NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
71 reports82,000 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER. IT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21ST AT APPROXIMATELY 6:24 PM. JUST OUTSIDE OF CARROLL, IOWA. I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND MY VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH. I WAS DRIVING A 2000 FORD EXPLORER WITH BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS …
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I WAS RECENTLY INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT IN WHICH I WAS THE DRIVER. IT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 21ST AT APPROXIMATELY 6:24 PM. JUST OUTSIDE OF CARROLL, IOWA. I HIT A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AND MY VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A DITCH. I WAS DRIVING A 2000 FORD EXPLORER WITH BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS AND NEITHER ONE DEPLOYED. WE ROLLED AT LEAST ONCE AND LANDED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO SHATTER THE FRONT WINDSHIELD, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS FAULTY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10107969
96,454 miles · Jan 24, 2005
Seats
CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER HIGH BACK SEAT REPAIRED. THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND THE MANUFACTURED HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CONSUMER TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RESURFACING. DEALER STATED THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND LEAN…
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CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE BOLT ON THE PASSENGER HIGH BACK SEAT REPAIRED. THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND THE MANUFACTURED HAS BEEN CONTACTED. MANUFACTURER ADVISED CONSUMER TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RESURFACING. DEALER STATED THE BOLT WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL BROKE, AND LEANED AGAINST THE BACK SEAT.*AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10105584
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2005
Tires
DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN LOUISIANA, DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, CHANGED LANES AND HAD BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVER REAR TIRE. I WAS DRIVING A FORD EXPLORER. THE BLOWOUT LOOKED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED ON THE SIDEWALL, AT A POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE STEEL BELTS ON THE DRIVING SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS ROAD DA…
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DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY IN LOUISIANA, DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH, CHANGED LANES AND HAD BLOWOUT ON THE DRIVER REAR TIRE. I WAS DRIVING A FORD EXPLORER. THE BLOWOUT LOOKED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED ON THE SIDEWALL, AT A POINT WHERE THE SIDEWALL MEETS THE STEEL BELTS ON THE DRIVING SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS ROAD DAMAGE TO THE TIRE. THE LOCAL GOODYEAR REP SAID THAT THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THE TIRE AND THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS DAMAGE BEFORE AND WOULD NOT WARRANTY THE TIRE. THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE FIRESTONE, BUT WERE CHANGED OUT BY THE FORD COMPANY TO GOODYEAR BECAUSE OF THE FIRESTONE RECALL. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 29,000 MILES ON THEM AND THE AIR PRESSURE WAS CHECKED 2 DAYS BEFORE DURING AN OIL CHANGE. THE TIRE IS GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT/S M+S P235/75R15 SER# 274220-GRF-70MMWVS IT ALSO HAS THE NUMBERS E13 0293095 STAMPED ON THEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10106307
53,000 miles · Dec 1, 2004
Power Train
AT 53,000 MILES, THE TRUCK'S TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND MISSING SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS 2-3 AND 3-4. WE TOOK IT TO FORD FOR WARRANTY WORK, AND THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. NOW AT 76,000 MILES, AND 15 MONTHS LATER, IT'S EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, ONLY WORSE. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY R…
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AT 53,000 MILES, THE TRUCK'S TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND MISSING SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS 2-3 AND 3-4. WE TOOK IT TO FORD FOR WARRANTY WORK, AND THEY REPLACED THE VALVE BODY. NOW AT 76,000 MILES, AND 15 MONTHS LATER, IT'S EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS, ONLY WORSE. FORD REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN FORD TRUCKS WITH THE 5R55E TRANSMISSION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10100881
64,863 miles · Nov 3, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SMOKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB THE KNOCKING WOULD ONLY OCCUR IN THE FALL AND WINTER MONTH'S. ON ONE OCCASION THE WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10094213
20,000 miles · Jul 20, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY FORD YEAR 2000 IDLES ROUGH AND STALLS IN COLD WEATHER. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS DIRTY INJECTORS AND KEPT HAVING THEM FLUSHED WHICH TEMP. FIXED PROB. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, FOR THEY DID ON HIS EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT I WAS OVER THE MILES AND TH…
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MY FORD YEAR 2000 IDLES ROUGH AND STALLS IN COLD WEATHER. I THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS DIRTY INJECTORS AND KEPT HAVING THEM FLUSHED WHICH TEMP. FIXED PROB. A MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT FORD WOULD FIX IT FOR FREE, FOR THEY DID ON HIS EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT I WAS OVER THE MILES AND THAT IT WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL. WELL NOT ONLY AM I NOT SATISFIED, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY FACTOR AS WELL. WHAT IF A PULL OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION AND MY CAR STALLS. CROSSING A HIGHWAY AND MY CAR STALLS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT FORD WOULD HAVE CARED MORE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS ESPECIALLY GIVEN THAT THIS IS MY 3RD FORD AND I AM ONLY 30 YRS OLD. REGARDLESS, OF THAT FACT, THAEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR DRIVERS SAFE ON THE ROAD. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10082288
60,000 miles · Jul 17, 2004
SeatsCrashInjury
AUTO ACCIDENT, REAR ENDED AT A RED LIGHT, SUBSTAINED SURIOUS INJURIES, MY CAR 000 FORD EXPLORE DRIVER SEAT BROKE AFTER THE INPACT THE DRIVER SEAT. RECLINER BOLT BROKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081241
51,109 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages
DOOR LATCH/LOCKING ASSEMBLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE LOCKING ASSEMBLY, AND INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS. *AK *NM
NHTSA ODI #10063588
43,000 miles · Dec 30, 2003
Power Train
THE TRUCK'S VALVE BODY MALFUNCTIONED . WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT CORRECTLY. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF IT THE CAUSE IS STILL UNKNOWN AND THERE'S ISN'T A REMEDY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10052128
35,000 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Fuel System, OtherCrashFire
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE FUEL PUMP SHUTOFF SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BURN TO THE GROUND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10044627
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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