NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
127 reports96,800 miles · Apr 9, 2010
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING ROTTING. THE BRACKETS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED AND THE SHEET METAL UNDERNEATH THE BOARDS WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONSULT WITH THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING BOARDS ON BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING ROTTING. THE BRACKETS WERE RUSTED AND CORRODED AND THE SHEET METAL UNDERNEATH THE BOARDS WAS MISSING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CONSULT WITH THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,800.
NHTSA ODI #10324741
93,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Suspension
I OWN A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MY TRUCK HAS PRIMARILY SAT IN THE GARAGE, THE SUSPENSION WENT OUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE TOLD THE COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WE DID THIS TO THE TUNE OF $599.00, AFTER THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED MY TRUCK RAN OKAY, IT NEVER SEEMED QUITE THE SAME, AFTER ALMOST 5 MONTHS…
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I OWN A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MY TRUCK HAS PRIMARILY SAT IN THE GARAGE, THE SUSPENSION WENT OUT TWO YEARS AGO, WE WERE TOLD THE COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, WE DID THIS TO THE TUNE OF $599.00, AFTER THE COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED MY TRUCK RAN OKAY, IT NEVER SEEMED QUITE THE SAME, AFTER ALMOST 5 MONTHS THE COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW COMPRESSOR AND AIR BAGS AND WOULD COST APROX. $1,300.00 AND COULD COST MORE IF OTHER SUSPENSION ISSUES WERE DISCOVERED, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE DUE TO SEVERAL REASONS FINANCIALLY, THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND IT CANNOT BE DRIVEN, THE BODY OF THE TRUCK SITS SO LOW, WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT LOOKS LIKE WE MAY HAVE AXEL DAMAGE FROM THE IMPROPER DISTRIBUTION OF BODY WEIGHT ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SUSPENSION BEING OUT. OUR LOCAL LINCOLN DEALER (APROX. 20 MILES AWAY) SAID WE NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT?, OUR TRUCK IS NOT DRIVABLE, I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND GOT ABOUT 2.5 BLOCKS FROM OUR HOME AND HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK HOME, THE VIOLENT BOUNCING AND ROCKING GIVES A WHIPPING MOVEMENT THAT CAUSED MY HEAD TO CONTINUOUSLY HIT THE HEAD REST VERY HARD, THIS CAUSING GREAT BACK AND NECK PAIN, NOT TO MENTION CAUSE FOR ALARM ON WHAT THIS UNSAFE DRIVING IS DOING TO THE VEHICLE...I AM SO DISAPPOINTED, I AM MAKING $500.00 A MONTH PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE I CANNOT AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. WHAT'S EVEN MORE TROUBLING I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALLS ON THE SUSPENSION AND I HAVE BEEN READING HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, WHAT IS FORD DOING ABOUT THIS? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME IF THEY ARE WORKING ON MAKING THIS RIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318175
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2010
Suspension
A YEAR AND AHALF AGO, THE NAVIGATOR BEGAN TO MAKE STRANGE GROWLING NOISES WHEN IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE GARAGE. SOME DAYS WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GET INTO THE CAR, IT WAS HIGH OFF THE GROUND, OTHER DAYS IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY LOW. THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION WENT OUT ON OUR 2003 NAVIGATOR. IT COST ME OVER $700 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIS IS…
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A YEAR AND AHALF AGO, THE NAVIGATOR BEGAN TO MAKE STRANGE GROWLING NOISES WHEN IT WAS PARKED UNDER THE GARAGE. SOME DAYS WHEN I WOULD TRY TO GET INTO THE CAR, IT WAS HIGH OFF THE GROUND, OTHER DAYS IT WOULD BE EXTREMELY LOW. THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION WENT OUT ON OUR 2003 NAVIGATOR. IT COST ME OVER $700 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION, SO I HAD TO BORROW A CAR FOR A WEEK TO GET TO WORK. NOW, IT IS OUT AGAIN! BECAUSE OF THE LAST EXPERIENCE, I HAD BEEN DOING A SYSTEM CHECK PERIODICALLY. THE CHECK ALWAYS SAID, "SUSPENSION OK". WELL, TWO WEEKS AGO, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THE CAR SEEMED TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT OR LEAN FORWARD WHEN PARKED. FINALLY, LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND SAID, THE CAR WAS RIDING LIKE A BOUNCING BUGGY - THE SUSPENSION IS GONE AGAIN! THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. IT IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION WE HAVE FOR GETTING TO WORK. AND I'M STILL PAYING ON A CAR THAT I CANNOT RIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10310436
55,000 miles · Feb 11, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainStructure
VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT MARSHALL BROS IN NEW ORLEANS, VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED 2 MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASED. VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH THE PROBLEM KNOWN TO DEALERSHIP. WORKER AT LOCATION STATED THEY KNEW IT AND WHEN WE PURCHASED VEHICLE, THEY INSISTED ON US BUYING…
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VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT MARSHALL BROS IN NEW ORLEANS, VEHICLE WAS SOLD AS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED 2 MONTHS AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASED. VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH THE PROBLEM KNOWN TO DEALERSHIP. WORKER AT LOCATION STATED THEY KNEW IT AND WHEN WE PURCHASED VEHICLE, THEY INSISTED ON US BUYING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SINCE IT WAS USED. INSISTED TO THE POINT OF GIVING POLICY AT COST, THIS WAS DUE TO KNOWN PROBLEM, TRANSMISSION CASE AND UNIT WAS SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MISSED. PREVIOUS OWNER CONTACTED AND STATED THEY TOLD DEALERSHIP OF PROBLEM. ALSO SINCE VEHICLE WAS OWNED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS GONE HAYWIRE, BATTERY NOT CHARGING PERIODICALLY, ALARM AND LIGHTS OPERATING ON THEIR OWN,LIGHTS STAYING ON, COMING ON AT NIGHT, RADIO STAYING ON DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WHEN BROUGHT IN FOR ISSUES, THEY KEPT VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS. HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES, SAME STATEMENT BY DEALER. I RESEARCHED PROBLEM ON INTERNET AND DISCOVERED TSB'S ON SAME PROBLEMS, BUT NO RECALL. BUT TSBS HAVE EXISTED SINCE 2004, DEALER KNEW WINDSHIELD LEAKS INTO COMPUTER AND MOONROOF CAN LEAK CAUSING SAME PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING, THEN WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY DEALERSHIP STATES KNOWN ISSUE AND FUSE PANEL NEEDS REPLACING AT COST OF $4,000 . THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AFTER MY RESEARCH AND SINCE THE DEALERSHIPS ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN INCLUDING LYING AND SELLING VEHICLES WITH KNOWN PROBLEMS. BBB WAS CONTACTED AND IN PROCESS OF HAVING PRESS INVOLVED. PLEASE LOOK AT ALL COMPLAINTS ON ISSUE AND MAKE A RECALL NECESSARY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, VEHICLES WRECKING, PUTTING DRIVERS IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10308848
76,000 miles · Feb 5, 2010
Suspension
FRONT AIR SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, AND ONLY WORKS HALF OF THE TIME IN WARM WEATHER. TRUCK IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE THRU THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS ONLY 76,000 MILES AND BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SUSPENSION AND RIGHT RUNNING BOARD. SEE ALL OVER THE INTERNET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOU…
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FRONT AIR SUSPENSION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, AND ONLY WORKS HALF OF THE TIME IN WARM WEATHER. TRUCK IS VERY WELL TAKEN CARE THRU THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS ONLY 76,000 MILES AND BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SUSPENSION AND RIGHT RUNNING BOARD. SEE ALL OVER THE INTERNET NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME THING, THIS IS CLEARLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL (2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR). THE TRUCK HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN IN 2 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE AT THE DEALER TO REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10306225
116,000 miles · Feb 1, 2010
Suspension
THE SUSPENSION IN MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE ESTIMATE TO GET IT FIXED IS OVER $1000, BUT CANNOT REPAIR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. BEING AS HOW THIS DEFECT IS SO WIDELY AFFECTS THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE RECALL. A TYPICAL CAR DRIVER SHOULD…
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THE SUSPENSION IN MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT. THE ESTIMATE TO GET IT FIXED IS OVER $1000, BUT CANNOT REPAIR BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN LAID OFF FOR OVER A YEAR. BEING AS HOW THIS DEFECT IS SO WIDELY AFFECTS THIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE, IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A POSSIBLE RECALL. A TYPICAL CAR DRIVER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR AN OBVIOUS ENGINEERING DEFECT. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ENTIRE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILING WITH ONE COMPONENT GOING OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10303560
60,000 miles · Dec 14, 2009
SuspensionInjury
2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR TRAVELING 65 MILES AN HOUR AND SUSPENSION WENT OUT REAR ONE THIS TIME TRUCK BOUNCED SO HARD HIT MY HEAD AND TRUCK WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WE NEED TO SUE LINCOLN. BOUGHT MINE IN STATEN ISLAND DANA MOTORS WAS IN SHOP 21 TIMES FOR THE SUSPENSION THEY FIXED AND 3 MONTHS LATER OUT AGAIN LAST TIME OCTOBER COST ME 1…
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2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR TRAVELING 65 MILES AN HOUR AND SUSPENSION WENT OUT REAR ONE THIS TIME TRUCK BOUNCED SO HARD HIT MY HEAD AND TRUCK WAS UNCONTROLLABLE WE NEED TO SUE LINCOLN. BOUGHT MINE IN STATEN ISLAND DANA MOTORS WAS IN SHOP 21 TIMES FOR THE SUSPENSION THEY FIXED AND 3 MONTHS LATER OUT AGAIN LAST TIME OCTOBER COST ME 1100 DOLLARS . VERY BAD TRUCK STUCK WITH PAYMENT OF A DEATH TRAP! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10295700
96,000 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Structure
POWER SIDE STEP BARS ROTTEN WITH RUST, WE CAN NO LONGER STEP ON THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL BREAK OFF COMPLETELY THEN WE WILL HAVE A BIGGER PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293319
146,500 miles · Nov 16, 2009
Suspension
2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR AIR SUSPENSION SENSOR FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOSE ALL SUSPENSION AND DROP AS LOW AS IT WOULD GO, PROVIDING NO SUSPENSION. TRUCK BOUNCED DANGEROUSLY OVER THE ROAD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DECREASE SPEED AND REMAIN WITHIN LANE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292306
40,000 miles · Oct 17, 2009
SuspensionInjury
I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR .I BOUGHT IT IN STATEN ISLAND NY DANA MOTORS 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE HAD IT IN THERE SHOP FOR SUSPENSION CENSORS AND BAGS OVER 10 TIMES MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 30 DAYS AGO AND GUESS WHAT MY REAR SUSPENSION WENT OUT .I CONTACTED FORD OVER 10 TIMES AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS HAS TO BE THE WORST TRUCK AND CO…
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I HAVE A 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR .I BOUGHT IT IN STATEN ISLAND NY DANA MOTORS 2 YEARS AGO I HAVE HAD IT IN THERE SHOP FOR SUSPENSION CENSORS AND BAGS OVER 10 TIMES MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 30 DAYS AGO AND GUESS WHAT MY REAR SUSPENSION WENT OUT .I CONTACTED FORD OVER 10 TIMES AND I WANT TO SAY THAT THIS HAS TO BE THE WORST TRUCK AND COMPANY I HAVE EVER HAD TO DEAL WITH FORD FOUND ON ROAD DEAD GO GM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10288789
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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