This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Intake plastic manifold cracked causing loss of coolant. Vehicle had 67660 miles on it. This is the second crown vic we have owned and it will be the last. The first one's transmission went out just after the warranty ran out. We had to buy a second crown vic due to the steering modifications necessary for my wife to drive and the crown vic is the only car at the time that could be modified to the necessary standards.
Plastic intake manifold failed causing engine coolant loss and engine overheating. Repair bill was $721.55. Replacement manifold is a re-designed, two component palstic intake manifold/metal cross-over coolant tube. Contacted Ford for reimbursement but Ford refused. Wrote numerous letters and emails to Ford but Ford refused to take responsibility for the faulty engineering. I still have the defective manifold and continue to drive this sorry excuse of "Ford quality". what a joke.
Car was running normally when I gradually started to smell coolant coming from under the hood. I looked and saw coolant leaking from around the thermostat housing. I went and replaced the gasket for the thermostat and added silicone. The coolant than started to leak even worse. I looked at the manifold and it appeared that there was a small crack on the housing. I found out that via the internet and a public works tech that the plastic manifolds were defective. I called a Ford dealership and they said that it was out of their 7 year warranty. They said that I would have to pay for it. A kit costs around $589 and chevron quoted parts and labor at $1,050.
I was heading home from the grocery store when I got three to four miles of my home when I noticed from my rearview mirror, that there was a heavy mist billowing from behind my car. Then I began to smell the coolant fluid soon after. I managed to pull into the next closest grocery to investigate. Heavy stem from the coolant billowed up from the middle of my engine which soaked wires and other electrical instruments. I let it cool down for some time before I could add more water and set for home which was only less than a mile away. The next day I got the car to a mechanic so he could investigate to what the problem was. It was the intake manufold which was made of all things...plastic!!! the mechanic contacted and picked up the replacement that was made of metal. He had discovered that he was told that Ford co. Never sent out recall notices to Crown Victoria owners about the maifolds cracking. I had to pay over $500 for the part. Along with parts and labor costs adding up to over $800. I am apsolutely buggered to put it nicely that they never said anything!!! knowing that there was a problem with the part! they just lost a steady Ford customer not just because of my plight, but because other people were left in the dark about this serious problem! and yes! I have the old manifold and photos!
- Lewes, DE, USA
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While driving the consumer noticed steam coming from the front of the hood. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. The mechanic informed the consumer that the intake manifold was crack and needed to be replaced.
Composite intake manifold developed fatigue cracks at the coolant crossover duct which created a loss of engine coolant, heating the engine and cracking the heads. Ford knows about this problem(Ford tech bulletin dated 02/02/02 & special service message #10379) Ford admits to faulty component and has made repairs to taxi`S & police vehicles, but will do nothing for an individual with the same engine!
While driving at 70 miles per hour the engine overheated. Steam was coming from the radiator area and the fluid had boiled over. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Ford dealership for repair. The cause was a cracked intake manifold and the whole engin needed to be replaced. The replacement manifold has been reinforced at the point of failure. I understand Ford recalled police and taxis manufactured in this period but did not notify private owners of a possible defect.
Driving on higway at 65 mph began to smell a burning odor, after pulling over to a safe location smoke came from under hood. When hood was opened for inspection it emitted a noxious odor and it was spraying hot engine coolant from the top of the engine. After engine cooled down coolant was added and car was driven a short distance home. Vehicle was towed into the dealer expecting the repair to be covered by warranty either by the recall that is out (apparently currently only applies to police and taxis) or as listed in the owners manual for California emissions components defects. The dealer said this was not covered either way. A call to Ford customer relations (edith) initiated a claim. Edith said she would contact the dealer for assistance but my vehicle was not recalled. The dealer representative was recontacted and refused to offer any assistance whatsover. This issue is well established as NHTSA has the bulletins listed and there a numerous complaints documented. Some people could drive their vehicle unknowingly with this defect which could result in fire or burning from escaping steam. Ford Motor Company must reimburse me and others who have had expenses to repair their problem of a poor original design. The new part has been updated with an aluminum coolant crossover instead of plastic.
The plastic coolant crossover on the intake manifold ruptured causing my wife to make an emergency stop on the side of the highway. My mechanic told me that Ford was having a lot of these to fail. The new manifold is made with metal on the water crossover, the instructions with the new manifold even told the mechanics where to look for a coolant leak. This was a very expensive repair that I believe Ford Motor Company should cover at least partly under a recall. Nlm
Ford Motor Company is aware that a crack is likely in the plastic front coolant crossover on the intake manifold assembly (4.6L engines). This is listed as a Ford technical service bulletin dated 02-02-02 and as a Ford special service message #10379. When the crack occurred on my vehicle, it stranded my wife and I in the Florida everglades on a hot Sunday afternoon. Total costs incurred were over $1,000 of which maroone Ford charged me $773.75 to replace the intake manifold. The replacement crossover is made of metal, not plastic. Not only was this a financial liability, it is a safety hazard. Anyone who inspects the engine compartment at the time of initial trouble shooting will become severely burned by hot coolant boiling out of the crack of the plastic crossover.
Ford Motor Company is aware that a crack is likely in the plastic front coolant crossover on the intake manifold assembly (4.6L engines). This is listed as a Ford technical service bulletin dated 02-02-02 and as a Ford special service message #10379. When the crack occurred on my vehicle, it stranded my wife and I in the Florida everglades on a hot Sunday afternoon. Total costs incurred were over $1,000 of which maroone Ford charged me $773.75 to replace the intake manifold. The replacement crossover is made of metal, not plastic. Not only was this a financial liability, it is a safety hazard. Anyone who inspects the engine compartment at the time of initial trouble shooting will become severely burned by hot coolant boiling out of the crack of the plastic crossover.
Engine has never overheated. Cooling system very clean. Spontaneous crack developed in plastic intake manifold croosover tube, directly behind alternator. Immediate coolant loss through 3.5" crack. Replacement part looks identical, no visible improvement. Ford admits to faulty component through service bulletins, and has made repairs to fleet vehicles. Dealer states they will do nothing for individual owners.
Intake manifold is leaking radiator fluid. My mechanic said a recall was issued for this exact problem, but Ford refused responsibility. 10 complains(same) listed on defective investigation for same car and date.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Mountain Home, AR, USA