NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
104 reportsClear category filter58,500 miles · Mar 30, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkages
I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT ALL TIMES AND MY BATTERY TO RUN DOWN TWICE. THE DOORS ALL SEEM TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO AND THE MOST RECENT OF MY COMPLAINTS IS THE REAR PASSEN…
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I OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION THAT HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON AT ALL TIMES AND MY BATTERY TO RUN DOWN TWICE. THE DOORS ALL SEEM TO LOCK AND UNLOCK ONLY WHEN THEY WANT TO AND THE MOST RECENT OF MY COMPLAINTS IS THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HAS BEGUN OPENING ON ITS OWN WHILE BEING DRIVEN. MY 10 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE OUT SHOPPING AT A LOCAL SHOPPING CENTER A FEW WEEKS AGO AND WHILE MAKING A TURN AND PREPARING TO PARK IN A SPACE THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FLUNG COMPLETELY OPEN. I WAS STUNNED. MY DAUGHTER LUCKILY WAS SAFELY BELTED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF MY OTHER TWO CHILDREN HAD OF BEEN WITH ME AT THE TIME AND HAD BEEN SITTING BY THAT DOOR WHICH MY 5 YEAR OLD USUALLY DOES ON A DAILY BASIS. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY TOLD ME TO HAVE IT EVALUATED BY A FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH I DID AND IT WAS PROVEN TO BE A FAULTY LATCH AND SWITCH. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO MORE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE AND THAT NO EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 3 YEARS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A FAULTY LATCH AND SWITCH COULD END UP BEING MY FAULT. I HAVE AUTHORIZED THE DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS NOT WORTH THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN, BUT I AM STILL UNSURE HOW A FAULTY PART IS DEEMED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CONSUMER. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SWITCHES FIXED FOR TWO OTHER DOORS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE PROBLEM JUST SEEMS TO BE CONTINUING. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR WILL RUN ME $257.00. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10154241
Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2005
Electrical SystemEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITION MAKING NOISE, POWER WINDOWS ONLY LOWER, RADIO VOLUME GETS LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS ARE INOPERABLE. *TS WATER LEAKED FROM THE SUNROOF, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO BRAKE AND ROTOR NOISE. THE CONSUM…
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CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AIR CONDITION MAKING NOISE, POWER WINDOWS ONLY LOWER, RADIO VOLUME GETS LOUDER WHEN ACCELERATING SEAT CONTROL BUTTONS ARE INOPERABLE. *TS WATER LEAKED FROM THE SUNROOF, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS CLOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS DUE TO BRAKE AND ROTOR NOISE. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED LACK OF POWER WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THE RADIO SEPARATELY WHEN THE DVD WAS PLAYING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10139949
50,000 miles · Jun 27, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
DT: ORANGE WIRE UNDER THE THIRD ROW SEAT, THIS WIRE STARTED SMOKING. WE LEFT THE CAR. THIS WIRE BURNED INTO. FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE SEAT, AND IT SMOKED UP THE VEHICLE. PARKED THE CAR, AND THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN MOVED SINCE. THIS HAPPENED 6:30 PM, AND ALL THE DEALERSHIPS WERE CLOSED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10126761
40,000 miles · May 25, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
DT: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED WHILE PARKED FRO ABOUT 6-7 HOURS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 6-7 HOURS. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND BURNED EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WAY BACK TO JUST ABOUT THE PASSENGER DOORS ON TH…
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DT: VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED WHILE PARKED FRO ABOUT 6-7 HOURS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 6-7 HOURS. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, AND BURNED EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALL THE WAY BACK TO JUST ABOUT THE PASSENGER DOORS ON THE OUTSIDE, AND ABOUT TO THE BACK GATE ON THE INSIDE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10122082
90,000 miles · Apr 11, 2005
Electrical System
THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. COULD CONTINUE TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE OPENING AND SHUTTING THE DOORS AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CONSUMER COULD NOT START THE VEHICLE SINCE THE LIGHT CAME ON, AND HAD TO GET A JUMP TO START IT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117708
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE MAKING A STOP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, …
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WHILE MAKING A STOP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK WHEN STOPPING, THE MOTOR STARTS SHAKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF. WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESPOND UNTIL ATTEMPTING 2 OR 3 TIMES, THEN FINALLY A LOT OF SMOKE APPEARS. THE SUSPENSION APPEARED TO BE LOOSE AND ONE SENSOR ON THE WHEELS DID NOT RESPOND. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10115182
49,500 miles · Mar 25, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH FUSE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND THE FLAMES BEGAN TO SETTLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10115869
26,000 miles · Mar 24, 2005
Electrical SystemFire
#1 NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY #2 CAR HAD BE PARKED FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WHEN A PASSERBY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO SAY THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND SHE HAD ALREADY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. #3 FIRE WAS PUT OUT. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ALSO, THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF MINE WAS BURNED WHEN THE FIRE SPREAD AND THAT CAR WAS TOTALL…
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#1 NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY #2 CAR HAD BE PARKED FOR ALMOST AN HOUR WHEN A PASSERBY KNOCKED ON THE DOOR TO SAY THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE AND SHE HAD ALREADY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. #3 FIRE WAS PUT OUT. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. ALSO, THE CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF MINE WAS BURNED WHEN THE FIRE SPREAD AND THAT CAR WAS TOTALLED AS WELL. IT BELONGED TO MY FRIEND, OLIVIA JACKSON OKE, WHOM I WAS VISITING AND MY CAR WAS PARKED DIRECTLY BEHIND HERS IN HER DRIVEWAY. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE AND SO DID OLIVIA.
NHTSA ODI #10114631
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire
THE TRUCK WAS PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE AND THE TRUCK AND GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE LEAKED GAS, THE DEALER STATED A GAS LINE WAS LOOSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10111171
33,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE UNLOCKING THE DRIVE…
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WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE UNLOCKING THE DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE AUTOMATIC SWITCH BOTH SIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY MOVE UP AND DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC REPLACED BOTH SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR MOTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB CONSUMER ADDS BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS MOTORS REPLACED 2 TO 3 MORE TIMES. THE FOG LIGHT HOUSING REPLACED, REAR LIGHT COVERS REPLACED DUE TO MOISTURE, HEATER CORE SWITCH REPLACED FROM DASH. BRAKES SQUEALING WHEN APPLIED. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND POWER STEERING PUMP WINDING. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10107404
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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