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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

What owners actually said

121 reports
143,245 miles · Feb 11, 2007
Seats

NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V281000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE ABOVE RECALL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALER SOMETIME IN 2005 TO HAVE SUBJECT RECALL WORK PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH THIS SUV IS USED SPARINGLY AS IT IS MY THIRD VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES PER YEAR), THE …

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NHTSA CAMPAIGN #03V281000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE ABOVE RECALL. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALER SOMETIME IN 2005 TO HAVE SUBJECT RECALL WORK PERFORMED. ALTHOUGH THIS SUV IS USED SPARINGLY AS IT IS MY THIRD VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES PER YEAR), THE FRONT SEAT HAS SINCE FAILED AS IF THE RECALL WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED AT ALL, OR THE MODIFICATION WAS INADEQUATE. THE FAILURE NEARLY CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HAS RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10182263

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2007
Tires

1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED **CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DENIED NEW TIRES. THE TIRES THAT ARE ON THE VEHICLE WERE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10181588

100,000 miles · Jan 24, 2007
Electrical System

I LOST MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOME LIGHTS AND CHIMES, WINDOWS, RADIO, 4X4. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW GEM MODULE. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND FORD DID A RECALL ON MY SAME VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AFTER TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THIS…

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I LOST MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOME LIGHTS AND CHIMES, WINDOWS, RADIO, 4X4. AFTER DIAGNOSTIC TESTS, I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW GEM MODULE. AFTER DOING A WEB SEARCH, I FOUND FORD DID A RECALL ON MY SAME VEHICLE STARTING WITH THE YEAR AFTER MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, AND AFTER TALKING TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM FOR MY YEAR OF VEHICLE. BUT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10180649

132,200 miles · Jan 20, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON 4 LANE ROAD AT 35 MPH THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. IMMEDIATELY JAMMED MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT OTHER CARS WHILE TRYING TO USE RIGHT FOOT TO GET BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL AND UNSTICK IT. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET PEDAL UNSTUCK. CHECKED TO ENSURE FLOOR MAT WAS N…

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DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON 4 LANE ROAD AT 35 MPH THE ACCELERATOR STUCK WIDE OPEN. IMMEDIATELY JAMMED MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO NOT HIT OTHER CARS WHILE TRYING TO USE RIGHT FOOT TO GET BEHIND THE GAS PEDAL AND UNSTICK IT. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY WAS ABLE TO GET PEDAL UNSTUCK. CHECKED TO ENSURE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PROCEEDING DRIVING WITH HAZARDS AT LESS THAN 25 MPH. WITHIN 10 MINUTES SAME THING HAPPEN EXCEPT THAT THIS TIME I WAS INITIALLY UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING THE PEDAL TO UNSTICK. WHILE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK, APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES, THE PEDAL POPPED OUT OF PLACE. GARAGE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10179213

115,000 miles · Nov 30, 2006
Unknown Or OtherVisibility

THE "BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR" THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW IMPROVED PART (F87Z-18471-DA) AT THE CUSTOMER EXPENSE. THE OLD PART WHEN IT FAILS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DEFROST THE FRONT WINDOW UNTIL THE PART IS REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE A "RECALL" THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PA…

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THE "BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR" THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW IMPROVED PART (F87Z-18471-DA) AT THE CUSTOMER EXPENSE. THE OLD PART WHEN IT FAILS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT DEFROST THE FRONT WINDOW UNTIL THE PART IS REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE A "RECALL" THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. I HAVE DONE SOME LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE AND MANY VEHICLES (1998 FORD EXPLORER) HAVE HAD THIS SAME FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10174750

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2006
Tires

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO A BLOW OUT THAT HAD OCCURRED ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE PRIOR TO THE LETTER. I DO STILL CARRY THE P255/70R16 WILDERNESS AS A SPARE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT O…

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I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO A BLOW OUT THAT HAD OCCURRED ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE PRIOR TO THE LETTER. I DO STILL CARRY THE P255/70R16 WILDERNESS AS A SPARE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TIRES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10169774

110,000 miles · Aug 17, 2006
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 12/2003 MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, I WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CAR RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT BOTH AIR BAGS WENT OFF. AT IMPACT I FLEW UP FROM MY SEAT, DIDN'T TOUCH THE AIR BAG BUT I HIT THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WITH MY FACE. I BROKE THE OV…

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I WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT 12/2003 MY SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN ME, I WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. THE CAR RAN INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT BOTH AIR BAGS WENT OFF. AT IMPACT I FLEW UP FROM MY SEAT, DIDN'T TOUCH THE AIR BAG BUT I HIT THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE WITH MY FACE. I BROKE THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE, REAR VIEW MIRROR, STEREO, TWO AIR VENTS, AND THE COUNSEL BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. THE RESULTS FROM MY SEAT BELT NOT WORKING WAS 50 PLUS STITCHES TO MY FOREHEAD AND NOSE, AND A CLOSED HEAD INJURY. NOW I AM SCARED FOR LIFE BECAUSE MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTRAIN ME AND CONTINUES NOT TO WORK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165782

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2006
Electrical System

THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PROBLEM OR SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE INVESTIGATED. I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO PANEL NO LONGER WORK. SO I CALLED TO HAVE THEM FIXED WELL THEY CANT BE FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIO AT $500.00. WELL I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT JUST SO THE CLOCK AND RADIO STATI…

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THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY PROBLEM OR SAFETY ISSUE BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE INVESTIGATED. I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPLORER AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO PANEL NO LONGER WORK. SO I CALLED TO HAVE THEM FIXED WELL THEY CANT BE FIXED YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW RADIO AT $500.00. WELL I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT JUST SO THE CLOCK AND RADIO STATION SETTING WOULD WORK. AS I WAS INVESTIGATING WEATHER THIS COULD BE FIXED OR NOT I MET 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EACH OF THEM ALSO HAVING TO PURCHASE A $500.00 RADIO SO THE LIGHTS WOULD WORK. THEN I STARTED CALLING FORD DEALERSHIPS AND FOUND THAT EVERYONE I HAVE CALLED HAS TAKEN DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS ON THE LIGHT PROBLEM WITH THE RADIOS. NOW I WOULD SAY AT $500.00 A RADIO TO HAVE THIS FIXED FORD WOULD BE MAKING QUITE A PROVITE OVER SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MINOR PROBLEM. TO ME IT ISN'T A MINOR PROBLEM IF EVERY VEHICHLE THAT HAS THESE RADIOS HAS A LIGHT PROBLEM. TO ME AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKE TO FEEL THIS SHOULD BE FORDS EXPENSE TO FIX THIS NOT THE CONSUMER. IF IT WAS JUST MY RADIO THAT WOULD BE DIFFERENT BUT FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF RADIOS TO BE THIS WAY IS A BIG PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165520

98,000 miles · Aug 4, 2006
Latches/locks/linkages

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY OR BY THE POWER LOCK SWITCH. IF IT IS LOCKED ACCIDENTALLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE ANY WAY OTHER THAN BY CRAWLING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR BY PULLING VERY HARD ON THE INSIDE HANDLE WHILE WORKING THE KEY IN THE LOCK. THIS COULD PRES…

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THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS NO LONGER ABLE TO BE UNLOCKED WITH THE KEY OR BY THE POWER LOCK SWITCH. IF IT IS LOCKED ACCIDENTALLY, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER THE VEHICLE ANY WAY OTHER THAN BY CRAWLING IN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OR BY PULLING VERY HARD ON THE INSIDE HANDLE WHILE WORKING THE KEY IN THE LOCK. THIS COULD PRESENT A SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IF AN INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO FLEE THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164447

93,000 miles · Jul 26, 2006
Electrical SystemFire

1998 FORD EXPLORER CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED IN GARAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10163543

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.