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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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82,000 miles · Nov 13, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER INSURANCE AGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THEY WOUL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER INSURANCE AGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE MILEAGE EXCEEDED THE WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #10248747

106,000 miles · Nov 12, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE DEALER COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL HER INSURANCE COMPANY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 106,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10248572

54,000 miles · Oct 6, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF HER VEHICLE. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVER'S SIDE CORNER OF HER VEHICLE. ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS WIFE SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES; HOWEVER, THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10244482

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2008
Air BagsTiresCrashInjury

I WAS TAKING MY COUSIN TO THE JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES OUTSIDE OF JACKSONVILLE WHEN MY TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY SUV. THE SUV ROLLOVER SIX OR SEVEN TIMES. THE TREAD PART OF THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238824

69,500 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury

DRIVING DOWN TAR ROAD WHEN MY TRUCK CAUGHT THE EDGE OF PAVEMENT AND SHOOT ACROSS THE GRAVEL SHOULDER THEN CAUGHT SNOWY HILLSIDE. VEHICLE CAME IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL TREES. THE TRUCK HAD SEVERE IMPACT TOTALING THE UNIT . NO AIR BAGS EVER CAME OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10219614

27,096 miles · Jan 4, 2008
Air Bags

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE FOR A SECOND TIME IN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVE FOR A SECOND TIME IN A TWO-YEAR PERIOD. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES AND WAS NOTICED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. THE AIR BAGS WERE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY OF 2006, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,035 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,096.

NHTSA ODI #10213738

63,000 miles · Jan 2, 2008
Air Bags

UNEXPECTED SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ABRUPT SIDE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THESE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT A CONSTANT RATE OF SPEED (65MHH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSIVE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING DISOR…

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UNEXPECTED SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT ANY ABRUPT SIDE MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THESE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE TRAVELING STRAIGHT AT A CONSTANT RATE OF SPEED (65MHH) ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSIVE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER BEING DISORIENTED FOR A FEW SECONDS. THIS OCCURRED IN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 65K MILES AND NO MODIFICATIONS OR PREVIOUS DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SCANNED THE VEHICLE COMPUTER WHICH SHOWED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN IMPENDING ROLLOVER CAUSING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THE COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP NOR FORD WILL REPAIR THIS DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAGS AND HEADLINER.*CN

NHTSA ODI #10213506

62,000 miles · Oct 11, 2007
Air BagsSeat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CORRODED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE WIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CORRODED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE WIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. UPDATED.

NHTSA ODI #10205418

55,000 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE DAY WAS CLEAR, THE WEATHER WAS WARM. MY WIFE HIT HER MONTE CARLO DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE LADIES CAR, BOTH VEHICLES WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. OUR CAR HIT A RATHER LARGE PINE TREE. WITH BOTH OF THESE MAJOR …

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A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE DAY WAS CLEAR, THE WEATHER WAS WARM. MY WIFE HIT HER MONTE CARLO DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE LADIES CAR, BOTH VEHICLES WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. OUR CAR HIT A RATHER LARGE PINE TREE. WITH BOTH OF THESE MAJOR IMPACTS, TOTALING BOTH CARS, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY WIFE'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE FRONT OF OUR CAR WAS HIT ON BOTH THE FRONT RIGHT AND FRONT LEFT CORNERS. WE ARE DEPENDING AND PAYING FOR THESE SAFETY, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THEY DON'T OPERATE WHEN NEEDED. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10203334

66,000 miles · Jul 20, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS IN A MVA ON JUNE 29, 2007. I HIT SEVERAL TREES AND WENT DOWN A LARGE EMBANKMENT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HAD SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE AND DRIVER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197078

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.