NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
22 reportsClear category filter103,000 miles · Sep 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE FOURTH SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THIS RESULTED HEAVY LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FUEL FUMES TO COME OUT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH-SPEED AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SAFELY MAKE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS…
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THE FOURTH SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG GT 4.6L VEHICLE BLEW OUT. THIS RESULTED HEAVY LOSS OF POWER, SHAKING, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FUEL FUMES TO COME OUT. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH-SPEED AND I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO SAFELY MAKE IT OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO THE CAR IS ESTIMATED AT $2500. THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FORD 8-CYLINDER ENGINES FOR WHAT I GATHERED THROUGH INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE THREADS ARE TOO THIN AROUND THE SPARK PLUG AND THE HEAT CAUSES THEM TO BLEW OUT - LITERALLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10423995
108,000 miles · Jan 31, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND MAYBE A FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALSO, THE SPARK PLUGS SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED COOLANT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE LEAK COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND MAYBE A FIRE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. ALSO, THE SPARK PLUGS SEPARATED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IN REFERENCE TO THE SPARK PLUGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #10379719
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON MY 2002 FORD MUSTANG V6 THE AC CONDENSATION DRIPS TO MY MANIFOLD AND KEEPS CRACKING THE WELD. I HAVE TO GET IT REWELDED EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE GUY AT THE SHOP TELLS ME HE GETS AT LEAST 10 A MONTH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292166
90,566 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WENT TO DRIVE MY CAR FRIDAY MORNING AND HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND HAD 3 PULLEYS REPLACED ON IT AND IT WAS STILL SQUEAKING THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP STILL SQUEAKING I HAD 3 MECHANICS CHECK THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME WITH THE MILES THAT WAS ON MY CAR I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS COMING FROM MY CRANKSH…
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I WENT TO DRIVE MY CAR FRIDAY MORNING AND HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND HAD 3 PULLEYS REPLACED ON IT AND IT WAS STILL SQUEAKING THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP STILL SQUEAKING I HAD 3 MECHANICS CHECK THE CAR AND THEY TOLD ME WITH THE MILES THAT WAS ON MY CAR I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS COMING FROM MY CRANKSHAFT I DON'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON THE CAR YET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257471
15,500 miles · Jul 11, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TO REPLACE TWO EXHAUST MUFFLERS. AFTER TWO AND HALF MONTHS THE NEW STANLEY STEEL MUFFLERS BECAME SEVERELY RUSTED. WHEN THE SERVICE DEALER WAS ALERTED, THEY REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY WARRANTY ON THE MUFFLERS.
NHTSA ODI #10162124
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
DT: 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST INTAKE ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE IN HALF. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DRIPPED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INTAKE. THIS CAUSED THE BREAK. FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE EXHAUST WENT INTO THE ENGINE, AND THE PIPE WAS HANGING ON THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP WI…
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DT: 2002 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONSUMER STATED THE EXHAUST INTAKE ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE IN HALF. THE AIR CONDITIONER CONDENSER DRIPPED ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER INTAKE. THIS CAUSED THE BREAK. FORD WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE EXHAUST WENT INTO THE ENGINE, AND THE PIPE WAS HANGING ON THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, 04216.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10136481
45,000 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
2002 FORD MUSTANG V6 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINE INCREASES RPMS EVEN WHEN FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS IN GEAR AND BETWEEN SHIFTS. EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY, FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THIS IS "A NORMAL VEHICLE CHARACTERISTIC AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS SHOULD BE PERFORMED".…
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2002 FORD MUSTANG V6 WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION. ENGINE INCREASES RPMS EVEN WHEN FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENS IN GEAR AND BETWEEN SHIFTS. EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY, FORD REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THAT THIS IS "A NORMAL VEHICLE CHARACTERISTIC AND NO FURTHER REPAIRS SHOULD BE PERFORMED". THE PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND WORSENING. I THINK THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10128905
6,936 miles · Jul 19, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE PULLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK THERE WAS A CLUNK AFTER THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE FRONT TIRES RUBBED ON THE FRAME WHEN TURNING, THREE BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITHIN 6000, THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE OIL, EVEN WITH THE A/C ON. THE MOTOR RATTLED BEFORE THE GEARS WERE…
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WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND WHEN BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE PULLED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *AK THERE WAS A CLUNK AFTER THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED, THE FRONT TIRES RUBBED ON THE FRAME WHEN TURNING, THREE BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITHIN 6000, THE VEHICLE SMELLED LIKE OIL, EVEN WITH THE A/C ON. THE MOTOR RATTLED BEFORE THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED, WITH THE A/C ON THE MOTOR WOULD SURGE UP AND DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL. AFTER THE CONSUMER WOULD TAKE HIS FOOT OFF OF THE GAS THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS SOMETIMES HARD TO START AND MUST BE CRANKED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE REAR OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AS IF SOMETHING WAS LOOSE MOVING BACK AND FORTH. POOR ALIGNMENT HAD WORN THE TIRES ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. THE BOLT FROM THE VEHICLE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE REAR WINDOW HAD AN AIR LEAK. *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10080140
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10029676
Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A GUARDRAIL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10026708
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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