I've been a proud owner of Ford product for many years. My wife and I were in an accident a few years back and my Taurus (awesome car) was totaled and we came through it very well. At that time we decided to buy another Taurus and ultimately another Explorer. I have to say that I was surprised when our mechanic said we needed to replace the radiator on such a new vehicle. I've only needed to replace maybe 2 in my life (40+) and couldn't believe it. My first words were "Is it a known problem?" and our mechanic said yes, but I didn't realize how bad until finding this site. After $675 later, my wife still likes her Explorer! I wasn't planning on spending the $675, but we've done well with Ford over the years and plan to stay there...no foreign cars here!

I decided to buy a Ford Explorer for my daily travels last year and I am having the same problem. I thought it was an isolated incident since I have put on 50,000 miles since I purchased it. Then something told me to engine search ford complaints and was taken back by all the complaints regarding this radiator issue. Funny thing is I also called Ford and was told that it would cost me $1084.00 parts/ labor and thought I was getting a good deal until I asked a couple of friends and was told that I could get the part for 150.00 bucks. It gets better...I looked under the rubber hood seal and to my surprise it wasn't even an original Ford part. So prior to me buying this truck the radiator had already been changed.

Damn...I'm really pissed off. Here I am thinking that giving American Auto dealers a chance would make a difference, and the only difference is that those driving foreign cars are not on this site typing about how there cars suck. Good thing I'm not afraid to work on my own vehicle.

Ford is giving its customers a RAW DEAL with this radiator problem. Lets get it together Ford. Send out the damn recall on this issue or you will face fines after numerous complaints are filed with the State Attorney General.

Car would sometimes make a loud "fan" sound, and when idling it would blow cool air and I would have to step on the gas and it would blow warm/hot air, temp would spike when idling and then step on the gas and it would go down, never saw a leak of fluid, ever... yeah, so had it towed to Ford and they gave an estimate of 1400.00 to fix, replace the radiator, replace the thermostat, fluid flush. Got an estimate at a garage, it was the thermostat. $150.00. I don't know if I trust Ford at all right now!

I will today replace the radiator on my 2006 Ford Explorer for the 3rd time. Counting the original radiator, this will be the 4th one in a car with $85,000 miles. The most recent radiator was put into the car less than 6 months and $6000 miles ago.

I have contacted Ford on multiple occasions only to be told that I should take the care to a Ford Service Center. I have notified Ford that I did in fact do that, and after paying $200 plus to hook up to their computer system was sent away with a car which had no fluid in the radiator only to find myself with an overheated car less than a day later.

I have paid Ford an additional $90 to reflash the computer with the latest Ford bulletin regarding the radiator. However, after following their bulletin and doing that procedure, I still ended up with a leaking and cracked radiator. All the radiators have cracked at the same location.

Ford does not wish to take responsibility for the apparent faulty production of the vehicle. I have been told that there is nothing they can do other than document in their computer system the issue and read the script they have been provided. I have asked on multiple occasions to speak with a higher management and have been told that no one else is available and they refuse to put me in touch with another person.

I have called the local dealership and ask for assistance in putting me in touch with someone who can address the issue and have been told that the 800 customer service line is the only option.

As a multiple Ford Explorer owner, I can honestly say that I am very disappointed in the level of service I have received from Ford. It is apparent the issue is not isolated to my vehicle and Ford needs to step up to the plate and take responsibility for correcting the faulty manufacturing of the vehicle.

The same problem here, my wife just got home and told me that she keeps hearing the cooling fan going off. when I got home, popped the hood and there it was radiator liquid on the motor head!!! Car only has 40000 miles and never had a problem with it!! Called Ford and asked them if there was a recall for this sinse there was a lot of people complaining regarding this problem and they told me that NO.

So I pretended to be dum and asked the rep what were my options and she said none, that I had to pay for the repairs even knowing that the car only has 40000 miles on it. I almost bought another Ford but everithing happens for a reson. Now I see why everybody talks bad about Ford, and no wonder that they almost went bankrupt.

My advice never get a Ford because it sounds like they build their cars to only last when they are in the warranty after that is down the hill.

Well, another dissatisfied 2006 Ford Explorer owner needs to sound off...Same problems as the rest of you - leaky radiator (bottom). My Ford dealer wants nearly $1,200 to replace!!! WTF. --- Ford Motor Company -- you currently have a good name...Toyota is on its knees...you have a good opportunity in the coming years to improve your position in the global auto market. you need to do the right thing here and recall this radiator, before you soil your name any further! By the way, remember to hold on to your receipt so you can get reimbursed when the recall finally occurs!

Bought a 2006 Ford Explorer brand new and have had maintenance performed as scheduled. In December 2009 we took it to our local Ford dealership because something was leaking (we thought it was power steering fluid) and we were told the radiator was cracked. Nothing ever lit up on the dash to indicate a problem. We were told it would cost $1300 to have a Ford radiator installed or roughly $800 to install an after-market radiator. We went with the after-market and thought everything was fine. Last week I notice a nice red puddle under the Explorer in my driveway. I immediately took it back to the Ford dealership and was told the O-ring going into the radiator was leaking and we were looking at possibly having another radiator installed. The dealership told me I was looking at another $500 just for the labor...which I refused to pay because this radiator had been on less than 2 months and for all I know one of their technicians could have cracked the O-ring when putting it on. I got the labor down to $163, but I'm still livid over this radiator nonsense.

I have called Ford Customer Service and filed an official complaint, but I honestly have no idea if it's going to do any good. The number for customer care at Ford is 800-392-3673. PLEASE call and file an official complaint so an investigation will be started by the NHTSA on these radiators!!

I have been reading online about how many people have been affected by this problem. I went to the ford dealership and was told it would be at least $975 to fix this problem. I was SOL, out of warranty. The radiator was ordered but came in damaged a week later. I was then told by the dealer that they are having problems ordering the new radiator due to the fact that this is happening so often there aren't enough radiators available. I then went to the local radiator shop and was told they could do it for under $500. Problem solved but there really should be a recall on this explorer. 40,000 miles and a new radiator, I don't think so. I am now writing to Ford to see what they can do. Probably SOL again.

Ok, I bought a 2006 Ford Explorer in January 06. Well, in March 08...I had to get the radiator replaced and it was not covered under my warranty because I had a basic 36,000 mile warranty and I was over that! Well, I got it replaced and all seemed to be well. Well, about a weak ago...I was driving my vehicle and I started hearing a fan like noise. Well, I went into Meineke today(2/13/10) to get it checked out. Guess what they told me? Yes, you guessed it...I need another radiator! It hasn't even been a full 2 years since I replaced the last one! I've only have had this vehicle for 4 years, and in 2 years of replacing one radiator, I now need another one! Come on 2 radiators in 4 years!!!!!!!!! I only put 25,000 miles on my vehicle between installation of the first radiator till now. I've had my vehicle serviced on a regular basis. I mean...there must be some sort of defect in these radiators! I mean please...a radiator should last more than 1 year and 11mth especially if I get my vehicle serviced often and I only put 25 thousand miles in 23 months! I mean can someone contact Ford or something. Something is wrong with these radiators! Give the consumer a break Ford and confess your faults!

The original radiator leak was noticed possibly as a year earlier...Son't car...it appeared to leave anti freeze on driveway...no one could find a leak...I took car to a local dealer for transmission flush and it happened to anti freeze leaking that day...upper left corner of tank cap...I took it straight to local radiator shop..they did a leak test and found the seep in the upper left corner....They replaced the radiator...everyone thought all was good until I happened to notice antifreeze on the driveway at my home late Nov...to early Dec...that started a series of 2 more new radiator changes that actually started leaking immediately when we actually started watching for the problem...after the 3rd one..I went and purchased a new radiator cap and installed it...haven't added anti freeze or saw any sign of leaking since..

Update from Sep 3, 2010: UPDATE: Car started losing Antifreeze again: After rolling the dice...3radiators leaking ??? Although there was no visible proof that the water pump was leaking,...I had the radiator shop pull the water pump...yep, there it was, hidden away behind the pulleys, The water pump has 2 weep holes which I was suspecting to see a leak..One of them had a piece of plastic that was out of position that was blocking a good portion of the hole...BUT...not actually leaking there...There is an open slot in the housing that cannot be seen when the pump is mounted....That is where the antifreeze was actually coming out....Although there is no way of proving it...I highly suspect that this leak was there all along..(I know the 1st radiator did have a leak..I saw it)...but I suspect the continuation of the problem has been the water pump all along ???

18 months ago, it was brought to my attention during oil lube service at the Ford Dealer that my radiator was leaking. Fortunately it was under warranty and was replace at no charge. Now 18 months later, the warranty (2nd) radiator had been leaking and I was down just over a gallon in coolant. Only a small leak had developed and I was losing a drop of coolant over time. FORD has a terrible designed radiator that must be installed on posts at the bottom of the plastic manifold. If the technician has to flex the radiator to fit it in place, and misses engaging the plastic manifold onto the fixed mounting post, there is going to be another problem. Unfortunately the same dealer installed the third radiator without telling me all this and I had to find out for myself after he rang up my credit card.

I have sent a letter to Ford Customer Relations in Dearborn Michigan and will see how this all pans out. No one should have to replace a radiator, let alone two or more when there is an inherent design problem. If FORD doesn't take care of me, I am through with DOMESTICS all together and will influence my three children to never ever by DOMESTICS AGAIN. I am one to give my opinion to friends and family as well. Get your act together FORD, and admit you have a terrible problem.

My wife drives our 2006 explorer to cart our children around run arrands etc... Just this month we have had to replace the entire braking system which as you may know is around $1K. So then I get a letter in the mail stating there is a recall on the shift lever. On the way to drop it off my wife calls to tell me while stopped at a light she has only luke warm heat. Dealer says the radiator has an internal leak and needs to be replaced. His exact words were "Ford is very proud of there radiators and is going to cost $607.00 just for the part". Seriously! Did he just say that WTF!!!!!!!!!! Something needs to be done about this! Comon Ford get your head out of your damn ASS!!!

I too have the 2006 Ford Explorer with the leaking radiator. I had the radiator replaced and less than 1000 miles later the new one started leaking. The first replacement I paid for, the second one was under warranty. Ford, of course, denies the existence of any problem.

I chose to have the radiator replaced at a local shop as I did not want to give Ford any more of my money. The shop owner suggested that at least part of the problem was the fact that, in the interest of fuel efficiency, the radiators are run at high pressure and the cooling fan does not come on soon enough when you slow or stop. He suggested the computer be reprogrammed to have the fan come on at a lower temperature. The Ford dealer said they never heard of this and did not know what I was talking about.

I noted a prior complaint suggested a class action lawsuit. I think another way would be to file a complaint with the Environmental Protection Agency to see if they can get Ford to stop dumping Glycol from their defective radiators into our environment. This is what I am going to do as Ford will do nothing about this problem.

The engine seemed to rev while I was trying to excelerate and noticed the coolant light came on. Took it to the Ford house where I was told there was a radiator leak and it would cost $1100.00 to fix. No thanks, Paid the diagnostic fee of $100.00 bucks and called 2 radiator repair shops. Both quoted around $500.00. The only problem, this radiator is on national backorder. Is it just me or does this sound like there may be a problem with the radiator on the 2006 Explorer? Don't get me wrong. I love my car. This is the second Explorer I've had in 7 years, but seems like there is definately a problem here. I'm not the most car savvy person, so does anyone know what to do to see if the might be a recall issue? Thanks.