Illustration2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE READDRESSED. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Expedition years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
960–25K
5325–50K
6950–75K
7175–100K
105100–150K
69150K+
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
127 reportsMY FORD EXPEDITION HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND THE SPARK PLUG FOR #3 CYLINDER FELL INTO THE CYLINDER CHAMBER THUS THE PISTON WAS HITTING THE SPARK PLUG ,THIS REPAIR CAN COST AS MUCH $1800.00...FOR A SPARK PLUG THAT COST AROUND $5.00 ON A SUV THAT COST $50,000.00... THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE SINCE THE PISTON WAS PUSHING I…
Read full complaint
MY FORD EXPEDITION HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES AND THE SPARK PLUG FOR #3 CYLINDER FELL INTO THE CYLINDER CHAMBER THUS THE PISTON WAS HITTING THE SPARK PLUG ,THIS REPAIR CAN COST AS MUCH $1800.00...FOR A SPARK PLUG THAT COST AROUND $5.00 ON A SUV THAT COST $50,000.00... THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE SINCE THE PISTON WAS PUSHING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, A FUEL AIR MIXTURE, PLUS, THE PRESENCE OF ELECTRICAL SPARK ARE A PERFECT MIXTURE FOR A FIRE... !!! I WAS CHARGED $ 689.00 FOR A TOW BACK TO MY HOME. I WANT THIS PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE!!!! A RECALL IS IN ORDER! I WANT FORD TO PAY FOR MY REPAIR AND TOWING BILL BECAUSE THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW AND IT IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS!!! CONTACT ME PLEASE! I HOPE THIS CAN HELPS OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS. *TR
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TAPPING NOISE ALL DAY AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN. WHEN I HIT MY HOME TOWN I WAS A .10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND A HUGE BANGING NOISE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS. FROM INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD I NOTICED THE COIL ASSEMBLY ABOVE IN THE RIGHT REAR CYL…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TAPPING NOISE ALL DAY AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN. WHEN I HIT MY HOME TOWN I WAS A .10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND A HUGE BANGING NOISE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS. FROM INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD I NOTICED THE COIL ASSEMBLY ABOVE IN THE RIGHT REAR CYLINDER WAS BROKEN AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING ON THE MOTOR. IT HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD INSPECT FOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS SUB-LETTED OUT TO A FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT A HELICOIL REPAIR WAS WHAT WAS ONCE ACCEPTED BUT THEIR DEALERSHIP NO LONGER PERFORMED THAT PROCEDURE BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. FORD PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAID THE BEST REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD BUT A HELICOIL TYPE REPAIR WOULD SUFFICE. BECAUSE OF THIS TEMPORARY FIX ANNOUNCEMENT AND FORD'S INABLILTY TO ADMIT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRITON MOTOR BUILT BETWEEN 1997 AND 2008 MY EXTENDEDE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDED FIX. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUTABLE. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY OF FIVE AT RISK OF BREAKING DOWN AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD AND CAUSING THE COILS TO BREAK. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COST OVER $1200 TO REPAIR AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER V…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WHICH WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2003. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE BLOWING OUT OF THE HEAD AND CAUSING THE COILS TO BREAK. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN 8 MONTHS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD COST OVER $1200 TO REPAIR AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE NOR FOR HER PARTICULAR MODEL PERTAINING TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES 96,772. UPDATED 2/22/10 *CN UPDATED 07/27/10*JB
2003 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L V-8 ENGINE BLEW A SPARKPLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TR
ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IS UNKNOWN. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES AS RAW FUEL WAS BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS, SO THI…
Read full complaint
ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE, HOWEVER INTERNAL DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE IS UNKNOWN. THIS COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES AS RAW FUEL WAS BEING BLOWN THROUGH THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS, SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF SOMEONE PUTTING TOO MUCH TORQUE ON REPLACEMENT PLUGS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND AFTER READING THE POSTS ON THE INTERNET FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, I AM CONVINCED THAT FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL. *TR
MY 2003 EXPEDITION, WITH THE V8 5.4 TRITION ENGINE, IS BEING DECLINED TO BE FIXED BY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS, DUE TO THE FACT OF THE "KNOWN" ISSUE, WITH THE SPARK PLUG, THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX OF THE HELI COIL WHICH ISN'T A GUARANTEE AND THEN HOPE IT WORKS, IF NOT IT WILL BE A REBUILT ENGINE, THE FIRST TIME THE SPARK PLU…
Read full complaint
MY 2003 EXPEDITION, WITH THE V8 5.4 TRITION ENGINE, IS BEING DECLINED TO BE FIXED BY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIPS, DUE TO THE FACT OF THE "KNOWN" ISSUE, WITH THE SPARK PLUG, THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE FIX OF THE HELI COIL WHICH ISN'T A GUARANTEE AND THEN HOPE IT WORKS, IF NOT IT WILL BE A REBUILT ENGINE, THE FIRST TIME THE SPARK PLUG BLEW IT WAS AT NIGHT, UPON STARTING, SOUNDED LIKE GUN FIRE, HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND THEN RESEARCHED IT ON THE INTERNET FOR SOLUTIONS, FOUND OUT WHAT IT WAS AND THEN REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND IGNITION COIL AND THEN HOPED IT WOULD STAY, UPON STARTING IT , IT DID IT AGAIN, BOUGHT MORE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS, AND GOT IT TO SEAT BETTER, AND THEN 4 WEEKS TO THE DAY WHILE DRIVING IS WHEN IT MADE THE SAME SOUND LIKE GUN FIRE AND WE KNEW THEN WHAT IT WAS, PULLED OVER ON A HIGHWAY AND PROCEEDED TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT DAMAGE HAD BEEN DONE, ONCE AGAIN A SPARK PLUG AND A NEW IGNITION COIL, HOWEVER THIS TIME THE SPARK PLUG WAS VASTLY DISCOLORED AND BURNT IN APPEARANCE, 1 WEEK AND 1 DAY LATER UPON STARTING IT DOES IT AGAIN, AND THIS TIME NO SPARK PLUG CAN BE PUT IN, THERE ARE NO MORE THREADS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC, THEY TOLD BE THEY WILL HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE TO PUT THE HELI COIL IN, AND THAT ISN'T A GUARANTEED FIX, ALSO THAT I SHOULD JUST REPLACE THE ENGINE, SINCE IT CAN AND PROBABLY WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN AGAIN, I HAD THE AUTO TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE AND I BEGAN TO RESEARCH MY OPTIONS, I CALLED ALL THE FORD DEALERSHIPS IN WHICH THEY SAID THEY COULD DO THE HELI AND THERE IS NOT A GUARANTEE FOR THIS TO WORK, SO AT WHAT COST IS A HUMAN LIFE TO FORD? PER THE INFO AND RESEARCH IT DOES SAY THAT IT CAN CATCH FIRE, AND EXPLODE.....OR PAY A FORTUNE FOR A CAR THAT CAN'T BE FIXED. WE DO HAVE SOME OF 6 THE SPARK PLUGS THAT HAVE "SHOT" OUT, I AM TOLD BECAUSE IT IS THE 3RD PLUG NEAR THE FIREWALL THAT THE ANGLE IS NOT APPROACHABLE....HELP NOW! *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION DOWN THE FREEWAY @55 MPH NOTICED A LOUD POP AND A WEIRD NOISE. STOPPED VEHICLE, POPPED HOOD AND INSPECTED. FOUND #5 COIL HANGING BY HARNESS AND #5 PLUG SITTING ON MANIFOLD. PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL AS THE TRUCK HAS ON 76,000 MILES. NO OTHER DAMAGE NOTED. WILL HELICOIL THE HOLE USING A KIT FOR THIS…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION DOWN THE FREEWAY @55 MPH NOTICED A LOUD POP AND A WEIRD NOISE. STOPPED VEHICLE, POPPED HOOD AND INSPECTED. FOUND #5 COIL HANGING BY HARNESS AND #5 PLUG SITTING ON MANIFOLD. PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL AS THE TRUCK HAS ON 76,000 MILES. NO OTHER DAMAGE NOTED. WILL HELICOIL THE HOLE USING A KIT FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM.
2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG # 2 BLOWN OUT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION OF HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FIREWALL. IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED UPON INSPECTION OF HER VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FIREWALL. IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT SHE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY RECOURSE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000.
Official recalls
103V094000 · 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
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.