A temperature actuated switch for an electric cooling fan is quite normal these days. Almost every front wheel drive car made has had this for several decades now.

A number of trucks and rwd cars have an idle speed increaser actuated by another temperature sensor. When the engine approaches overheating, the idle speed is increased to increase air flow through the radiator. This also goes back for several decades.

And a number of vehicles have a load reducer for high temperatures approaching overheat. This kicks off the a/c compressor, and sometimes even the sterio and other high electrical load components, reducing the heat generation of the engine.

I haven't seen a vehicle made since the 1940's or so that didn't have some sort of means of notifying the driver of an overheating condition. From the very common red light, to at the least a gauge showing temperatures.