NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
104 reportsClear category filter500 miles · Oct 26, 2004
Electrical SystemInterior LightingSteering
MY EXPEDITION IS A 1YR AND 5 MONTHS. WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES PAID FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION, BECAUSE OF BAD VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 60-70 MILES AN HOUR. STILL HAD VIBRATION, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THE TRUCK CAME WITH TIRES OUT OF BALANCE. STILL HAD VIBRATION, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, A BOX DEALING…
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MY EXPEDITION IS A 1YR AND 5 MONTHS. WITH LESS THAN 500 MILES PAID FOR A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION, BECAUSE OF BAD VIBRATION AT SPEEDS OF 60-70 MILES AN HOUR. STILL HAD VIBRATION, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAID THE TRUCK CAME WITH TIRES OUT OF BALANCE. STILL HAD VIBRATION, TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, A BOX DEALING WITH THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAVE PAID FOR ANOTHER FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCE, NOW TIRES HAVE WORN SO BAD DEALERSHIP WILL PROBABLY BLAME WORN TIRES FOR THE VIBRATION. THERE IS MORE!!! THE SEAL ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD CAME LOOSE AND STARTED LEAKING, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN THE FRONT DEFROST VENT SOME FOAM STUFF HAD COME LOOSE AND WOULD FLAP AROUND WHEN THE VENT WAS ON, THE DEALERSHIP CALLED IT ( PACKING) IT WAS REPLACED OR GLUED BACK DOWN. THE SIDE TRIM ON BOTH SIDES FROM THE TWO FRONT DOORS, TO THE TWO REAR DOORS FADED BADLY, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DOME LIGHT HAD A PINCHED WIRE AND WOULD FLICKER WHEN TURNED ON OR HIT A BUMP, IT WAS REPAIRED. THE POWER WINDOW SWITH LIGHT, DRIVER SIDE WENT OUT, AND THE UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND NOW THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED WHEN I HIT A BUMP MOST OF THIS HAPPENED IN UNDER A YEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10096433
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2004
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE HAD DEAD BATTERY AND REQUIRED JUMP START. THE ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL HOW EVER I BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND ODOMETER DISPLAY MALFUNCTIONED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INCLUDING JUMPS IN MILEAGE OR NO CHANGE AFTER A TRIP, RADIO WOULD GO OFF OR CHANGE STATIONS BY ITS S…
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THE VEHICLE HAD DEAD BATTERY AND REQUIRED JUMP START. THE ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL HOW EVER I BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND ODOMETER DISPLAY MALFUNCTIONED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, INCLUDING JUMPS IN MILEAGE OR NO CHANGE AFTER A TRIP, RADIO WOULD GO OFF OR CHANGE STATIONS BY ITS SELF, DOOR LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK AND LOCK BYSELF,AND INSTRUMENTS NOT WORKING. THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER MOUNTED NEXT TO THE ASHTRAY IN THE DASH SOME HOW BECAME WELDED IN PLACE. ON OCCASION WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE AS YOU PUT KEY IN IGNITION YOU WOULD HEAR THE DOOR CHIME AS NORMAL THEN WHEN YOU TURN KEY TO START POSITION CHIME WOULD DIE AND NOTHING HAPPENED THEN RETURN THE KEY TO OFF AND BACK TO START AND IT WOULD START FINE ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE RADIO BUT THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY WHERE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AND IT JUST SEEMED TO HAPPEN RANDOMLY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10093823
4,000 miles · Jul 23, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
CAR STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING A SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. THE DEALER CANNOT CORRECT PROBLEM UNTIL IT IS REPRODUCED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10082531
31,000 miles · May 19, 2004
Electrical SystemFire
THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF THE VEHICLE BEING PARKED AND TURNED OFF. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE TWO CHARGERS WERE PLUGGED INTO THE LIGHTER OUTLET AND THEY BOTH MELTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10073863
10,000 miles · May 6, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP IN TRAFFIC WHILE GRADUALLY THE VEHICLE MOVED UP. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN TEN TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. SOMETIMES, THE …
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CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP IN TRAFFIC WHILE GRADUALLY THE VEHICLE MOVED UP. UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN TEN TIMES IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. SOMETIMES, THE LIGHTS BLINKED RAPIDLY, AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD JUST STAY ON. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE SEVEN TIMES, AND WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10072249
14,723 miles · Jan 23, 2004
Electrical System
DURING A RECENT TRIP TO DENVER, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20 DEGREES AND THE BACK-UP WARNING BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALTHOUGH I CYCLED THE SWITCH, THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT COME ONLINE. THE BACK-UP WARNING SYSTEM EITHER EMITTED A CONSTANT TONE, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING WAS BEHIN…
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DURING A RECENT TRIP TO DENVER, THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 20 DEGREES AND THE BACK-UP WARNING BEGAN MALFUNCTIONING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE ADVANCE TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ALTHOUGH I CYCLED THE SWITCH, THE SYSTEM WOULD NOT COME ONLINE. THE BACK-UP WARNING SYSTEM EITHER EMITTED A CONSTANT TONE, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING WAS BEHIND ME OR I COULD GET RIGHT NEXT TO SOMETHING AND IT FAILED TO ALARM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE IT IS AN INTERMITTANT PROBLEM THAT ONLY OCCURS WHEN IT IS COLD, THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO, AS THEIR SHOPS ARE HEATED TO ABOUT 68 DEGREES. THIS VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH THE SIDE MIRRORS MOVING OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. THE DIRECTION IS NOT ISOLATED TO A SINGLE DIRECTION. SOMETIMES THEY MOVE UP AND OTHER TIMES DOWN. MOSTLY WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED IN BOTH. IN SOME CASES IT IS ONLY A MINOR CHANGE AND AT OTHER TIMES IT IS QUITE DRASTIC. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE MINOR CHANGES ARE BECAUSE I SIT IN THE SEAT DIFFERENTLY EACH TIME I SIT IN THE VEHICLE AND THE MAJOR CHANGES IN SETTINGS CANNOT BE DUPLICATED AND THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT FIX IT. ASIDE FROM THIS, I ASKED THE DEALER IF THERE WERE ANY OUTSTANDING RECALLS AND WAS TOLD NO. ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE PAGE THAT THEY PROVIDE, THERE ARE 8 RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NOTIFED ME OF THESE RECALLS. THE RECALLS ARE: 01V310000, 02V154000, 02V018008, 02V317000, 03V074000, 03V094000, 03V251000, 03V317000, AND 03V362000. WHEN I LOOK THESE UP ON YOUR SITE, THEY SHOW THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO MY VEHICLE AS MOST ARE FOR RVS, WHICH MAKES THIS ALL THE MORE CONFUSING. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10054732
1,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
WITHIN 1,000 MILES THE BACK UP SENSOR RANG WHEN EVER YOU PUT THE CAR INTO RESERVE - HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES STILL DOES IT TODAY. WITHIN 5,000 THE MIRRORS WOULD TILT TOO FAR TO THE OUTSIDE THEN POP AS THEY TRIED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FURTHER OUTSIDE. WITHIN 18,000 1)ADVANCETRAC LIGHT CAME CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO LOCK…
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WITHIN 1,000 MILES THE BACK UP SENSOR RANG WHEN EVER YOU PUT THE CAR INTO RESERVE - HAS BEEN SERVICED THREE TIMES STILL DOES IT TODAY. WITHIN 5,000 THE MIRRORS WOULD TILT TOO FAR TO THE OUTSIDE THEN POP AS THEY TRIED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FURTHER OUTSIDE. WITHIN 18,000 1)ADVANCETRAC LIGHT CAME CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE TO LOCK UP WHEN TURNING LEFT AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TO LOCK UP WHEN TURNING RIGHT. ENGINE WAS SHUTTING DOWN GOING TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT CHANGE OUT TO NEXT GEAR UNTIL VERY HIGH RPM. POP AND CLICKING NOISES FROM UNDER THE DASH (FRONT PASSANGER AND DRIVE SIDE). ENGINE WOULD NOT START. - AUTHORIZED FORD BLUE OVAL REPAIR CENTER HAS REPLACED 2 ABS MODULES, THE BATTERY, MADE REPAIRS TO THE WIRING HARNESS, REPLACED TWO OTHER COMPUTER MODULES. CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR THREE WEEKS AND RETURNED THREE TIMES. VEHICLE IS STILL NOT CORRECT.
NHTSA ODI #10053030
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2003
Electrical SystemVisibility
CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SIDE VIEW MIRROR, AND HORN. SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOVED AT WILL. WHEN HE SET IT, SIDE VIEW MIRROR DID NOT STAY, BUT WONDERED ALL OVER. VEHICLE HAD A COUPLE OF NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE FROM THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. ALSO, HORN DID NOT OPERATE. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE DR…
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CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SIDE VIEW MIRROR, AND HORN. SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOVED AT WILL. WHEN HE SET IT, SIDE VIEW MIRROR DID NOT STAY, BUT WONDERED ALL OVER. VEHICLE HAD A COUPLE OF NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE FROM THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR. ALSO, HORN DID NOT OPERATE. THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE DRIVER NEEDED A WAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WAS NEAR ANOTHER VEHICLE TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10044240
5,600 miles · Oct 7, 2003
Electrical System
THE SEATS, MIRRORS & GAUGES ALL WILL READJUST WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY WIFE ALREADY HAD A NEAR MISS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE FORD DEALER. ANDY MOHR FORD SAYS HE CAN DO NOTHING AND THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON A FIX. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WROTE THEM 2 LETTERS. IT HAS BEEN GOIN…
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THE SEATS, MIRRORS & GAUGES ALL WILL READJUST WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. MY WIFE ALREADY HAD A NEAR MISS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE FORD DEALER. ANDY MOHR FORD SAYS HE CAN DO NOTHING AND THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING ON A FIX. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WROTE THEM 2 LETTERS. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 5 MONTHS NOW AND NO ONE WILL ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 EXPEDITIONS SO I WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A PRIORITY TO FIX. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10041368
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2003
Electrical SystemParking BrakePower Train
THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. AND AT TIME IT IS HARD TO CLOSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 43 MPH A HUMMING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE HUMMING CONTINUED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 59-72 MPH. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT TWICE BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE WHE…
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THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. AND AT TIME IT IS HARD TO CLOSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 43 MPH A HUMMING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. THE HUMMING CONTINUED WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED 59-72 MPH. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE DRIVE SHAFT TWICE BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A ROARING NOISE WHICH CAME FROM THE WHEEL AREA. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE PARK BRAKE SHOES. THE WAS NOISE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURN RIGHT OR LEFT. THE TECHNICIAN ADDED A WHEEL ADDITIVE. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE STRIKER. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WEATHER STRIP WAS LOOSE. THE DEALER RESEALED IT. THE WAS RATTLING IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH. THE DEALER REMOVED AND REINSTALLED A CLUSTER AND REINSTALLED THE INSULATION. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT TWISTED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10039747
NHTSA investigations
1DP05005 · 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.
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