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8.3

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$700
Average Mileage:
119,700 miles
Total Complaints:
22 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (10 reports)
  2. insert (not helicoil) (9 reports)
  3. replaced head (2 reports)
  4. rethread head (1 reports)
2006 Ford F-150 engine problems

engine problem

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2006 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Apr 292019

F-150 Lariat

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving on the freeway when all the sudden this problem happened. I pulled to the side of the road because the check engine light came on and the truck was shaking while driving. I restarted the truck and the light went off and I didn't notice the problem again. Two days later, the shaking came back and I brought it in to the mechanic who told me the plug had blown off and probably fallen out while driving. If it had not fallen out it would've ruined the engine a lot more. Took 4 hours to fix and cost $622.

- Jessica C., Livermore, CA, US

problem #21

Feb 082018

F-150 XLT 4.6L Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 139,259 miles

normal driving, my wife went to work, called me. went to where she was. had noise in engine from spark plug popped out of cylinder, took to my tech they checked out. had to retap head and insert new plug, says this is normal for the ford. This is very annoying, worked for ford dealer as tech for 16 years. ford needs to do something, its their engineering problem and they are going to lose a lot of truck sales due to no recall to fix this problem. They also may be coming up with a class action lawsuit very soon. Will not buy another ford truck.

- William F., Coweta, US

problem #20

Oct 302016

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 137,957 miles

The spark plugs keep loosening or ejecting. At first I thought it was a problem with the spark plugs themselves or something else, but I see a lot of other Ford owners are having the same issue http://www.fordproblems.com/trends/triton-engine/spark-plug-ejection.shtml

- msmdoza, Interlachen, FL, US

problem #19

Jun 242016

F-150 STX 4.6L V/8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 181,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the 4th cylinder to blow a plug out of the head in about 14 months? See my other posts. I am done with the truck. I got rid of the truck the next day.

- garthvandervorst, Houlton, US

problem #18

Jun 172016

F-150 XL 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,400 miles

Started truck and heard a loud bang. Saw small amount of smoke. Thought oh sh*t I'm on fire. After calling a few people, was told what to look for. Found 3rd back on left bank blown out. Had to have towed to shop. Don't know amount of damage or cost to fix yet.

- Jeff V., Columbia, MO, US

problem #17

Feb 282016

F-150 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,109 miles

The spark plug blew right out of the engine! This appears to be a big problem with the use of the aluminum block. The little bit of research I did shows that my Ford is not the first one to experience this problem. My mechanic says this is common. So what the heck. Sounds like a recall to me.

- Pamela B., Williams Lake, BC, Canada

problem #16

Feb 192016

F-150 STX 4.6L V/8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 171,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is the 3rd cylinder to throw a spark plug. Look back at my other 2 complaints filed. I am not sure why I would buy another ford truck based on this KNOWN problem. I am a Ford Family and get the "A:" plan when purchasing but this may just be too annoying to continue. Really questions your faith in the quality of the next one.

- garthvandervorst, Houlton, US

problem #15

Apr 072015

F-150 STX 4.6L V/8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 150,000 miles

Spark plug on cylinder #4 blew out of the head and stripped the threads with it as it went. I have found out that this is a known issue with this engine in the F-150. I am kind of a die hard Ford truck fan but this concerns me. I do not buy my vehicles to trade in after warranty - I expect to get more than 10 years out of them. This truck is fabulous but this is a real concern for longevity of use.

- garthvandervorst, Houlton, US

problem #14

Oct 192015

F-150 STX 4.6L V/8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

This is the 2nd time that this has happened (not the same cylinder) in 6 months. Very frustrated that a properly maintained vehicle has an issue that is well known in the industry to be a problem. Concerned over the purchase of another F-150 when I do not feel we are being taken care of (a fix/solution/warm fuzzy) on this matter.

- garthvandervorst, Houlton, US

problem #13

Jun 202015

F-150 Fxst 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,000 miles

This is a problem known by Ford, a TBS has been issued but Ford merely responds by statements that the regret the inconvenience, there are no warranties, there are no recalls or customer satisfaction programs for this concern. This is a Ford created design engineering defect that Ford just ignores and lets its customers pay for its mistake, probably operating on the theory that eventually with age of vehicle problem will go away as repairs will not be made with vehicle sent to junk yard as time passes. In meantime customer subjected to cost of repair that is far from normal wear and tear, a safety concern of fire in engine compartment from fuel blown out of hole vacated by the plug and a reliability concern as well as safety from sudden loss of power. Ford is just ignoring the problem AND NOT providing any monetary consideration for the problem it created. Just very disgusted over this issue of added expense.

- blowoutowner, Highridge, MO, US

problem #12

Aug 202015

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,822 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After doing my research on this problem with Ford F-150 blown out spark plug problems, I am very angry at Ford Motor Corporation from not recalling the vehicles to correct this problem. Because of this problem may occur again, I will not buy another Ford truck if I have to purchased another truck.

- Larry W., New Orleans, LA, US

problem #11

Jul 102015

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

When I bought my truck brand new in 2006, it would have been nice had they told me it would have a spark plug issue but they didn't. So now I've been told by my mechanic he needs $5400 to replace the engine. He said the Ford House told him that they wouldn't do anything but replace the engine and no one will replace the head. Oh and they said a helicoil won't work either. Thanks Ford for giving me the shaft!

- cokertx, Cleburne, TX, US

problem #10

Mar 252015

F-150 STX 4.6L 2 valve V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 131,000 miles

Seems to be an unfortunately common problem with FORD.

- bscoggins, Avondale Estates, GA, US

problem #9

Sep 012014

F-150 STX 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,700 miles

Ford has knew about this problem for years. Why haven't they fixed it? And why do I have to pay when for knowingly put these vehicles on the road with this problem?

- Julie M., Booneville, KY, US

problem #8

Jul 142014

F-150 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 92,895 miles

Well, to say the least, my extended warranty just ran out! FML, but then I heard that this is a common problem with almost all Fords, and this was the place to complain to try and get some type of action, and Ford is currently doing nothing! If nothing is done by Ford, it will be the last one I ever own . . .

- ryanyukon, Dawson, Yukon, canada

problem #7

Jun 272014

F-150 ES 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,453 miles

Spark plug blew out of the head. Called Ford dealer in Vineland NJ. Told me the warranty was up and to just put an insert in. That lasted about 15 months, now it blew out again. Transmission had went when i bought he truck new in 06. After i had for 2 months? So much for buying American made? Ford sucks!!!

- gmyers107, Marlton, NJ, US

problem #6

Jun 042008

F-150 Supercrew Cab 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 68,000 miles

AFTER THE SPARK PLUG BLUE OUT I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. FOUND THE PROBLEM WENT TO THE FORD DEALER , SERVICE GUY CAME OUT AND SAID SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. I SAID HOW DID YOU KNOW , HE SAID I HEARD YOU COMING AROUND THE CORNER. HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD A PRICE READY FOR ME BEFORE I GOT OUT OF MY TRUCK. THE SERVICE GUY THEN TOLD ME THESE PROBLEM ENGINES COME IN THREE TO FOUR TIMES A DAY. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL.

- Joe M., rosenberg, TX, US

problem #5

Feb 202014

F-150 3.05

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,000 miles

It is a same this problem can't be fixed. Took it I for a tune up 2 days later no truck and 3 broken plug not sure how much it will cost but it sucks!!!!

- George Ann E., Marietta, IL, US

problem #4

Dec 012013

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 82,000 miles

Keep it up Ford! Sooner or later you will have to pay for this.

- Susan M., Broomfield, CO, US

problem #3

Jan 012013

F-150 XLT 4.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles

Absolute sham that Ford tells their dealership mechanics how to fix this problem with an insert ONLY if the vehicle is not under manufacturer warranty but if the warranty is still in place they tell them to replace the heads!!!!

Ford knows that this WIDESPREAD problem is due to faulty heads, not plugs, and this is quite obvious if you consider the way that they instruct their mechanics to deal with it.

This happened to my truck twice within one year and I will be filing a separate complaint for the second incident. This is not only a disgrace for Ford, but also for the NHTSA for not recalling these engines as safety hazards.

- Susan M., Broomfield, CO, US

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