When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ford Service & Coolant leak makes me regret buying a F-150 - suggestions?
I have a 22 F-150 lariat powerboost. Over the past few months I have been losing coolant from the larger reservoir. I noticed this this first time in early-June when I jump-started a friends truck. I have never noticed a leak in my driveway, but I am not mechanic and have no desire to become one.
June 18 - take to Ford to top off coolant per their suggestion, appointment is a few weeks later. Ford service originally says "we can't just add coolant" (despite the phone rep specifically telling me to come in) but eventually adds coolant. (see first image - its super low but I don't check it every week or I didn't then so it could have been going on since Jan)
(I am out of town for a bit here - truck is parked)
July 11 - take to Ford for actual service appointment, pressure test finds no issue so they replace the cap and top off - I mark this with a line the next morning after the truck has sat all night.
July 25 - today, I check again after a camping trip when the truck has been sitting and it's dropping although above the min (see second image). I call Ford again, "how do you know it's dropping", "if you bring it in we won't find anything anyway", "etc".
I call Ford corp and they tell me just to go to another dealer. I don't want to play dealer roulette here and I dont want to spend the next 7 years dealing with a coolant leak. At this point I am pretty put off on Ford and hope I don't have to lemon this after a few more visits but that's the current path.
So that's my rant. Does anyone have any advice on where to go from here? I've seen a few other posts on other forums about a coolant leak on this model on the "heat exchanger" but I am not sure where that is. My next steps would be I guess crawling under there and looking for yellow liquid drips anywhere and then calling a different dealer? I've tried to see if there are any TSBs on this but have come up empty.
First discovery before they topped it off. Drop since July 11.
Last edited by gfkfrontrange; Jul 25, 2022 at 01:15 PM.
Reason: pictures
Unfortunately it is a common issue, the leak comes from the heat exchanger attached to the exhaust, about 1/2 way down the truck on the passenger side. Parts are months out, and service departments are booked full. You could bypass it with a hose fitting, but I would get it fixed before winter. I believe it warms the coolant that circulates around the battery.
At the risk of sounding like an ***, you either like the truck or you don't. Stuff happens. Things break/leak. It really sucks when a dealer or service department is giving you a run around. Tell them to fix it or you'll find a dealer that will. If you have to top it off for a couple months waiting on a part, that's not too hard. Or sell it and get a new one. No use stressing so much.
Unfortunately it is a common issue, the leak comes from the heat exchanger attached to the exhaust, about 1/2 way down the truck on the passenger side. Parts are months out, and service departments are booked full. You could bypass it with a hose fitting, but I would get it fixed before winter. I believe it warms the coolant that circulates around the battery.
The service department at what I consider the "good" local Ford dealer said they have never seen a problem on these vehicles and could not be convinced otherwise. If there was a TSB that I could reference it would help, they do not seem willing to use Google.
At the risk of sounding like an ***, you either like the truck or you don't. Stuff happens. Things break/leak. It really sucks when a dealer or service department is giving you a run around. Tell them to fix it or you'll find a dealer that will. If you have to top it off for a couple months waiting on a part, that's not too hard. Or sell it and get a new one. No use stressing so much.
You are correct. I am frustrated because I had an 11 Explorer for which two different Ford dealers were beyond clueless and I spent way to much time taking it to and from the shop and/or having it towed. If I could sell it back to Ford I would.
Ford Service & Coolant leak makes me regret buying a F-150 - suggestions?
