NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports88,546 miles · Aug 12, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG MELTED INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO STATED THAT A SPARK PLUG MELTED INTO THE ENGINE AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. FORD MOTOR COMPANY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,546.
NHTSA ODI #10349095
79,000 miles · Aug 7, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 EXPEDITION O THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE JEEP JUST CUT RIGHT OFF NO WARNING ANYTHING I HIT MY BLINKERS TO COME ON TRY AND CUT IT ON AGAIN AND IT DID BUT AGAIN CUT RIGHT BACK OFF. I HAD TO CONTINUE CUTTING ON AND CUTTING ON CONSTANTLY UNTIL I GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT …
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I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 EXPEDITION O THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE JEEP JUST CUT RIGHT OFF NO WARNING ANYTHING I HIT MY BLINKERS TO COME ON TRY AND CUT IT ON AGAIN AND IT DID BUT AGAIN CUT RIGHT BACK OFF. I HAD TO CONTINUE CUTTING ON AND CUTTING ON CONSTANTLY UNTIL I GOT IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT INJURING NOT ONLY MY FAMILY BUT OTHER PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I TAKE THE JEEP TO THE MECHANIC HE STATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF AND FORD WILL NO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. FORD BUILD THIS JEEP THIS WAY SO PEOPLE CAN ONLY RETURN TO FORD FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH COST A LOT. THE COILS ON THE JEEP WERE WHITE AND RUSTED BECAUSE THE WAY THIS JEEP WAS BUT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET TO THEM A MECHANIC LITERALLY HAS TO MOVE THE MOTOR OR MOTOR PARTS TOGET TO IT. FORD HAS THIS PROBLEM AS A RECALL ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES BUT WILL NOT HONOR THIS AS A RECALL FOR THE 2003 EXPEDITIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347931
17,000 miles · Aug 5, 2010
Tires
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND DID $1,700.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO REAR QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER. CONTINENTAL TIRE AGREED TO PAY DAMAGES BUT NOT REPLACE TIRES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES, I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 30 DAYS FOR THE CHECK WHICH IN THE LETTER THEY SENT STATED I WOULD RECEIVE IT WITHIN …
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND DID $1,700.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO REAR QUARTER PANEL AND BUMPER. CONTINENTAL TIRE AGREED TO PAY DAMAGES BUT NOT REPLACE TIRES. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED REIMBURSEMENT FOR DAMAGES, I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 30 DAYS FOR THE CHECK WHICH IN THE LETTER THEY SENT STATED I WOULD RECEIVE IT WITHIN 8-14 DAYS. I FEEL THEY ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347470
94,000 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
26,000 miles · Jul 3, 2010
Power TrainSuspension
I HAVE A 2003 EXPEDITION WITH ONLY 31000 MILES. AT 26000 MILES I NOTICED A GRINDING VIBRATION WHEN I TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT.. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003,04 EXPEDITIONS. THE CLUTHES IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOES BAD EVERY 30,000 MILE AND THE COST WILL BE $1250.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. IF…
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I HAVE A 2003 EXPEDITION WITH ONLY 31000 MILES. AT 26000 MILES I NOTICED A GRINDING VIBRATION WHEN I TURNED RIGHT OR LEFT.. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003,04 EXPEDITIONS. THE CLUTHES IN THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOES BAD EVERY 30,000 MILE AND THE COST WILL BE $1250.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR. IF FORD KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM, WHY HAVEN'T THEY ISSUED A RECALL? WE AS OWNERS SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PAY THIS EVERY 30,000 MILES. MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS [XXX] . PLEASE RESPOND. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341346
138,000 miles · Jul 3, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline
2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM CYLINDER. DRIVING MY CAR FROM PORTLAND TO SEATTLE, HEAR A BANG. PULLED OVER TO FIND THE IGNITION COIL BLOWN OUT OF ITS POSITION. HAD CAR TOWED FOR $100 TO LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID "THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS IN ANY FORD (THEY) SEE" WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE SPARK PLUG CAME…
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2003 FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM CYLINDER. DRIVING MY CAR FROM PORTLAND TO SEATTLE, HEAR A BANG. PULLED OVER TO FIND THE IGNITION COIL BLOWN OUT OF ITS POSITION. HAD CAR TOWED FOR $100 TO LOCAL SHOP. THEY SAID "THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS IN ANY FORD (THEY) SEE" WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE (AFTER HAVING THE DEALER TIGHTEN IT LESS THAN A YEAR AGO) AND BLEW OUT THE IGNITION COIL. COST ME $100 IN TOWING AND $700 IN SHOP REPAIRS AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT MORE DAMAGE WAS NOT DONE TO THE CYLINDER. DEALER IN PORTLAND REPORTED A "CLEAN INSPECTION". ONLY HAD OIL CHANGED BETWEEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341316
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
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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