NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports205,000 miles · Dec 14, 2015
Engine
SPARK PLUG EJECTION! I JUST EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY FORD TRITON MOTOR WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WILL EJECT FROM THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT EXPERIENCED THIS ON SATURDAY. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WAL-MART WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK, WE TURNED A CORNER AND MY HEART STOPPED! IT SOUNDED LIKE I WA…
Read full complaint
SPARK PLUG EJECTION! I JUST EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY FORD TRITON MOTOR WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WILL EJECT FROM THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT EXPERIENCED THIS ON SATURDAY. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WAL-MART WITH MY FAMILY IN THE TRUCK, WE TURNED A CORNER AND MY HEART STOPPED! IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS INVOLVED IN MACHINE GUN FIRE. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND MY LOOKED. COULDN'T INITIALLY SEE ANYTHING. MY HUSBAND CHECKED UNDER THE TRUCK THINKING IT WAS EXHAUST RELATED. WE WERE LUCKILY 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME, SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT HOME AND INTO THE DRIVEWAY. MY HUSBAND BEGAN TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND I TOOK TO THE INTERNET. HE TOOK THE ENGINE COVER OFF AND DISCOVERED THE SPARK PLUG MISSING AND THE COIL WIRE BROKEN OFF AND SPARKING. LONG STORY SHORT IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SITUATION WHERE THE CYLINDER HEAD HAS STRIPPED ON THE ONE SPARK PLUG. WE HAVE BEGUN LOOKING INTO WAYS TO FIX THE SITUATION, BUT IT SEEMS FORD HAS NOT DEEMED THIS TO BE AN ISSUE. TRULY DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY PEOPLE CAN REPORT THE EXACT SAME HAPPENINGS AND NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT..... MERRY STINKIN CHRISTMAS!!! WE ARE REACHING OUT TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALER BUT AM PRETTY SURE THEY ARE GOING TO TELL US WE ARE CRAP OUT OF LUCK AND WILL FALL ON US TO REPAIR IF WE CHOOSE.
NHTSA ODI #10810023
116,785 miles · Dec 3, 2015
Service Brakes
ABRUPT, NO WARNING(ON DIGITAL DASH) LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. ON STOPPING WHILE PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID STOP WITHOUT HITTING CONCRETE WALL. VERY SCARY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE FROM THE 5TH FLOOR TO BE PLACED ON A ROLL BACK. DEALER STATES BRAKE LIN…
Read full complaint
ABRUPT, NO WARNING(ON DIGITAL DASH) LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. ON STOPPING WHILE PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING GARAGE, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE DID STOP WITHOUT HITTING CONCRETE WALL. VERY SCARY GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE FROM THE 5TH FLOOR TO BE PLACED ON A ROLL BACK. DEALER STATES BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED AND DRAINED BRAKE FLUID CAUSING CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE. STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE
NHTSA ODI #10808297
160,000 miles · Nov 5, 2015
Electrical System
THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX WHICH CASE A FUSE CALLED A PCM RELAY TO MELT AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT START. THE FUSE BOX WILL BUZZ CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. YOU CAN REPLACE THE RELAY WHICH IS ABOUT $15 BUT THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY TEMPORARY AND IT WILL MELT AND CAUSE …
Read full complaint
THIS SPECIFIC MAKE AND MODEL YEAR HAS A DEFECTIVE FUSE BOX WHICH CASE A FUSE CALLED A PCM RELAY TO MELT AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND NOT START. THE FUSE BOX WILL BUZZ CONTINUOUSLY BUT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT START. YOU CAN REPLACE THE RELAY WHICH IS ABOUT $15 BUT THIS IS MORE THAN LIKELY TEMPORARY AND IT WILL MELT AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REPLACE THE FUSE PANEL ENTIRELY WHICH BRINGS ME HERE, THE PANEL ALONE IS $500 AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE LABOR AND TAXES. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF FORUMS ONLINE THAT REFER TO THIS SPECIFIC MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I'VE SPENT THOUSANDS REPLACING PARTS THAT DID NOT NEED REPAIR. FORD NEEDS TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THIS DEFECT BECAUSE IT'S A MANUFACTURE'S DEFECT NOT A CONSUMER (WEAR AND TEAR) ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10788628
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Structure
MY PASSENGER WINDOW AND BOTH BACK WINDOWS HAVE DROPPED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS FIXED MORE THAN ONCE ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS ILL TRY TO PUT THE WINDOW UP AND THE WINDOW MOTOR MAKES A STRUGGLING NOISE AND I AM UNABLE TO ROLL UP THE WINDOW. AT THIS POINT I'M SURE IT MUST BE A DEFECT BECAUSE…
Read full complaint
MY PASSENGER WINDOW AND BOTH BACK WINDOWS HAVE DROPPED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS FIXED MORE THAN ONCE ON THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, WHAT HAPPENS IS ILL TRY TO PUT THE WINDOW UP AND THE WINDOW MOTOR MAKES A STRUGGLING NOISE AND I AM UNABLE TO ROLL UP THE WINDOW. AT THIS POINT I'M SURE IT MUST BE A DEFECT BECAUSE OF HOW IT HAS HAPPENED TO EACH WINDOW MORE THAN ONCE. ALSO THE BUMPER THAT GOES AROUND THE ENTIRE CAR IS EXTREMELY FADED AND I AM UNABLE TO GET FIXED I HAVE GONE TO GET ESTIMATES FOR A PAIN JOB BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD DUE TO THE MATERIAL IT IS JUST GOING TO FADE I WOULD NEED TO GET IT SANDED AND HAVE THEM DO SOME SPECIAL TREATMENT I CANT AFFORD AND THEY WILL NOT JUST PAINT OVER IT FOR ME BECAUSE THEY GUARANTEE THERE WORK AND WOULD HAVE TO REDO IT TOO OFTEN. ALL THE EXPEDITIONS I SEE HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10786046
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2015
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE FUSE RELAYS WAS MELTING INTO THE FUSE BOX. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE FUSE RELAYS WAS MELTING INTO THE FUSE BOX. AS A RESULT, THE FUSE BOX AND THE POWER CONTROL MODULE RELAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10783285
100,000 miles · Oct 10, 2015
Structure
I OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2003. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I NOTICED SMALL PERFORATION/RUSTING ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND OVER TIME IT BECAME WORST. NOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS BADLY CORRODED AREAS . IT APPEARS THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN AND THE MATERIALS USED WATER REMAINS TRAPPED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. ALSO POOR WORKMAN…
Read full complaint
I OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE 2003. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO I NOTICED SMALL PERFORATION/RUSTING ON THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND OVER TIME IT BECAME WORST. NOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS BADLY CORRODED AREAS . IT APPEARS THAT DUE TO THE DESIGN AND THE MATERIALS USED WATER REMAINS TRAPPED ESPECIALLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. ALSO POOR WORKMANSHIP OR POOR MATERIALS ARE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS. THIS MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS UNFORESEEN ISSUES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE HOOD CAN BECOME WEAK IN THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE CORROSION, THEREFORE I AM SEEKING GUIDANCE. I DID REACH OF TO THE FORD COMPANY WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS, THEY ONLY ADVISE THAT THIS WAS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE. ON ANOTHER NOTE I AM THE ONLY OWNER AND I HAVE NOT LIVED CLOSE TO THE BEACHES OR EVEN WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT CORROSION OF THIS MAGNITUDE.
NHTSA ODI #10781257
129,000 miles · Oct 4, 2015
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
CARS STALLED WHILE TURNING LEFT AGAINST TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TRYING TO START IT AND FINALLY IT STARTED AND I COULD CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. VERY DANGEROUS AND FORTUNATE THAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO STOP. HAVE CLEANED THROTTLE BODY, AIC BUT FUSE ON FUSE BOX IS MELTED CAUSING INTERM…
Read full complaint
CARS STALLED WHILE TURNING LEFT AGAINST TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT START RIGHT AWAY. HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES TRYING TO START IT AND FINALLY IT STARTED AND I COULD CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. VERY DANGEROUS AND FORTUNATE THAT ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS ABLE TO STOP. HAVE CLEANED THROTTLE BODY, AIC BUT FUSE ON FUSE BOX IS MELTED CAUSING INTERMITTENT OPERATION. STARTED OUT ONCE A MONTH AND NOW FREQUENTLY TO INCLUDE THIS LAST ONE IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA ODI #10779619
157,000 miles · Sep 24, 2015
Unknown Or Other
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, SEVERAL TIMES, IT STALLED. IT BEGAN TO STALL EVERY FEW MONTHS. IT LATER STALLED WEEKLY AND LATER DAILY. EACH TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED (IT DID NOT APPEAR EACH AND EVERY TIME), I WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. I ALWAYS GOT THE P0231 ERROR CODE. I HAVE HAD MY FUEL PUMP, FUEL RELAY, FUEL…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE, SEVERAL TIMES, IT STALLED. IT BEGAN TO STALL EVERY FEW MONTHS. IT LATER STALLED WEEKLY AND LATER DAILY. EACH TIME, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED (IT DID NOT APPEAR EACH AND EVERY TIME), I WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. I ALWAYS GOT THE P0231 ERROR CODE. I HAVE HAD MY FUEL PUMP, FUEL RELAY, FUEL FILTERS, TRANSMISSION AND SEVERAL OTHER THINGS REPLACED. NONE OF THE PREVIOUS LISTED REPAIRS FIXED THE ISSUE. RECENTLY ON 09/07/2015, I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH. MY VEHICLE STALLED ON A TRAIN TRACK. IT DID NOT START RIGHT AWAY. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT GOING FOR A FEW SECONDS, LONG ENOUGH TO MOVE IT. I WAS TERRIFIED. IT HAS BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE. MY MECHANIC WILLINGLY DID A HOUSE CALL AND EXPLAINED THE REAL ISSUE. HE STATED THAT THE ISSUE WAS A FAULTY FUSE BOX LOCATED IN THE KICK PANEL OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE STATED THAT IF I GET IT REPAIRED, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN, DUE TO THE FAULTY DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THE LOCATION OF THE BOX. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF I GET IT REPLACED, I WOULD NEED TO GET IT FROM THE DEALER. REPLACING IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER SELLING THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY TO INCLUDE FUSES AND RELAYS. I AM NOT SURE HOW FAR THIS COMPLAINT WOULD GO, BUT IT'S WORTH COMPLAINING ABOUT.
NHTSA ODI #10775890
180,000 miles · Sep 9, 2015
Service BrakesFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SMOKE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA ODI #10762498
191,260 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Air Bags
DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD IN A SCHOOL ZONE WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 PM, WHEN SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE BAGS DEPLOYED DEFLATED. I WAS NEAR A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD SO I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOT HIT NOR DID I HIT ANYONE TO CAUSE THE BAGS TO DEPLOY.
NHTSA ODI #10760097
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.
Illustration