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.
Fire under the hood of a Ford F-150 supercrew in our parking lot burned this vehicle and caused fire damage to four other vehicles parked adjacent to it.
I have a 2001 Ford F150 5.4 liter V8 Triton that the spark plug ejected and ruined the threads the dealer wants $500 to fix I know a few people that this happened to.
While driving down interstate started to hear a load popping noise from engine. Immediately pulled over to find that one of the spark plugs had blown out of the head. Had to be towed. Still waiting of cost of repairs. Researching online, it appears that this is common issue with this motor.
Was driving normally when I started hearing a loud popping noise from engine. Took to mechanic and was told the spark plug blew out - was also told this is a "common" problem with Ford Triton engines and a design flaw with the engine (too few threads on spark plugs)
The contact owns a 2001 Ford F150. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the engine caught on fire. The local fire department was unable to locate the exact origin of the fire. A fire report was not filed. The failure was being investigated by the contact's insurance company. The failure and current mileage was 170,000.
- Searcy , AR, USA
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I was driving on the freeway when a pop and loud "flapping" sound was heard. I thought I had blown a tire. The truck lost a good amount of power and was shaking while continuing to make the "flapping" sound. After taking it in, it turns out it was a blown spark plug that shot out of the engine, damaging the block, plug, and coil. The cost was $630 to fix it.
I have a 2001 Ford F-150 lightning with roughly 31,000 miles on it. Three weeks back I was turning into my neighborhood at 5 mph, and I head a popping sound, and the truck begins to run roughly. I immediately pull over, and pop the hood, I smell gasoline. I shut the truck off. Call a tow truck to my Ford dealership. There they tell me that the spark plug has shot out of the cylinder head, stripping the aluminum head. I get the bill for repair in which they re-bore the head, and install a heli coil at a cost of $560 plus labor. The dealership tells me this should in fact strengthen the cylinder, so I continue normal operation of the vehicle Tuesday 5/17/11, I was driving on route 290 in worcester when all of a sudden at 70 mph the heli coil pops out causing me instantly lose power. In an effort not to damage the vehicle further I put it in neutral, and coast to the break down lane of a three lane highway and proceed to call aaa to get a tow. Once back at the Ford dealership the tech tries to do the same thing, and re-bore the head to install another heli coil. He does and takes it for a test drive. The heli coil that he just installed blows. Now they are telling me that I need a new cylinder head. A $1600 part, plus 19 hours of installation costing $3600 in total. This as I have been told by the dealership and upon hours of research, is a common problem with the 1999-2003 Ford 5.4L Triton engine. This is a factory Ford defect, they did not drill the appropriate threads for the spark plugs. Now it has happened to me twice, this very easily could have gotten me hurt on the highway, or could have set fire to my vehicle since gasoline from the cylinder was spilling onto the hot engine block, directly next to the fuse box, there a current runs through. I have spoken to Ford and there is no recall on this. A factory defect, that is costing me almost $4000, through nothing but careful care of the vehicle.
2001 Ford F150 supercrew 5.4L. While driving this vehicle the spark plug forcibly came out of the cylinder head. Vehicle was not able to be driven after blowout of spark plug. Vehicle had to be towed to garage. Not sure how or why this happened.
Drove approximately 27 miles, then heard a loud pop under the engine. Smelled gas while inside cab with the windows rolled up. Loud knocking noise followed. Found that the number 3 spark plug had blown out of the head. Luckily no fire.
I have a 2001 Ford F-150 with a 4.6 V8 engine and I have now had 2 spark plugs blow out of the passenger cylinder head. The truck has 145,000 miles on it. These did not happen at the same time they were about 12 to 18 months apart. The spark plug had been replaced over a year before the first blow out occurred. It also broke both coils on those cylinders. Until I started a search to see if anyone else had this issue I was unaware of the danger of fire.
While driving home from work I heard a loud pop coming from the engine compartment, then sounding like an air compressor. My mechanic told me that one of the spark plugs blew out of the socket and needs a helicoil installed to hold the spark plug. This fix is going to cost about $300. He also stated that this is a common problem in Ford truck engines. As of yet there is no recall on this problem!
I have a 2001 Ford F150 crewcab truck. On my way home from work, my vehicle started making an awful noise and the truck instantly started working rough. I pulled over and turned off the truck. My husband came to check on me and when we popped the hood and when I turned on the truck he saw the spark plug coming out of the cylinder. I have yet to have the mechanic look at it. After reading up on this, I see this is a recurrent problem on Ford trucks. I do not understand why nothing has been done regarding this matter. I simply do not have the funds available to pay for this if it is a major repair job nor do I have the means to purchase another vehicle due to the current economic state and were barely getting by as it is. I want something to be done and this issue with Ford investigated further. It is a design flaw and this is getting ridiculous. Do someone have to die in order for something to be done. Thank god I did not pick my kids up yet. Thank god I was just starting off from a light and hadn't even got back up to 20 mph. Thank god it happens to me and not my husband that drove out to orlando today and was going to use my truck. He would have been severely hurt or worse if this occurred at 70+mph. I have read that this could cost in the thousands and when I get an estimate I will update this matter further. Something has to be done, there are no more excuses.
Truck with 56,000 original miles. After stopping truck to dispose of trash, spark plug #8 blew out of the engine head while idling. Truck immediately towed to Ford dealership. Dealer stated this is very uncommon problem. Helicoiled head. Installed new plug. $700. When vehicle was picked up from dealership there was a loud knock in engine, but we were told it was within specs and safe to drive. Mechanic now says there is a severe rod problem, most likely caused by parts of debris impacting piston and cylinder head. Estimated cost $4,500. For rebuilt engine.
Driving at 55mph on state highway,3rd spark plug back on passenger side of 2001 Ford F-150 4dr. 5.4L. Blew out of head, broke coil pack and fell onto highway. Had truck towed to house and it still sits. I cant afford a repair of $2000+.
Faulty spark plug coil, strips out of motor head and pops out spark plug and coils. Leaving fumes and gas to ignite if driven, or owner stranded. Has happened 2X to our family and after reading many forums and complaints and talking to other Ford truck owners it is a common occurrence on these trucks. Ford should be doing something about this. Should be a safety recall.
Problem was instant while driving North on rt. 18. Ford F150 V8 started missing, smelling of gas, making loud noise which appeared to be every time the belt went around, unable to accelerate, had to keep one foot on gas and one foot on brake at red light. Problem was that the spark plug overheated and ejected. Safety issue with fuel vapors coming out of spark plug hole and could ignite from loose spark plug. Ford denies this is a problem and claim there has only been three reported cases when I had the dealer call them. After talking about it at work, I found another employee that had the same problem. So there are two cases right there that they didn't even know about. How many cases do they really know about or deny knowing about?
While driving on the freeway, I heard a loud pop from the engine compartment followed by the engine running roughly and accompanied by popping sounds. Within 10 seconds, the smell of gasoline was noticed. I pulled off at the next exit, approximately 30 seconds later, and came to a stop. As I came to a stop, flames erupted from the hood and the entire engine compartment was engulfed in flames. A fire truck arrived within a few minutes and extinguished the fire, but not before the fire had burned through the firewall into the passenger compartment. The vehicle was a total loss. Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the #8 cylinder spark plug had ejected from the cylinder (the initial pop sound) with such force that it ruptured the rubber fuel line immediately above it and aft of the stainless fuel injector bar. With fuel spraying from the hose, it was then ignited by the coil which was still attached to the engine and emitting sparks. It has been documented that the cylinder head design in this vehicle has had a history of problems with ejecting spark plugs due to a lack of adequate threads in the spark plug holes. I believe this defect contributed directly to this fire and is a safety hazard.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Anchorage , AK, USA