NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
10 reportsClear category filter135,000 miles · Mar 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFire
ON MARCH 30, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (PST) MY 2000 FORD F-150 UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE COULD BE SEEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE ENGULFED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTING ALL THE PLASTIC, WIRING AND T…
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ON MARCH 30, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 P.M. (PST) MY 2000 FORD F-150 UNEXPECTEDLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY BLACK SMOKE AND FIRE COULD BE SEEN COMING OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE ENGULFED THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT MELTING ALL THE PLASTIC, WIRING AND THE AIR INTAKE AREA. THE FIRE MELTED EVERYTHING NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL HOUSING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575964
90,000 miles · Dec 26, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON 2000 F150 5.4 TRITON ENGINE. DAMAGING COIL AND HEAD. RELEASING FUEL MIXTURE INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR POTENTIAL EXPLOSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10296972
32,000 miles · Dec 1, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
2000 FLEETWOOD PACE ARROW MOTORHOME WITH FORD TRITON V10 ENGINGE: AT 32,000 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD DEALER QUOTED ME $6,000 TO REPLACE WITH NEW/IMPROVED HEAD. I CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE FOR LESS THAN $3,000. THIS IS INCREDIBLE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. EVEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT TOWED ME TO TH…
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2000 FLEETWOOD PACE ARROW MOTORHOME WITH FORD TRITON V10 ENGINGE: AT 32,000 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD DEALER QUOTED ME $6,000 TO REPLACE WITH NEW/IMPROVED HEAD. I CAN REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE FOR LESS THAN $3,000. THIS IS INCREDIBLE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. EVEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER THAT TOWED ME TO THE DEALER SAID HIS FORD TRUCK WITH A V10 RECENTLY BLEW A PLUG AS WELL. I OWN FOUR MOTORHOMES ALL WITH THE FORD TRITON V10 ENGINE. THE COMPANY I USED TO WORK FOR HAD SIX MOTORHOMES WITH THE FORD TRITON V10 AND HAD FOUR SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT INCIDENCES WHILE I WAS WORKING THERE. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT IS UNTHINKABLE THAT A COMPANY CAN GET AWAY WITH PEDDLING CRAP TO CUSTOMERS AND THEN CHARGING THEM $6,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM!!! CONTACT OSCAR AT DON KOTT FORD IN CARSON, CA TO CONFIRM MY ESTIMATE. DO SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING DO SOMETHING! THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10174850
95,000 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS EJECT FROM MY 2000 F150 5.4L IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. SO FAR, REPAIRS HAVE TOTALED $150, BUT THE LAST ONE TOOK THE THREADS WITH IT. ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS ONE IS $400 WITH A SPECIALLY MADE REPAIR KIT. AS MOST KNOW, THIS IS "THE PROBLEM THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED". EVERYONE KNOWS IT EXISTS, FORD DOESN'T WANT TO DE…
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I HAVE HAD 3 SPARK PLUGS EJECT FROM MY 2000 F150 5.4L IN THE PAST 3 MONTHS. SO FAR, REPAIRS HAVE TOTALED $150, BUT THE LAST ONE TOOK THE THREADS WITH IT. ESTIMATE TO FIX THIS ONE IS $400 WITH A SPECIALLY MADE REPAIR KIT. AS MOST KNOW, THIS IS "THE PROBLEM THAT MUST NOT BE NAMED". EVERYONE KNOWS IT EXISTS, FORD DOESN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH IT. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10164726
118,972 miles · Nov 2, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
A FEW WEEKS BACK, I NOTICED A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. IN CHECKING INTO THIS, IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A LIFTER OR ROCKER ARM. TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55 MPH, I BLEW THE #4 PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUTTON FORD IN MATTESON, IL, WHERE I WAS…
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A FEW WEEKS BACK, I NOTICED A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. IN CHECKING INTO THIS, IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A LIFTER OR ROCKER ARM. TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE TRAVELING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55 MPH, I BLEW THE #4 PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUTTON FORD IN MATTESON, IL, WHERE I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $3668 PLUS TAX TO FIX THE ENGINE. THIS IS LUDICROUS! I AM EXPECTED TO PAY THIS MUCH MONEY FOR A FORD DESIGN ISSUE! I CAN GET ANOTHER ENGINE FOR SLIGHTLY MORE THAN THAT! HECK, I CAN GET A DECENT COMMUTER CAR FOR THAT MUCH MONEY! IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A SOMEWHAT COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORDS TRITON ENGINES. I ALSO FOUND AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF FIXING THE ENGINE WHICH ONLY COST ME $350, OF WHICH $300 WAS IN THE COST OF THE TOOLS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT FORD WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM AND ASSIST THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LOYALLY SUPPORTED THEM FOR YEARS. I GUESS IF PEOPLE ARE NOT DYING, IT IS JUST SEEN AS AN EASY WAY TO OVERCHARGE PEOPLE AND MAKE EXTRA MONEY VIA THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENTS!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10098146
113,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
2000 FORD F-150 4.6L V-8. BLOWN SPARK PLUG. FORD DEALER CLAIMS THAT FORD WILL NOT APPROVE A A REPAIR AND EITHER THE HEAD ($3,000) OR THE MOTOR ($5000) NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT UNOFFICIALLY, IT SEEMS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE DEALER PUT A …
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2000 FORD F-150 4.6L V-8. BLOWN SPARK PLUG. FORD DEALER CLAIMS THAT FORD WILL NOT APPROVE A A REPAIR AND EITHER THE HEAD ($3,000) OR THE MOTOR ($5000) NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT UNOFFICIALLY, IT SEEMS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE DEALER PUT A "SPECIAL NOTE" ON THE QUOTE FROM FORD REGARDING THE UNAPPROVED REPAIR WORK ABOVE. FROM VARIOUS INTERNET SEARCHES, OTHERS HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH FORD 4.6, 5.4 OR V-10 MOTORS WITH SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF ALUMINUM HEADS.
NHTSA ODI #10070804
30,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
1. BRAKE ROTORS SERVICED 7 TIMES(THE 3RD. NEW SET OF ROTORS IS CURRENTLY ON FRONT). 2. EXTERIOR PAINT FAILED AND REQUIRED REPAINTING. 3. FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED. 4. FRONT HUBS FAILED. 5. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. 6. WATER PUMP FAILED. 7. SUSPENSION BUSHING FAILED. 8. 3 OF 4 STOCK TIRES DEVELOPED BULGES. 9. CURRENTLY THERE ARE…
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1. BRAKE ROTORS SERVICED 7 TIMES(THE 3RD. NEW SET OF ROTORS IS CURRENTLY ON FRONT). 2. EXTERIOR PAINT FAILED AND REQUIRED REPAINTING. 3. FRONT BALL JOINTS FAILED. 4. FRONT HUBS FAILED. 5. POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. 6. WATER PUMP FAILED. 7. SUSPENSION BUSHING FAILED. 8. 3 OF 4 STOCK TIRES DEVELOPED BULGES. 9. CURRENTLY THERE ARE SUSPENSION PROBLEMS DEVELOPING IN THE FRONT AND THE HUBS DO NOT ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY.
NHTSA ODI #10070038
69,800 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
I HAVE A WELL MAINTAINED 2000 F-150 5.4L WITH 69,800 MILES THAT SPUN A BEARING LAST WEEK. AFTER PULLING THE MOTOR AND REMOVING THE OIL PAN, IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE 'BROKEN RODS' THAT ARE USED IN THIS MOTOR ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, "I…
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I HAVE A WELL MAINTAINED 2000 F-150 5.4L WITH 69,800 MILES THAT SPUN A BEARING LAST WEEK. AFTER PULLING THE MOTOR AND REMOVING THE OIL PAN, IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE 'BROKEN RODS' THAT ARE USED IN THIS MOTOR ARE OF VERY POOR QUALITY. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS, "I AM SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK, BUT YOUR VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY". PLEASE ADVISE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10047120
49,750 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. REPLACED BY FORD AT 24,000 MILES (JAN 2002). TRUCK NOW HAS 49,000 AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AGAIN. COMMON PROBLEM WITH 5.4L FORD DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND SAY THEY HAVE COMPLETED NUMEROUS REPEAT REPAIRS AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE DUE TO FORD'S UNWILLINGNE…
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RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. REPLACED BY FORD AT 24,000 MILES (JAN 2002). TRUCK NOW HAS 49,000 AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY. RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL AGAIN. COMMON PROBLEM WITH 5.4L FORD DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM AND SAY THEY HAVE COMPLETED NUMEROUS REPEAT REPAIRS AT THE CONSUMERS EXPENSE DUE TO FORD'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECALL. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043470
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
AT APPROXIMATELY 12,000 MILES ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN CONSUMER APPLIES CLUTCH AND WHEN BRAKING FOR A STOP. RPM'S DROP IN VEHICLE, AND ENGINE WILL STOP RUNNING. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 4 TIMES, AND CONTINUED TO RESET COMPUTER FOR A CALIBRATION ERROR. BUT, FAILED TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #888820
NHTSA investigations
4DP05005 · 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.
RQ02002 · Tire Valve Stem
Opened Jan 14, 2002 · Closed Aug 19, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires
There is no summary currently available
SQ00002 · Pulls Under Hard Braking
Opened May 4, 2000 · Closed Jan 22, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE00003 · Front Center Lap Belt Anchorage
Opened Jan 13, 2000 · Closed Apr 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
ALLEGED THAT THE FRONT SAFETY BELT REPORTEDLY WAS NOT MOUNTED TO THE VEHICLE