HolyRoller Posted January 16, 2020 Share Posted January 16, 2020 Just wondering if anyone else has heard of this or not. The other night, on my way home from work, the CEL came on. Took it to the dealership the next morning. Later that day, the service advisor calls to say it's a misfire on cylinders 2 & 3 due to a coolant leak. Fusion has just over 16K miles on it. The odd part is that less than a month prior (15K mi), the same dealership did a full check on the engine because I complained of white smoke being blown when the car does a double downshift. They couldn't recreate the issue and said the cylinders are bone dry and there is no indication of any issues with the engine. Now, I'm in a loaner car and won't get my car back until the end of next week because the dealership has to do a top end rebuild on my car. The service advisor told me that Ford just came out with a bulletin recently about the problem. I guess the issue is an extra coolant port that runs between cylinders 2 & 3 is the culprit and the new head design eliminates that port. At least the car is under warranty and I'm only in a 3 year lease. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangster Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 There is an SSM (Special Service Message, I guess not enough to be a TSB) on it, has been for a year at least. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10163592-0001.pdf I am at 56k on my 2017 Escape with the 1.5, and I have added more coolant to it than to my 2012 Fusion, so I am not sure if that is an issue or not. It isn't drinking it like beer and hasn't overheated. I think it is the block and not the head. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolyRoller Posted January 17, 2020 Author Share Posted January 17, 2020 I read the SSM, but my service advisor was very clear that a short block replacement IS necessary and drew me a diagram to show the difference between the current head design and the one in the rebuild kit. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolyRoller Posted January 18, 2020 Author Share Posted January 18, 2020 And, ironically, I received this in the mail today while my car is at the dealership being repaired for what this bulletin is trying to prevent. #Isn'tItIronicDontYouThink? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangster Posted January 18, 2020 Share Posted January 18, 2020 I have only gotten the notification in the FordPass app for that, and setup an appointment. I am not sure that I want them to make my Escape have less HP, it is already right on the edge of powerful enough. A short block is the block assembly minus the head, so if the head is the issue and they are replacing the shortblock, there is a miscommunication someplace. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 (edited) I'll post more in the 1.5L reprogram thread under Recalls, but this is really scary. I'm going in in 2 days for the reprogram. Have only 3K miles on my '17 (due to having 2 cars), but I am shocked that this is happening to vehicles with only 10K miles on them. Not good, Ford. I'm already researching other vehicles for purchase after mine is paid off in 18 months because me thinks this is the start of a long-term fiasco. It is the short block, not the head. Time will tell if the rebuild works over time. I just hope it's not a case of an engine that should not have been turbocharged to begin with. BTW, the turbo 2.0L in the Fusion, Escape and a bunch of others has the exact same issue. They were sent letters last June. Edited January 28, 2020 by NCEcoBoost 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) C On 1/18/2020 at 3:22 PM, HolyRoller said: And, ironically, I received this in the mail today while my car is at the dealership being repaired for what this bulletin is trying to prevent. #Isn'tItIronicDontYouThink? Can someone explain how a "software reprogram" is going to prevent a blown or leaking head gasket? Also, has Ford fixed the core issue (head / head gasket selection) since the date on this notification? In other words will the 2019's-2020's have the same issue going forward and, Ford will just BS their way though what appears to me to be plain poor engineering until the end of production this year? Edited January 29, 2020 by Chip 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangster Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 Just had mine done, I haven't driven it since. They were not very forthcoming with what was done (my wife took it in). They can keep coolant circulating longer/sooner/more frequently. They can change temp that the cooling fan is demanded and speed(s). They can lower boost. There are a million things they can do to bandaid the physical issue. I have had to add more than a quart of coolant to my 2017 (with 56k miles) so far, that is about a quart more than I have ever had to add to any vehicle that wasn't 20+ years old already, or had an overflow instead of a closed system like we how have with the degas bottle. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 I just don't see how you can band-aid a leaking head gasket. I guess turning down the boost would help, but how can running the coolant fan after shut down do much? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 40 minutes ago, Chip said: I just don't see how you can band-aid a leaking head gasket. I guess turning down the boost would help, but how can running the coolant fan after shut down do much? They're not fixing a leaking head gasket, they're trying to prevent it from failing in the first place. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) How EXACTLY is that accomplished by the steps they are taking? A true preventive is to replace the head gasket with a more appropriate one. This must be a massive problem in light of the number of vehicles they make using this engine and I would guess that is why they can't afford to replace gaskets and or blocks on all the affected vehicles. Edited January 31, 2020 by Chip 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueOval2010 Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 We had a similar or same issue with my daughter's 2014 1.6L Ecoboost Escape. It was using coolant and had misfires on cylinders 2 & 3. Dealership said the head was cracked and needed to be repaired with the new design cylinder head , on our dime of course. They took the engine apart and said the block was cracked, not the head. Dealer could not get a new short block because they were all dedicated for new production. We settled for a dealer installed rebuilt engine from a local supplier - $4300. Ours was the fourth 1.6L engine they have recently replaced, and they have two more in the shop for the same reason. Ford is having issues to say the least. Good luck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangster Posted January 29, 2020 Share Posted January 29, 2020 It is the design of the block, not the head gasket. On the affected ones (2014-2019) blocks there is a slot between those cylinders. New blocks do not have the slot. Once it is bad enough the block is eroded and a head gasket replacement won't help, needs a short block (I would think a long block, but...they are doing short blocks). Since mine is an Escape, it only had the 1.5 I4 GTDi from 2017-2019 (2020 gets the 1.4 I3), but I have seen 2019 Fusion letters that say 2014-2019 so 2020 must have the new block design. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 (edited) Or the '20 Fusions will be covered in a seperate campaign. I had mine done today. I posted my impressions under the thread in Maintenance/Recalls, etc. Even the Service Writer looked at me to say it was a Band-Aid. Since Ford is swamped with engine replacements at this time, it's possible that they're trying to delay the inevitable. BTW, the Fusions ARE '14-'19s, but the Escapes are only '17-'19s. I'm assuming, quite possibly incorrectly, that they used the 1.6 through the '16 model year in Escapes. Edited January 30, 2020 by NCEcoBoost 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCEcoBoost Posted January 30, 2020 Share Posted January 30, 2020 22 hours ago, BlueOval2010 said: We had a similar or same issue with my daughter's 2014 1.6L Ecoboost Escape. It was using coolant and had misfires on cylinders 2 & 3. Dealership said the head was cracked and needed to be repaired with the new design cylinder head , on our dime of course. They took the engine apart and said the block was cracked, not the head. Dealer could not get a new short block because they were all dedicated for new production. We settled for a dealer installed rebuilt engine from a local supplier - $4300. Ours was the fourth 1.6L engine they have recently replaced, and they have two more in the shop for the same reason. Ford is having issues to say the least. Good luck. Let's cross our fingers, OK? You just might eventually (the operative word here is eventually) get your $4300 back, IF this fiasco results in another Ford Class Action lawsuit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_MI Posted March 18, 2020 Share Posted March 18, 2020 I have a similar issue with my 2014 Fusion, 1.5L Ecoboost, 92,000 miles. Started getting P0304 code (cylinder misfire) a few weeks ago. The coolant was low. White smoke from exhaust and sweet smell of coolant. No coolant is leaking under the vehicle. When starting the car after sitting overnight, it starts fine, but sputters and sometimes stalls after about 10 seconds. It has always started up again, but with a white burst of smoke out the exhaust. I took it to a trusted local repair shop. They found coolant in the cylinders after it sits overnight. They are recommending a new (remanufactured) engine for about $5400. This seems to be known issue for the 1.5 ecoboost based on NHTSA ID Number: 10163592 and Manufacturer Communication Number: SSM 48106. The NHTSA bulletin shows a recommendation to replace the short block. Looks like there are some people (eg. Newsome Law, Nashville, TN) evaluating a law suit related to these coolant leaks in the 1.5 ecoboost. Last year I replaced the intake manifold due to another coolant leak. I really like the Fusion and I respect Ford, but these issues have me quite disappointed with Ford quality. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diemaker Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 On May of 2019 i had a similar issue on my 2014 1.5 ecoboost except my engine expired because of coolant intrusion into the cylinder. This engine had 42000 miles on it when this happened. Three or four times during that period during acceleration white smoke came out the exaust. Brought car into service dept no codes and could not be duplicated. Engine ran fine up to the point when it died. Did not use oil or coolant. Engine was replaced by Ford with a new long block. My question is does this 2019 engine have the changes made to the block to correct this coolant intrusion problem? Any help to answering this question would be appreciated. Thank you Jeff 2014 1.5 Eco-Boost owner. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HannahMarie Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 I have a 2016 Ford Fusion 1.5l eco boost, same problem, coolant is leaking into my Cylinders causing engine to need replaced. BUT, my car is at 62,000 miles. Ford is refusing to replace or help replace my engine since it is after the power train warranty. Ford put a factory bulletin in Nov 19 2019 regarding this issue and the result is to replace the engine. Since Ford has put a factory bulletin regarding this issue, my extended warranty does not cover the cost of repair. The cost of repair is $7000 with labor at a Ford dealership. Please, if anyone is having similar issues and did not get a recall like we SHOULD HAVE. Please file complaint with NHTSA to hopefully get a recall placed on this engine. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbf2530 Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 (edited) 17 hours ago, HannahMarie said: I have a 2016 Ford Fusion 1.5l eco boost, same problem, coolant is leaking into my Cylinders causing engine to need replaced. BUT, my car is at 62,000 miles. Ford is refusing to replace or help replace my engine since it is after the power train warranty. Ford put a factory bulletin in Nov 19 2019 regarding this issue and the result is to replace the engine. Since Ford has put a factory bulletin regarding this issue, my extended warranty does not cover the cost of repair. The cost of repair is $7000 with labor at a Ford dealership. Please, if anyone is having similar issues and did not get a recall like we SHOULD HAVE. Please file complaint with NHTSA to hopefully get a recall placed on this engine. Hi HM. There is no reason why Ford putting out a "factory bulletin regarding this issue" would have anything to do with your extended warranty coverage. If your extended warranty covers the engine, then it should be covered. What type of extended warranty do you have? Is it the FordProtect/ESP Plan or a third party warranty? And what are the time/mileage limitations? If it is a Ford Protect/ ESP Plan warranty, I would recommend you call both Ford Customer Relations and the FordProtect to determine your coverage. Keep us updated and good luck. Edited October 17, 2020 by bbf2530 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROKA Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 I have a 2016 fusion SE 1.5L turbo that just turned 64k miles. Ran and drove great up to a week ago. Stopped at a stop light and when I took off it started to go then lost power all of a sudden. Engine light started flashing and after stopping and restarting the engine was just steady on. Limped my way back home. Took the car in and they are saying it needs a new motor. “ possibly $7200” still waiting to hear back from them now. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 They extended the warranty so it shouldn’t cost anything. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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