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2003 Ford Expedition

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Expedition years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Expedition are substantially higher than the model-year median of 155.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

463 reports with mileage · 152 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

57 crash reports36 fire reports39 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

59 reports
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65,000 miles · Feb 23, 2011
Air Bags

THIS EVENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 2008. WE WERE HEADING TO A DINNER, PULLED ONTO GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE FROM HWY 114 IN IRVING, TX. THE ROADWAY IS FLAT, OUR SPEED WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY FROM AN ENTRANCE RAMP. AS WE WERE MERGING ONTO GB TURNPIKE WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, OUR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED....FOR NO REASO…

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THIS EVENT OCCURRED DECEMBER 2008. WE WERE HEADING TO A DINNER, PULLED ONTO GEORGE BUSH TURNPIKE FROM HWY 114 IN IRVING, TX. THE ROADWAY IS FLAT, OUR SPEED WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY FROM AN ENTRANCE RAMP. AS WE WERE MERGING ONTO GB TURNPIKE WE HEARD A LOUD BANG, OUR SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED....FOR NO REASON. WE WERE SHOCKED. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEONE HIT US. WE EVEN THOUGHT MAYBE SOMEONE SHOT AT OUR VEHICLE, THEN WE REALIZED THE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. FORTUNATELY, NEITHER OF US WERE SITTING WITH OUR HEADS OR ARMS NEAR THE WINDOWS TO BE INJURED BY THE DEPLOYMENT. WE CONTACTED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, HOWEVER THEY TOLD US THAT SINCE THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR US. WE CONTACTED OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING, SO WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THEM TO LOOK AT OUR VEHICLE. THEY CALLED A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD TO COME AND INSPECT IT. BASED ON THE READING BY THE "COMPUTER", IT INDICATED THAT OUR VEHICLE HAD ENCOUNTERED AN "IMPENDING ROLL-OVER". WE DISPUTED THIS BECAUSE THERE WAS NO SUCH IMPENDING ROLLOVER, NOR WAS THERE ANY SWERVING, ANYTHING THAT COULD HAVE EVEN BEEN CONSIDERED SOMETHING TO HAVE CAUSED THIS SITUATION. FORD WOULD DO NOTHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER INDICATED THERE WAS AN IMPENDING ROLLOVER IT WAS DEEMED OUR FAULT, NOT A FAULTY COMPUTER. WE CONTACT FORD CORPORATE, THEY TREATED US AS THOUGH WE WERE JUST PEOPLE WANTING SOMETHING FOR NOTHING. WE WANTED OUR VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT. THEY WOULD NOT RELENT, THE COMPUTER INDICATED IT WAS OUR FAULT, THEREFORE AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED WAS. WE SENT OUR COMPLAINT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION THE FIRST PART OF 2009, THERE WAS NEVER ANY ACTION TAKEN. SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE WE HAVE HEARD OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. NOW, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED IN DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS, WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR VEHICLE PLACED IN WITH THE RECALL WITH THE F150'S TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384158

101,000 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Air BagsInjury

HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND WE WERE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN TO NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY 8/22/2010 WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY DESTINATION & ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND & A LOT OF PRESSURE HIT US IN THE CHEST. THE TRUCK THEN BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I PULLE…

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HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND WE WERE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN TO NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY 8/22/2010 WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY DESTINATION & ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND & A LOT OF PRESSURE HIT US IN THE CHEST. THE TRUCK THEN BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I PULLED OVER NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYONE NOR DID ANYONE HIT US. I THEN CALLED 911 & ASK FOR THE POLICE TO COME OUT & GIVE ME A POLICE REPORT AND HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME ONE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM FORD & THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME BUT TO PUT IT ON A CENSOR MACHINE & FIND OUT WHY THEY DEPLOYED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT MY CAR INSURANCE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS & THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE & NOT THERE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CORPORATION & THE ONLY THING THAT THEY TOLD ME WAS THEY COULD JUST PUT IN A CLAIM BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT THEY COULD DO UNLESS SOMEONE DIE OR WAS SEVERELY INJURED. WELL ALL 3 OF US WERE INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT. I NEED HELP IN THIS MATTER. I AM NOW OUT OF A TRUCK THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON & LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR ME A RENTAL AND I HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE. EVERYWHERE I TURN EVERYONE IS TURNING ME DOWN, LIKES IT MY FAULT. THIS HAS CAUSED ME PAIN, SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL STRESS AND NOT TO MENTION TIME OFF WORK. IF SOMEONE COULD HELP IN ASSISTING ME WITH THIS MATTER I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. REGARDS, X *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351862

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

A DEER CAME ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND I SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING. HIT THE DEER AND DRAG IT APPROX 60 FT. SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WE FLIPPED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP 6-8 TIMES PER PASSENGER (DAUGHTER) AND A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME F…

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A DEER CAME ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND I SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING. HIT THE DEER AND DRAG IT APPROX 60 FT. SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WE FLIPPED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP 6-8 TIMES PER PASSENGER (DAUGHTER) AND A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BAGS. THE EXPEDITION WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW CAME OUT, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW IN THE FRONT ROW WERE SHATTERED, THE ASHTRAY DISCONNECTED AND WENT OUT THE WINDOW. THE MIRRORS ON THE EXPO WERE DAMAGED AND THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS TERRIBLY DAMAGED. A NEW VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10349460

128,000 miles · Mar 17, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE PRECEDING VEHICLE INDICATED A TURN. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLETE THE TURN AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE SUSTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE PRECEDING VEHICLE INDICATED A TURN. THE PRECEDING VEHICLE DID NOT COMPLETE THE TURN AND AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS LEFT HAND AND A FRACTURED STERNUM. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 128,000.

NHTSA ODI #10320544

130,000 miles · Jan 10, 2010
Air Bags

DRIVING ON SIDE ROAD DOING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MY SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF AND WHITE POWDER CAME OUT,TOOK TO FORD SAID CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CHARGE ME 250 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE CODE SHOW AIR BAG DEPLOY, ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WENT OFF WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT, …

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DRIVING ON SIDE ROAD DOING ABOUT 30 TO 35 MY SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED. SOUNDED LIKE A GUN WENT OFF AND WHITE POWDER CAME OUT,TOOK TO FORD SAID CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT CHARGE ME 250 DOLLARS TO TELL ME THE CODE SHOW AIR BAG DEPLOY, ABOUT 5 MONTHS LATE THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER WENT OFF WHILE SITTING IN A PARKING LOT, SAME NOISE AND POWDER, FORD SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10298883

78,751 miles · Sep 2, 2009
Air Bags

IMMACULATE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT BOTH SIDES WHICH DRIVING. NO BUMP OR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282662

84,000 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Air Bags

FOR NO REASON, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277067

146,350 miles · Dec 19, 2008
Air Bags

I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. I KEEP GETTING MY SPARK PLUGS FIXED AND THE JUST KEEP BLOWING OUT ON MY ENGINE CREATING MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND MY SUV SOUNDS LIKE A MAC TRUCK. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. WE LIKE TO TRAVEL I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND WE CAN ALL FIT IN IT. I LIKE T…

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I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. I KEEP GETTING MY SPARK PLUGS FIXED AND THE JUST KEEP BLOWING OUT ON MY ENGINE CREATING MY ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND MY SUV SOUNDS LIKE A MAC TRUCK. THIS IS UNSAFE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN. WE LIKE TO TRAVEL I PURCHASED THIS CAR BECAUSE I HAVE SEVERAL CHILDREN AND WE CAN ALL FIT IN IT. I LIKE THE TRUCK BUT THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE THAT CONTINUES AND IS NOT FREE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10252260

75,000 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR IMPACT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 68 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS SUDDENLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CRASH OR IMPACT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10251806

84,770 miles · Dec 11, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

ON 12/10/2008 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. SHE DRIVES A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? WIFE HAS NECK PAIN, CHILDREN ON BOARD ARE OK, NOT COMPLAINING OF ANY PAIN OR INJURY. EVERYONE ON BOARD WERE FASTENED TO SEATBELTS AND CAR SEAT…

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ON 12/10/2008 MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC CRASH. SHE DRIVES A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. IMPACT OCCURRED ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS? WIFE HAS NECK PAIN, CHILDREN ON BOARD ARE OK, NOT COMPLAINING OF ANY PAIN OR INJURY. EVERYONE ON BOARD WERE FASTENED TO SEATBELTS AND CAR SEATS. JUST VERY CONCERNED, BECAUSE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE AND NOT SURE WHY AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. THE OTHER PARTIES VEHICLE WAS A SCION XD NOT SURE WHAT YEAR. THEIR AIRBAG DID WORK AND IMPACT WAS PRACTICALLY SAME LOCATION, FRONT DRIVER SIDE CORNER. WAS THIS A DEFECT? NEED TO INVESTIGATE SOMEHOW? PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND ME SOME ADVISE. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251544

Official recalls

1

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.