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2003 Mercury Mountaineer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Mercury Mountaineer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 117.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

117 reports with mileage · 35 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.

  • Structure. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 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 reports5 fire reports9 injury reports

What owners actually said

152 reports
50,840 miles · Jan 26, 2008
Structure

CRACK IN LIFTGATE TO THE RIGHT OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM. ON JANUARY, 24, 2008 I WENT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY MOUNTAINEER ONLY TO FIND BEFORE OPENING IT THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THIS EFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS BACK WINDOW, BUT I'M SURE WITH TIME IT WILL SPREAD.....T…

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CRACK IN LIFTGATE TO THE RIGHT OF THE MERCURY EMBLEM. ON JANUARY, 24, 2008 I WENT TO PUT SOMETHING IN THE BACK OF MY MOUNTAINEER ONLY TO FIND BEFORE OPENING IT THAT THERE WAS A LARGE CRACK IN THE LIFTGATE. I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE IF THIS EFFECTS THE INTEGRITY OF THE GLASS BACK WINDOW, BUT I'M SURE WITH TIME IT WILL SPREAD.....THEN WHAT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10216150

27,000 miles · Nov 21, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO RUMBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BEGAN TO RUMBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO ERUPT UNDER THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING INDICATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, BUT NOT INSPECTED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

NHTSA ODI #10209638

39,870 miles · Nov 17, 2007
Structure

LIFTGATE CRACKED. NO DAMAGE DONE TO VEHICLE. NOTICE CRACK STARTING BELOW WINDOW GOING DOWN THROUGH THE MERCURY EMBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10209211

60,000 miles · Jul 11, 2007
Power TrainFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDIN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN HEARD A LOUD BANG AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE FORD DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN THE CONTACT PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. SINCE THEN, THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL HAS BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE FORD DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS FAILURES OF THE REPLACEMENT PART. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE IS CRACKED. A VALID VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 64,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI #10196047

50,000 miles · Feb 10, 2007
Structure

REAR MIDDLE HATCHBACK HAS CRACK IN MOLDING FROM BOTTOM OF WINDOW ALL THE WAY DOWN. POSSIBLY DUE TO COLD WEATHER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182172

Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2007
Air Bags

2003 MERCURY MOUTAINEER'S CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH**CC FORD WAS CONTACTED AND REFUSED TO COVER ANY REPAIR EXPENSES BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD OVER 50000 MILES ON IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10181644

10,000 miles · Feb 1, 2007
Power Train

PLEASE SEE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO PARK PROPERLY. VERY DANGEROUS.... MR. MARK FIELDS, PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY RE: VIN#[XXX] I OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, WITH 28000 MILES ON IT, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM LAKEWOOD FORD IN NOV. 2003. IN 2005, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN WITH A FEW MINOR…

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PLEASE SEE THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION NOT GOING INTO PARK PROPERLY. VERY DANGEROUS.... MR. MARK FIELDS, PRESIDENT OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY RE: VIN#[XXX] I OWN A 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, WITH 28000 MILES ON IT, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW FROM LAKEWOOD FORD IN NOV. 2003. IN 2005, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN WITH A FEW MINOR PROBLEMS, AT WHICH TIME I EXPLAINED TO THE SERVICE TECH THAT THE CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING INTO PARK PROPERLY AND WAS STICKING. AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR A DAY, THEY RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. YESTERDAY, MY WIFE TOOK AN ENTIRE DAY AND RENTED A CAR, SO THAT WE COULD BRING IT INTO FREEWAY FORD TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER OLEY SEEMED NICE ENOUGH IN HANDLING THE MATTER BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY REPORTED BACK TO US THE FOLLOWING; 1)THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SHIFT LOCK OUT AND IT WOULD COST US $265 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE WARRANTY ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I WOULD LIKE YOUR TEAM TO RECONSIDER. FIRST, IT IS INDEED PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND IT IS UNFATHOMABLE TO ME THAT ANY COURT OF LAW WOULD CONSIDER IT OTHERWISE. SECOND, I'D THINK THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL, AND SHOULD SOMETHING HAPPEN WHERE THE CAR SLIPS OUT OF PARK AND KILLS SOMEONE, I CAN'T IMAGINE THE NHTSA WOULD FIND NO FAULT UPON YOUR COMPANY. I FRANKLY WAS TOTALLY SHOCKED AT THE RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE DEALER. I'VE OWNED MANY BRANDS OF NEW CARS, AND NO ONE HAS EVER CLAIMED SOMETHING AS OBVIOUS AS THIS (WITH DOCUMENTED HISTORY!) AS NOT COVERED IN WARRANTY. I CONSIDER MYSELF A PRETTY FAIR PERSON AND I'M NOT ONE TO MAKE A BIG ISSUE OUT OF SOMETHING BUT THIS IS JUST WRONG! IF THIS IS YOUR POLICY, IT'S NOW VERY CLEAR WHY FORD IS A FAILING COMPANY. THIS IS THE TYPE THING THAT WILL SHOW UP ON U-TUBE AND JUST CONTINUE LOSS OF CUSTOMER LOYALTY. *NM *JS

NHTSA ODI #10181352

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2006
Structure

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL O…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, BUT DUE TO THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER EXPLOSION IS IMMINENT. I WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION, AND IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE HAD A WARNING MAGNETIC SIGN PLACED ON THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE TO WARN PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF ANOTHER EXPLOSION, AND MY DOG CRATES ARE NOW SHIELDED WITH A SUN BLANKET TO PROTECT FROM FLYING GLASS. FORD HAS CREATED SUCH BAD WILL WITH ME THAT THIS LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST FORD PRODUCT I OWN."

NHTSA ODI #10175441

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2006
StructureVisibility

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED "ON 8/23/04, THE REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW OF MY 2003 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VIOLENTLY EXPLODED WHILE PARKED. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION SENT GLASS FLYING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE AND INTO THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR 9 DAYS BEFORE FORD SENT A REPRESENTATIVE TO VIEW THE DAMAGE. AGAINST SEVERAL OPINIONS, FORD DENIED RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THERE WERE DOG CRATES IN THE BACK. THESE CRATES HAD BEEN IN MY MOUNTAINEERS FOR YEARS & DIDN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO THE WINDOW. I FOUND DOZENS OF IDIOPATHIC EXPLODING LIFTGATE INCIDENTS ON THE NHTSA SITE FOR THE FORD EXPLORER AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEER - AT THE TIME, NHTSA ADVISED THAT FORD WAS ABOUT TO ISSUE A VOLUNTARY RECALL. I DID GET THE RECALL WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT MY ATTEMPTS TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FROM FORD FOR REPAIR OF THIS DEFECTIVE LIFTGATE GLASS FOR MYSELF AND MY INSURER WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. MY COMPLAINT MADE IT TO THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF FORD, BUT THEY WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME BECAUSE MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT SUBROGATING - THE CLAIM WAS JUST TOO SMALL FOR MY INSURER TO PURSUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS A PRINCIPLE INVOLVED, AND I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED BY INSURANCE AFTER I PAID THE DEDUCTIBLE, AND THEN A COUPLE MONTHS LATER, THE RECALL WORK FOR THE LIFTGATE WAS DONE BY MY DEALER. RECENTLY, I NOTICED THAT THE NEW LIFTGATE HAS AN EVER ENLARGING CRACK DOWN THE CENTER OF THE LIFTGATE GLASS FRAME - MY DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT STRUCTURAL AND NOT TO WORRY, BUT DUE TO THE HISTORY OF THIS VEHICLE, I FEAR THAT ANOTHER EXPLOSION IS IMMINENT. I WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST EXPLOSION, AND IT WAS SCARY. I HAVE HAD A WARNING MAGNETIC SIGN PLACED ON THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE TO WARN PEOPLE TO STAY AWAY FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE IN CASE OF ANOTHER EXPLOSION, AND MY DOG CRATES ARE NOW SHIELDED WITH A SUN BLANKET TO PROTECT FROM FLYING GLASS. FORD HAS CREATED SUCH BAD WILL WITH ME THAT THIS LIKELY WILL BE THE LAST FORD PRODUCT I OWN." UPDATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175439

59,200 miles · Nov 19, 2006
Structure

THE HATCH BACK DOOR ON MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER SPLIT IN HALF FROM THE BASE OF THE WINDOW TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HATCH DOOR. I BELIEVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE MERCURY SYMBO LINER THE TOP CENTER OF THE HATCH WEAKENS THE HATCH CAUSING IT TO SPLIT WITH USE AND / OR WITH A SUDDEN CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10173806

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

2

EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Additional source detail variants (5)

Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Steering:column

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

Steering

This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.

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.