NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports248,000 miles · Sep 8, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN FOOT WAS PUT ONTO GAS TO GO VEHICLE INSTANTLY LOST POWER WITH NO STUTTERING OR STALLING AND HAD TO PUT IN PARK TURN KEY OVER TO GO AGAIN. SECOND TIME, GOING 65 DOWN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE IT LOST POWER AND SPEED DECREASED, PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF …
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THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, FIRST TIME STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN FOOT WAS PUT ONTO GAS TO GO VEHICLE INSTANTLY LOST POWER WITH NO STUTTERING OR STALLING AND HAD TO PUT IN PARK TURN KEY OVER TO GO AGAIN. SECOND TIME, GOING 65 DOWN THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACTED LIKE IT LOST POWER AND SPEED DECREASED, PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF HIGHWAY AND PUT IN PARK AND STARTED RIGHT UP. THIRD TIME, GOING 65 DOWN HIGHWAY STARTED TO ACT LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER AND SHOWED DASH LIGHTS AS IF ALL POWER WAS CUT SHORT AND THEN GAINED ALL POWER BACK WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL OVER AND RESTART.
NHTSA ODI #11253937
25 miles · Aug 20, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrash
I HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH MY 03 FORD EXPEDITION SHUTTING OF RANDOMLY IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ON HIGHWAYS YOU LOSE POWER STEERING AND ALL POWER TO MOTOR ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MANY TIMES I BELIEVE MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT ALL RELATES TO THE FUSE BOX PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL SO MANY PEOPLE CAN GET HURT OR EVEN KILLED
NHTSA ODI #11245286
250,000 miles · Jul 11, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
THE TRUCK WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 55 OR 60 MILES AN HOUR , NO STEERINGWAS ON HIGHWAY ,NO BRAKES PUT IN NEURAL TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH CARS ALL AROUND ME .THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL WHEN FULLED UP WITH GAS, HAD TO BE TOWED, THEN WHEN I WAS DOWN TO 1/4 TANK ,WOULD NOT TURN OVER, HAD …
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THE TRUCK WOULD JUST TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 55 OR 60 MILES AN HOUR , NO STEERINGWAS ON HIGHWAY ,NO BRAKES PUT IN NEURAL TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH CARS ALL AROUND ME .THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, THEN IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL WHEN FULLED UP WITH GAS, HAD TO BE TOWED, THEN WHEN I WAS DOWN TO 1/4 TANK ,WOULD NOT TURN OVER, HAD GAS IN IT TOO, BUT WOULD NOT START, HAD TO BE TOWED IN SHOP NOW AGAIN 3RD TIME ,HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR AGAR GOING OFF HAD SENOR REPLACED STILL COMES UP
NHTSA ODI #11231014
150,000 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE SOUND WAS A DISTRACTION TO THE CONTACT'S DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE RIDE TO THE END AND THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE MADE AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE SOUND WAS A DISTRACTION TO THE CONTACT'S DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE RIDE TO THE END AND THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #11221525
204,000 miles · May 3, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, WHEN UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY, IT MOVED THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS AND NEVER MOVWS BACK. I PUT THE MIRRORS BACK WHERE THEY BELONG AND EVERY FOLLOWING TIME WHEN I UNLOCK THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY FOB, IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THIS WAY.
NHTSA ODI #11205517
2,000 miles · Apr 29, 2019
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL TANK CRACK AND LEAKS
NHTSA ODI #11204363
243,146 miles · Dec 5, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 4 TIMES EACH TIME THE BATTERY WOULD DIE INSTANTLY. WE HAD TO KEEP JUMP STARTING IT TO GET HOME. 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. SCANNED IT CAME BACK P0304 CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF.RAN OBD2 …
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN 4 TIMES EACH TIME THE BATTERY WOULD DIE INSTANTLY. WE HAD TO KEEP JUMP STARTING IT TO GET HOME. 2 DAYS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. SCANNED IT CAME BACK P0304 CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND COILS. ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF.RAN OBD2 SCANNER TO DOUBLE CHECK CODES. CODE P2503 CHARGING SYSTEM LOW VOLTAGE . TOOK BATTERY TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS HAD THEM TEST IT. THE COCA SHOULD HAVE BEEN 650CCA AND WAS AT 11CCA SO BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. NEXT DAY TOOK SON TO SCHOOL LESS THE 2 MILES RAN FINE ON MY WAY HOME IT DIED 3 TIMES THIS TIME I WOULD WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON STARTED SEARCHING ON LINE AND AND CALLING MECHANICS. SO BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR. STARTED THE TRUCK TO WARM UP AFTER 5 MINUTES IT SHUT DOWN AGAIN WAITED A MINUTE AND STARTED BACK UP DID IT AGAIN. THIS TIME THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. SO AFTER SEARCHING MANY PEOPLE WERE SAYING THE FUSEABLE LINK WAS BAD SO WENT TO FORD HAD ONE ORDERED INSTALLED IT TO DAY. BATTERY LIGHT STILL ON STARTED IT RAN FOR 5 MIN AND DIED AGAIN. SO NOW I BOUGHT NEW SPARK PLUGS, COIL PACKS, BATTERY,ALTERNATOR, FUSIBLE LIN. NOW OBDII CODE B1676- BATTERY PACK VOLTAGE OUT OF RANGE TESTER BATTERY FULLY CHARGED TESTED ALTERNATOR IT'S AT 14.7 WHICH IT SUPPOSED TO BE.
NHTSA ODI #11156464
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY TRUCK JUST CUT OFF, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE SHOP. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACE, 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM.HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN FUSE WAS REPLACE. 3 WEEKS LATER I'M NOW HAVING TO HAVE THE FUSE BOX REPLACE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A REC…
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"TAKATA RECALL" I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH WHEN MY TRUCK JUST CUT OFF, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE SHOP. HAD FUEL PUMP REPLACE, 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PROBLEM.HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN FUSE WAS REPLACE. 3 WEEKS LATER I'M NOW HAVING TO HAVE THE FUSE BOX REPLACE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DON'T THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. THEY JUST CAME OUT WITH THE LATEST UPDATE FUSE BOX IN 2017.
NHTSA ODI #11145153
184,786 miles · Aug 13, 2018
Unknown Or Other
SPARK PLUGS SHOT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNNG WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE LOUD POPPING NOISE CAUSED ME TO SWERVE WHILE IN BACK TO BACK TRAFFIC. AFTER GAING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, MANUVERED VEHICLE TO FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD POPPING NOISE EVERYTIME I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. BE…
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SPARK PLUGS SHOT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNNG WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE LOUD POPPING NOISE CAUSED ME TO SWERVE WHILE IN BACK TO BACK TRAFFIC. AFTER GAING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, MANUVERED VEHICLE TO FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MAKE LOUD POPPING NOISE EVERYTIME I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR. BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE NOISE WAS, MY GRANDCHILDREN AND I WERE STARTLED AFRAID. I PULLED ONTO A VACANT LOT AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF. I HAD TO CALL SOMEONE TO COME AND PICK MY GRANDCHILDREN UP AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THEY ARRANGED FOR A TOW. ALTHOUGH I WAS PARKED OUT OF TRAFFIC, SITTING THERE ALONE, WAITING FOR THE TOW TRUCK FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. IT WAS DARK BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. MY HUSBAND DID NOT GET OFF UNTIL AROUND 8:00PM. I WAS VERY AFRAID!!! I TAKE MEDICATION AND TREATMENT FOR MY NERVES. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON 11-13-2017 AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN -REPAIRED!!! -THE FIRST TIME.
NHTSA ODI #11119615
147,700 miles · Mar 26, 2018
Structure
FRAME ROT IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, FRONT AND REAR
NHTSA ODI #11081307
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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