About this problem
The water pump circulates coolant through the engine. On some engines it sits inside the engine and is driven by the timing chain, so when its seal fails, coolant can leak straight into the oil and ruin the engine. The first signs are a sweet smell, a low coolant level or overheating, and the repair is expensive because the front of the engine has to come apart.
Across all owner complaints filed about the Ford Explorer since 2012, 436 (3.1%) describe water pump failure, the second most reported problem we track on the Explorer. The reports cluster on the 2013, 2016 and 2017 model years, and the 2016 drew the most, with 137. It tends to show up at higher mileage: half of the owners who gave a mileage were between 76,000 and 123,000 miles. 5 reports describe a crash or fire linked to it. No recall covers it, but Ford has sent dealers service bulletins about it, listed below.
What owners report
On the 3.5-liter V6 Explorer, the water pump sits inside the engine and is driven by the timing chain. When it fails, coolant can leak into the oil and destroy the engine, often with little warning. Owners report coolant loss, overheating and sweet-smelling oil, usually past 80,000 miles, and most often on 2013 to 2017 models.
How it gets fixed
The repair means taking apart the front of the engine to reach the pump. If coolant has already mixed with the oil, the engine may need to be replaced.
Typical cost: A water pump replacement on this engine typically costs $1,500 to $2,500. An engine replacement costs $6,000 or more.
Complaints by model year
In owners' words
"The heater on the car didn't work, It turns out the coolant was leaking that led to the water pump issue. Things started to fail on the vehicle and lights came on. It left me stranded on the highway. The car shut down on the Intestate."
2016 Ford Explorer, 102,411 miles
"Vehicle's water pump began leaking during a normal patrol shift. We have had several of these fail at various mileages and each repair that was not under warranty has cost us around $2000.00 each time."
2013 Ford Explorer, 93,296 miles
"The water pump leaked coolant into the engine oil and will cost over $3,000.00 to fix. The Ford exropler engine design with the water pump in the engine is a cash trap for consumers. The design is horrible."
2017 Ford Explorer, 77,000 miles
Excerpts from public owner complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lightly trimmed.
Service bulletins
Ford has sent dealers 2 bulletins that mention this problem on the Explorer. A bulletin tells technicians how to fix a known fault. It is not a recall, so the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty or covered by an extension.
Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit automatic transmission fluid (ATF) contamination in the engine cooling system due to the transmission cooler.
Some 2022 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility and 2022-2023 Aviator vehicles built on or before 19-Aug-2022 and equipped with 3.0L EcoBoost engines may exhibit an engine coolant leak at the water pump output spigot to the trans...
Before you buy a Explorer
- Check the coolant level and the oil for a milky look.
- Ask whether the water pump has been replaced, and when.
- Be cautious with high-mileage 3.5-liter Explorers that have no pump records.
Questions
Which Ford Explorer years have water pump failure?
Complaints are highest for the 2013, 2016, 2017 model years. The 2016 drew the most, with 137 reports.
At what mileage does it usually start?
Among owners who gave a mileage, the middle figure was about 96,000 miles, and half reported it between 76,000 and 123,000 miles.
How much does it cost to fix?
A water pump replacement on this engine typically costs $1,500 to $2,500. An engine replacement costs $6,000 or more.