NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
615 reports140,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR POPPED, SPUTTERED AND DIED. HAS STEADILY GOTTEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ENGINE DIES AT IDLE, DIES AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS FASTER SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS! HAVE REPLACED THE PCM, WIRING HARNESS, AND FUEL PUMP. IS NOT REPAIRED. POWER MIRRORS READJUST THEMSELVES WHEN THE KEYLESS …
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I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR POPPED, SPUTTERED AND DIED. HAS STEADILY GOTTEN MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. ENGINE DIES AT IDLE, DIES AT SLOW SPEEDS AS WELL AS FASTER SPEEDS. VERY DANGEROUS! HAVE REPLACED THE PCM, WIRING HARNESS, AND FUEL PUMP. IS NOT REPAIRED. POWER MIRRORS READJUST THEMSELVES WHEN THE KEYLESS ENTRY IS USED. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON, DOOR AJAR, CHECK FUEL CAP, ADVATRAC WILL NOT TURN ON. REAR WINDOW WILL NOT WORK. BACK UP SENSOR WILL NOT WORK. INTERIOR LIGHTS AS WELL AS EXTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT POWER OFF WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. YOU MUST MANUALLY TURN THEM OFF OR THE BATTERY DRAINS.CD PLAYER WILL NOT EJECT CD'S LOUD POPPING SOUND IN THE FRONT END AND GRINDING SOUND WHEN STOPPING. I HAVE HAD THIS IN THE SHOP SINCE JUNE OF 2014 AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. HAVE ALREADY SPENT $1000 TRYING TO REPAIR. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND CAN VERY LIKELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. FORD AUTO SHOP WANTS TO CHARGE ME $100 AN HOUR TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM THEN THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THEY CAN FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE TELLING ME IT COULD COST BETWEEN $500-$1000 JUST TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL WEB SITES AND SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT CAUSED FROM THE CAR STALLING!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10629488
220,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED DOWN TO THE FRAME. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA ODI #10629279
164,523 miles · Aug 13, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine
AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. WHAT HAD HAPPENED? A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD, TAKING THE THREADS WITH IT. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT FUEL WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED BY THE IGNITION COIL OR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT …
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AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD. WHAT HAD HAPPENED? A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD, TAKING THE THREADS WITH IT. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT FUEL WOULD CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED BY THE IGNITION COIL OR EXHAUST MANIFOLD. FORD IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE DEFECTIVE ALUMINUM HEADS, BUT RATHER OFFERED A REPAIR KIT TO FIX THE STRIPPED THREADS WHEN THIS ISSUE OCCURS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT ENDING IF THE FUEL WOULD HAVE IGNITED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10622031
80,000 miles · Aug 11, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MEDAL STRAP WAS MISSING THAT SECURES THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MISSING PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MEDAL STRAP WAS MISSING THAT SECURES THE FUEL TANK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MISSING PART WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10621502
220,000 miles · Aug 6, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA ODI #10619193
145,000 miles · Aug 5, 2014
Air Bags
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH IN THE FAST LANE WESTBOUND ON HWY 4 IN MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION A EXTREMELY LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I KEPT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO MERGE TO THE RIGHT TO PULL OVE…
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WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH IN THE FAST LANE WESTBOUND ON HWY 4 IN MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION A EXTREMELY LOUD BANG WAS HEARD AND SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT SOMETHING HAD HIT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I KEPT CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO MERGE TO THE RIGHT TO PULL OVER IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. UPON STOPPING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. KNOWING THAT I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING NOR DID ANYTHING HIT THE VEHICLE I STILL WALKED AROUND THE WHOLE VEHICLE TO INSPECT FOR ANY POSSIBLE CAUSES. AFTER CONTACTING MY INSURANCE COMPANY THEY STATED THAT THIS DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE COVER DUE TO FAULTY CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY STATED NO IMPACTED WAS SUSTAINED TO THE VEHICLE. CONCLUSION BEING THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN WITH NO IMPACT, POSSIBLY A SHORT OR JUST FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I'M GLAD MY FAMILY WASN'T HURT DURING THIS INCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10619162
185,400 miles · Jul 16, 2014
Electrical System
ENGINE WONT TURN OFF WITH KEYS TAKEN OUT, DASHLIGHTS ON AND OFF, AIR CONDITIONER CAME ON WHEN DOOR WAS OPENED, WARNING BELL AND NO KEYS IN IGNITION, HEAD AND TAIL LIGHTS REMAIN ON, SIDE MIRRORS MOVE AND WILL NOT GO BACK, WHEN KEY POD USED ALL THESE PROBLEMS GO OFF AT THE SAME TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10611114
132,000 miles · Jul 3, 2014
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.
NHTSA ODI #10608169
107,500 miles · Jun 30, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline
THE ENGINE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, OTHER TIMES WOULD SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. THE ISSUE HAPPENED 10 TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT CRASH AS THE ENGINE DIED ONCE WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A BUSY ROAD. ONCE IT DIED, SO DID THE POWER STEERING AND B…
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THE ENGINE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, OTHER TIMES WOULD SHUT OFF AT A STOP LIGHT. THE ISSUE HAPPENED 10 TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. I WAS LUCKY TO NOT CRASH AS THE ENGINE DIED ONCE WHILE MAKING A TURN ON A BUSY ROAD. ONCE IT DIED, SO DID THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES - VERY SCARY. THERE WERE NO ENGINE CODES THAT CAME UP AND NO INDICATION ANYTHING WAS WRONG, THE ENGINE WOULD SIMPLY SHUT OFF. WHILE DIAGNOSING THE ISSUE I DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH THAT INDICATED IT COULD BE THE FUEL PUMP RELAY ISSUE. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY IS A NON-SERVICEABLE RELAY THAT IS SOLDERED TO THE MAIN FUSE BOX CIRCUIT BOARD. I REMOVED THE FUSE BOX AND DISASSEMBLED IT REVEALING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS GETTING HOT AND HAD MELTED THE SOLDER ON THE BOARD. WHEN THE RELAY COOLED, THE SOLDER MADE CONTACT AND THE ENGINE WOULD START RIGHT UP. WHEN DRIVING THE SOLDER WOULD WARM UP AND BREAK CONTACT. THIS WOULD SHUT THE FUEL PUMP OFF AND THE ENGINE WOULD DIE. THERE ARE REPORTS OF THIS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THE ONLY REPAIR FOR THIS ITEM WAS TO REPLACE THE MAIN CIRCUIT BOARD AS THE RELAY CANNOT BE REPLACED WITHOUT SOLDERING TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD. ONCE THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED, THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. I BELIEVE THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE A HUGE PROBLEM AND COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. I HAVE READ THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS NUMEROUS YEARS OF THE FORD EXPEDITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10607024
139,000 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR WAS RUNNING WELL AND SUDDENLY IT DIE. NO LIGHTS IN DASH BOARD, NO SHAKES, NO ANY PREVIOUS SIGN OF TROUBLE. SIMPLY IT DIE. I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUE RUNNING. NEXT TIME, FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR DOES THE SAME. THIS TIME DO NOT CONTINUE RUNNING WHEN I PUMP GAS. I HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL …
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THE CAR WAS RUNNING WELL AND SUDDENLY IT DIE. NO LIGHTS IN DASH BOARD, NO SHAKES, NO ANY PREVIOUS SIGN OF TROUBLE. SIMPLY IT DIE. I PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR CONTINUE RUNNING. NEXT TIME, FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR DOES THE SAME. THIS TIME DO NOT CONTINUE RUNNING WHEN I PUMP GAS. I HAVE TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND START IT AGAIN. IT START AT ONCE. COULD BE MORE THAN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT SIGNAL OF PROBLEM AND THEN, IT HAPPEN AGAIN. SOME OTHER TIME, IT HAPPEN 4 OR 5 TIMES IN A HALF HOUR TRIP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595537
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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