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2003 Lincoln Navigator

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Navigator years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Lincoln Navigator are substantially higher than the model-year median of 30.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

91 reports with mileage · 36 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports3 fire reports11 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

22 reports
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43,900 miles · Oct 5, 2006
Electrical SystemPower Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE GEAR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS DID NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE GEAR SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE LAST REPAIR WAS MADE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MPH. THE DOOR LOCK SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE, THE MIRRORS WOULD NOT RETURN TO THEIR ORIGNAL SETTING. UPDATED 10/27/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169992

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. *NM THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER TRIED VARIOUS FIXES BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10109614

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2004
Electrical SystemStructureInjury

THE RETRACTABLE POWER RUNNING BOARDS ON MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO DEPLOY AND/OR RETRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY, I FELL WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE GROUND, INJURING MY LOWER BACK (LUMBAR)IN TWO PLACES AND FRACTURING MY (THORACIC) SPINE AT T-12. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS …

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THE RETRACTABLE POWER RUNNING BOARDS ON MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO DEPLOY AND/OR RETRACT. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE TO DEPLOY, I FELL WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, HITTING MY HEAD ON THE GROUND, INJURING MY LOWER BACK (LUMBAR)IN TWO PLACES AND FRACTURING MY (THORACIC) SPINE AT T-12. I'VE RESEARCHED THIS ON LINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHERS VEHICLE OWNERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE RUNNING BOARDS. I'M TOLD THAT FORD HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #17249 THAT DESCRIBES THE MALFUNCTION. FORD AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE LEFT IT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS NUMEROUS TIMES, TWICE ONE OF THE RUNNING BOARDS WAS STUCK IN THE OUTER POSITION AT THE TIME IT WAS LEFT FOR REPAIR. I HAVE MET WITH THE FACTORY ENGINEER ON TWO OCCASIONS. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND TELPHONE CALLS TO THE LINCOLN CUSTOMER SERVICEHOTLINE AND MET WITH SMITHTOWN LINCOLN MERCURY'S PREVIOUS AND CURRENT SERVICE MANAGERS. A DANGEROUS CONDITION EXISTS. HOPEFULLY YOU WILL TAKE AN INTEREST AND FORCE THEM TO TAKE WHATEVER ACTION IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE MALFUNCTION BEFORE OTHERS ALSO SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10086506

25,000 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPUTER ELECTRONIC SYSTEM SHUTDOWN. *BF THE CONSUMER REFERENCED 10044144 A PREVIOUS CLAIM FILED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10103160

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRONIC SHUTDOWN CAUSING THE STEERING TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD COME TO A ROLLING HALT. THE LINCOLN DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO ASSURE REPAIRS OR EXPLAIN THE CAUSE AND EFFECT OF THE MALFUNCTION. *AK *SCC *TC

NHTSA ODI #10044144

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2004
Electrical SystemEquipmentStructure

PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, RADIO COVER HAS MARKS ON IT WHERE IT RETRACT INTO THE DASH, KICK PLATE INSIDE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IS BROKEN, ALL FOUR DOORS EXTERNAL PATTERNS ARE LOOSE, AND THE FRONT CONSOLE LOCK IS BROKEN.*MR THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUALLY AFTER BEING REPAIRED THREE TIMES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10081903

10,000 miles · Jun 29, 2004
Electrical System

AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 NAVIGATOR WITH POWER RUNNING BOARDS, I NOTICED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS DO NOT ALWAYS DEPLOY (IE; MOVE OUT) WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED. I HAVE WORKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER TO GET THE MATTER RESOLVED AND THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO EXTEND THE DATE THAT THEY PROMISE THERE WILL BE A FIX. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR…

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AFTER PURCHASING A 2003 NAVIGATOR WITH POWER RUNNING BOARDS, I NOTICED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS DO NOT ALWAYS DEPLOY (IE; MOVE OUT) WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED. I HAVE WORKED WITH MY LOCAL DEALER TO GET THE MATTER RESOLVED AND THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUES TO EXTEND THE DATE THAT THEY PROMISE THERE WILL BE A FIX. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR. THE FIRST FIX DATE WAS OCT'03, THEN NOV'03,THEN DEC '03 AND NOW DEC '04. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IS SOMEONE WAS TO OPEN THE DOOR AND TRY TO STEP OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH NOTHING TO STEP ON TO -- ESPECIALLY IF YOU FACTOR IN THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. LINCOLN HAS MOST DEFINATELY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE AND SEEMS TO NOT VIEW THE MATTER AS A HIGH PRIORITY. I CALLED THE LINCOLN CUSTOMER HOTLINE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN HELPFUL, NOR HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO GET BACK TO ME WITH ANY ANSWER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT LINCOLN HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ELECTRONIC "CONTROL" MECHANISM IS DEFECTIVE. I AM EXTREMELY DISSAPOINTED WITH LINCOLN OVER THE MATTER AND FEEL THAT THEY HAVE ABANDONED PURCHASERS OF THEIR LINCOLN NAVIGATOR'S.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078988

1 miles · May 24, 2004
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibility

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JANUARY OF 2003. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE DAY 1.THE ENTIRE COMPUTER HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE TRUCK STALLED ON ME AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT TOOK OVER 2 1/2 WEEKS TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK.HERE IS A LIST OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. THE REAR VENT MOTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED . …

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I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JANUARY OF 2003. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE DAY 1.THE ENTIRE COMPUTER HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE TRUCK STALLED ON ME AT HIGHWAY SPEED. IT TOOK OVER 2 1/2 WEEKS TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK.HERE IS A LIST OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD. THE REAR VENT MOTORS HAVE BEEN CHANGED . I HAD MY WINDOWS STUCK OPEN WITH HALF OF MY ELECTICAL SYSTEM OUT FOR OVER FOUR DAYS DUE TO THE PROBLEM. THE SIDE VIEW MIRROR MOTOR HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE POWER RUNNING BOARDS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. ALL FOUR WHEELS HAD TO BE CHANGED DUE TO PEELING. A NEW ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE INSTALLED WHICH LEFT MY VEHICLE DEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CD CHANGER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE ENTIRE NAVIGATION SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE COIL HAD TO BE CHANGED THREE TIMES. WHICH ONCE AGAIN DIED AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ME. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY A SEMI TRUCK FROM BEHIND. I THOUGHT FOR SURE THAT MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED. IT IS AT THE DEALER RIGHT NOW GETTING LOOKED AT. TWICE WHILE BEING AT THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, MY VEHICLE WAS HIT NEEDING REPAIR. THE LIST GOES ON. AS YOU CAN SAY MY VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER MORE THAN IT IS AT HOME, WHERE IT SHOULD BE. MOST OF THE PROBLEMS TIE MY VEHICLE DOWN FOR MORE THAN A WEEK. I AM FED UP AND TIRED OF ALL THE PROBLEMS. I DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING SUCH AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. I KNOW IT WILL STALL AGAIN ON ME. HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES DUE TO SUCH AN UNRELIABLE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10073057

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2004
Electrical System

AUTOMATIC RUNNING BOARDS HAD DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OR WOULDN'T DEPLOY AT ALL. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS EXITING THE FROM THE REAR SEAT WHEN THE BOARDS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT AS SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE IT DEPLOYED STRIKING THE CONSUMER IN THE BACK OF HER LEGS. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10059387

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2003
Electrical SystemInjury

I WAS DRIVING DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT THE MEMORY SEAT BUTTON MY MY NAVIAGATOR AND THE SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND KEPT GOING FORWARD UNTIL IT REACHED THE VERY FARTHEST IT COULD GO FORWARD. THE LIGHTS INSIDE WERE GOING CRAZY AND THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN AND ACTING CRAZY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON 8/20 AND TH…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN DRIVEWAY AND HIT THE MEMORY SEAT BUTTON MY MY NAVIAGATOR AND THE SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AND KEPT GOING FORWARD UNTIL IT REACHED THE VERY FARTHEST IT COULD GO FORWARD. THE LIGHTS INSIDE WERE GOING CRAZY AND THE OUTSIDE MIRRORS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN AND ACTING CRAZY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN ON 8/20 AND THEY FOUND 7 ELECTRICAL FAULTS WITH THE VEHICLE. ON AUGUST 25, 2003, FOUND OUT I HAD BEEN CARRYING TRIPLETS BUT LOST TWO AND AM NOW PREGNANT WITH ONE. DO NOT KNOW IF THAT WAS RELATED OR NOT. ON AUGUST 30TH THE BACK LIFTGATE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE SENORS IN IT AND ALMOST SHUT AND TRAPPED ME IN IT. LUCKILY I GOT OUT UNHARMED. SCARED TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WERE ONE OF MY OTHER CHILDREN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY SITTING IN A BAY AT THE SERVICE DEPT. FORD TOLD THEM NOT TO WORK ON IT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS GOING ON WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037522

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

DP05005 · 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.