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2004 Lincoln Navigator

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Lincoln Navigator do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

62 reports with mileage · 24 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

86 reports
103,540 miles · May 26, 2009
Air Bags

I BOUGHT MY ONE OWNER CARFAX INCIDENT FREE 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IN APRIL 2009 , IN MAY 2009 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK MY VEHICLE, THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED , AFTER WAITING OVER A WEEK THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED WITH NO EXPLANATION THE ONLY…

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I BOUGHT MY ONE OWNER CARFAX INCIDENT FREE 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR IN APRIL 2009 , IN MAY 2009 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK MY VEHICLE, THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED , AFTER WAITING OVER A WEEK THE TRUCK WAS RETURNED WITH NO EXPLANATION THE ONLY THING I WAS TOLD WAS THAT IT DID NOT FALL UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT BE WILLING TO HELP. LEFT WITH NO OPTION, I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS IS, I WAS NOT GIVEN ANY INFORMATION OR WARNINGS. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AGAIN ON 5/24 THE DRIVERS AIRBAG FIRED BUT DID NOT DEPLOY, AGAIN ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM CURRENTLY TAKING THE VEHICLE TO GET THE AIRBAGS TURNED OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269985

103,540 miles · May 11, 2009
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO, THEY CAME TO GET THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. AFTER KEEPING MY VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK THEY CONTACTED ME AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM , I RECEIVED THE TRUCK BACK TODAY W…

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WHILE DRIVING MY LINCOLN NAVIGATOR DOWN THE HIGHWAY MY SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO, THEY CAME TO GET THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. AFTER KEEPING MY VEHICLE ABOUT A WEEK THEY CONTACTED ME AND STATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM , I RECEIVED THE TRUCK BACK TODAY WITH BOTH AIRBAGS HANGING DOWN AND THE WARNING LIGHT ON, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE TOLD WE ARE ON OUR OWN AND THEY WOULD NOT LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM, OR IF THE TRUCK WILL BE SAFE TO DRIVE NOW OR IF THE FRONT AIRBAGS MIGHT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268443

35,000 miles · Apr 10, 2009
Seat Belts

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS IN HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE FAILURE WAS MORE NOTICEABLE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAUSE IT WAS USED MORE FREQUENTLY; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED OCCASIONALLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE REAR SEAT BEL…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS IN HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE FAILURE WAS MORE NOTICEABLE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT BECAUSE IT WAS USED MORE FREQUENTLY; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED OCCASIONALLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE REAR SEAT BELTS MALFUNCTIONED BECAUSE THEY WERE HARDLY USED. SHE DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, WHICH STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE IN FUTURE MODELS. IN THE INTERIM, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE THE CONTACT $160 TO PLACE TEFLON TAPE IN THE RETRACTOR. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED OF THE TSB AND TEFLON REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,066 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. UPDATED 5/7/09 *CN UPDATED 05/08/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10264894

72,123 miles · Mar 26, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE NUMBER THREE SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR BLEW OUT. THE CAR HAS 72000 MILE ON IT AND IS EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS IS DEFECT, THERE SHOULD BE MORE THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN PACE, THIS CAR USES ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS, THE MANUFACTURES DESIGN DID NOT PUT ENOUGH THREADS IN PLACE FOR ALU…

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THE NUMBER THREE SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR BLEW OUT. THE CAR HAS 72000 MILE ON IT AND IS EXCELLENT CONDITION. THIS IS DEFECT, THERE SHOULD BE MORE THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN PACE, THIS CAR USES ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS, THE MANUFACTURES DESIGN DID NOT PUT ENOUGH THREADS IN PLACE FOR ALUMINUM TO HOLD THE PLUG OVER THE USABLE LIFE OF THE CAR AND ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263111

50,000 miles · Mar 8, 2009
Suspension

PROBLEM WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION ON VEHICLE. HAD IT REPLACE WITH LESS THAN 50 THOUSAND MILES ON VEHICLE, ADDED 12 THOUSAND MILES IN LESS THAN A YEAR AND THE AIR SUSPENSION IS OUT AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261115

75,000 miles · Mar 4, 2009
Exterior LightingSuspension

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT BEGAN TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ONE MONTH LATER, THE SUSPENSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND HAD…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT BEGAN TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ONE MONTH LATER, THE SUSPENSION FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRAC INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR FREE. AFTERWARDS, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND THE CONTACT REPLACED THEM WITH TWO BULB MECHANISMS. THE LOW BEAMS CONTINUED TO FAIL AND THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS NOT FAULTY, BUT THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE BALLETS IN THE LOW BEAMS WERE BLOWN OUT. THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND REPLACED BY A MECHANIC. THE BULBS BLEW OUT AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT TO REPAIR IT AGAIN. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND COMPLAINTS FOR FAILED BALLETS ON HIS MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI #10260685

111,117 miles · Dec 13, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251692

50,800 miles · Jul 29, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentStructure

NOTICED THE AIR COMPRESSOR RAN ALL OF THE TIME FOR THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. 800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY THE RIDE SIDE AIR SHOCK WENT BAD AND BURNED OUT THE COMPRESSOR. LOOKED UP OLD PAPER WORK AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAS PUT ON A NOISE …

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NOTICED THE AIR COMPRESSOR RAN ALL OF THE TIME FOR THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS STILL IN WARRANTY TOOK IT TO FORD AND THEY SAID THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM. 800 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY THE RIDE SIDE AIR SHOCK WENT BAD AND BURNED OUT THE COMPRESSOR. LOOKED UP OLD PAPER WORK AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY HAS PUT ON A NOISE REDUCTION KIT ON THE COMPRESSOR. SO WE COULD NO LONGER HEAR IT RUN. CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AS WELL AS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT LINCOLN. THEY TOLD US SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE BAGS ON THE AIR RIDE SYSTEM WERE DRY ROTTED (THE TRUCK HAS 50,800 MILES. HE SAID THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD AND LINCOLN. THEY REPLACE AT LEAST 8 SETS A WEEK. I HAD THE RIGHT SIDE FIXED, NEW COMPRESSOR. NOW 7 MONTHS LATER THE LEFT SIDE AS DONE THE SAME THING (55,000 MILES). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236202

65,000 miles · Jun 22, 2008
Structure

REAR TAILGATE PAINT IS BUBBLING. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS COMMON FLAW ON FORD/LINCOLN VEHICLES FROM 2000-2005. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10231952

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2008
EquipmentSuspension

PROBLEM WITH AIR SUSPENSION ON VEHICLE. PLACED IN SHOP OVER 7 OR MORE TIMES PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVED. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED PARTS BUT STILL SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10227111

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.