This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The #3 spark plug blew completely out of my 1999 Ford Expedition, Ford refuses to repair it saying that it must have been the result of some sort of abuse of the vehicle. After seeing thousands of these type of complaints from this particular engine class, it is reasonable to conclude that this is a serious design flaw, if the fuel rail had been compromised, the end result certainly would have resulted in a fire. I think that you should require Ford to either repair the affected defective engines, or compensate the owners for their repairs...
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. While driving 65 mph, the contact heard a loud popping sound under the hood. The vehicle decelerated to 0 and would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer stated that the spark plug popped out and stripped the engine head. One of the engine heads has to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 70,306. Updated 02/15/08.
I own a 1999 Ford Expedition. Yesterday, my fiance and kids were on their way to school when the engine failed. Upon inspection, we found that the engine had ejected the #3 spark plug on the passenger side. This caused the coil pack to "shatter" as well as the plug cable attached to it. I've done extensive searching on the subject, and there have been incidents reported of fires caused by these plug ejections. Also, hundreds of consumers have been stuck with repair costs of several thousand dollars. This is a common problem and should be addressed as a recall. Lives are at risk.
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. In 2005, while driving 55 mph, the contact heard a popping sound and stopped the vehicle. He noticed that the spark plug had come through the engine. A month later, the failure recurred. The purchase and incident dates were unknown. The current mileage is 130,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.
- Elkhorn, WI, USA
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Dear sirs, I own a 1999 Ford Expedition, the engine seemed to be have operated fine until the # 3 spark plug blew completely out of the cylinder head. If the plug and the destroyed coil would have ruptured the fuel rail the vehicle would have gone up in flames. I hope that something can be done on the part of Ford to repair this unbelievingly, amazing, and very common safety problem Ford was brushing under the rug. The vehicle was past the waranty period so that won't be of any help, but this problem was incredibly dangerous
1999 Ford Expedition bought brand new at serramonte Ford in colma ca. Serviced in strict accordance every 5000 miles per Ford owner manual and at the same Ford dealership exclusively. Lost engine, timing chain at 55,000 miles, lost transmission at 130000 miles.
I bought a used 1999 Ford Expedition. I owned it for less than 30 days before the first spark plug ejected. After having the dealer fix it the problem it happened again in less than 30 days. I had to spend 1000 to have the car towed home from NY, the price of the rental car and another 3500 to get a new head. Not to mention the 500 I paid the dealer to fix the car.
Contact stated while stopping at a stop light heard a loud pop. The vehicle was taken to a local dealership, where they found the engine head needed to be replaced because the spark plug blew out of the engine. The repairs will be made at the contact's expense. Updated 03/20/06.
1999 Ford Expedition with 5.4 Triton V8. Spark plug is ejected from the aluminum cylindar head. Immediately upon the plug being "blown" from the position on the head I could smell fuel and the engine began to violently make a loud "popping" sound. I have found numerous complaints on the web regarding this but cannot find any resolution measures. Bought the truck used with 85K miles but I have read other complaints where the plugs blow out at much lower mileage. Had to have it towed because I was advised by the dealer that, "it wouldn't be a good idea to drive it if you smell fuel." I had the service rep tell me that, "this is pretty common in our lighting models with the V10, but not with our V8 models." He also tells me that the plugs were too short for the engine but I checked with the mechanic that changed my plugs and he says that he put the replacement spec plugs that Ford recommended. Links to other sites related to this: www.F150online.com/forums/showthread.php?S=&threadid=103042 I know these are not filed complaints with the NHTSA but this is a serious issue. When I took it into the Ford dealership at dobb's Ford, 7925 hwy 64, memphis, tn 38133-4007, they told me originally it would be $2600. I was almost set to have it done then he tells me that labor was not included in that price and the total price would be $3800.
Engine compartment fire after being parked 5 minutes. Fire centered in engine compartment on driver's side towards the rear of the engine compartment. Brake switch at pedal had been replaced 4 months before fire.
I had a tune up done at roundtree moore Ford dealership in lake city Florida on 08-11-04. I drove my vehicle on vacation to pennsylvani and while there a spark plug came out and damaged the cylinder head and coil pack. I took the vehicle top a Ford dealer in Pennsylvania (davies Ford connelsville pa)and was advised that it appeared it was the fault of the original dealership. Upon contacting my dealership I was advised that this was common with this type of engine. I had the repair done at a local mechanic for $790.
While driving, a loud pop was heard. Later there were several pops heard, the owner pulled over to the side of the road and looked inside and saw that the spark plug had blown completely out of the head. The owner had to buy another spark plug and an ignition coil. The new spark plug would not go back in because the previous spark plug stripped the plug area where the new plug would not enter. The owner was told by the dealer that it would cost $3,000 to replace the heads to keep this from recurring. Provide further details.
In Dec of 2003 we had a spark plug foul out, now 6 months later we are informed that we had a right side head gasket blown and a power steering pump leaking.
I own the infamous 1999 Ford Expedition with the head gasket oil leak. Though I loved this car from the day I purchased it new up until the time at 50,000 miles the oil started to leak. It is well maintained and babied, so for something as serious as this to happen to all of us who own these vehicles disappoints me. Ford would only pay for half of the repair, but I believe this should be a recall because of the seriousness of the problem.a head gasket blowing? the heads are also defective from what I have read. That is not your average repair. I don't have the money to replace something that was installed defective to begin with. I guess I will continue to stuff a rag up under the leak until Ford feels like taking reponsibility for its failures.
Engine was leaking oil. Dealership replaced the head gasket. However, oil leak recurred. Currently, dealership indicated that engine head was whopping and causing the oil to leak.
About a year ago the cylinder head gasket on our 1999 Ford Expedition was replaced due to leaking oil, by the dealership. The mileage was 35,000. Now a year later, while traveling at 70 mph. On the freeway, a spark plug blew out of the same right cylinder. The loud noise and clatter caused a knee jerk response, almost causing an accident. The vehicle's mileage is now only 46,000. We feel that Ford should do the responsible thing and recall these 5.4 L engines with the aluminum cylinder heads and and replace them with a better design with safety in mind. If you check other consumer compaints, you will see that this is not an isoleted incident.
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- Sandy, UT, USA