The Lemon IndexLosing coolant leads to overheating, so the leak needs finding soon.
Fix soon. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and coolant level. Get it checked soon.
A leaking radiator or hose. Then: a failing water pump; a cracked coolant reservoir.
Owners describe this in 10,816 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ford Escape.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Escape | 690 | 25% |
| 2018 Ford Escape | 472 | 26% |
| 2013 Ford Escape | 434 | 16% |
| 2017 Ford Edge | 348 | 25% |
| 2014 Ford Escape | 292 | 14% |
| 2018 Ford Edge | 223 | 26% |
| 2016 Ford Fusion | 165 | 9% |
| 2016 Ford Edge | 150 | 16% |
| 2017 Ford Fusion | 146 | 12% |
| 2019 Ford Escape | 125 | 21% |
| 2005 Nissan Pathfinder | 98 | 9% |
| 2015 Ford Fusion | 90 | 8% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2018 Ford Edge · 26% 2018 Ford Escape · 26% 2017 Ford Escape · 25% 2017 Ford Edge · 25% 2019 Ford Escape · 21% 2017 Lincoln MKZ · 20% 2017 Lincoln MKC · 17% 2016 Ford Edge · 16%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of coolant leak
- A leaking radiator or hose
- A failing water pump
- A cracked coolant reservoir
- A leaking heater core (wet floor, foggy windows)
- A head gasket leak (coolant lost with no visible drip)
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with a coolant leak?
Fix soon. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and coolant level. Get it checked soon.
Get help right away if the temperature gauge climbs; white smoke comes from the exhaust.
Of the 10,816 complaints describing it, 3% say the car was towed, 1% mention a fire and 0.6% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: engine (54%), engine and engine cooling (38%), power train (13%), electrical system (5%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 80,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (4,725), Chevrolet (952), Nissan (576), Honda (403), Pontiac (397).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (cooling, engine repairs): the middle half ran $2,400 to $8,800, typical $6,600, from 765 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
P0302 P0303 P0301 P0304 P0316 P0300 P1299 P0217
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
White smoke from exhaust Engine overheating Engine misfire Car shaking and check engine light on Car shakes at idle Car jerks when accelerating
Quick answers
What causes coolant leak?
Losing coolant leads to overheating, so the leak needs finding soon. Common causes: a leaking radiator or hose; a failing water pump; a cracked coolant reservoir; a leaking heater core (wet floor, foggy windows); a head gasket leak (coolant lost with no visible drip).
Is it safe to drive with a coolant leak?
Fix soon. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge and coolant level. Get it checked soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ford Escape, Ford Edge and Ford Fusion. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 765 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $2,400 to $8,800. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup