Much of the American population has owned a Ford at some point in their life. Whether that was a 1995 Ford Explorer or 2020 Ford Edge, the Ford Nation can be found throughout the country.

Even with the car maker’s popularity, Ford typically ranks low in reliability ratings due to common car repairs reported by drivers. Endurance also handles thousands of automotive repair claims daily, and the experts can agree – owning a Ford can be pricey.

That said, we’ve gone ahead and compiled the six common car repairs Ford owners experienced throughout 2019. 

A/C Compressor: Up to $1,891

A compressor helps compress the refrigerant in your engine to turn it from a gas to a liquid. The internal rotary components of the compressor spin assist the refrigerant in completing its transformation so the fluid can be dispersed throughout the engine. 

If you’re concerned your vehicle may have compressor issues, be on the lookout for the following symptoms: 

• Noise – The compressor rotates, and the bearings that help it rotate do wear out over time. If they are getting worn, the rotations become rougher and noisier. As a result, you may notice a consistent noise whenever you run the A/C if the compressor is breaking down internally. 
• Leaks – The compressor has several seals, and the main ones are the shaft seal and the case half seams. If these seals fail, you may notice leaks are coming from the unit. 
• Warm air – Your vents may start blowing warm air vs. cold, which is a sure sign something is off. 

We recommend replacing your compressor as soon as possible to avoid additional damage being caused to connecting parts.

Ford owners experienced the most issues with their A/C compressor in 2019, which can cost hundreds to fix. The A/C compressor naturally wears out over time, so protecting your car with an extended warranty can help avoid out of pocket expenses.

Plus, Endurance pays the mechanic for both parts and labor, which means less work for you and more time to relax while your Ford is at the mechanic.

Water pump: Up to $2,282

The water pump works to prevent overheating throughout the engine by circulating coolant through the engine, the engine cooling system, and the heating system. 

When your car is running, the coolant inside your engine heats up. Once the coolant hits a specific temperature, it’s released from the engine and into the cooling system. The coolant continues through the radiator, so air generates from your vehicle moving, and the airflow generated by your car’s cooling fan draws cool air across the radiator. 

This action cools down the coolant flowing through the radiator, flowing back into the engine to absorb more of the engine’s heat. 

When your heat is turned on, hot coolant flows to the heater core before coming back to the radiator. 

The airflow from your HVAC Blower motor blows air over the hot heater core and into the HVAC ducts to push warm air through the vents. Your water pump is essential because it pushes the coolant through the systems to heat and cool your vehicle. 

Your water pump may need to be looked at if you experience the following symptoms: 

• Leaks – There are three spots your water pump may spring a leak from – the weep hole, the shaft seal, or the engine block gasket. Any leak usually means you need to replace your water pump fully.
• Steam – If you notice steam clouds rising from the engine, it’s a sign you’ve left things too late, and something is likely wrong with the water pump. 
• Noise – Your water pump looks like a spinning wheel with fins, similar to a paddleboat. When it spins, it uses a bearing, which gets rough as it starts to wear out. The worn bearing may cause noise as it rotates. 
• Overheating – The steam is a major clue, but there are other things to look for if you’re worried your car is overheating. The engine temperature gauge may rise, or warning lights may come on if it exceeds the maximum recommended temperature. In some vehicles, the check engine or service engine soon lights may come on instead of the overheating warning. 
• Shut down – Some cars will shut down if the temperature reaches a certain high. The engine shutting off is often due to a mechanical failure and not because it was commanded to do so by the vehicle’s powertrain control module. If the engine does shut down due to mechanical failure from overheating, the damage is typically very severe and needs to be handled immediately. 

Since this part can result in your car shutting down, preparing for this breakdown requires immediate assistance. 

In the case of a sudden breakdown, Endurance provides every customer benefits like 24/7 roadside assistance and road trip interruption coverage. Together, they can ensure your car is towed to a local mechanic, and you are provided peace of mind during the process. 

Like the A/C compressor, Ford owners have a high chance of dealing with a water pump issue, so get protected with a protection plan now!

Starter motor: Up to $785

The starter motor helps your engine turn over so you can start your car. It’s a small motor that spins when you turn your key. Then, the gear attached is pushed outward to mesh with the teeth on your engine’s flywheel. This helps the engine get rotating. 

Some signs that your starter motor is failing include: 

• No action – There is no action at all when turning the key to start. You will be able to tell right away, because some vehicles may make a stuttering sound or no sound at all, and the car won’t start. 
• Grinding Noise – If your starter is weakening, you may notice a grinding noise when starting. The grinding noise is due to the weak starter gear not fully pushing itself to mesh with the teeth on the flywheel. This can cause the starter gear to drag across the teeth on the flywheel, causing the noise. Sometimes the starter gear may still catch the teeth and turn over the engine, but when it doesn’t, you’ll hear the grinding noise. 

Checking with a mechanic right away will prevent you from being stranded far from home. However, if you do experience a hiccup on the road and have an Endurance protection plan – you’re in luck!

Every protection plan comes with road trip interruption coverage to help cover food and lodging if your car needs to go to the shop right away. You also can use your $250 digital shopping dollars provided through your Endurance Elite Membership to use on local restaurants, travel, and more.

Alternator: Up to $1,489

The alternator helps charge your car’s battery when you’re on the go. It’s beneficial because it’s the only component that can provide alternating current, generating power. The alternating current is then converted to a direct current, which the battery can use. 

If something goes wrong with your alternator, you might notice these symptoms of failure:

• Noise – Bearings are a vital part of the alternator. When bearings wear out, they may cause a grinding noise.
• Trouble starting the vehicle – Your vehicle won’t start if the alternator isn’t generating enough power to keep your battery fully charged. When this happens, the battery can’t give the starter the energy to turn over the engine. 
• Lights dim – If the alternator cannot keep up charging the battery, you may notice that the lights will flicker or dim occasionally. 
• Car stalling – You should hopefully catch a problem before this point. However, this can happen while driving, so it’s best to look out for the other symptoms and avoid stalling out in traffic.

The alternator is a pretty expensive repair to cover. A replacement can cost nearly $1,100 to fix. When it comes to preparing for the unexpected, getting familiar with common repairs is the first step. The second is to invest in auto protection that can provide peace of mind. 

Endurance provides tons of benefits that can help make sure you don’t pay out of pocket expenses when it comes to car repairs. Plus, every protection plan comes with 1-year access to the Endurance Elite Membership, which offers tons of benefits. For more information, request a no-obligation quote below.

Fuel pump: Up to $2,458

The fuel pump helps distribute gasoline to the engine and other components. The car part is secured at the top of your fuel tank and contains a small motor that pulls fuel into the pump and pushes it through the fuel lines. 

If something is wrong with your fuel pump, look for these symptoms of failure:

• Noise – The pump has an electrical motor inside of it. As it wears out, you may hear a whining noise coming from the back of your vehicle, especially when you first turn the key, and the pump begins to energize before you crank it over.
• Hard starting or cranking without starting – If your fuel pump fails, then it may not be able to provide the pressure needed to get fuel into the fuel injection system fast enough. This results in the engine cranking longer than normal before it fires up. If your pump fails, no fuel will be pushed to the fuel injection system, and your car will crank and rotate the engine until the battery or starter dies.
•  No power – When drivers accelerate, the PCM commands the fuel injectors to open wider to introduce more fuel to the engine. You might not get as much fuel coming out of those injectors if the fuel pump is weak and producing lower pressure than normal. As a result, your car may begin to stumble while on the road.

Like many other repairs, replacing a fuel pump requires immediate attention to avoid damaging other connected parts. 

Evaporator: Up to $2,558

The evaporator works to transfer heat through the vents in your vehicle, in a similar manner to a radiator. Of course, the critical difference is that the liquid that flows through the evaporator is cool, and the air that flows through the vents is warm. 

Some of the common issues that pop up with this component are the moisture around it, which can build up in the HVAC housing. If the drain tube clogs, the liquid has nowhere to go, which can cause rust and corrosion.

If you’re concerned your evaporator may be failing, there are unfortunately not many symptoms to look out for. You may spot the leak if you’re lucky, or notice a difference in the air temperature, but a mechanic can help check things out for you if you’re unsure. Checking the level of coolant in your vehicle requires special equipment. 

However, there are some common signs something may be wrong: 

• Water – Moisture builds up in the HVAC housing when the heat is sucked out of the air flowing through it. If the drain tube at the bottom of the housing gets clogged or restricted, then the moisture remains for an extended period. Water and metal mixing can cause the Evaporator core to rust and corrode, causing it to leak.

With an extended warranty, Endurance can help cover the cost and get you back on the road.

Gain Confidence With Endurance

Knowing the signs of the most common repairs for Ford owners can be extremely helpful in preparing for the unexpected. Some repairs require thousands to fix, and the last thing anyone needs is a significant financial setback.

Endurance offers the most comprehensive protection plans in the market, which can help cover sudden breakdowns. Plus, every plan comes with 1-YEAR access to the Endurance Elite Membership for FREE. Receive $250 in digital shopping dollars to use on groceries, key fob replacement coverage, tire replacement, and more.

Call now to learn about our vehicle protection plans and ways to help save Ford owners thousands in potential car repair costs.