MILES FROM HOME. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY HAVE DECLINED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING, AS ARE MANY OTHERS, THAT A RECALL BE ISSUED. AND I ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AS IT IS A MAJOR ONE. IT IS STRANGE THAT FORD CHANGED THE RADIATOR IN THE 2007 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE READING FROM THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED WHEN THE RADIATOR FAILED. THE RADIATOR LEAKED COOLANT DUE TO DEFECTIVE PLASTIC. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A FOURTH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING, 3 DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON: THE WRENCH, THE ABS LIGHT, AND THE LOW TRACTION. WHEN I TURNED LEFT, THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL GRABBED AND MADE A GRINDING SOUND. THERE WAS ALSO A HIGHER PITCHED NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE METAL STRIKING METAL. THE MECHANIC HAS STATED THAT THE TONE RING BROKE ON THE RIGHT REAR DRIVE AXLE, AND THIS IS A COMMON FORD PROBLEM. WHEN IT BROKE, IT DAMAGED THE BRAKE UNIT ON MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL AS WELL. THE REPAIR ISN'T CHEAP - I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A POSSIBILITY WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 FORD EXPLORER XLT AND THIS WILL BE THIRD TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR THREE TIMES AND AN ENGINE BLOCK SEAL. THESE ARE VERY COSTLY FIXES FOR A CAR THAT IS ONLY A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ARE NOT HELPFUL OR SYMPATHETIC AT ALL AND CLAIM THAT THEY ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. MEANWHILE, WHEN YOU SEARCH THE WEB IT IS AN ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD. I FEEL THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS HORRIBLE AND SO ARE THEIR CARS. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A FORD TO ANYONE, NOT EVEN MY WORST ENEMY. I COULD HAVE BOUGHT TWO CARS FOR THE MONEY I AM PUTTING INTO THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME MISFIRING SPARK PLUGS ON MY TRUCK. WE ARE PRICING THEM OUT AND ARE FINDING OUT THAT THEY ARE VERY HARD TO REPLACE AND THEY BREAK OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE! DEALERS DO NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING THEM YOURSELF AND IT COSTS $300 TO HAVE THEM DO IT, THEN $100 FOR EVERY SPARK PLUG THAT BREAKS DURING THAT PROCESS, PLUS THE $19 FOR EACH MOTORCRAFT BRAND PLUG! THIS COULD COST US UP TO $1500 JUST TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS?! THIS IS INSANITY!!! NOT ONLY DOES IT BUILD UP CARBON BUT IT IS ALSO A 2 PIECE PLUG AND IT BREAKS APART! THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED! PEOPLE ARE SPENDING A FORTUNE JUST TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS! ITS SICK! *TR

SEPARATION OF RADIATOR ... BETWEEN PLASTIC TOP AND BOTTOM TANKS WITH ALUMINUM RADIATOR GRILL. THIS IS THE 2ND REPLACEMENT WITH COST $520 RADIATOR, $300 LABOR ESTIMATED BY FORD. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH ENGINE FAILURE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE POSSIBLE. PROBLEM CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE/ANYTIME; I.E., WITHIN TRAFFIC SITUATION ON MULTILANE INTERSTATE RUSH HOUR. *JS

SEPARATION OF RADIATOR ... BETWEEN PLASTIC TOP AND BOTTOM TANKS WITH ALUMINUM RADIATOR GRILL. THIS WAS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WITH COST $460 RADIATOR, $308 LABOR ESTIMATED BY FORD. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE AND SAFETY ISSUE WITH ENGINE FAILURE/TRANSMISSION FAILURE POSSIBLE. PROBLEM CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE/ANYTIME; I.E., WITHIN TRAFFIC SITUATION ON MULTILANE INTERSTATE RUSH HOUR. (43000 MILES ON ODOMETER, FIRST TIME.) *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND DROVE OVER A BUMP. IMMEDIATELY, THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE THEN BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE FOR THE SAME FAILURE AND THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED EACH TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,551. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE.