NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
104 reportsClear category filter120,000 miles · Apr 12, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK N…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN FUSE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10972072
180,000 miles · Jan 25, 2017
Electrical System
THE COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE CAR MAY STOP AT RANDOM TIMES. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS A FUSE THAT BURNED OUT.... THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A HIGHER SPEED. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJ…
Read full complaint
THE COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. THE CAR MAY STOP AT RANDOM TIMES. WE HAVE BEEN IN THE VEHICLE GOING 35 MILES AN HOUR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. IT APPEARED THAT IT WAS A FUSE THAT BURNED OUT.... THAT SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A HIGHER SPEED. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO INJURIES. FORD SEEMS TO BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD FROM DEALERSHIP THAT WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE WATER RUNS DOWN THE SIDE AND GETS INTO THE FUSE BOX. THIS IS CAUSING A SHORT. SO, THE REASON IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME WAS BECAUSE WE ADDED A NEW FUSE. BUT, THE SECOND TIME THAT IT STOPPED IT BURNED THE FUSE BOX. NOW, I HAD TO TOW THE VEHICLE AND REPLACE THE PART COSTING OVER $500. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE IT APPEARS TO BE A NUMBER OF COMPLAINS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. FORD SHOULD ISSUE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10947659
224,000 miles · Sep 13, 2016
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes
2003 FOR EXPEDITION NOT RUNNING PROPERLY SHUTTING DOWN WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER WINDOW STUCK BRAKES NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10905972
42,000 miles · Sep 8, 2016
Electrical System
OPEN DOOR SOUND INDICATOR WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING--VEHICLE STOPPED TO LET PASSENGER OUT. WHEN ANY DOOR IS OPENED, THE OPEN-DOOR HIGH PITCHED STEADY-HUM SOUND COMES ON, WHICH IS NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE HUM WILL NOT SHUT OFF. IT CONTINUES LOUDLY FOR 8-10 MINUTES AND THEN REDUCES TO A FAINT HUM UNDER THE DASH. THE SOUND(S) CONTINUE…
Read full complaint
OPEN DOOR SOUND INDICATOR WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING--VEHICLE STOPPED TO LET PASSENGER OUT. WHEN ANY DOOR IS OPENED, THE OPEN-DOOR HIGH PITCHED STEADY-HUM SOUND COMES ON, WHICH IS NORMAL, HOWEVER, THE HUM WILL NOT SHUT OFF. IT CONTINUES LOUDLY FOR 8-10 MINUTES AND THEN REDUCES TO A FAINT HUM UNDER THE DASH. THE SOUND(S) CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE SUV IS TURNED OFF, PUT IN PARK, AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS OF THE 2003 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION AND IT'S OTHERWISE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE WITH JUST 57,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY BEEN VERIFIED BY A LOCAL FORD/KIA REPAIR SHOP WHOSE MECHANIC SCRATCHED HIS HEAD IN CONFUSION; HOWEVER, THEY WANT TO CHARGE US TO TEAR THE DASH APART TO ATTEMPT TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING. THEY CAN'T TURN THE INDICATOR SPEAKER OFF ALTOGETHER. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM; MAINLY, WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. CAN IF BE FIXED VIA A SIMPLER SOLUTION (MAYBE A SIMPLE FUSE OR WIRING?), IS THIS IS A POSSIBLE FUTURE FIRE DANGER, AND HAVE ANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA ODI #10904766
128,500 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Electrical System
VEHICLE STALL WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY.MY WIFE FIRST THEN I EXPERIENCE MYSELF STALL VEHICLE ON FAST LANE VERY DANGEROUS.VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF CANNOT STEER THE WHEEL LUCKY ENOUGH TO GLIDE TO SAFETY SIDE.FUSE BOX BURNING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY LOTS OF COMPLAINT IN INTERNET HOW MANY LIVES TO WASTE BEFORE ANYONE ACT ON IT.
NHTSA ODI #10899683
124,000 miles · Aug 6, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System
FUSE RELAYS KEEP BURNING OUT! I HAVE BROUGHT OVER 10 RELAYS IN 2 WEEEKS. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 FORDS AND IS VERY EXSPENSIVE TO FIX. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE TO PROVE THAT ALL OF THESE TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I HAD T…
Read full complaint
FUSE RELAYS KEEP BURNING OUT! I HAVE BROUGHT OVER 10 RELAYS IN 2 WEEEKS. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL 2003 FORDS AND IS VERY EXSPENSIVE TO FIX. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED! THERE ARE VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE TO PROVE THAT ALL OF THESE TRUCKS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX BUT EVENTUALLY I WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OUT OF THAT FUSE BOX BECAUSE THUS IS A DEFECT IN ALL 2003 FORD EXPEDITIONS. THE CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE IN 2 VERY DANGEROUS CAR ACCIDENTS! IT HAS STOPPED ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY AND STREET! WHEN I SAW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL EMMISION RELAYS AND THE FUSE BOX I DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT IN ORDER TO GET THIS RECALLED!
NHTSA ODI #10893675
200,000 miles · Apr 30, 2016
Electrical System
CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 25505 W TWELVE MILE ROAD P.O. BOX 513 SOUTHFIELD,MI 48037 1-800-634-1506 INSTALLED A GPS DEVICE WHEN I PURCHSED THIS VEHICLE USED. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHEN NOT MOVING,BUT IT CREATED A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING CUTTING THE VEHICLES …
Read full complaint
CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 25505 W TWELVE MILE ROAD P.O. BOX 513 SOUTHFIELD,MI 48037 1-800-634-1506 INSTALLED A GPS DEVICE WHEN I PURCHSED THIS VEHICLE USED. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHEN NOT MOVING,BUT IT CREATED A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING CUTTING THE VEHICLES POWER OFF. CREDIT ACCEPTANCE DENIES THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT . THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN WHEN I FELL BEHIND ON PAYMENTS.
NHTSA ODI #10862353
121,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 FUSE BOX FAIL FUSE PUMP RELAY BURN, ON 01/14/2015 WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON THE 5FWY GOING 70 MILES THE TRUCK SHOT OFF LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH OUT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR ON THE FWY. I REPLACE THE FUSE BOX FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT A JUNK YARD,THE…
Read full complaint
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 FUSE BOX FAIL FUSE PUMP RELAY BURN, ON 01/14/2015 WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON THE 5FWY GOING 70 MILES THE TRUCK SHOT OFF LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH OUT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR ON THE FWY. I REPLACE THE FUSE BOX FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT A JUNK YARD,THE TRUCK RUN GOT FOR A YEAR , ON 01/05/2016 IT HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK ON THE 118 FWY GOING 75 THE TRUCK SHUT OFF AGAIN SAME PROBLEM FUSE BOX , FUSE RELAY IS BURN IN HAVE POST IT 3 VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE LOOK FOR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 CRANKS WON'T START IS UNDER JAVALOSREALESTATE
NHTSA ODI #10823522
149,000 miles · Jan 14, 2016
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)SteeringCrash
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON, AFTER A FEW MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY. WHILE PU…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON, AFTER A FEW MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY. WHILE PULLING INTO THE REST STOP THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE OF NO STEERING OR BRAKES. THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED 8 TIMES THAT DAY. WHILE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I FOUND ON THE NHTSB WEBSITE THAT OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUSE BLOCK. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO DID FIND THAT IT WAS INDEED A FAULTY FUSE BLOCK. THE SAME MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES.
NHTSA ODI #10820327
160,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Electrical System
THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX WHICH CASE A FUSE CALLED A PCM RELAY TO MELT AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT START. THE FUSE BOX WILL BUZZ CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. YOU CAN REPLACE THE RELAY WHICH IS ABOUT $15 BUT THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY TEMPORARY AND IT WILL MELT AND CAUSE …
Read full complaint
THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX WHICH CASE A FUSE CALLED A PCM RELAY TO MELT AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT START. THE FUSE BOX WILL BUZZ CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. YOU CAN REPLACE THE RELAY WHICH IS ABOUT $15 BUT THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY TEMPORARY AND IT WILL MELT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE FUSE PANEL ENTIRELY WHICH BRINGS ME HERE, THE PANEL ALONE IS $500 AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE LABOR AND TAXES. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FORUMS ONLINE THAT REFER TO THIS SPECIFIC MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS REPLACING PARTS THAT DID NOT NEED REPAIR. FORD NEEDS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS DEFECT BECAUSE IT'S A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT NOT A CONSUMER (WEAR AND TEAR) ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10788628
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.
Illustration