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2003 Ford Expedition

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Expedition years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Ford Expedition are substantially higher than the model-year median of 155.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

463 reports with mileage · 152 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

57 crash reports36 fire reports39 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

59 reports
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50,600 miles · Dec 20, 2006
Air Bags

TL*- THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE AIRBAGS ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR SIDE DOOR, AS WELL AS, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR AND REAR FRONT DOOR DEPLOYED. BEFORE INCIDENT CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION REGARDING HIS AIRBAGS. HE DID GET A WARNING LIGHT REGARDING HIS AIRBAGS AFTER THE I…

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TL*- THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH. SIMULTANEOUSLY THE AIRBAGS ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND REAR SIDE DOOR, AS WELL AS, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR AND REAR FRONT DOOR DEPLOYED. BEFORE INCIDENT CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ANY PRIOR NOTIFICATION REGARDING HIS AIRBAGS. HE DID GET A WARNING LIGHT REGARDING HIS AIRBAGS AFTER THE INCIDENT. IF NEEDED CONTACT CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF HID DEPLOYED AIRBAGS

NHTSA ODI #10176645

Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2006
Air BagsCrashInjury

MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ON DEC. 1, 2006 AND OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF FORD AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THEY WOULD GIVE ME A WRITTEN RESPONSE WITHIN 10 DAYS. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS UNSURE IF M…

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MY WIFE AND I WERE INVOLVED IN A DIRECT FRONTAL ACCIDENT IN OUR 2003 FORD EXPEDITION ON DEC. 1, 2006 AND OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS A RELATIVELY HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF FORD AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THEY WOULD GIVE ME A WRITTEN RESPONSE WITHIN 10 DAYS. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS UNSURE IF MY AUTO WAS REPAIRABLE BUT IF IT WAS I HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CURRENT AIRBAG SYSTEM AND FELT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175084

63,323 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN SNOW, WHILE CHANGING LANES THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON, THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NO…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH IN SNOW, WHILE CHANGING LANES THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE HEAD ON, THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FRONT AND REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED. THIS OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED BODY DAMAGE AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. CONTACT WAS SEEKING FROM FORD THE REASSURANCE OF SAFETY . HE WANTS FORD TO TON INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. THE IMPACT WA SHARD ENOUGH TO TRIGGER THEM. THE REASON GIVEN TO THE CONSUMER WAS THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT HIT HARD ENOUGH. WANTS THE DEALER TO BE MORE FORTHRIGHT WITH CONTACT AND TELL HIM THE TRUTH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10151988

1,000 miles · Jan 5, 2006
Air Bags

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FIRST TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WAS WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE LOCKED , AND WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED AN UNKNOWN FUSE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT SU…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE FIRST TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WAS WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE LOCKED , AND WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED AN UNKNOWN FUSE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE DID NOT SUFFER ANOTHER LOSS OF POWER AS STATED BEFORE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AS WELL AS THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THERE WAS NO DANGER AND THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, HOWEVER THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER PLANS TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10146956

58,000 miles · Oct 17, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT ON 9/29/05. MY 2003 EXPEDITION HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT CENTER OF THE CAR WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE MADE 3 SEPARATE PHONE CALLS TO …

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I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT ON 9/29/05. MY 2003 EXPEDITION HAS BEEN TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT CENTER OF THE CAR WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE MADE 3 SEPARATE PHONE CALLS TO FORD'S COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT, AS OF TODAY NO RETURN CALLS FROM FORD HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10140044

33,400 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Air BagsCrash

ON THE 15TH OF JULY I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A FORD TAURUS WHICH FAILED TO YIELD A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AS THE TAURUS EXECUTED THE TURN I PROCEEDED TO HIT HIS FRONT PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, THE IMPACT OF WHICH MAINLY TO MY FRONT DRIVER…

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ON THE 15TH OF JULY I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH A FORD TAURUS WHICH FAILED TO YIELD A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS DRIVING A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. AS THE TAURUS EXECUTED THE TURN I PROCEEDED TO HIT HIS FRONT PASSENGER QUARTER PANEL, THE IMPACT OF WHICH MAINLY TO MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INVOLVED, HOWEVER HAD THIS BEEN A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. AT PRESENT, I AM TRYING TO CONTACT FORD MOTOR CO. TO DETERMINE WHY MY AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THEY HAVE YET TO CALL ME BACK. THE VEHICLE ITSELF HAS $10K WORTH OF DAMAGES NOT TO INCLUDE FIXING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10131107

Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury

DT: VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT IMPACT COLLISION WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND ROLLED OVER. UPON IMPACT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CONTACT DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10127450

44,000 miles · Apr 22, 2005
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS T-BONE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40-45 MPH, ALL OCCUPANTS WAS RESTRAINED IN THEIR SEAT BELTS AND NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE IMPACT OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUV ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS T-BONE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40-45 MPH, ALL OCCUPANTS WAS RESTRAINED IN THEIR SEAT BELTS AND NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. THE IMPACT OCCURRED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUV ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT HIS TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119070

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2005
Air BagsEquipment

I OWN A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION AND IN 2003 AND NOW I HAVE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON BECAUSE THE AIRBAG HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE COST IS $390.00 TO REPAIR AND $70.00 TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST EACH TIME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10116115

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2005
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ON. THE OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT OPERATE IN AN ACCIDENT. MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED BY THE CONSUMER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10111210

Official recalls

1

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

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.