NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
78 reports73,000 miles · Aug 8, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND TRACK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AS OF AUGUST 8, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE, BATTERY, AND TRACK WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AS OF AUGUST 8, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,000.
NHTSA ODI #10198859
52,000 miles · Oct 18, 2006
Equipment
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SCISSOR TYPE JACK WITH A SCREW DRIVE WAS STRIPPED ON THE FIRST 3-4 INCHES OF THE SCREW. THE JACK HAD ONLY BEEN USED 2 TIMES. THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURE WERE NOTIFIED. THE SERVICE DEALER OFFERED TO SELL A REPLACEMENT JACK TO THE CONTACT.
NHTSA ODI #10171168
21,000 miles · Mar 9, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THE PITMAN ARM WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE.
NHTSA ODI #10152306
24,998 miles · Dec 28, 2005
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT ALWAYS START. WHEN IT DID START THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE IDLING. TO ALLEVIATE STALLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MUST BE PUMPED HARD WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACE…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT ALWAYS START. WHEN IT DID START THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE IDLING. TO ALLEVIATE STALLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MUST BE PUMPED HARD WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE IAC VALVE WAS REPLACED, AND THE COMPUTER WAS REPROGRAMMED. NEITHER OF THESE EFFORTS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10146217
18,600 miles · Nov 28, 2005
Exterior Lighting
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED HE COULD HOLD THE HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH UPRIGHT, AND THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WILL STAY ON. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10143769
75,000 miles · Nov 8, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING, VEHICLE STALLED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO START. A PASSING MOTORIST SAID HE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND RESTARTED BY PUSHING RESET BUTTON IN TRUNK. WE DID AND VEHICLE STARTED. COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WITH 18 WHEELER BEHIND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID INERTIA SWITCH …
Read full complaint
WITHOUT ANY FOREWARNING, VEHICLE STALLED ON MAJOR HIGHWAY. UNABLE TO START. A PASSING MOTORIST SAID HE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND RESTARTED BY PUSHING RESET BUTTON IN TRUNK. WE DID AND VEHICLE STARTED. COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE WITH 18 WHEELER BEHIND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. MECHANIC SAID INERTIA SWITCH DEFECTIVE AND CHANGED. SAID THE RESET BUTTON IS SAFETY FACTOR TO AVOID FIRE IN CASE OF COLLISION. BUT THERE WAS NO COLLISION--NOT EVEN BUMP IN ROAD. BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE WARNING SYSTEM WHEN RESET BECOMES DEFECTIVE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10142052
1,500 miles · Sep 27, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THREE TIMES HAD THE FRONT ROTORS TURNED, AND THE FRONT PADS REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT 1,500 MILES THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT AFTER 2,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE EXPERI…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS PULSATION IN THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STATED THREE TIMES HAD THE FRONT ROTORS TURNED, AND THE FRONT PADS REPLACED. AFTER ABOUT 1,500 MILES THE PROBLEM RECURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS, BUT AFTER 2,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS BEFORE. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE THE CONTACT WITH ANY SATISFACTION, AND TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD DO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10137839
Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2005
Tires
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ALONG I-95 AT ABOUT 65 MPH, I FELT A SUDDEN SHUDDERING, I SLOWED DOWN TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS ROUGH PAVEMENT AND THE REAR RIGHT SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THESE TIRES ARE NEWLY MOUNTED, WITHIN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS BY MY FORD DEALER. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD AAA REMOVE THE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ALONG I-95 AT ABOUT 65 MPH, I FELT A SUDDEN SHUDDERING, I SLOWED DOWN TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS ROUGH PAVEMENT AND THE REAR RIGHT SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THESE TIRES ARE NEWLY MOUNTED, WITHIN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS BY MY FORD DEALER. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD AAA REMOVE THE TIRE. UPON INSPECTION, THERE WERE NO PUNCTURES TO THE TREAD ONLY A BLOWN OUT SIDEWALL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10135346
50,000 miles · Apr 25, 2005
Electrical SystemFireInjury
SLIGHT WHITE SMOKE APPEARING THROUGH VENTS IN AUTO. THEN WHEN WE PARKED IT EXTREME SMOKE CAME INTO VENTS FILLING PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO EXTREME WHITE SMOKE MIXED WITH BLACK CAME THROUGH VENTS BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. I OPENED HOOD AND IT WAS APPARENTLY BETWEEN FIREWALL & DASH. HAD TERRIBLE SMELL LIKE ROTTED TUNA. WIFE …
Read full complaint
SLIGHT WHITE SMOKE APPEARING THROUGH VENTS IN AUTO. THEN WHEN WE PARKED IT EXTREME SMOKE CAME INTO VENTS FILLING PASSANGER COMPARTMENT. ALSO EXTREME WHITE SMOKE MIXED WITH BLACK CAME THROUGH VENTS BETWEEN HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. I OPENED HOOD AND IT WAS APPARENTLY BETWEEN FIREWALL & DASH. HAD TERRIBLE SMELL LIKE ROTTED TUNA. WIFE STILL HAVING BREATING PROBLEMS FROM INHALATION. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10118362
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE GEARS TENDED TO POP, MAKING THE VEHICLE JUMP FORWARD, AS WELL THE ENGINE LEAKING OIL, AND INCREASING THE CHANCE OF THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS 4 TIMES, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED, BUT IT WILL BE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10107196
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.
Illustration