NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports60,000 miles · Nov 25, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE REAR ENDED. IT HAPPENS WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT AND THE DEALERSHIP IS BAFFLED. ALL THEIR EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT CAN'T EVEN TRACK DOWN THE ISSUE. SO FAR THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME FUEL PARTS AND MY FUSE BOX BUT IT STILL SHUT…
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MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND BE REAR ENDED. IT HAPPENS WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT AND THE DEALERSHIP IS BAFFLED. ALL THEIR EXPENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT CAN'T EVEN TRACK DOWN THE ISSUE. SO FAR THEY HAVE REPLACED SOME FUEL PARTS AND MY FUSE BOX BUT IT STILL SHUTS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY. I AM $900. IN THE HOLE ALREADY, LET ALONE I AM GOING TO HAVE MY FIRST GRANDCHILD WITHIN A WEEK, AND I HAVE THIS TANK THAT SHUTS DOWN ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. IT SOUNDS ELECTRICAL AND I AM IN FEAR OF CATCHING FIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10209854
83,000 miles · Nov 12, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 5.4 LITER V8 WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208689
62,000 miles · Oct 11, 2007
Air BagsSeat Belts
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CORRODED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE WIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS CORRODED, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR AND THE WIRES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,300. UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WAS TWISTED. UPDATED.
NHTSA ODI #10205418
55,000 miles · Sep 18, 2007
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE DAY WAS CLEAR, THE WEATHER WAS WARM. MY WIFE HIT HER MONTE CARLO DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE LADIES CAR, BOTH VEHICLES WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. OUR CAR HIT A RATHER LARGE PINE TREE. WITH BOTH OF THESE MAJOR …
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A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE DAY WAS CLEAR, THE WEATHER WAS WARM. MY WIFE HIT HER MONTE CARLO DOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE LADIES CAR, BOTH VEHICLES WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO THE TREES. OUR CAR HIT A RATHER LARGE PINE TREE. WITH BOTH OF THESE MAJOR IMPACTS, TOTALING BOTH CARS, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND MY WIFE'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. THE FRONT OF OUR CAR WAS HIT ON BOTH THE FRONT RIGHT AND FRONT LEFT CORNERS. WE ARE DEPENDING AND PAYING FOR THESE SAFETY, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THEY DON'T OPERATE WHEN NEEDED. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10203334
Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2007
Unknown Or Other
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT HAS SURFACE RUST ON THE ENGINE INTAKE COWLING. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT UNDER FORD'S RUST WARRANTY ONLY RUST THROUGH ISSUES ARE COVERED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10202194
74,776 miles · Aug 23, 2007
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND RIDE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN IDS DIAGNOSTIC AND PIN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND RIDE ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SHE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO THE FORD DEALER. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN IDS DIAGNOSTIC AND PINPOINT TEST AND DISCOVERED THAT A CYLINDER MISFIRED ON CYLINDER NUMBER 4. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION COIL AND SPARK PLUG ASSEMBLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,776.
NHTSA ODI #10200593
40,000 miles · Aug 10, 2007
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES, SIZE LT275/65R18. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO A FUEL STATION WHEN THE T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC TIRES, SIZE LT275/65R18. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE TO A FUEL STATION WHEN THE TIRE COMPLETELY BLEW OUT. THE FAILURE BENT THE FENDER OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #10199052
19,926 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlFire
2003 FORD EXPEDITION FIRE, STARTED NEAR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AT THE TIME WITH NO ONE IN IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10198830
66,000 miles · Jul 20, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN A MVA ON JUNE 29, 2007. I HIT SEVERAL TREES AND WENT DOWN A LARGE EMBANKMENT. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I HAD SEVERE FRONTAL DAMAGE AND DRIVER DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10197078
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2007
Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC AW TIRES (SIZE P27560R17). ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE RETURNED TO THE STORE AND EXCHANGED THE FAILED TIRE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINENTAL CONTITRAC AW TIRES (SIZE P27560R17). ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. SHE RETURNED TO THE STORE AND EXCHANGED THE FAILED TIRE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SHE NOTICED AN AIR BUBBLE ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. A SALES REPRESENTATIVE FROM WAL-MART STATED THAT THE ENTIRE BATCH OF TIRES WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WITH A GOODYEAR TIRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND ALL OF THE CABLES WERE EXPOSED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE TIRES ARE UNSAFE. THE DOT NUMBER, VIN, ENGINE SIZE, # OF CYLINDERS, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 97,000.
NHTSA ODI #10193801
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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