Consumer Affairs Reports - Do what I did, as suggested by Consumer Affairs: file complaints with the BBB, the NHTSA, and with Ford. If you're up to it, complain to your local media - newspaper, TV, radio - about this well known problem that Ford is ignoring!
See also: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/03/ford_spark_plug_fire.html http://www.blownoutsparkplug.com/index.htm http://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/F-150/2004/investigations.shtml
Ford never warned dealers / owners of imminent problem with alum head and short thread steel spark plug ! a very expensive fix ...First time the plug flew out ,Garage drilled, tapped and used insert . Lasted about 1 year then it happened again and Garage could only recommend a complete new head at $3 ,000 and change .
Thanks Ford for standing far behind your product for loyal customers.
Ford has known about this issue since 1999. Defect in head design by using aluminum heads with little of the plug threads in the taper (some reports as few as 4 threads). Tens of thousands of incidents reported; they even have a name for the syndrome = "spark plug ejection". Original plugs so should not be a question of torque.
Ford's Customer Relations Center is really a misnomer. They could not care less. Rep at first refused to allow me to speak to a manager - then stated he / she would tell me the same thing. Had to wait three days for a call back and then of course it was during business hours - when everyone else is working too. Voice mail message was condescending and "flip". No help available.
Truck had only been serviced at the Ford dealer. Will never buy a Ford again of any kind due to their attitude and lack of response.
This occurred while driving in rush hour traffic. They say cellphones and food are a major safety concern while driving...Try having a loud explosion come from under your hood!!! In business,you need to be accountable....Come on Ford!!!! Ford tough...my chihuahua is tougher than that!!!!
This seems to be a common problem with these modular motors. I have seen many complaints on the Ford truck forums about this exact issue. Usually happens just after the warranty runs out. The common fix is to helicoil the spark plug hole with one of a few different tool sets on the market. It seemed to be fixed ok at Sarasota Ford.
- rfpowerdude,
Sarasota, FL, US
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This has happened too many times to too many people for Ford to ignore, along with the dealership, running up the bill by installing parts I did not need, has been enough to persuade me to no longer buy anymore Ford Products. I owned 3 Ford trucks at the time of the problem. But I will buy no more. Ford just brushed me off like I didn't count, but loved me while I was buying their junk.
Ford's triton spark plug problem is getting out of hand. There is comments all over the web and nobody is doing anything about it. There is people in this world that work for the little money we receive from pay checks and need every bit of it and cant afford repairs that ford should have fixed a while ago.
I was traveling down the freeway at 60 miles an hour when I heard a loud noise under the hood followed by a lot of clattering. I was 135 miles from home. So I pulled off the freeway onto the shoulder. I looked under the hood; starting from the grill searching to the rear looking for the problem. I first thought I had broken the belt, then I saw a sparkplug lying on top of the engine and the coil bracket broken and the coil lying on its side.
I did not have any tools with me, so I limped to an auto parts store thinking I could just replace the coil. The manager said it may be worse than just replacing the coil. He had spoken to others Ford owners that the spark plug was stripped from the engine. He even said one of his customers had just purchased a low mileage 2007 Ford from a dealer and asked to have a tuneup. He was told that it would be $3,000.00 for the tune up because the Triton engines don't hold their spark plugs. He would have to have the engine bored and new sleeves put in.
Ford appears to be knowledgeable of their defects or at least their mechanics are. There should be a recall of all Ford Triton engines.
have had truck to same garage for same problem (spark Plug Blow Out) have finally got a appointment with a mechanic to proper fix the issue so it doesn,t happen again , also understand there is a civic law suit against ford for this know defect on there 5.4 triton gas engines.Would like to know how I get my 2 cents in on this so that ford ends up paying for this , so far it had cost me 350.00$
Update from May 28, 2016: has ford motor company taken responsibility for this? and are they giving back money to customers who have paid to have this corrected?
I am one of the people who have had the original factory spark plugs eject from the engine, which indicates there is a defect with the engine & cylinder head design.
Where I work, four of us have the same year truck, three of us had the same spark plug ejuct problem! The fourth guy only has 40,000 miles on his truck, so were all waiting for it to happen to him! Just another of Fords better ideas-I DON'T THINK SO!
Ford Dealership in Georgetown TX wants $5000. to replace cylinder head after spark plug blew out of the engine. These are original spark plugs and NO one should have to incur this type of expense. Was Also advised that they may have to long block the engine at my expense. Ive been a loyal Ford man for 15 vehicles. Notwithstanding if Ford doesn't step up, I'll move on!
First plug blew #7 10/2009 the day after an oil change at the dealership, shamed them into repairing it for parts, then on 5/2010 I blew plug #4 this one cost $700 because I needed an insert. I asked them to check all of my plugs because I was told that they would only blow if they were lose. Then 10/2010 (1 year and 4 days later) plug #7 blew again, not covered under the warranty from the repair because it was 4 days after the 1 year warranty,so I had a local reliable mechanic repair it and replace all of my plugs, he said there were 3 plugs that were lose, really only 5 months ago they were checked, anyway so far so good. I did forget to mention that my local dealership told me that they have a truck in about 2 to 3 times a month but this is not considered a flaw or recall problem.
Really! I like this truck and I can't afford to buy a new one, b I am afraid to take it on a long trip.
my F150 4.6L blew out plug and burned hole in pistion head needing new motor 3500bucks if they have more threads in cylinder head there would be no problem then they could call it a trition and be pride of it problem is fixed more threads on newer engines but for people like me with 2002 4.6L have to bite the bullet if they changed the new engines they should take care of people who had problems with older engines no problems with engine until plug blew out then all hell broke out
Just installed a new motor 3.5 months ago and this happened. I'm pissed right off. After talking to mechanics and the place I got the engine at, they tell me this is a common problem with these engines. Why the f#ck doesn't Ford pay up and do a recall? There reputation is already f@cked up. According to stats on the internet, there are some 20 million odd customers that have experienced the same thing.
THE # 3 PLUG BLEW OUT WHAT A PAIN I AM TRADING THIS TRUCK AS SOON AS IT IS FIXED I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT AS A LONG TIME FORD LOVER THIS WILL BE THE LAST FORD I WILL EVER OWN
As I search the issue with my F150 I have realized that the blown out Spark Plug is a huge issue. Ford needs to step up and fix this with a recall and make it right.
No recall on this is not except able. This is dangerous problem and needs to be addressed. I love my truck but now I do not have any faith in it to travel any place.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
70 mph spark plug#1 Blew out of engine on highway. Total Loss of power
- Darren L., Boynton Beach, FL, US