NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
127 reportsClear category filter94,000 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 60MPH THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ENGINE OVER HEATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF, HE LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE NUMBER SEVEN FACTORY PLUG I…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING AT 60MPH THE ENGINE FAILED. THE ENGINE OVER HEATED. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE HIMSELF, HE LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE NUMBER SEVEN FACTORY PLUG IT EJECTED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT HE DIDN'T'T RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94, 2000.
NHTSA ODI #10346908
105,002 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT YARD OF HER HOME WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION, EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN FRONT OF HER PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT YARD OF HER HOME WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGES DONE TO HER GARAGE AND A LARGE PORTION OF THE EXTERIOR OF HER HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,002.
NHTSA ODI #10345641
61,390 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2003 EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUT. YESTERDAY EVENING DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE AND 10 YEAR OLD SON, WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE A COMPRESSION SOUND. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND SAW NO FLUIDS OR EXHAUST DEFECTS. PROCEEDED TO POP THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT …
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2003 EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUT. YESTERDAY EVENING DRIVING HOME WITH MY WIFE AND 10 YEAR OLD SON, WE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE A COMPRESSION SOUND. PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE UNDERSIDE OF MY VEHICLE AND SAW NO FLUIDS OR EXHAUST DEFECTS. PROCEEDED TO POP THE HOOD AND REALIZED THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK. IT WAS 113 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND WASN'T GOING TO STICK MY HAND IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND GET BURNED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT FAR FROM MY HOUSE, SO I LIMPED VERY CAUTIOUSLY TO MY HOME. I PROCEEDED TO POP THE HOOD AGAIN FOR A MORE DETAILED INSPECTION AND WITH A FLASHLIGHT I COULD SEE SPARKS FIRING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. LOOKED CLOSER AND THERE WAS A HOLE NEXT TO WHAT APPEARED TO BE A LONG RUBBER TUBE. GRABBED MY TOOLS AND REMOVED THE ENGINE SHROUD TO GET A BETTER LOOK AND THAT'S WHEN I FIGURED IT OUT. THERE WAS NO SPARK PLUG IN THE HOLE, I THOUGHT MAYBE FORD HAS SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT THIS VEHICLE DOESN'T USE SPARK PLUGS JUST COILS OF SOME SORT. THE COIL HOUSINGS PLASTIC NUB WAS BROKEN OFF. O.K. THAT WOULD BE AN EASY FIX, CLOSE TO 8PM GETTING DARK, SO I JUMP INTO MY WIFE CARE AND DRIVE THE PARTS STORE UP THE STREET. ASK THE MANAGER THAT WAS THERE FOR THE PART AND HE ASKED IF THE SPARK PLUG WAS STILL IN THE HOLE FULLY ATTACHED. I STATED THAT I DIDN'T SEE A SPARK PLUG ONLY A EMPTY HOLE, HE REPLIED THAT I HAVE A BIGGER ISSUE AND THAT I JUST EXPERIENCED A SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUT. APPARENTLY THE MODEL OF VEHICLE THAT I HAVE HAS HAD A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUTS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GET IT TOWED AND REPAIRED AT MY OWN COST. WHY HASN'T THIS PROBLEM BEEN ADDRESSED NATIONALLY? I SEARCHED IT ONLINE AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH OTHERS. DO I NEED TO BE DEAD FOR SOMEONE TO HEAR THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF SUCH COMPONENTS. 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 60K MILES, 40K MILES AWAY FROM RECOMMENDED TUNE-UP PER FORD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10343564
90,000 miles · Jul 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THRU THE DESERT TO GREEN RIVER UTAH. LOUD POP AND CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO PRICE UT. FORD DEALER SAID SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. $2000 TO RE-THREAD HEAD, $3000 FOR NEW CYLINDER HEAD OR $5000 FOR A NEW MOTOR. SINCE OUR MOTOR H…
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DRIVING OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THRU THE DESERT TO GREEN RIVER UTAH. LOUD POP AND CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND HAD IT TOWED BACK TO PRICE UT. FORD DEALER SAID SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. $2000 TO RE-THREAD HEAD, $3000 FOR NEW CYLINDER HEAD OR $5000 FOR A NEW MOTOR. SINCE OUR MOTOR HAD 90,000 MILES ON IT WE OPTED FOR A NEW MOTOR. BUT AFTER RESEARCHING ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO BLEW SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THEIR MOTOR'S HEAD I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. COME TO DISCOVER THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WITH THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE PUBLIC IS BEING SOLD A DEFECTIVE MOTOR AND HAVING TO PAY UNNECESSARILY WHEN IT BREAKS DOWN. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THESE MOTORS ARE NOT "BUILT FORD TOUGH". *TR
NHTSA ODI #10340913
85,000 miles · Jun 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
SPARK PLUG EJECTING FROM MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 TRITON ENGINE. 3RD PLUG THAT HAS SHOT OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336040
49,688 miles · Jun 2, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE AN 2003 FORD EXPEDITION SUV, THE SPARK PLUG IN THE #3 CYLINDER HEAD POPS OUT EVERY 5-8K MILES. RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER, PER THE 3 DEALERSHIPS I HAVE SPOKEN TO AS WELL AS THE B.A.R FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. PER THE B.A.R. IT IS AN CASTING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IM WORRIED THAT I WILL BE ON TH…
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I HAVE AN 2003 FORD EXPEDITION SUV, THE SPARK PLUG IN THE #3 CYLINDER HEAD POPS OUT EVERY 5-8K MILES. RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER, PER THE 3 DEALERSHIPS I HAVE SPOKEN TO AS WELL AS THE B.A.R FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO FIX IT. PER THE B.A.R. IT IS AN CASTING/MANUFACTURING DEFECT. IM WORRIED THAT I WILL BE ON THE FREEWAY AND LOOSE POWER, AND GET IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO EXIT THE FREE WAY UNDER MY OWN POWER. THE PROBLEM GOES BACK TO THE 2000 MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR WORKED ON AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP 2 TIMES TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE,AND IT IS CURRENTLY BROKEN AGAIN. THE DEALER SHIP REFUSES TO FIX IT AS AN WARRANTY ON THEIR REPAIR DONE ON 8/13/09 OR AS AN FACTORY DEFECT FROM FORD DIRECT. DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN, ANY HELP OR DIRECTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10334332
63,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I OWN A 2003 5.4L FORD EXPEDITION ED BAUER WITH 63,000 MILES. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION VERY RECENTLY BLEW THE #3 SPARK PLUG IN MAY 2010. I PURCHASED THE EXPEDITION IN 2006 WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES. THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE VEHICLE ARE THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS FROM THE FACTORY AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE EXPEDITION STARTED…
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I OWN A 2003 5.4L FORD EXPEDITION ED BAUER WITH 63,000 MILES. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION VERY RECENTLY BLEW THE #3 SPARK PLUG IN MAY 2010. I PURCHASED THE EXPEDITION IN 2006 WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES. THE SPARK PLUGS ON THE VEHICLE ARE THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS FROM THE FACTORY AND HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE EXPEDITION STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. ON MAY WAY HOME FROM WORK, AS I TUNED INTO THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A RATTLING SOUNG. I CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND THEN EXIT THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS ALSO A SMELL OF GASOLINE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SINCE I WAS NOT FAR FROM THE FORD SERVICE CENTER (GALPIN FORD IN NORTH HILLS, CA.), I CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. A DAY LATER I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATING THAT THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINENE NEEDED A NEW HEAD SINCE THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. TOTAL PARTS AND LABOR...$3834.00. AFTER READING COMMENTS FROM THIS WEBSITE, THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD NOT CONTINUE TO BE OVERLOOKED BY FORD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331999
78,000 miles · May 19, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE CAUSING THE COIL TO BRAKE AS WELL, AND THE WHOLE CAR TO SMELL OF GAS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN APRIL, AND AGAIN THE OTHER DAY (MAY 17TH), ON A DIFFERENT PLUG. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE WORK, AND MY MECHANIC INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT WITH A NEW SPARK PLUG. IT WAS $200-$300 FOR EACH REPAIR. FORD SAYS IT…
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SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE CAUSING THE COIL TO BRAKE AS WELL, AND THE WHOLE CAR TO SMELL OF GAS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN APRIL, AND AGAIN THE OTHER DAY (MAY 17TH), ON A DIFFERENT PLUG. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO LOSE WORK, AND MY MECHANIC INSTALLED A REPAIR KIT WITH A NEW SPARK PLUG. IT WAS $200-$300 FOR EACH REPAIR. FORD SAYS ITS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT MY MECHANIC HAS HAD OTHER CASES LIKE THIS, AND STATED FORD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD, ASKING THEM TO AT LEAST CHECK MY OTHER PLUGS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TIGHT, BUT THEY WERE UNHELPFUL. THERE WAS NO WARNING IN EITHER CASE. THE TRUCK DRIVES FINE, AND THEN SUDDENLY STARTS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AS ITS DRIVEN, AND THE WHOLE TRUCK SMELLS OF GAS. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL PLUGS, AND THE TRUCK HAS 78K MILES ON IT. I BELIEVE THE HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SO IT DOESN'T KEEP HAPPENING. I WENT ON DIFFERENT CAR PROBLEM WEBSITES, AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL TRUCK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331280
123,789 miles · May 15, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L THAT HAS BLOWN THE #3 SPARK PLUG 3 TIMES. EACH TIME I HAVE PURCHASED OEM PLUGS. IT APPEARS THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS EXPERIENCE AND MANY SPECULATE THAT THE THREAD DEPTH IS NOT ENOUGH TO SECURE THE PLUG APPROPRIATELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10330579
101,000 miles · Apr 30, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLOWED OUT AND BROKE THE COIL AND DAMAGED THE THREADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328300
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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