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1998 Ford Explorer Sport

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Ford Explorer Sport do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 68.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 52 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.

  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports13 fire reports7 injury reports

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

33 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. IT TAKES MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO EXIT OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT HELP EITHER. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET M…

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DRIVER SIDE POWER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK EITHER WITH THE KEY OR LOCK BUTTON. IT TAKES MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED LEAVING ME NO CHOICE BUT TO EXIT OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT HELP EITHER. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!!! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10093786

66,450 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH OR WITHOUT KEY - WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY WIDE SPREAD IN THIS VEHICLE AND REQUIRES A $150 LOCK ASSEMBLY TO REPLACE A FAULTY .50 CENT SPRING. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093316

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVER'SW SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK. TRIED HOLDING THE HANDLE AND PRESSING UNLOCK BUTTONS ON THE DOOR AND KEYLESS REMOTE. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGER IN AN EMERGENCY. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS T…

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DRIVER'SW SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK. TRIED HOLDING THE HANDLE AND PRESSING UNLOCK BUTTONS ON THE DOOR AND KEYLESS REMOTE. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DANGER IN AN EMERGENCY. AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I NOTICED THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. WHY NOT??? SEEMS THAT MANY DRIVERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093257

60,000 miles · Sep 28, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE KEY LOCK OR THE REMOTE, FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *JB *TC

NHTSA ODI #10091435

118,000 miles · Aug 24, 2004
Latches/locks/linkages

CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT OR ENTER THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089600

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

DRIVERS-SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN BY USING THE KEY, POWER-LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON OR PULLING THE INSIDE HANDLE. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE IN CASE THE POWER LOCKS FAIL. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON ACCORDING TO FORD DEALERS, LOCKSMITHS, AND AFTER-MARKET PROFESSIONALS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10049569

Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2003
EquipmentLatches/locks/linkagesVehicle Speed Control

OVER THE LAST YEAR MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER 2 DOOR SPORT HAS BEEN LOOSING SOME INTERIOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES. THE FIRST WAS THE DISPLAY LIGHTS ON THE RADIO. THEY WOULD COME AND GO..... NOW THE DISPLAY IS TOTALLY GONE. HOWEVER THE RADIO, CD PLAYER AND TAPE DECK STILL WORK. I JUST CAN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, STATION, OR THE TIME. THEN…

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OVER THE LAST YEAR MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER 2 DOOR SPORT HAS BEEN LOOSING SOME INTERIOR ELECTRICAL FEATURES. THE FIRST WAS THE DISPLAY LIGHTS ON THE RADIO. THEY WOULD COME AND GO..... NOW THE DISPLAY IS TOTALLY GONE. HOWEVER THE RADIO, CD PLAYER AND TAPE DECK STILL WORK. I JUST CAN'T SEE WHAT TRACK, STATION, OR THE TIME. THEN THE NEXT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WAS THE DRIVER SIDE POWER UNLOCK SWITCH. I CAN LOCK ALL THE DOORS BUT I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DOORS, NEXT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY DASH..... I CAN'T REMEMBER IF THIS WAS THE SAME TIME THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS (CRUISE CONTROL SETTINGS) OR IF THAT WENT OUT SEPARATELY. NOW........ I CANNOT UNLOCK THE DRIVER DOOR WITH A KEY. I CAN MOVE THE KEY AROUND AND UNLOCK THE OTHER DOORS BUT NOT THE DRIVER DOOR. I HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND YANK ON THE DRIVER HANDLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE DOOR WILL OPEN. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. I PLAN ON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS..... BUT I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS...... SHOULD FORD REPAIR THIS AT THEIR COST? IT SEEMS TO ME THIS IS A FORD ISSUE AND NOT SOMETHING I HAVE DONE TO THE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS DEFECTIVE IN THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047615

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

THE DRIVER'S DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND YOU ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK IT USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE OR THE KEYED LOCK. IT ALSO TAKES SEVERAL PULLS FROM THE INSIDE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED. WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED IT WORKS PROPERLY USING EITHER HANDLE. WHEN USING THE KEYLE…

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THE DRIVER'S DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED AND YOU ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK IT USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE OR THE KEYED LOCK. IT ALSO TAKES SEVERAL PULLS FROM THE INSIDE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED. WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED IT WORKS PROPERLY USING EITHER HANDLE. WHEN USING THE KEYLESS REMOTE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR YOU CAN HEAR THE ACTUATOR ATTEMPT TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND YOU CAN SEE THE LOCK BUTTON MOVE BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. WHEN USING THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN. IF I COULD NO LONGER OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR FROM THE INSIDE THEN I WOULD HAVE TROUBLE EXITING THE VEHICLE AS IT IS A BIT CRAMPED INSIDE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10041166

81,000 miles · Sep 25, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BUT IT FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE ALTHOUGH THE DOOR LOCKS WERE IN THE UNLOCKED POSITION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10040638

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages

I HAVE A 1998 EXPLORER SPORT SUV. I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE AUTOMATIC LOCKS NOT OPENING AND LOCKING ME INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TO PUSH THE AUTOMATIC LOCK BUTTON SIX OR SEVEN TIMES TO GET IT TO WORK. THE HANDLE ON THE DOOR WON'T EVEN OPEN IT.

NHTSA ODI #10039452

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

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.