IllustrationOWNER HAS REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN DRIVING, THE DRIVER FEELS AS IF THEY ARE PUSHING AGAINST RESISTANCE, LIKE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. VEHICLE IS ABLE TO MOVE WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. WHEN BRAKING, A PULSE IS FELT, BUT ROTORS ARE NEW.
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
What owners actually said
615 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUBFRAME CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 25505 W TWELVE MILE ROAD P.O. BOX 513 SOUTHFIELD,MI 48037 1-800-634-1506 INSTALLED A GPS DEVICE WHEN I PURCHSED THIS VEHICLE USED. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHEN NOT MOVING,BUT IT CREATED A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING CUTTING THE VEHICLES …
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CREDIT ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION 25505 W TWELVE MILE ROAD P.O. BOX 513 SOUTHFIELD,MI 48037 1-800-634-1506 INSTALLED A GPS DEVICE WHEN I PURCHSED THIS VEHICLE USED. I HAD IT REPLACED ONCE BY THE DEALER BECAUSE IT NOT ONLY DISABLED THE VEHICLE WHEN NOT MOVING,BUT IT CREATED A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS DRIVING CUTTING THE VEHICLES POWER OFF. CREDIT ACCEPTANCE DENIES THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT . THIS STARTED TO HAPPEN WHEN I FELL BEHIND ON PAYMENTS.
I WAS HAVING PROBLEM MY CAR OF IT LOSING POWER UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST LOST POWER COMPLETELY AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS LUCKY I WAS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN SO I QUICKLY PUT ON MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS AND I WAS LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND THIS WAS AROUND 8:30 P.M. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WELL IT WAS AT THE…
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I WAS HAVING PROBLEM MY CAR OF IT LOSING POWER UNTIL ONE DAY IT JUST LOST POWER COMPLETELY AT A STOP LIGHT I WAS LUCKY I WAS WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN SO I QUICKLY PUT ON MY EMERGENCY BLINKERS AND I WAS LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME FROM BEHIND THIS WAS AROUND 8:30 P.M. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WELL IT WAS AT THE MECHANIC I WENT AHEAD AND GOOGLE WHAT HAPPENED WITH MY CAR AND I CAME ACROSS A WHOLE BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE CARS DOING THE SAME THING MY CAR WAS DOING BUT I FOUND OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ENDED UP WASTING A LOT OF MONEY TO FIGURE OUT AT THE END WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS IF YOU'RE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS HAPPENS YOU CAN BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE I THINK THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND INVESTIGATE ON THIS PART
THE BRAKE LINE THAT IS ROUTED TO THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL BRAKING FUNCTION HENCE, CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO RUN OFF INTO A DITCH TO MISS A SLOWING VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD COME TO REST IN THE DITCH THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MAN…
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THE BRAKE LINE THAT IS ROUTED TO THE REAR BRAKES RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH, CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL BRAKING FUNCTION HENCE, CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO RUN OFF INTO A DITCH TO MISS A SLOWING VEHICLE. AFTER I HAD COME TO REST IN THE DITCH THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE CAUSED BY BRAKE FLUID SPRAYING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORTUNATELY, I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER ON BOARD, SO I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE. THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER LINE THAT RUNS PARALLEL WITH THE DEFECTIVE LINE THAT SHOWS ZERO EVIDENCE OF CORROSION.
THE TRUCK JUST QUITS LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS STALL NO STEERING NOW BRAKING VERY UNSAFE IT IS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS BUILT INTO THE FUSE JUNCTION BOX NOT SERVICEABLE AND IF YOU HAVE A MOON ROOF THE DRAIN RUNS DOWN THAT SIDE THE WATER DRIPS ON FUSE BOX SHORTS OUT THE RELAY AND OFF YOUR TRUCK GOES THEY ONLY DID IT 2 YEAR…
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THE TRUCK JUST QUITS LIKE RUNNING OUT OF GAS STALL NO STEERING NOW BRAKING VERY UNSAFE IT IS BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS BUILT INTO THE FUSE JUNCTION BOX NOT SERVICEABLE AND IF YOU HAVE A MOON ROOF THE DRAIN RUNS DOWN THAT SIDE THE WATER DRIPS ON FUSE BOX SHORTS OUT THE RELAY AND OFF YOUR TRUCK GOES THEY ONLY DID IT 2 YEARS AND THEY OBVIOUSLY NOW ABOUT IT AND CHANGED IT AND THE NEW PART DIFFERENT NUMBER
MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AS I APPROACHED A FOUR-WAY STOP INTERSECTION ON A RURAL COUNTY HIGHWAY. INSPECTION BY AUTO REPAIR TECHNICIANS REVEALED MY BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL RUPTURES. THE TECHNICIANS SAID THE RUST WAS THE RESULT OF FORD'S DECISION TO INSTALL STEEL BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHI…
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MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AS I APPROACHED A FOUR-WAY STOP INTERSECTION ON A RURAL COUNTY HIGHWAY. INSPECTION BY AUTO REPAIR TECHNICIANS REVEALED MY BRAKE LINES HAD RUSTED AND HAD EXPERIENCED SEVERAL RUPTURES. THE TECHNICIANS SAID THE RUST WAS THE RESULT OF FORD'S DECISION TO INSTALL STEEL BRAKE LINES IN THE VEHICLE, RATHER THAN ALUMINUM. WHEN EXPOSED TO THE SALT PREVALENT ON LOCAL ROADWAYS IN THE WINTER, THEY EASILY RUST OUT LONG BEFORE THE VEHICLE EVEN APPROACHES THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ITS LIFE.
2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 FUSE BOX FAIL FUSE PUMP RELAY BURN, ON 01/14/2015 WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON THE 5FWY GOING 70 MILES THE TRUCK SHOT OFF LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH OUT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR ON THE FWY. I REPLACE THE FUSE BOX FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT A JUNK YARD,THE…
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2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 FUSE BOX FAIL FUSE PUMP RELAY BURN, ON 01/14/2015 WHILE THE TRUCK WAS IN MOTION ON THE 5FWY GOING 70 MILES THE TRUCK SHOT OFF LUCKILY MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH OUT HITTING ANY OTHER CAR ON THE FWY. I REPLACE THE FUSE BOX FOR ANOTHER USED ONE THAT I BOUGHT AT A JUNK YARD,THE TRUCK RUN GOT FOR A YEAR , ON 01/05/2016 IT HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THE TRUCK ON THE 118 FWY GOING 75 THE TRUCK SHUT OFF AGAIN SAME PROBLEM FUSE BOX , FUSE RELAY IS BURN IN HAVE POST IT 3 VIDEOS ON YOU TUBE LOOK FOR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION XLT 4.6 CRANKS WON'T START IS UNDER JAVALOSREALESTATE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON, AFTER A FEW MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY. WHILE PU…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN. I MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTED AND I CONTINUED ON, AFTER A FEW MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I GOT IT STARTED AGAIN AND WAS TRYING TO MAKE A REST STOP A FEW MILES AWAY. WHILE PULLING INTO THE REST STOP THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION BECAUSE OF NO STEERING OR BRAKES. THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED 8 TIMES THAT DAY. WHILE LOOKING FOR ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I FOUND ON THE NHTSB WEBSITE THAT OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FUSE BLOCK. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID IT WAS A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. THAT WOULD NOT CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO DID FIND THAT IT WAS INDEED A FAULTY FUSE BLOCK. THE SAME MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAD COME ACROSS THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT NEEDS TO BE RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE LOSS OF POWER OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR CODES.
THE FRAME OF MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRAME IS ABOUT TO SELF DESTRUCT. ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED. REPLACEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME ARE ALSO RUSTED. I HAVE HAD ONE REPLACED …
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THE FRAME OF MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION HAS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRAME IS ABOUT TO SELF DESTRUCT. ONE OF THE STRAPS THAT HOLDS THE GAS TANK TO THE FRAME HAS RUSTED. REPLACEMENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. THE STEEL BRAKE LINES ALONG THE FRAME ARE ALSO RUSTED. I HAVE HAD ONE REPLACED ALREADY. THE AREA BELOW ALL 4 DOORS IS MISSING DUE TO RUST. YOU CAN SEE THE FRAME THROUGH THE MISSING STEEL. IT APPEARS THAT FORD USES NOTHING TO KEEP THEIR VEHICLES FROM RUSTING! THIS IS A DISGRACE. FORD HAS BEEN MANUFACTURING VEHICLES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS AND STILL CANT MAKE ONE THAT DOES NOT RUST. THEIR PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE PROGRAM IS COSTING ITS CUSTOMERS BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REPLACEMENT COSTS. I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE CONSIDERING THE COST TO REPLACE THESE VEHICLES. THERE SHOULD BE NO TIME LIMIT ON RUST. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THEY SHOULD HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO RUST PROOF A VEHICLE PROPERLY. I WANT A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM THEM AT THEIR COST!
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.