NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
127 reports85,000 miles · Sep 18, 2009
Suspension
AIR SUSPENSION SENSOR WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED AND CAR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT RANDOMLY GOES UP TOO HIGH OR DOWN TOO LOW. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AS THE TIRE CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELL. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $2000 TO REPAIR. FOR NOW THE SENSOR WAS CLIPPED…
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AIR SUSPENSION SENSOR WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED AND CAR HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT RANDOMLY GOES UP TOO HIGH OR DOWN TOO LOW. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE IN MOTION IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AS THE TIRE CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE WHEEL WELL. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE $2000 TO REPAIR. FOR NOW THE SENSOR WAS CLIPPED BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE. A WEEK LATER SENSOR CAME OFF AGAIN AND WE HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO PUT IT BACK ON OURSELVES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE. THOUGH LINCOLN DID CORRECT THE ISSUE WITH THE NEWER MODELS NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE ON THE OLDER MODELS TO MAKE A MORE LASTING REPAIR. ON LINE THERE ARE TONS OF REPORTS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE PARTS REPLACED TO ONLY FIND THAT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE AT HAND AND MORE MONEY NEEDED TO BE SPENT TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT IT. THERE ARE COMPANIES THAT HAVE COME UP WITH SYSTEMS TO REPLACE THE AIR SUSPENSION WITH TRADITIONAL SUSPENSION SO THAT MULTIPLE REPAIRS CAN BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS EVIDENCE TO ME THAT A DEFECT IS KNOWN INDUSTRY WIDE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10284477
50,000 miles · Aug 31, 2009
Suspension
CAN YOU CHECK OUT 03 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR AIR SUSPENSION BECAUSE MY KEEPS FAILING COMPRESSOR AND HEIGHT SENSOR CAUSING ROUGH RIDES CHECKED ONLINE SEEMS LIKE ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM LIKE ME TOO. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282407
Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 2009
Structure
MY 03 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER RUNNING BOARDS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. AFTER CAR IS STARTED THE RUNNING BOARD REMAINS DEPLOYED AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE "IN" POSITION UNTIL VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED MORE THAN 5MPH. THE RUNNING BOARD WILL GO IN AND OUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. THE PROBLEM…
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MY 03 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER RUNNING BOARDS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. AFTER CAR IS STARTED THE RUNNING BOARD REMAINS DEPLOYED AND WILL NOT RETURN TO THE "IN" POSITION UNTIL VEHICLE HAS EXCEEDED MORE THAN 5MPH. THE RUNNING BOARD WILL GO IN AND OUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. THE PROBLEMS TEMPS TO BE WORST ON HOT DAYS. I HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING AND READING SOME BLOGS ABOUT LINCOLN'S 03 NAVIGATOR I SAW THAT THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER NAVIGATOR OWNERS THAT ARE OR HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN THE RUNNING BOARD DOES NOT GO IN, IT MAKES THE AIR SUSPENSION NOT INFLATE AS IT SHOULD. THIS MAKES THE VEHICLE FEEL LIKE IF IT IS HEAVIER THAN IT IS AND AT TIME MAKING IT HARD TO HANDLE ON THE ROAD. WITH THIS I HAVE NOTICED THAT SINCE THE SUSPENSION IS NOT RUNNING OK THE CAR FEELS LIKE IF ITS DRAGGING, WHICH PUTS EXTRA STRESS ON THE TIRES, WEARING OUT THE TIRES FASTER THAN IT SHOULD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266677
130,000 miles · Apr 8, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure
HI I WAS WONDERING THE INSIDE PASS. DOOR HANDLE WE WENT TO OPEN IT AND THE HANDLE BROKE IN HALF, WELL FOR 1 CANT BELIEVE IT WAS MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC FOR THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR THE TRUCK AND 2 WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AND THE HANDLE BROKE ETC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264762
57,000 miles · Feb 23, 2009
Electrical System
BOUGHT A 2003 NAVIGATOR USED IN JANUARY OF 2007. EVER SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS IN WINDOWS GO UP WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN, THE ELECTRONIC LIFTGATE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, THE REAR ELECTRONIC SEATS DON'T ALWAYS WORK, THE ODOMETER READS 0 MILES TO EMPTY WHEN I HAVE A FULL TANK, FRONT AIR SUSPENSI…
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BOUGHT A 2003 NAVIGATOR USED IN JANUARY OF 2007. EVER SINCE THEN, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AS IN WINDOWS GO UP WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN, THE ELECTRONIC LIFTGATE DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK, THE REAR ELECTRONIC SEATS DON'T ALWAYS WORK, THE ODOMETER READS 0 MILES TO EMPTY WHEN I HAVE A FULL TANK, FRONT AIR SUSPENSION HAS GONE TWICE NOW DUE TO AN ELECTRONICALLY SENSOR, POWER LOCKS HAVEN'T WORKED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259690
67,000 miles · Feb 10, 2009
Electrical SystemFire
HAD SMOKE IN PASSENGER AREA OF CAR. DEALERSHIP STATES IT WAS INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND AN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FOR VEHICLE TO THIS DATE AND STATES THEY ARE "BACKORDERED:. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258160
104,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Unknown Or Other
A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD OF MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, I LEARNED THAT A SPARK PLUG EJECTED AND DAMAGED THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A NEW ENGINE FOR $7,5000 OR REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR $4,200. MY VEHICLE IS STILL COV…
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A POPPING SOUND CAME FROM BENEATH THE HOOD OF MY 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER, I LEARNED THAT A SPARK PLUG EJECTED AND DAMAGED THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE DEALERSHIP IS RECOMMENDING A NEW ENGINE FOR $7,5000 OR REPLACING THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR $4,200. MY VEHICLE IS STILL COVERED BY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH GE CAPITAL. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE CYLINDER HEAD (EVEN THOUGH FULLY COVERED BY THE WARRANTY) BECAUSE THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A SPARK PLUG, WHICH IS NOT COVERED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255024
71,650 miles · Jul 18, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR TO WORK AND ALL WAS FINE, WHEN SHE WENT OUT TO GO TO LUNCH SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMALLY MUSHY, BUT THIS IS UNSAFE AND SHE ASKED ME TO TAKE IT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. I CHECKED IT OUT AND TH…
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MY WIFE DROVE OUR 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR TO WORK AND ALL WAS FINE, WHEN SHE WENT OUT TO GO TO LUNCH SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WENT ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NORMALLY MUSHY, BUT THIS IS UNSAFE AND SHE ASKED ME TO TAKE IT FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. I CHECKED IT OUT AND THE PEDAL, ALTHOUGH IT GOES ALMOST TO THE FLOOR NOW, STILL APPLIES BRAKES, JUST AT A MUCH GREATER DISTANCE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN NORMAL. THIS CONDITION IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE, IF THIS HAD OCCURRED DURING DRIVING AN ACCIDENT WOULD MOST SURELY HAVE OCCURRED, POSSIBLY SERIOUS. I HAVE A FRIEND AT WORK WHO SAID HER HUSBAND WAS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR 2005 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND IT DIDN'T FIX IT, AFTER MUCH COMPLAINING THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED ALL THE COMPONENTS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, THIS HAS SEEMED TO FIX IT FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS. I READ ON THE FOLLOWING SITE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, BUT BOTH OURS AND MY FRIENDS OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS NOT JUST BELOW 30 MPH BUT MUCH HIGHER, AS SOME OF THE FORUM HAVE REPORTED. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING THREAD. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F1666E3/0 IF IT IS AS SOME OF THE PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED ON THIS FORUM THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ABS SPEED SENSORS, I AS AN ENGINEER AND CAR ENTHUSIAST, CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WOULD DESIGN A VEHICULAR BREAKING SYSTEM THAT IF THE ABS SENSOR FAILED, THE DEFAULT WOULD BE TO PROVIDE ALMOST NO BREAKING ACTION AT ALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I AM TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM CURRENTLY, SO I BELIEVE I WILL LOOK INTO REPLACING THE SPEED SENSORS AS A PLACE TO START. THEIR ARE NO VEHICLE CODES PRESENT IN THE COMPUTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10234874
81,000 miles · May 27, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WITH A BIG 5.4-LITER V-8 ENGINE FROM WITTMEIER FORD IN CHICO, CA. IN 2004. THE NAVIGATOR LOOKED LIKE A GREAT DEAL. THE PRICE WAS $43,000. THE NAVIGATOR HAD ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BUT THE GREAT DEAL BLEW UP IN MY FACE WHEN THE USED LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SPIT A SPARK PLUG AT 81,000 M…
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I BOUGHT A USED 2003 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR WITH A BIG 5.4-LITER V-8 ENGINE FROM WITTMEIER FORD IN CHICO, CA. IN 2004. THE NAVIGATOR LOOKED LIKE A GREAT DEAL. THE PRICE WAS $43,000. THE NAVIGATOR HAD ONLY 23,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. BUT THE GREAT DEAL BLEW UP IN MY FACE WHEN THE USED LINCOLN NAVIGATOR SPIT A SPARK PLUG AT 81,000 MILES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS THE TRUCK BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. AS WE DROVE THE CAR IT CONTINUED TO BACK FIRE. THE IGNITION PACK FOR THAT PLUG WAS SHREDDED. I CALLED WITTMEIER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THE PROBLEM. THE THREADS IN THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG HOLE IN THE NAVIGATOR WERE STRIPPED. WE NEEDED TO RE-THREAD THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG HOLE AND REPLACE THE IGNITION PACK. I READ ON THE INTERNET WHERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229013
98,000 miles · Apr 14, 2008
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK HAS FAILED - EFFECTIVELY LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN PARK WHILE MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. LUCKILY, IT WAS NOT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE WE NEEDED TO MOVE RIGHT AWAY AS INDICATED BY A PREVIOUS…
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THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK HAS FAILED - EFFECTIVELY LEAVING THE VEHICLE STUCK IN PARK WHILE MANEUVERING THE VEHICLE FROM A STOPPED POSITION AND ATTEMPTING TO MOVE FORWARD. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. LUCKILY, IT WAS NOT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE WE NEEDED TO MOVE RIGHT AWAY AS INDICATED BY A PREVIOUS POSTER. FOR SOME REASON, THE TRANSISTOR IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FAILS, EFFECTIVELY LEAVING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. AS THERE IS NOT A SAFETY OVERRIDE SWITCH THAT IS HANDY, OR A SLOT TO PUT A KEY IN THE CONSOLE TO OVERRIDE THE INTERLOCK - YOU ARE BASICALLY STRANDED. PER THE OWNERS MANUAL, YOU HAVE TO REMOVE A PORTION OF THE CONSOLE WITH A SCREWDRIVER (POTENTIALLY DAMAGING IT) AND MANUALLY PUSH A LEVER - IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS RATHER DANGEROUS, AND I AM NOW ON MY THIRD ONE - THERE ARE NO MODIFICATIONS TO THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224465
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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