I have a 2003 Ford Excursion with the Triton V10 gas engine. I was driving on the highway and heard an exhaust sound. I drove directly to pasadena Ford and as I drove in a salesman told me that it was the #3 cylinder and that the spark plug had blown out of the head. He stated that it was common and he saw it all the time. I proceeded to drop off the truck and my service tech called me back and indeed the spark plug had blown out and stripped the head. He told me the repairs would cost $4,000. I checked with the company that tows my trucks all the time and said that it was very common and he had towed 5 or 6 in the last month with the same problem. He recommended a service company to me that has done almost all of universal pictures and other studio trucks, he says about 30 of them. He told me that the threads for the spark plugs were one turn to short and caused the failure. I contacted another service company and they confirmed his explanation. When I contacted pasadena Ford they told me I was wrong and when I picked up my truck my service tech was actually confrontational. I explained that I would not have the truck repaired there and I would not pay $4,000. He told me that was the only way to fix the problem. I took it to the other mechanic and he fixed the one cylinder for $300 and I have not had any problems and neither has any of his studio trucks. I called magic Ford in valencia, ca and they confirmed the defect of the head being short one thread and when I called pasadena Ford again and spoke with someone else they confirmed the same thing. I was told that Ford knows of the problem and has recommended the repair but Ford service departments do not offer or recommend the repair. Two different Ford dealers confirmed the "defect" with the threads but they do not agree that it is a item that should be recalled.

- Saugus, CA, USA