NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports85,017 miles · Sep 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD AT 85K MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT SEES 2 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUTS A MONTH AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 2003 EXPEDITIONS. REPAIRED WITH A FORD FIX - HELIACOIL OR LINER INSTALLED INTO HEAD FOR DAMAGED SPARK PLUG. FOR TRUE FIX, FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEAD AND S…
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2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD AT 85K MILES. FORD DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT SEES 2 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUTS A MONTH AND FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM IN 2003 EXPEDITIONS. REPAIRED WITH A FORD FIX - HELIACOIL OR LINER INSTALLED INTO HEAD FOR DAMAGED SPARK PLUG. FOR TRUE FIX, FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THE HEAD AND SPARK PLUGS TO ENSURE THAT OTHER SPARK PLUGS DON'T COME UNTHREADED AS MILEAGE INCREASES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10355727
113,000 miles · Sep 13, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA ODI #10355193
110,000 miles · Sep 7, 2010
Tires
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65MPH, WE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION OF RIGHT REAR TIRE. TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 60-70% TREAD LEFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10354150
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2010
SteeringCrashInjury
ON SUNDAY AUGUST 22, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M I WAS DRIVING ON THE 215 FREEWAY GOING SOUTHBOUND IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CA. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS MODERATE AND IT WAS NIGHTTIME. WHILE DRIVING MY PARENTS' 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE AT THE SPEED OF 60-65MPH I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP AND I…
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ON SUNDAY AUGUST 22, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 P.M I WAS DRIVING ON THE 215 FREEWAY GOING SOUTHBOUND IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CA. TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT, WEATHER WAS MODERATE AND IT WAS NIGHTTIME. WHILE DRIVING MY PARENTS' 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE AT THE SPEED OF 60-65MPH I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP AND I TRIED TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT THE WHEELS TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND I VEERED OFF THE LANE AND INTO THE DIRT ON THE SHOULDER LANE. I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, IT SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER TWO OR THREE TIMES, AND TOOK OUT A BIG PIECE OF FENCE AND FINALLY STOPPED. I WALKED OUT OF THE CAR IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND PANIC, PEOPLE PULLED OVER TO HELP, POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AS WELL AS AN AMBULANCE. ACCIDENT REPORT WAS TAKEN BY THE CHP AND I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE AMBULANCE. I SUFFERED FROM MINOR INJURIES TO HEAD AND BODY AND HAD NIGHTMARES AND WOKE UP SCREAMING FOR A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED AWAY AT THE SCENE OF ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10353825
58,900 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THOSE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE HE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE FRONT BRAKES WERE RUSTED THROUGH. THOSE BRAKE LINES WERE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE BUT HE EXAMINED HIS VEHICLE AND NOTICED THE BRAKE LINES FOR THE REAR BRAKES WERE VERY RUSTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,900. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10353259
101,000 miles · Aug 25, 2010
Air BagsInjury
HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND WE WERE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN TO NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY 8/22/2010 WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY DESTINATION & ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND & A LOT OF PRESSURE HIT US IN THE CHEST. THE TRUCK THEN BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I PULLE…
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HELLO, I AM WRITING TO YOU ABOUT MY VEHICLE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION AND WE WERE TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN TO NORTH CAROLINA SUNDAY 8/22/2010 WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM MY DESTINATION & ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HEARD A LOUD SOUND & A LOT OF PRESSURE HIT US IN THE CHEST. THE TRUCK THEN BEGINS TO FILL UP WITH SMOKE. I PULLED OVER NOT KNOWING WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED, WE THEN NOTICED THAT THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS HAD DEPLOYED. I DID NOT HIT ANYONE NOR DID ANYONE HIT US. I THEN CALLED 911 & ASK FOR THE POLICE TO COME OUT & GIVE ME A POLICE REPORT AND HE REFUSED TO GIVE ME ONE. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO MALCOLM CUNNINGHAM FORD & THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO FOR ME BUT TO PUT IT ON A CENSOR MACHINE & FIND OUT WHY THEY DEPLOYED. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT MY CAR INSURANCE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS & THE INSURANCE COMPANY SAID THAT IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE & NOT THERE PROBLEM. I CALLED FORD CORPORATION & THE ONLY THING THAT THEY TOLD ME WAS THEY COULD JUST PUT IN A CLAIM BUT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THAT THEY COULD DO UNLESS SOMEONE DIE OR WAS SEVERELY INJURED. WELL ALL 3 OF US WERE INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT. I NEED HELP IN THIS MATTER. I AM NOW OUT OF A TRUCK THAT I AM STILL PAYING ON & LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE WILL NOT PAY FOR ME A RENTAL AND I HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE. EVERYWHERE I TURN EVERYONE IS TURNING ME DOWN, LIKES IT MY FAULT. THIS HAS CAUSED ME PAIN, SUFFERING, EMOTIONAL STRESS AND NOT TO MENTION TIME OFF WORK. IF SOMEONE COULD HELP IN ASSISTING ME WITH THIS MATTER I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. REGARDS, X *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351862
103,000 miles · Aug 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
SUDDEN BACKFIRE RESULTING IN SPARK PLUG EJECTION. REPLACED WITH HELICOIL KIT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10351251
120,000 miles · Aug 20, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS LATER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS IT OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS LATER. WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TWENTY MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA ODI #10350792
47,000 miles · Aug 15, 2010
Electrical System
ONE OF MY SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES ON MY 2003 EXPEDITION. 4 HOURS TO FIX IT. NOW I HAVE TO GO BACK AND TORQUE THE OTHER 7 PLUGS AND HOPE THE PIECE OF CRAP DOESN'T SPIT OUT ANY OTHER PLUGS. THIS IS MY LAST FORD! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349467
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
A DEER CAME ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND I SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING. HIT THE DEER AND DRAG IT APPROX 60 FT. SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WE FLIPPED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP 6-8 TIMES PER PASSENGER (DAUGHTER) AND A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME F…
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A DEER CAME ONTO THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND I SWERVED TO PREVENT HITTING. HIT THE DEER AND DRAG IT APPROX 60 FT. SPARKS AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AS WE FLIPPED. VEHICLE BEGAN TO FLIP 6-8 TIMES PER PASSENGER (DAUGHTER) AND A TRACTOR TRAILER DRIVER. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BAGS. THE EXPEDITION WAS TOTALED BECAUSE THE FRONT AND REAR WINDOW CAME OUT, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW IN THE FRONT ROW WERE SHATTERED, THE ASHTRAY DISCONNECTED AND WENT OUT THE WINDOW. THE MIRRORS ON THE EXPO WERE DAMAGED AND THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS TERRIBLY DAMAGED. A NEW VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349460
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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