2001 FORD F-150 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. After visual inspection, the contact was able to conclude that the sound originated from the passenger’s side exhaust manifold. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a failure with the bolts securing the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred three times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.

Mileage: 85,000

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND MOTOR WAS OFF. VEHICLE CATCH ON FIRE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAD TO GO TURN IT OFF BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE ANYTHING FROM THIS TRUCK IT GOT VERY DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD WAS DESTROYED. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SOUNDED LIKE PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GAVE WAY. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD. THE ONLY ONE TO EVER TOUCH THE ENGINE WAS FORD AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A SPARK PLUG SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THESE SPARK PLUG EJECTIONS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM ? THE FACT THAT THE SUPER-HEATED AIR AND MIXTURE FUEL SPRAYING ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE HOOD IS A EXTREME DANGER, IT WOULD SEEM THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

PULLED OUT OF SIDE ROAD ONTO MAJOR HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE FROM ENGINE WAS HEARD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD AND TURN VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WAS TOLD THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A EASY FIX, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE THE HEAD HAD TO BE REMOVED TO EXTRACTED TO DAMAGED PLUG. OUR FIX IS COSTING UPWARDS OF $700. *JS

Mileage: 202,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150 TRITON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE INSPECTION WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE, ENGINE MANIFOLD AND BOLTS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 05/21/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MATERIAL USED WERE DEFECTIVE.

Mileage: 68,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MANIFOLD AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000

I'M IN THE LARGE GROWING NUMBER OF OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD A SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT. FORD KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAVE COME UP WITH A SPECIAL TOOL TO HELP IN THE REPAIR OF THIS. IT RETHREADS THE HOLE THEN THEY HAVE AN INSERT THAT GOES IN IT. THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NOT ENOUGH THREADS TO HOLD THE PLUG. THE THING IS, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO A TOTAL RECALL THEN THEY SHOULD AT LEAST COVER THE EXPENSE WHEN IT HAPPENS. I GUESS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE A DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND DO THE RIGHT THING. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT CAUSED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $6200.00. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR 1999 TO 2005 ENGINES. *TR

Mileage: 122,989

I WAS GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE THIS AM AND HEARD A NOISE, THE TRUCK LOST POWER AND STARTED RUNNING EXTREMELY ROUGH. I TURNED AROUND AND BARELY MADE IT HOME (ONLY A FEW MILES). WHEN I RAISED THE HOOD, A SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE COIL PACK WAS ALSO BROKEN WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES BUILT FROM 1997 - 2003. IF I HAD BEEN IN A CENTER OR LEFT LANE, BEING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR WRECK. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED AND SHOULD BECOME A RECALL FOR FORD. *TR

Mileage: 103,000

ATTEMPTING TO PARK VEHICLE IN PARKING STALL WITH FOOT ON BRAKE STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED FORWARD STRIKNIG THE VEHICLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PARKING STALL. THE RESULTING CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE 2011 GMC SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE AND TO THE FRONT OF THE 2001 FORD F-150. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AN INCIDENT SIMILAR TO THIS HAS OCCURRED. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN AUGUST 2011. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE DEMONSTRATED A SIMILAR PHENOMENA OCCURRED WHEN THE OWNER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN THE PARKING STALL, THE DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, OVER A CONCRETE PARKING BLOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED INTO THE STREET AS THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE FORD F-150. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO AVOID STRIKING A VEHICLE AFTER ENTERING THE STREET. *TR

Mileage: 202,534

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND STOPPED THE TRUCK AND CALLED THE TOW TRUCK. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD OF THE ENGINE AND IT WAS GOING TO COST $550.00 TO FIX, HE ALSO SAID THAT IT WOULD BE A TEMPORARY FIX AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME WITH THESE ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE ALUMINUM HEADS AND THERE WERE ONLY 3-4 THREADS ACTUALLY HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG. A FORD MOTOR CO. WARRANTY INSPECTOR SAYS THE FORD TRITON V-8 ENGINES ARE "DROPPING LIKE FLIES" BECAUSE OF BLOWN SPARK PLUGS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE FORD SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT ISSUE. FORD TRITON ENGINES FROM 1997 TO 2003 HAD A PROBLEM WHERE SPARK PLUGS WOULD RANDOMLY FLY OUT THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A FEW ISSUES (ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW), FIRST THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT THREADS (3-4) IN THE HEAD TO PROPERLY HOLD THE SPARK PLUG. SECOND THE THREADS IN THE HEAD ARE NOT INSERTED, IN OTHER WORDS THE THREADS ARE IN THE ALUMINUM AND ARE NOT VERY STRONG. SPARK PLUG EJECTION IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE FUEL VAPOR STARTS COMING OUT THE SPARK PLUG HOLE, WHICH IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FUEL VAPOR CAN BE IGNITED BY THE LOOSE SPARK PLUG - AND IN FACT THERE HAVE BEEN A SMALL NUMBER OF CASES REPORTED OF ENGINE FIRES DUE TO SPARK PLUG EJECTION/BLOWOUT. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS OF SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT AND SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY REGARDLESS OF AGE ON THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ISSUE, THEY ALSO SHOULD BE FORCED TO PAY A FAIR AMOUNT OF LABOR TIME, BECAUSE MOST OF THE REPAIRS COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS SERIOUS ISSUE OF AN ENGINEERING-DESIGN FLAW AND NEEDS TO RECALL 17 MILLION VEHICLES FROM 1997-2003. *TR

Mileage: 143,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW DAYS WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BURN INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 249,000.

Mileage: 249,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG LOCATED NEAREST TO THE DRIVER SIDE HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE COIL HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A COIL KIT WAS INSTALLED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ALUMINUM HEAD. UPDATED 11/10/2011 *LN *TR

Mileage: 98,000

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. *KB

2001 FORD F-150. THE TRUCK HAD AN UNDER HOOD FIRE WHILE IT WAS IN A PARKING LOT. THE BUSINESS OWNER FOUND ME AFTER THE FIRE WAS STARTED AND PUT OUT. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

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. *KB

Mileage: 90,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 151,000

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) *TT

Mileage: 80,000

TL* 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.

Mileage: 170,000

2001 FORD F-150. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND THEN EXPLODED *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SAW A REPORT ON T.V. REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANKS AND NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING. *JB

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. *TR

Mileage: 92,356

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. *TR

Mileage: 31,000

I OWN A 2001 F-150 FORD TRUCK. I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3X NOW IN A YEAR THE SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEADS. THE FIRST 2X IT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH TO THE POINT I LOST CONTROL FOR A FEW SECONDS ( THANK GOD NO ONE WAS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME). I HAVE HAD THE PLUGS HELI-COILED IN TWICE AND WAITING ON THE 3RD ONE NOW. THE FORD DEALERSHIP I TAKE THE TRUCK TO SAYS, "IT IS A POOR DESIGN IN THE HEADS OF THIS MOTOR THAT CAUSES THE PLUGS TO BLOW OUT AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM." I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH DUE TO THE "EXPLOSION" SOUND AT FIRST AND THE EXTREMELY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE TWICE. FIRST TIME CHEAP FIX SECOND TIME IT WAS OVER $700. SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM. NEEDS A RECALL DONE. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

SPARK PLUGS KEEP POPPING OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD. HAS HAPPENED FIVE TIMES SO FAR. I KNOW OF SEVEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR

Mileage: 110,521

F150 2001 FORD LIGHTNING 5.4 TRITION ENGINE. SPARKPLUG SHOOT OUT OF ENGINE. DEFECT IN ALUMINUM HEADS. I HAD A HELICOIL PUT IN AND IT BROKE DOWN 7 MONTHS LATER, AND NOW I HAVE TO BUY A RE-MUF. ENGINE ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE FOR ME. COSTING ME LOTS OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS. FORD HAS A DEFECT IN THERE TRITON ENGINE HEADS AND THERE NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT ITS COSTING CUSTOMER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND FORD DOESN'T CARE. FRUSTRATED CUSTOMER. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 102,180

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN A FIRE BEGAN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVED FROM THE LOCATION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 209,000.

Mileage: 209,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 127,000

STARTED TRUCK HEARD A LOUD POP ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH CHECKED,SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT DESTROYING COIL PACK NOW CALLED FORD DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALL CHECKED ON INTERNET NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE SAME PROBLEM. A LOT MONEY TO REPAIR. I HAD JUST GOT BACK FROM A 600 MILE TRIP IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING TRIP WOULD HAVE COST ME UP TO $4.000 TO GET ON ROAD AGAIN, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! AND IF I GET IT FIXED I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING 2 OR MORE PLUGS ARE BLOWING OUT AND I CAN NOT AFFORD THE FIX .

Mileage: 106,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 46 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SPUTTER WITH LOW ENGINE POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE EXHIBITED A ROUGH IDLE WHEN SITTING IDLE AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,098.

Mileage: 128,098

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. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

2001 FORD F-150 4.2L V6. TWO SPARK PLUGS HAVE LOOSENED AND EJECTED SO FAR. *TR

Mileage: 71,211

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OCCUPIED WHEN THE FIRE ERUPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS ALSO EXTREMELY BURNED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SEND PHOTOS AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE BEFORE A DETERMINATION WAS MADE REGARDING ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

Mileage: 135,000

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 FORD F150 DOWN THE HIGHWAY, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD AND DAMAGED THE IGNITION COIL. GAS/AIR MIXTURE WAS SENT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND IF THE PLUG HAD NOT DAMAGED THE COIL, IT COULD HAVE IGNITED THE GAS. THE FUEL LINE IS ALSO JUST ABOVE THE PUG, AND COULD ALSO HAVE EASILY BEEN DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

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! *TR

Mileage: 60,180

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. *TR

Mileage: 178,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOUR SPARK PLUGS FAILED AND WERE BLOWN INTO THE COIL PACK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

Mileage: 113,000

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. $700.00. 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. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND LIGHT GREY SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ENGINE HEAT CONTROL SENSOR WERE REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,042.

Mileage: 118,042

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 136,000

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+. *TR

Mileage: 101,085

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. *TR

Mileage: 149,000

MY HUSBANDS' FORD F150 TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. THE TRUCK HAD BEEN IDLE FOR 2 DAYS AND NOT DRIVEN MORE THEN 500 FEET OVER THE LAST 2 MONTHS. I WAS AWAKED FROM SLEEP WHEN MY HUSBAND HAPPENED TO GLANCE OUT THE WINDOW AND SEE THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE STREET. WE CALLED 911 BUT BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED THE ENTIRE KING CAB PORTION OF THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. *TR

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? *TR

Mileage: 111,000

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. *TR

Mileage: 116,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF HIS RESIDENCE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 158,000.

Mileage: 158,000

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON MY 2001 FORD F-150 EXPENSIVE REPAIR TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS. DEALER WANTS ME TO PURCHASE A NEW CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 92,752

SPARK PLUG #3 HAS BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS. THIS SECOND OCCURRENCE DAMAGED THE THREADS REQUIRING REPAIR WITH A HELICOIL KIT. THIS DEFECTIVE HEAD CAN CAUSE FIRE HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 147,000

2001 FORD F150 WAS PARKED FOR 4-5 DAYS IN DRIVEWAY. WOKE UP EARLY A.M. TO LOUD THUMB NOISE. LOOKED OUT, TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPTS SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS ELECTRICAL AND FROM UNDER HOOD. TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. INSURANCE CO. HAS YET TO LOOK AT TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

2001 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.6 TRITON-2 SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. HAD THEM REPAIRED AND THEY BLEW OUT AGAIN A MONTH LATER. *TR

2001 FORD F150 5.4L CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. CRANKED TRUCK AND SAW ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF INTAKE. GETTING MOTOR FIXED AND HAVE VERIFIED IT TO BE CRACKED MANIFOLD. *TR

Mileage: 202,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT A CONTINUOUS INCREASE AND DECREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 20 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE TREMENDOUSLY LOUD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC HE PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE MASS SENSOR HOWEVER; THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC THEN ADVISED CYLINDER THREE HAD MISFIRED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,052.

Mileage: 40,000

TWICE, THREE WEEK APART I HAVE HAD ORIGINALL FACTORY INSTALLED SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE HEAD ON MY 2001 FORD F150 TRITON 5.7 LITER ENGINE. NUMBER 2 PLUG WAS FIRST AND NUMBER 3 PLUG WAS NEXT ALONG WITH THE CD COIL PACKS. *TR

Mileage: 82,700

I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 WITH A 5-4 TRITON MOTOR.HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT WHILE ON THE FREEWAY,IT OCCURED ON NUMBER 3 CYLINDER AND 2 MORE THAT WERE LOOSE ON THE ENGINE.MECHANIC REPAIRED BY INSTALLING AN INSERT DO TO STRIPPED OUT THREADS.ALSO WHEN THE PLUG BLEW OUT IT DAMAGED THE COIL PACK.I SAVED THE PARTS THAT WERE REPLACED.

Mileage: 85,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150 LIGHTNING SBT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE SPARKS PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Mileage: 56,000

FORD F150 SPARK PLUG # 8 BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THERE WERE NOXIOUS FUMES THAT EVENTUALLY BECOME VERY STRONG. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND FEEL THAT THIS MUST BE A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO OBVIOUS RAW FUEL, HEAT AND POTENTIAL SPARKS. *TR

Mileage: 140,000

2001 FORD F-150 LARIAT..5.4 CU .IM ENGINE. MULTIPLE SPARK PLUGS SELF EXTRACT ..AFTER 50,000 MILES, CREATING POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. NO WARNING WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. THIS HAPPENS IN SPITE OF ROUTINE NORMAL MAINTENANCE BEING PERFORMED. WHEN THE PLUG POPS OUT IT ALSO BREAKS THE IGNITION COIL TAB FOR THIS CYLINDER THUS MAKING THE CYLINDER INOPERATIVE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF RAW GASOLINE/ETHANOL BEING EJECTED NEXT TO A UNCONTROLLED SPARK FROM THE LOOSE COIL. VERY DANGEROUS,ESPECIALLY WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION FROM FORD OF THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST A FEW DOZEN TIMES TO VEHICLES IN MY LOCAL AREA. IN FACT, IT MUST BE A FREQUENT SITUATION BECAUSE THERE ARE AFTER MARKET REPAIR KITS.. HELI-COIL INSTALLATION (NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR). THE REPAIR FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEADS...A $5,000.00 PLUS REPAIR COST IF PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SATISFACTION. *TR

Mileage: 59,100

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 WITH 195,000 MILES ON IT ,.. I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL NOW.. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD DISTURBING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT,.. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF IMMEDIATELY,.. I OPENED THE HOOD AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG, SO I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE SAME NOISE COULD BE HEARD,.. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND COULD SEE A SPARK BY WHERE A SPARK PLUG WOULD BE,.. I SHUT THE TRUCK OFF AND INVESTIGATED A LITTLE BIT,.. I NOTICED THAT THE COIL WAS OFF AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING BY THE VALVE COVER,... I HAD TO CALL MY BROTHER TO HAUL THE TRUCK HOME SINCE I KNEW THAT DRIVING IT LIKE THAT COULD CAUSE ENGINE PROBLEMS,.. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT SPARK PLUGS POPPING OUT OF THEIR HOLES IS KIND OF A COMMON THING FOR FORD TRITON ENGINES. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY YET,... I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TIT FOR QUIT SOME TIME AND HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY PROBABLY WONT SEND OUT A RECALL FOR THIS... WHAT CAN B E DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM !!! *TR

Mileage: 194,503

MY 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK HAD ONE OF THE SPARKPLUGS EJECT FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE IGNITED INTO A FIRE SINCE GAS FUMES ARE COMING OUT OF THE SPARKPLUG OPENING. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HE OBSERVED THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE SPARK PLUGGED POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 98,000

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE AND STRIPPED THREADS IN ENGINE HEAD. DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF ORIGINAL THREAD LENGTH. SHORT THREAD LENGTH IN ALUMINUM BLOCK WILL NOT HOLD COMPRESSION PRESSURES OVER TIME. I MUST EITHER REPAIR THE HEAD OR REPLACE THE HEAD WITH NEWER DESIGN WITH THREADS OF PROPER LENGTH. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

Mileage: 158,000

I HAD AN ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY FORD F-150 V-8 TRITON MOTOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT MADE A LOUD POP NOISE AND THEN I SEEN A FLAME I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND CALLED FOR HELP. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT HURT AND THE FIRE WENT OUT AND DID NOT BURN THE TRUCK TO THE GROUND. FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A LUBRICATED PART AND MY WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER THE $2000-3000.00 REPAIR. IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THEY KNOW IT BUT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY'S. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I OWN A FORD F150 TRITION TRUCK IN MAY OF 2008 I BLEW MY FIRST SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE APPROXIMATE COST OF $700. FOUR MONTHS LATER, I THREW ANOTHER ONE WHILE SIMPLY STARTING MY TRUCK IN A PARKING LOT. I PAID ANOTHER $700. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS. ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP, I THREW MY 3RD. SPARK PLUG. THIS IS A DEFECT! *TR

Mileage: 80,000

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF 2001 FORD F150. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

THE #3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON MY 2001 FORD F-150 LARIAT. MY TRUCK HAS THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE AND IT HAS 139,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE #3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT AND ALSO DESTROYED THE COIL ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

BLOWN SPARK PLUG FROM 2001 F-150 (LIGHTNING) NOTE: THIS IS THE THIRD BLOWN SPARK PLUG. THE FIRST TIME FORD REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEAD (UNDER WARRANTY). THE NEXT TWO WERE OUT OF MY POCKET (AT $1K EACH). *TR

2001 FORD F-150 THE ENGINE ON THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE CAME TO WORK AT 6AM AROUND 10:15AM FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALL TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, THE RADIATOR AND FRONT END WAS ALL MELTED ENGINE COMPLETELY BURN THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BOARD AND ALL THE WIRES LOOK BURN. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

MY FORD F-150 JUST BLEW OUT THE 2ND SPARK PLUG IN A MONTH. TRUCK HAS 74,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR ISN'T COVERED BY FORD. ORIGINAL PLUGS, SO CAN'T BE DUE TO WRONG TORQUE SPECS. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, AND I WAS ABLE TO SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 74,211

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 5.4 TRITON. A LOUD POP, AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, TAKING THE COIL WITH IT. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT THREAD DEPTH IN THE HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

FORD 5.4 LITERS HAVE THE SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD VERY OFTEN 4 HAVE HAPPEN TO MY 2001 FORD F150 WITH THE 5.4 THEY WANT YOU TO USE A THREAD INSERT TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE BUT EVEN THEN IT STILL HAPPENS NOT TO MENTION PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO BOOT IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORS THEY ALSO BREAK THE COIL PACKS ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EATING DINNER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED, AND SHE HAS A COPY OF THE REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,300.

Mileage: 147,300

DRIVING HOME IN MY 2001 F150 SUPERCREW AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE A/C FAN, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. I PULLED OVER AND LOOK UNDER THE BOX AND NOTICED THE CONNECTOR TO THE FAN SPEED PACK WAS BURNING. I BLEW IT OUT BEFORE IT DID ANY FURTHER DAMAGE, THEN UNPLUGGED IT. NO ISSUES SINCE THEN. *TR

Mileage: 216,253

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 XLT 4.6L WITH 151,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 64 AND HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS VIOLENTLY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RAISED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT. OF COURSE, I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ANYWHERE SO MY 10 YEAR OLD SON AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I REALIZE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. FORD SEEMS TO BLAME INCORRECT TORQUING OF THE SPARK PLUGS, BUT MOST PEOPLE BLAME A POOR DESIGN IN THE SMALL QUANTITY OF THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG. I CAN SAY THAT NO ONE HAS TOUCHED THE PLUGS IN THIS TRUCK EXCEPT FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN THE PLUGS WERE CHANGED AT 75,000 MILES. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AN ENORMOUS REPAIR BILL OF OVER $2000 FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW HEAD AND COIL PACK (NOT TO MENTION A TOW BILL AND THE STRESS OF BEING STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOT OWNING A FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE). IF THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE, THEN FORD NEEDS TO AT LEAST MAKE THE REPAIRS AFFORDABLE. *TR

Mileage: 151,000

MY 4.6L ENGINE ON MY 2001 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS. I HAVE CHANGED PLUGS ON MANY MOTORS BEFORE SO IT IS NOT NEW TO ME. I READ THE SERVICE MANUAL AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL BY READING INFORMATION OFF THE NET. I WAS VERY CAREFUL AND DID EVERYTHING THE SERVICE MANUAL AND NET INFO TOLD ME TO DO. EVEN SO, THE VERY FIRST PLUG I REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK BROKE. THE PORCELAIN AND HEX NUT CAME OUT IN ONE PIECE BUT THE BOTTOM THREADS AND GROUND ELECTRODE REMAINED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I WENT BACK TO THE NET TO SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE SPARK PLUGS ON THESE MODELS WILL BREAK APART WHEN REMOVING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF A RECALL. THIS WILL BE A COSTLY REPAIR THAT I CANNOT DO MYSELF AND I DON'T BELIEVE FORD CAN JUSTIFY THIS MANY PLUGS BREAKING. *TR

Mileage: 24,000

I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 PICKUP. I'VE HAD TO CHANGE A COIL (ABOVE SPARK PLUG) ON THIS TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST 5 FAILURES) SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK. WHEN A COIL GOES OUT THE TRUCK MISSES A LOT AND AT TIMES WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THE TRUCK WILL DIE, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP BECAUSE THE POWER STEARING GOES OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 1

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE. 2 YEARS AFTER DEALER INSTALLED. *TR

Mileage: 135,000

I HAVE A FORD F-150 2001 WITH TRITON 5.4 V8 I STARTED MY TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A VERY BAD EXHAUST LEAK. COME TO FIND OUT THE BACK SPARKPLUG ON PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW COIL NEW PLUG AND HELICOIL INSTALLED. *TR

Mileage: 122,000

2001 FORD F150 SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT HAS LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND OUT OF MONEY NOW. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL FORD V8'S AND V10'S FROM 1999 TO 2002. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO LACK OF THREADS IN THE ALUMINUM HEADS (ONLY FOUR THEADS), AND HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL FIRES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. APPARENTLY ALL ATTEMPTS AT A RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAVE BEEN MET WITH RELATIVE DISREGARD. DESPITE THE FACT THAT FORD REDESIGNED THEIR HEADS AFTER 2002 TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THEY STILL REFUSE ANY ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS WHO SUFFER DUE TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW. APPARENTLY SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE FROM THE ENGINE FIRE BEFORE ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. AND EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL DIE, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. PERHAPS A DEATH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM MIGHT FORCE LEGAL ACTION. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT OVER $3000 WORTH OF REPAIR COST, THE VEHICLE CANNOT CURRENTLY BE DRIVEN DUE TO RISK OF FIRE. PLEASE REFER TO CONSUMERCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR A LIST OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF FORD'S DESIGN FLAW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE FOR THREE DAYS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ATTACHED TO A BOAT, WHICH WAS ALSO DAMAGED IN THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

I HAVE 2001 FORD F150. TRITON V8 ENGINE. DRIVING UNDER VERY LIGHT LOAD, GOING 35 MPH THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE THREADS. *TR

Mileage: 190,000

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.6L TRITON. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 27TH, IM AT A RED LIGHT. AS SOON AS IT TURNS GREEN I PUSH THE PEDAL TO GO. OUT COMES THE SPARK PLUG FROM THE BLOCK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OVER THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS, BUT ITS A SILLY PROBLEM TO HAVE. I HAVE HAD 5 ESTIMATES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER $2000. THERE'S NO WAY I CAN AFFORD THIS, I AM LOOKING FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO JOIN. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AND WHEN I GET THIS FIXED I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 149,057

WHILE ON A TRIP AND 400 MILES FROM HOME , THE VEHICLE STARTED MISSING SEVERELY. WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO OUR DESTINATION SOME 180 MILES FURTHER. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS MALFUNCTIONING BADLY. WE GOT A DEALER TO REPAIR IT. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING WATER/ANTIFREEZE TO CREATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH OTHER NECESSARY PARTS. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE F-150. *TR

Mileage: 118,146

ONE MORNING UPON STARTING MY 2001 FORD F-150, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND KNOCKING COMING FROM MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, SHOT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD AND BROKE THE #3 CYLINDER IGNITION COIL, STRIPPING THE THREADING ON THE CYLINDER HEAD. IGNITION COIL, SPARK PLUG, AND STEEL INSERT THREADING WERE REPLACED. MILEAGE = 124515 5.4 V8 THIS IS APPEARS TO BE A WELL-KNOWN PROBLEM: HTTP://ABCLOCAL.GO.COM/KGO/STORY?SECTION=NEWS/7_ON_YOUR_SIDE&ID=4757786 HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS04/2007/03/FORD_SPARK_PLUG_FIRE.HTML HTTP://EZINEARTICLES.COM/?FORD-SPARK-PLUG-PROBLEMS---SPARK-PLUGS-BROKEN-AND-BLOWING-OUT&ID=1107803. *TR

Mileage: 124,515

FIRE F 150. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED OUTSIDE THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF WORK. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT STATE WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THE FIRE BURNED THE MOTOR, CREATED A HOLE THROUGH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE, AND SCORCHED THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. THE WINDSHIELD GLASS BURST INTO PIECES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FORD DEALER FILED A CASE AND FOLLOWED-UP WITH THE CONTACT WITHIN 15 BUSINESS DAYS AND INFORMED HIM THAT SOMEONE WOULD DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 197,000. UPDATED 04/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/20/09.*JB

Mileage: 197,000

2001 FORD F-150 BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG FOR THE 2ND TIME. CAUSED THE TRUCK TO GO OFF THE ROAD SINCE IT IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER WHILE GOING 65MPH. THIS IS THE 2ND ONE THAT HAS BLOWN AND WILL LIKELY COST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX. THERE IS A FORUM ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THEIR FORD VEHICLE. THE WEBSITE LINK IS HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CHECK IT OUT. *TR

DRIVING 35 TO 40 MILES AN HOUR. HEARD A LOUD POP UNDER THE HOOD PULLED OVER AND FOUND A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE. NOT FIXED YET. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

I OWN A 2001 FORD F 150 W/ THE 5.4 TRITON ENGINE, WHILE I WAS BACKING THE TRUCK OUT OF A RESTAURANT, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD POP. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A FORD DEALERSHIP...THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE BLEW THE # 3 SPARK PLUG OUT. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MOTOR BECAUSE OF BAD DESIGNED HEADS. THEY ADVISED ME THAT I WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITH A NEW ENGINE AT THE COST OF $4800.00. I PULLED UP A SITE ON THE INTERNET THAT STATES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. I FEEL LIKE FORD SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 144,560

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE EXTREMELY ROUGH. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND PASSENGER SIDE BOLTS IN THE ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVE RUST. IN ADDITION, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $600. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 71,000.

Mileage: 71,000

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 5 WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY RAPID POPPING FROM THE ENGINE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FLAT AND PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED EVEN THOUGH I WAS STOPPED. I OPENED THE HOOD AND AT FIRST (BASED ON THE SOUND) THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A BLOWN SPARK PLUG WHICH HAD STRIPPED THE PLUG'S THREADS. THE DEALER INSERTED A HELI-COIL AND AFTER A TOW, AN OVERNIGHT STAY AT A NEARBY MOTEL, 5 HOURS OF WAITING THE NEXT DAY AND $415 IN REPAIRS I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SINCE DONE SOME INTERNET SEARCHING AND HAVE COME TO FIND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE TRITON ENGINE AND HAS BEEN SO FOR SEVERAL YEARS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT MATERIAL AND THREADS. *TR

Mileage: 127,455

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150 LD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. SHE STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE MOTOR AND BRAKE FLUID. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 157,889.

Mileage: 157,889

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. PLASTIC PART CRACKED. I JUST HAD REPAIR MADE AND WAS TOLD FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TYPE OF MANIFOLD. MY TRUCK IS A 2001 F150 WITH 90,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

ON 10/5/08, DRIVING NEAR HOME, SLOW SPEED, HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, LOST POWER. DETERMINED THAT THE 4TH SPARK PLUG ON DRIVERS SIDE HAD UNTHREADED FROM ENGINE, DAMAGING COIL. ON ATTEMPT TO REPLACE WITH NEW SPARK PLUG, LEARNED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD THREADS WERE DAMAGED (STRIPPED). 76,000 MILES, SPARK PLUG HAD NEVER BEEN REMOVED, WAS ORIGINAL FROM FORD FACTORY. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

MY 2001 FORD F-150 BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE 7 HEAD ON 09/30/2008. THE TRUCK HAS 150K ON IT. I BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2001 AND HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT. I WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK IN THE AM AND THE TRUCK JUST ROARED WHEN I STARTED IT, I FOUND THE SPARK PLUG ON THE DRIVEWAY THE THREADS ON THE PLUG WERE COMPLETELY IN TACT. TOOK IT FORD SERVICE AND IT WILL COST ME $2500.00 TO FIX WITH NO GUARANTEE. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A REALLY COMMON COMPLAINT FROM OWNERS OF V8 TRITON ENGINES. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW IS AN ASI FRONT END MECHANIC FOR FORD AND HE SAYS HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF THIS PROBLEM. IF HE DIDN'T LIVE IN DENVER I WOULD HAVE HIM FIX IT. MY FAMILY HAS ALWAYS DRIVEN FORD PRODUCTS. MY FATHER WAS AN ENGINEER FOR FORD IN DETROIT. BUT, I FEEL THAT BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THIS PROBLEM THAT MAYBE IT IS TIME TO SWITCH LOYALTIES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP DISPLAYS A SO- WHAT ATTITUDE. I REQUESTED A FACTORY REP TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK AND THEY SAID EITHER FIX IT NOW, OR MOVE THE TRUCK OFF THEIR PREMISES. THE CONSUMER HAS NO RIGHTS ANYMORE. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

EXPERIENCED SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT DURING REGULAR DRIVING, OCCURRED ONCE IN ONE CYLINDER OF A 2001 FORD F150 5.4 TRITON DUAL FUEL FACTORY PROPANE. USED A HELICOIL KIT AND REPAIRED THE DAMAGE AND OTHER CYLINDERS TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. *TR

Mileage: 97,673

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. AFTER DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE IN HER DRIVEWAY. MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE NEIGHBOR'S VEHICLE AND THE LANDLORD'S FENCE. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED A RECALL RELATING TO THE FIRE. THE DETECTIVE AT THE SCENE BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Mileage: 108,000

MY 2001 FORD F150 BLEW A SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD ON 8-17-08. VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 90,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS A COMMON AND REPEATING FAILURE OF THE 5.4L V-8 ENGINE AND FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A PROBLEM. I OPTED FOR THE HELICOIL REPLACEMENT OPTION ($640) OVER A COMPLETE NEW HEAD ($3000). FORD WILL NOT PAY FOR ANY OF THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THEIR DESIGN FLAW. LATER MODELS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IF IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THEN WHY WAS IT CORRECTED? *TR

Mileage: 90,000

2001 FORD F150 WITH V8 4.6 LITER ENGINE BLOWS SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE HEAD. HAD 2 DO THIS IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. HAD TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE ENGINE WILL NOT RUN, CALL TOW TRUCK AND DELIVER TO REPAIR SHOP. THEY REDRILLED THE HOLE AND INSTALLED AN INSERT BOTH TIMES. ALOT OF FORD ENGINES OF THIS TYPE DO THIS AS I NOW KNOW. AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS TRUCK AND ALOT OF MONEY OUT OF MY POCKET!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 140,000

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON 2001 FORD F150 4.2 V6. PURCHASED THE TRUCK NEW IN 2001 AND RECENTLY REPLACED THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF THE PLUG BLOW OUT. NOW THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE IS RUNNING BAD AND I THINK IT IS GETTING READY TO HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 190,590

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. HE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, BUSTED THE COIL, AND CAUSED FUEL TO SPILL FROM THE HEAD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 107,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/09 *JB

Mileage: 107,000

IN JANUARY I HAD DRIVEN MY F150 TO THE STORE, WHEN I RETURNED TO IT IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED IT I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS SOUND WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BACKFIRING SOUND UPON ADDING A FEW RPM'S TO THE ENGINE. I SHUT IT OFF TO INSPECT AND DISCOVERED THE FAR REAR SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN SHOT CLEAR OUT OF THE HEAD AND WAS LYING LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SPARK PLUG AND THE HEAD EACH HAD ENOUGH THREADS LEFT FOR THE PLUG TO RESET. THE COIL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AGO (5/18/08) I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN HEARD THE SAME POP AND THE SAME BACKFIRE SOUND. UPON INSPECTION THIS TIME I FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE PLUG HAD NOT COME OUT OF THE HEAD THIS TIME IT WAS CLEARLY LOOSE. THERE ARE NO LONGER USABLE THREADS ON EITHER THE HEAD OR THE PLUG AND I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $2500 (DISCOUNTED RATE) TO REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 78000 MILES ON IT AND THAT I OWE $16000 AND CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN NOW. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD TRITAN V8 ENGINE AND THAT FORD HAS NOT CHOSEN TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

I HAVE A 2001 F-150 TRITON 5.4 LITER FORD WITH 85,000 MILES ON IT -- IT BLEW OUT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG STRIPPING THE THREADS AND BREAKING THE COIL PACK. I HEARD A TICKING SOUND FOR A FEW WEEKS PRIOR AND HAD IT CHECKED AT A SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT IT WASN'T A BAD PROBLEM -- 3 DAYS LATER IT BLEW OUT THE PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR ONE HOUR, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS DESTROYED. TWO VEHICLES NEXT TO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.

Mileage: 157,000

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F 150 W/A TRITON V8 ENGINE. IT BLEW A PLUG OUT AND FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM AND WON'T FIX THE ISSUE. I AM HAVE TO PAY $1,000.00 TO REPAIR AN ENGINE THAT IS DEFECTIVE RIGHT OFF THE FACTORY FLOOR. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SOME HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. WILL PEOPLE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE FORD IS REQUIRED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? *TR

Mileage: 100,600

DURING NORMAL DRIVING THE SPARK PLUG IN CYLINDER #3 BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER. THIS DISABLES THE VEHICLE. SPARK PLUG EJECTION IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE FUEL VAPOR STARTS COMING OUT THE SPARK PLUG HOLE, WHICH IS CLEARLY A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FUEL VAPOR CAN BE IGNITED BY THE EJECTED SPARK PLUG. THE SPARK PLUG WAS THE ORIGINAL INSTALLED IN THE ENGINE FROM THE FACTORY. THE BLOW OUT DAMAGES THE SPARK PLUG HOLE THREADS AND IT ALSO DAMAGED THE COIL PACK. REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND REQUIRES A TECHNICIAN TO TAP A NEW HOLE AND PLACE A THREADED INSERT IN IT. THE PROBLEM IS THESE TYPE OF REPAIRS ARE NOT USUALLY RELIABLE. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

BLOWN SPARK PLUG ON 5.4L, NUMBER 3. THREADS WERE COMPLETELY REMOVED. COIL WAS DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 129,000

WHILE LEAVING A STOP SIGN UNDER NORMAL ACCELERATION MY 2001 F 150 WITH 113,000. MILES BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE / THIRD CYLINDER BACK . IT BROKE THE COIL AND THE PLUG WAS JUST LAYING ON THE HEAD . THE SPARKPLUG THREADS WERE NOT DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 113,000

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY 2001 FORD F150 WITH ONLY 84,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

MY 2001 F-150 HAD #4 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. ACTUALLY MELTED THE METAL PORTION OF THE SPARK PLUG. I HAVE 56,000 MILES ON MY TRUCK. SALES MAN TOLD ME THE TRUCK DID NOT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF TUNE UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES. I GUESS HE WAS WRONG. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 LARIAT SUPERCREW WITH THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE. MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON VACATION WHEN THE 3RD SPARKPLUG BACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE AND LEFT US STRANDED. IT DESTROYED THE COIL IN THE PROCESS AND NICKED THE FUEL RAIL. WE HAD TO HAVE A FORTY MILE TOW TO A MECHANIC WHO COULD PUT IN A HELICOIL TO HOLD THE NEW SPARKPLUG AND ALSO PUT IN A NEW COIL. THIS COST US $600 INCLUDING THE TOW. THIS WAS THE 2ND FORD WITH A 5.4 LITER ENGINE IN A WEEK THAT THIS MECHANIC FIXED WITH A BLOWN SPARKPLUG. THE NEAREST FORD DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HEAD AT MY EXPENSE FOR $3,300 NOT INCLUDING A TOW. THIS TOOK PLACE IN KALISPELL MONTANA. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO CHECK AND RETIGHTEN AT LEAST ONE OF MY SPARK PLUGS EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE TRUCK HAD APPROXIMATELY 127,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I BLEW MY SPARKPLUG. *TR

Mileage: 127,000

#3 SPARK PLUG DRIVERS SIDE BLOWN OUT , DAMAGED COIL AND POSSIBLY FUEL RAIL. 5.4 TRITON ENGINE IS IN A 2001 F-150 4X4 WITH 126,000 MILES, NOT VERY SAFE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A SPARK RIGHT NEXT TO THE FUEL RAIL. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

'99 - '08 FORD 5.4L V8'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH 100,000 MILE SPARK PLUGS FROM THE FACTORY. THEY ARE FAILING IN LARGE NUMBERS AT WELL UNDER 50,000 MILES. MOST TIMES PULLING THE THREADS OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEADS OF THE MOTOR. OTHER TIMES THE SPARK PLUGS BREAK LEAVING PART OF IT IN THE BLOCK. MY PROBLEM WAS THE #7 PLUG BREAKING IN HALF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. WHEN I TOOK MY '01 F-150 SUPER CREW TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T REPLACE THE REST OF THE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THEY WOULD PROBABLY STRIP THE THREADS OUT OF THE HEADS WHEN THEY REMOVED THEM. *TR

Mileage: 47,200

HAD MINOR TICKING NOISE - WAS TOLD THIS IS TYPICAL IN THIS FORD ENGINE. 16 MONTHS AGO I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS, TICKING WAS STILL THERE, AND JUST LAST WEEK ONE OF THE PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. THIS COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS HAVING A PLUG SPARKING WITH FUEL VAPORS ESCAPING FROM THE HOLE WHERE THE PLUG USED TO BE. AFTER TALKING TO A NUMBER OF F150 OWNERS - FOUND THIS IS A RATHER COMMON PROBLEM. WHY NO RECALL? DEALER INSTALLED SPACER INSERT RATHER THAN HELICOIL. RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR, AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, WILL NEED NEW HEAD. *CN

Mileage: 70,990

FORD 2001 F150 CREW4X4 REPLACED SPARK PLUGS AFTER #4 COIL PACK WENT BAD THEN NUMBER2 COIL PACK WENT BAD AFTER ONLY 65,000 MILES. THEN AT 142,000MILES #6COIL PACK AND SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR. *TR

Mileage: 14,200

DROVE MY FORD F150 TO WORK, PARKED IT AND 30 - 40 MINUTES LATER THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. I ENTERED THE TRUCK 30 MINUTES AFTER I PARKED TO REMOVE MY CHECK BOOK, BUT I DID NOT SEE OR SMELL ANYTHING THAT RESULTED IN THE FIRE. THE TRUCK WAS NOT INSURED, BUT APPEARS TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

Mileage: 139,000

SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *TR

Mileage: 93,549

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF CYLENFAR HEAD (#3) 2001 FORD F-150 5.4 TRITON. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

WAS CRUISING IN MY FORD LIGHTNING, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING OFF THE HEADERS. PULLED OVER AND HAD TO CATCH A TOW TRUCK, TO THE SHOP. THEY TOLD ME MY SPARK PLUG HAD SHOT OUT OF THE HEAD. $1,100 BUCKS LATER IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW AND HAVING THE ENTIRE MOTOR PULLED COST NOT KNOWN BUT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 GRAND... *TR

Mileage: 71,000

WAS CRUISING IN MY FORD LIGHTNING, WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING OFF THE HEADERS. PULLED OVER AND HAD TO CATCH A TOW TRUCK, TO THE SHOP. THEY TOLD ME MY SPARK PLUG HAD SHOT OUT OF THE HEAD. $1,100 BUCKS LATER IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP NOW AND HAVING THE ENTIRE MOTOR PULLED COST NOT KNOWN BUT APPROXIMATELY 5-10 GRAND... *TR

Mileage: 71,000

TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. MUST BE REPLACED AFTER 137,000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN RUN LOW ON OIL NOR FAILED TO CHANGE AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS. NEVER BEEN OVERHEATED. WELL MAINTAINED AND NO GOOD REASON FOR THIS. FORD F150XLT 2001 4.2L ENGINE. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE NOW TOLD ME THIS IS COMMON FOR THIS ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 137,368

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. *TR

Mileage: 15

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. ON JULY 27, 2007, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE FIRE BEGAN IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER OF ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE WAS SCORCHED DUE TO THE FIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. SHE WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. AS OF AUGUST 3, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND A LETTER TO THE CONTACT WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 119,000. UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

Mileage: 11,900

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD SVT LIGHTNING, WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. NO SIGN OF A PROBLEM WHATSOEVER. WHILE PASSING A BIG TRUCK, POP........AND THEN I LOST POWER AND ALMOST DIDN'T COMPLETE THE PASS IN TIME. ONCE I PULLED OVER, I FOUND THAT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, AND TOOK OUT A COIL ON IT'S WAY. THE FORD DEALER WANTS BIG MONEY FOR THE REPAIR (NEW HEADS), AND I CAN'T AFFORD IT RIGHT NOW. I'VE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND FORD WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL, SO NOTHING WAS DONE BY ME TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS FAILURE. NOW MY TRUCK IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND IT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. HOPE MY OTHER FORDS DON'T SPIT OUT A PLUG. *TR

Mileage: 30,000

ON TUESDAY MORNING, 05/29/2007 AT 1:30AM, I WAS AWAKENED BY A LOUD BOOM AND A BRIGHT FLASH FROM OUTSIDE OF MY BEDROOM WINDOW. WHEN I JUMPED UP TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I SAW MY TRUCK ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I GRABBED MY CELL PHONE FROM BESIDE MY BED AND DIALED 911 AS I RAN TO THE FRONT PORCH. BY THE TIME I REACHED THE FRONT PORCH THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED, THE HOOD WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND THE FRONT TIRES WERE ON FIRE. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, THE TRUCK WAS ON FIRE FROM THE FRONT BUMPER TO THE REAR BUMPER. THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK WAS COMPLETELY IN FLAMES AND ALL OF THE WINDOW GLASS HAD EITHER MELTED OR BEEN BLOWN AWAY FROM THE TRUCK BODY. IT WAS DETERMINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THAT THE FIRE BEGAN INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *TR

Mileage: 83,833

01 F150 SUPERCREW 5.4L WITH LESS THAN 41,000 MILES. RIGHT REAR SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF HEAD ALSO BREAKING COIL MOUNTING BRACKET. DEALER REMOVED ENGINE TO ATTEMPT REPAIR AND FOUND SPARK PLUG HOLE WOULD NOT ACCEPT HELI-COIL. IN PROCESS AT THIS TIME TRYING TO LOCATE A NEW HEAD. THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND WITH LESS THAN 41,000 MILES, HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE! I HAVE BEEN A FORD DRIVER MOST OF MY LIFE. BUT I WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING ANOTHER FORD. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 41,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. INITIALLY, THE CONTACT THOUGHT A TIRE WAS BLOWN AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE IN NORMAL CONDITION, BUT THE SCENT OF GAS WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC, WHO DISCONNECTED THE FUEL INJECTOR TO THE NUMBER SEVEN CYLINDERS, SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN HOME. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP CLOSER TO HOME, AND WAS CHARGED $1,863 FOR REMOVING BOTH HEADS, AND HAD THE MACHINE FLAT AT THE NUMBER SEVEN CYLINDER. THE FORD MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,750, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,075. *AK THE CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRITON ENGINE AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. UPDATE 5/3/07*TR

Mileage: 90,075

A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY FORD F-150. DID NOT KNOW UNTIL RECENTLY THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS A LOT IN FORD TRUCK MOTORS. ENGINE DOES NOT REALLY RUN NOW BECAUSE IT WOULD PROBABLY CATCH ON FIRE FROM EXHAUST FLAMES. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED, BUT AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, I AM LED TO BELIEVE I WILL BE PAYING ROUGHLY $5,000 TO GET THE PROBLEM FIXED. *JB

Mileage: 62,000

FORD - SPARK PLUG DEFECT. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERST A SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF ITS SOCKET AND BROKE THE SPARK PLUG COIL. I WAS IN TH MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC AN WS VERY SCARED BECAUSE I COULD NOT INITIALLY PULL OVER DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS ON THE HIGWAY.I WAS BOXED IN. AFTER I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I OPENED THE HOOD AN FOUND A SPARK PLUG STUCK TO A PIECE OF PLASTIC MELTED TO IT DUE TO THE HEA). I ALSO OUNDTHE SPARK PLUG COIL, WITH THE SPRING HANGING OUT OF THE RUBBER INSULATOR, SPAKING AGAINST ANOTHER PIEC OF PLASTIC.*AK I FEEL THE IS AN EXTREME DANGER BECAUSE: 1. I COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. 2. THE SPARK PLUG COIL COULD HAVE SHOCKED MEOR EVEN STARTED SOMETHING ON FIRE. AFTER RESEARCHINGTHE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I SEE THAT MORE AND MORE INCIDENTS EXACTLY LIKE E ARE HAPPENING EVERY DAY. FORD REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEMEVEN THOUGH THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2004 AND THEPROBEM DOESN'T EXIT WITH SPARK PLUGS ANYMORE. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. DOES OMEONE HAVE TO DIE?

Mileage: 68,200

MY 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK HAD A SPARK PLUG EJECT FROM THE CYLINDER AND HIT THE FUEL RAIL WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY ON 9-1-06 (70,000 MILES ON ODOMETER). I HAD THE TRUCK HAULED TO NEAREST SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY FIXED THE CYLINDER WITH A REPAIR KIT MADE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON 2-26-07 AT 79 THOUSAND MILES ANOTHER PLUG EJECTED WITH THE SAME CONSEQUENCE. NOW THE ENTIRE HEAD HAS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3600 TO ME. *JB

Mileage: 79,000

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD POPPING SOUND SIMILAR TO A TRUCK BACK FIRING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SPARK PLUG AND COILS WERECAUSING THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED ON 2 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. THE RECENT FAILURE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR BY CHANGING THE SPARK PLUGS, THE DAMAGEWAS MORE ADVANCED AND COSTLY. MOST FORD TRUCKS EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE AT 8 YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 93000.*AK

Mileage: 93,000

HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML PLEASE CHECK OUT THIS LINK , IT IS IN REGARD TO A SIMILAR PROBLEM I AM HAVING PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!! *NM

Mileage: 120,000

WHILE TRAVELING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY NEAR MY HOME MY 2001 F150 BLEW A SPARK PLUG FROM THE MOTOR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE FIRST AT 37K MILES AND THE SECOND AT 48K. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND IN THE PASSING LANE AT THE TIME. THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURENCE WITH THIS FORD MOTOR FROM WHAT I CAN SEE ON THE INTERNET. WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FIRST?

Mileage: 48,000

I WAS DRIVING IN MY 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK ON I-5 AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE V8 TRITON MOTOR AND THERE WAS A COUPLE OF FIRE BALLS THAT CAME OUT OF THE MOTOR AREA WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS THE GAS VAPOR CATCHING FIRE AFTER THE PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE MOTOR LUCKY THAT I WAS ABLE TO STOP RIGHT AWAY AND HAD WATER TO PUT IT OUT. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE AND NOW I FIND OUT FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO FORD AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEAD PIECE THAT THE SPARK PLUG GOES INTO BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT JUST PUT ANOTHER PLUG INTO THE MOTOR, THEY KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOT COVERING IT UNDER THE WARRANTIES. ONE OF THESE TRUCKS ARE GOING TO CATCH FIRE AND REALLY HURT SOMEONE. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE VEHICLE WAS TRAVERSING STREET. *NM

Mileage: 119,250

FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER TUNING UP MY FORD F-150 WITH THE 4.8 V-8, MY TRUCK STARTED BLOWING SPARK PLUGS OUT OF THE MOTOR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE. I DID MY OWN RESEARCH AND FOUND INSTANCES OF PEOPLE RUNNING OFF THE ROAD AFTER THEIR PLUG SHOT THROUGH THEIR HOOD AND SCARED THEM. *JB

Mileage: 98,000

SPARK PLUGS BLOW OFF THE ALUMINUM HEADS. *NM

Mileage: 140,000

SPARK PLUG BLOWINGOUT OF CYLINDER HEAD ON A 2001 FORD ENGINE 5.4 V. 8. *NM

Mileage: 127,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THROUGH A LIGHT, AND MAKING A LEFT TURN UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT HEARD A POP COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER PULLING OVER TO INSPECT UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THIRD SPARK PLUG HAD POPPED OUT OF PLACE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER VIA REFERENCE FROM THE WARRANTY COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY BEING EVALUATED BY THE DEALER, AWAITING THE RESULTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DENIED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL LIST AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED CONSUMER COMPLAINTS VIA WEBSITE SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS THE VEHICLE HAD. ONE SIMILAR COMPLAINT WAS ODI #10033248.

Mileage: 499

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED ON VARIOUS ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PROVIDED AN INCORRECT DIGITAL DISPLAY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED.

Mileage: 144,000

BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG ON PASSENGER SIDE OF 2001 F 150 WITH 102K MILES. *JB

Mileage: 102,000

1 - WAS DRIVING FROM TUCSON, AZ TO MY UNCLE'S FUNERAL IN RIVERSIDE, CA. OUTSIDE EL CENTRO, CA PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD ON MY 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW 4X4. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT ANOTHER PLUG IN BUT THE THREADS WERE GONE FROM THE HEAD SO I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOOK TWO DAYS TO REPAIR SO COST ME A DAY OF WORK AND MY KIDS AN EXTRA DAY OF SCHOOL. THE DID A HELICOIL REPAIR AT A COST OF $498. *JB

Mileage: 112,000

SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT...COST OF REPAIR $4000

Mileage: 74,000

NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, STRIPPING THE THREADS IN THE HEAD AND BREAKING THE IGNITION COIL. FUEL COULD HAVE BEEN IGNITED FROM THE DANGLING SPARK PLUG WIRE AFTER THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. *NM

Mileage: 103,000

FORD SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

MY F-150 FORD PICKUP TRUCK ENGINE MADE A LOUD POP AND A SERIES OF POP NOISES AFTER THAT IN TANEYTOWN, MD ON 4/28/06. PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. OPENED HOOD AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING, BUT SMELLED GAS. STARTED ENGINE AND SAW A COIL AND WIRE FLAPPING UP AND DOWN. PURCHASED NEW COIL ON 4/29, AND ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE. FOUND SPARK PLUG FROM CYLINDER ON THE LAYING ON THE TOP OF ENGINE BLOCK. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE HOME, BUT 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, EXPERIENCED SAME CONDITION. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO CROUSE FORD IN TANEYTOWN, MD. INTERNET SEARCHES SHOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED PRIVATE AUTO REPAIR CENTER TO CORRECT. THIS HAS COST ME OVER $6,900 THUS FAR. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THERE ARE COUNTLESS CASES OF THIS CONDITION IN THE TRITON ENGINES (FROM MY RESEARCH) FROM 1999-2002. I BELIEVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO ME, ITS CUSTOMERS, AND THE OTHER POTENTIAL FAILURES FROM THEIR POOR ENGINE DESIGN. THE HEAD IS MANUFACTURED FROM ALUMINUM, AND THE SPARK PLUGS ONLY HAVE 4 THREADS WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH TO HOLD UNDER COMBUSTION PRESSURE. DENIAL OF THIS CONDITION, IN MY OPTION IS CONSUMER FRAUD. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT OF TOTAL COST OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND ALL ASSOCIATED REPAIR COSTS ENCOUNTERED FROM THIS NEGLIGENCE. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN PROVIDE. *JB

Mileage: 87,777

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 F150 TRUCK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE GARAGE THAT DOES MY AUTO WORK. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE EGR PRESSURE SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE SENSOR AT A COST OF $190.00. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED AND THEY SENT LETTERS TO THE OWNERS TO BRING THEIR TRUCKS IN TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED. SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE TRUCK I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LETTER AND SINCE I HAD 119,852 MILES ON THE TRUCK FORD WOULD NOT FIX IT." FORD KNEW OF THE DEFECT, WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE SENSOR REPLACED".*JB

Mileage: 119,852

SPARK PLUG EJECTED OUT OF MY ENGINE WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MILES PER HOUR IN MARYLAND. I MEAN IT ACTUALLY "BLEW OUT" OF THE HEAD. STRIPPED THE HEAD AND CRACKED THE COIL AS WELL AS THE SPARK PLUG. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW ON THE ALUMINUM HEAD AND THE REDUCED NUMBER OF THREADS ON THE SPARK PLUG. FORD DEALERS HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THE ONLY FIX IS TO INSTALL A NEW HEAD OF THE SAME NATURE. WHY WOULD I WANT TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE PART WITH ANOTHER POTENTIALLY FAULTY PART? THIS MAY CAUSE A SAFETY CONCERN IF I WAS DRIVING FASTER IN A LARGER VOLUME OF TRAFFIC. TWO FORD DEALERSHIPS HAVE ADVISED ME TODAY THAT IS NOT A DESIGN FLAW I BELIEVE THIS MAYBE A LARGER PROBLEM BASED ON MY RESEARCH AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS CLOSE TO CONSUMER FRAUD IN MY MIND. *NM

Mileage: 87,155

SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT. 2ND. TIME. *JB

Mileage: 80,000

WHILE DRIVING, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE TO THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DETERMINED IT WAS THE EGR PRESSURE SENSOR DEFECT. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT HE THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A RECALL ITEM ON THE FORD F150. I SEARCHED FOR RECALL NOTICES ON MY TRUCK AND CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE EGR, BUT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED AND FORD SENT OUT LETTERS TO HAVE CUSTOMERS COME IN A HAVE ITEM REPLACED BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. MY TRUCK WAS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE I NOW HAVE OVER 72, 000 MILES. FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE TSB AT NO COST AND THE REPAIRS WILL COST OVER $250. WHY IS THEIR A MILEAGE REQUIREMENT FOR A MECHANICAL DEFECT THAT FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED? *JB

I NOTICED A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE, SHORTLY AFTERWARDS IT BEGAN TO POP LOUDLY AFTER LEAVING AN INTERSECTION AND TRAVELING ABOUT 10-15 MPH. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS LATER INFORMED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT AND CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE ($4200-$5400!). *NM

Mileage: 86,350

MY 2001 FORD F150 RECENTLY EJECTED A SPARK PLUG. I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS TRUCK, HAVING IT IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. APPROX. 2 WEEKS AGO DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THE ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG COMPLETELY OUT. I RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE FROM A FORD TECH. OF APPROX. $2000. I HAVE PURCHASED A KIT TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF. THE COMPANY MADE THE KIT SPECIFICALLY FOR FORD TRITON ENGINE REPAIRS, WHICH SHOWS THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM. I ESTIMATE THE TOTAL COST OF MY REPAIR WILL BE OVER $1000. *NM

Mileage: 93,000

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 WITH A 4.2L V6 ENGINE AND AT 97,500 MILES IT STARTED TO LEAK ANTIFREEZE. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HE HAS SEEN IN MANY F150 TRUCKS WITH THE 4.2L V6. HE SAID THAT THE LOWER INTAKE GASKET AS WELL AS THE TIMING COVER GASKET HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 97,650

TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AFTER HEARING LOW END TICKING SOUND AND MIL LIGHT, TOLD IT WAS TENSIONER AND MANIFOLD SPACER. PICKED UP TRUCK 8 DAYS LATER AND STILL HAD PROBLEM, RETURNED AND TOLD BY HEAD MECH. THAT IT WAS A NORMAL SOUND. DROVE HOME AND IT WAS MISSING BADLY. RETURNED WAS TOLD HAD A BAD PLUG, TRUCK IS STILL TICKING AND LOUDLY. DEALER WASHED HANDS OF PROBLEM.*JB

Mileage: 44,000

DT: THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. UPON ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A SPARK PLUG WAS LYING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER LATER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONSULTED A FORD DEALER. THE MECHANIC USED A HEEL COIL TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS SUGGESTED BY THE FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY REPAIRED DUE TO A LACK OF TOOLS TO SET THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE VEHICLE. FORD DID NOT HAVE THESE SPECIAL TOOLS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. NO FURTHER REPAIRS COULD BE MADE BY THE MECHANIC AT THIS TIME. *AK (12/02/05)*SC

Mileage: 70,000

OUR FORD F150 HAS 46,000 MILES ON IT. ON FRIDAY THE 14TH MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND THE ENGINE DIED. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND COULD SEE THAT THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP WAS BROKEN AND FLOPPING AROUND. HE HAD A FRIEND TOW THE TRUCK TO THE FRIENDS RESIDENCE SO THAT THE TRUCK WOULDN'T BE LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY HUSBAND THEN CALLED A TOW COMPANY TO TOW THE TRUCK 18 MILES TO A NEARBY DEALERSHIP TO EXAMINE THE TRUCK. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE SPARK PLUG THREADS WERE STRIPPED AND THAT NEW HEADS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR OUR TRUCK. WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS REPAIR AND THAT OUR BILL WOULD BE APPROX $3,200.00. AFTER THE TOW BILL, PARTS, LABOR AND RENTAL CAR WE ARE NOW UP TO $3,500.00 IN EXPENSES. *JB

Mileage: 45,968

2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW 5.4 LITER TRITON V8 ENGINE. ON SEPT 16, 2005 MY TRUCK EXPERIENCED A #7 SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT. THE HEAD WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE OTHER HEAD EXPERIENCED A SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT. IT SEEMS THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH THREADS TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE ENGINE DURING NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE ENGINE ONLY HAS 71,000 MILES ON IT. AT 60,000 MILES, THE FORD SERVICE CENTER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *NM

Mileage: 71,743

DT: 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED, ON OCTOBER 16, 2005 THE SPARK PLUG FLEW OUT OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AT THAT TIME. IT WAS PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. THE MECHANIC DID NOT KNOW WHY THIS OCCURRED. ACCORDING TO FORD, THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AT THIS TIME. THE HEAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT.*AK

Mileage: 86,734

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 FORD F-150. THERE IS A CLATTERING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REASON FOR REPLACEMENT WAS THAT THERE WAS A ROD KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK UPDATED 11/16/05. *JB

Mileage: 20,000

DT: THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. ON 9-2-05 WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND LOST POWER, PULLED OVER AND FOUND THAT A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HEAD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST WOULD BE OVER $3000. THE CONSUMER HAD IT REPAIRED AT A COST OF $33000. THE CONSUMER TALKED TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK (11/17/05) *SC

Mileage: 72,490

I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO START THE TRUCK IT MADE A HUGE POPPING SOUND UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE HOLE AFTER CONTACTING MY FORD DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 5.4 AND V-10 MOTORS THE PROBLEM WAS THE SPARK PLUG COULD ONLY BE INSTALLED USING THREE THREADS AND THAT THEY HAVE CORRECTED THAT PROBLEM AND NOW WHEN I FIX THE TRUCK THE NEW HEADS YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GO DOWN 5 THREADS AT THE PRICE OF $1300.00 PER HEAD AND THE TOTAL COST OF $3200.00 PARTS & LABOR. *NM

Mileage: 90,000

THE #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN. MY SMALL TOWN MECHANIC SAID HE IS SEEING 4-5 OF THESE PER YEAR AND BLAMES A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRITON 5.4 HEAD. THE HEAD IS TOO THIN AND MADE FROM ALUMINUM SO THE THREADS STRIP OUT. THE TRUCK HAS 70,000 MILES AND THE PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL. FORD HAS CHANGED THE HEAD DESIGN BUT WON'T ADMIT TO THE FLAW. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS. *NM

Mileage: 70,000

DT: WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON 7-30-05. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP PUT THE SPARK PLUG BACK IN ITS PLACE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH. OTHER THAN THE ABOVE ENTIONED PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER HAD NO OTHER TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE. *AK

HAVE 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW 5.4 ENGINE WITH 51K MILES. ACCELERATED TO ENTER HIGHWAY AND HEARD LOUD "POP", THEN LOST ENGINE COMPRESSION AND HEARD LOUD UN-MUFFLED ENGINE NOISE EMINATING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAVING A FAIR KNOWLEDGE OF CARS, I THOUGHT I BLEW THE HEAD GASKET, BUT UPON INSPECTION BY A LOCAL DEALER (COSWAY FORD IN STAFFORD, NJ) WAS TOLD I BLEW A SPARK PLUG AND IT IS NOT A COVERED ITEM UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SERVICE TECH SEEMED TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WHEN I DESCRIBED IT, LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. AS I GATHERED, UPON RESEARCHING THE INTERNET, THIS IS MORE THAN COMMON, IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEARD. I AM 33 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN AROUND CARS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK NEW AND BABIED THE VEHICLE. IT SEEMS THIS PROBLEM IS LIMITED TO THOSE YEAR 5.4'S THAT USE THE FLAWED 4-THREAD CYLINDER HEAD, AS TO WHY IN 2003 FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN TO 8-THREADS. PLEASE HELP FORCE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FESS UP AND RECALL THESE VEHICLES. I UNDERSTAND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS REPAI WILL BE COSTING ME $501.80, PLUS THE RENTAL OF A CAR (WAS FAR FROM HOME ON VACATION).

Mileage: 51,000

I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 4.6 LTER AND AT APPROXIMATELY 105,000 MILES #3 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. FORD ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE PLUG AND AGAIN IT BLEW OUT. I FIXED IT WITH A HELICOIL MYSELF AS THE EXPENSE WAS $3000 FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO FIX. RECENTLY WITH 121,000 MILES IT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND WHEN THE DEALERSHIP WENT TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUGS THEY DROPPED SOMETHING INTO CYLINDER #7. THE MECHANIC STARTED THE ENGINE AND NOW HAVE AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE THAT THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX.

Mileage: 105,000

SPARK PLUG GETTING BLOWN FROM THE HEAD, DAMAGING THE HEAD IN A 5.4L FORD F-150. REPAIR WAS DONE BY MYSELF, USING A BIG-SERT REPAIR KIT FROM TIME-SERT. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. *JB

Mileage: 82,869

WELL AT FIRST MY 2001 F-150 SUPERSCRIPT AT 55000 MILES STARTED TO LAG, WHEN I WOULD PRESS THE GAS IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO PICK UP SPEED OR CHANGE GEARS. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK GOING ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN I HEAR A LOUD POP, I LET GO OF THE GAS PEDAL BECAUSE IT REALLY SCARED ME I HAD TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE ONCE I DID I TRIED PRESSING ON THE GAS AND IT WOULDN'T GO ANYWHERE SO I DECIDED TO PULL OVER AND HAVE TO TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, IT WAS THERE THAT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO COST ME 2500 HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX. NOW I HAVE TO WAIT TWO WEEKS UNTIL IT GETS REPAIRED. *JB

Mileage: 55,090

ON OR ABOUT 4/21/05 I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD F-150 TAKING MY SON AND NEPHEW TO SCHOOL. AS I MADE A RIGHT TURN AT THE SCHOOL MY ENGINE STALLED. I LOST ALL STERING CONTROL AND HAD JUST ENOUGH BRAKE POWER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. I PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND STARTED THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE AIR INTAKE CONTROL VALVE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER AT THE EXACT SAME SPOT AND TIME THE ENGINE AGAIN STALLED ON ME. AGAIN, I LOST ALL STERING AND HAD JUST ENOUGH BRAKES TO SLOW SO I COULD PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND START THE ENGINE. MY FORD DEALER IS TELLING ME THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM WITH IT AND STATED I COULD PICK THE TRUCK UP AND DRIVE IT IF I WANTED TO. NOT WANTING TO HAVE MYSELF OR MY FAMILY KILLED IN A CAR CRASH I TOLD THEM NO AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO FIX THE TRUCK. THEY AGREED TO TRY AND FIX THE TRUCK. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS NEXT ISSUE BUT IF YOU CAN I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. WHILE THEY TRY TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY TRUCK THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO KEEP MY TRUCK FOR 30 DAYS AND I WOULD HAVE TO RENT A CAR. AT $20 PER DAY FOR 30 DAYS THAT WOULD COST ME $600. I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS AS FORD REFUSES TO LEND ME A CAR. THANK YOU. ROBERT R. HERNANDEZ

Mileage: 53,000

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ENGINE MADE A PING NOISE. IT SOUNDED AS IF SOMETHING BROKE. OWNER CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE, AND OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD THAT BECAUSE IT WAS MADE OF ALUMINUM, AND IF THE SPARK PLUGS WERE TIGHTENED TOO MUCH, OR THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CROSS THREADED WHEN INSTALLED THEY WOULD BE EJECTED. *AK

Mileage: 48,200

2001 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR *NM

WHILE PARKED FOR 24 HOURS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS LOCATED. OWNER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. *AK

Mileage: 90,000

MY 2001 FORD SVT F-150 LIGHTNING BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING TO THIS HAPPENING. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVABLE AND I WAS FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED. FORD TOWING WAS UNABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE FOLLOWING DAY SO I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE TOW OUT OF MY POCKET. THE FIRST DEALERSHIP I WENT TO SAID THEY WOULDN'T FIX THE TRUCK UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP THAT IT WENT TO WAS ABLE TO COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THIS ENTIRE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHY I WAS ON VACATION. I AM A SOLDIER RETURNING FROM IRAQ AND I WAS FORCED TO SPEND A WEEK IN A HOTEL ROOM WHY THEY WAITED ON PARTS TO FIX MY VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED I WAS SENT ON MY WAY AND TWO HOURS LATER THE VEHICLE HAD MORE PROBLEMS. SEVERAL OTHER SMALL COMPONENTS WERE ALSO DAMAGED AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP AGAIN. THIS WAS ALSO COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS UNHEARD OF, BUT AS IT TURNS OUT IS VERY COMMON TO THE FORD TRITON V-8 ENGINES. I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T LEFT STRANDED IN AN UNSAFE AREA.

Mileage: 23,975

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE GARAGE AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE DRIVER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

THIS IS A 2001 FORD SVT LIGHTNING THAT HAS BEEN A VICTIM OF A BLOWN SPARK PLUG. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THESE TRITON MOTORS. IN THE NEW GROUPS, IT IS SPECULATED THAT THIS OCCURS FOR TWO REASONS. 1) A DESIGN ERROR IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN THE PRE-2003 5.4 MOD MOTOR HEADS, THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 4 THREADS. FORD HAS REALIZED THIS PROBLEM AND CORRECTED THE 2003-LATER HEADS WITH 8 THREADS TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUG IN. THIS PROBLEM EFFECTED ALL TRITON 5.4 MOTORS AND THE PROBLEM HAS SHOWN UP IN 5.4 LITER MOTORS IN OTHER NON-LIGHTNING TRUCKS AND EXPEDITIONS. 2) THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE FORD CUSTOMERS HAVE FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN VERY LOOSE IN THESE TRITON HEADS. THIS IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER THIS IS FROM A LACK OF THREADS OR BEING LOOSE FROM THE FACTORY. EITHER WAY, IN THIS DAY AND AGE IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, THE REQUIREMENT THAT A CUSTOMER HAS TO CHECK THE TORQUE ON SPARK PLUGS IS UNREALISTIC. OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER: MY LIGHTNING IS A 2001 MODEL WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT. OBVIOUSLY IT IS INFREQUENTLY USED. THERE IS A PERFORMANCE CHIP THAT DOES NOT ADD BOOST. IN ESSENCE, THIS TRUCK IS PAMPERED. THE HEAD FAILURE OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE GO THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC. APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. THERE IS NO DETONATION ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE THE POWER TRAIN HAD NO CHRONIC ISSUES SUCH HAS UNKNOWN SUPERCHARGER NOISES, ENGINE TICKS/KNOCKS, IGNITION, FUEL ISSUES OR SMOKY EXHAUST. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS DAMAGE AND FAILURE EVEN THOUGHT THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY IN F-150 FORD TRUCKS RUNNING THIS ENGINE. *NM

Mileage: 15,700

2001 FORD F150 CREW CAB. 4.6 V8 HAS A LEAKY HEAD GASKET. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE IS A SERVICE BULLITEN. ARTICAL NO.03-6-2 DATED 03/31/03. I FEEL IF THERE ARE MANY LIKE THIS WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL. *AK

Mileage: 65,000

THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HEARD THE HORN HONKING, WHEN THE OWNER WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAD GONE UP IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND THE FIRE CHIEF SAID THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND THAT IT WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT WHICH IGNITED THE FLAMES. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 45,000

CONSUMER POPPED THE SECOND SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING ROUGH. THERE WAS SOMETHING BETWEEN THE PLUG AND THE ALUMINUM HEAD THAT MADE THE PLUGS POP OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PLEASE PROVIDE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *JB

Mileage: 75,000

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TODAY, APPROACHING THE ON-RAMP TO THE 280 ON SAND HILL ROAD IN MENLO PARK, CA. THE 2001 F-150 5.4L PICK-UP WITH 75,000 MILES, STARTED MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH. I PULLED THE TRUCK OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY FLATBED TO THE LOCAL SHELL GAS STATION REPAIR SHOP TO BE SEEN BY THE MECHANIC IN THE MORNING. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE #3 PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR HAD COME OUT OF THE HEAD, THE THREADS TO THE SPARK PLUG STRIPPED. HE WAS UNABLE TO GET A NEW PLUG INTO THE HEAD AND WANTED MY APPROVAL TO SPEND ABOUT 5 HOURS OR $750 TO REMOVE THE HEAD AND INSPECT THE CYLINDER HEAD FOR A POSSIBLE STRIPPED SOCKET. THE FORD DEALERSHIP SEPARATELY QUOTED ME $1,010 FOR A NEW CYLINDER HEAD AND THE FORD SERVICE ADVISER AT THE PALO ALTO FORD DEALERSHIP QUOTED MY AN ESTIMATED 12 HOURS TO TEAR DOWN AND REMOVE THE HEAD FOR INSPECTION. THE HOURLY RATE QUOTED IS $105. I CHECKED WITH ANOTHER LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE BLOWN PLUG AND STRIPPED HEAD WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. HE AGREED THAT THE FIVE HOUR ESTIMATE TO REMOVE THE HEAD SOUNDED RIGHT (WHY IS FORD QUOTING ME 12 HOURS?). *NM

Mileage: 75,000

MY TRUCK DEVELOPED A VIBRATION AND BEGAN TO HAVE TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SOMETIMES IT WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY AT IDLE. I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALER AND HAD A TECHNICIAN RIDE WITH ME. HE FELT THE SHUDDERING AND SAID MY ENGINE WAS MISFIRING. THE COIL PACK AND PLUG (I BELIEVE #1) HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS, OF COURSE, OCCURRED JUST AFTER MY TRUCK WAS OUT OF WARRANTY (47K MILES). AN EMPLOYEE TOLD ME SHE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HER TRUCK AFTER SHE BOUGHT IT USED.*AK

Mileage: 47,000

FORD F 150 SAFETY ISSUE. *BF (BUILT WITH MAGNESIUM RADIATOR SUPPORTS) THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AND LATER FOUND THE VEHICLE SMOKING. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SC *JB

Mileage: 10,000

I OWN A FORD F150 5.4L LARIAT 4X4 THAT RECENTLY HAD A BLOWN PLUG IN #4 CYLINDER. MY TRUCK HAS 9200 MILES ON IT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I DROVE THE TRUCK TO A FORD DEALER ON ALL 8 CYLINDERS FOR A TUNE-UP AND ADVISED OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY ACTED OBLIVIOUS TO THE PROBLEM AND SUPPOSEDLY THEIR 20 YR TECH COULD NOT GET THE 4TH PLUG BACK IN ALL THE WAY WHEN HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGING THE PLUGS. I LATER FOUND THAT "BLOW BYS" IN THE FORD 5.4L ENGINE IS ACTUALLY VERY COMMON. THE MECHANIC AT THE FORD DEALER TOTALLY STRIPPED THE #4 CYLINDER AND FORD WANTED TO CHARGE ME $2700 TO REPLACE THE HEAD. I TOOK MY TRUCK TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND HAD STAINLESS STEEL SLEEVES PUT IN ALL 8 CYLINDERS, SINCE THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE HEADS BEING ALUMINUM AND THE PLUGS BEING STEEL. WHEN THESE 2 DISSIMILAR METALS EXPAND AND CONTRACT AT DIFFERENT TEMPATURES, CAUSING THE PLUGS TO EVENTUALLY WORK THEIR WAY OUT. HOW DO WE GET FORD TO OWN UP TO THEIR DESIGN ISSUE AND STOP PASSING ON THE PROBLEM AT THE CONSUMERS' EXPENSE?*AK

Mileage: 93,300

VEHICLE STALLED . CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT A RIGHT SOLENOID GASKET WAS DEFECTIVE, AND CATALYTIC CONVERTOR MALFUNCTIONED. WARRANTY EXPIRED, HOWEVER DEALER WAS WILLING TO MEET THE CONSUMER HALF WAY ON THE EXPENSE. *AK

Mileage: 55,300

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED. WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW, THE ENTIRE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD WITHIN 12KMILES IN WHICH IT BLEW ANOTHER SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE OTHER HEAD. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FROM AN INTERNAL BACKFIRE THAT WAS SO STRONG THAT IT BLEW PLUGS OUT. THE CONSUMER WAS AWARE OF OTHERS WHOM EXPERIENCED THAT SAME PROBLEM. (CYLINDER #7 SPECIFICALLY) *SC *JB

Mileage: 35,000

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED. WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW, THE ENTIRE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Mileage: 35,000

2001 F150 LIGHTNING.BLEWOUT A PLUG FROM THE HEAD 24030 MILES ON ENGINE. *AK

Mileage: 24,030

2001 F150 LIGHTNING.BLEWOUT A PLUG FROM THE HEAD 24030 MILES ON ENGINE. *AK

Mileage: 24,030

PROBLEMS WITH KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE BUT THEY HAVE NOT FIX THEM. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED OR HIS MONEY REFUNDED. *NM

Mileage: 35,600

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT RESTART IT. THE TRAFFIC WAS SO HEAVY THAT CONSUMER COULD NOT EVEN GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER FOR SAFETY. CONSUMER'S LIFE AND HER CHILDREN'S' LIFE WAS IN DANGER FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR BEFORE HELP ARRIVED. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE EGR VALVE WAS DEAD. *AK

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 SUPERCREW, AND WHILE DRIVING TO WORK LAST NIGHT ON THE EXPRESSWAY, HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND FOUND OUT THAT A SPARK-PLUG HAD BLOWN RIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD ON THE ENGINE. THE NOISE WAS LOUD ENOUGH, AND THE SUDDEN VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE AT FIRST SOUNDED AND FELT LIKE A TIRE HAD BLOWN. ON DOING A QUICK SCAN OF THE INTERNET, (AT FIRST LOOKING FOR PART NUMBERS) I WAS AMAZED AT THE NUMBER OF EXACT INSTANCES, AND NUMBER OF OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. SOME EVEN POSTING PICTURES THAT RESEMBLE WHAT THE BROKEN PARTS FROM MY TRUCK LOOKED LIKE-- EXACTLY! THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME (11:30 P.M.) DRY ROAD, ABOUT 36 DEGREES, AND VERY LIGHT TRAFFIC. I HAVE VERY LITTLE DOUBT THAT HAD THE CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN SNOWY, ICY OR MAYBE EVEN JUST AS COLD AND WET, THAT THIS TYPE OF SITUATION COULD HAVE CAUSED SOME TYPE OF ACCIDENT. EITHER FROM THE VIBRATION AND SUDDEN NOISE, OR THE SIMPLE STARTLING INCIDENT HAPPENING TO A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER. *AK

Mileage: 106,000

SPARK PLUGS/COILS GOING BAD AT 13,000 THEN 18,000 AND 39,000 MILES ON 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW 5.4L. *AK

Mileage: 39,000

BOUGHT A 2001 FORD F150 LIGHTNING WITH 32,XXX MILES ON 4/16/04. I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK BACK FROM MICHIGAN TO TAMPA,FL, AND AFTER REFUELING MY TRUCK, WENT TO START IT UP AND BLEW A SPARK BLUG STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. AFTER DOING HOURS UPON HOURS OF RESEARCH TONIGHT, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH NO RECOURSE FROM FORD. THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB ON THE 99-02 F150 LIGHTNING CYLINDER HEAD, YET IN 03 THEY REDESIGNED THE CYLINDER HEAD WITH ADDED THREADS TO KEEP THE SPARK PLUGS INTACT. I FEEL THAT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THIS, SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.*AK

Mileage: 32,445

TRUCK BLOWING OUT THE NUMBER 3 PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG. FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON ALL 99-02 SVT LIGHTING, AND FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE NEW AND IMPROVED 03 SVT LIGHTING HEADS ON BOTH SIDES. ALL THERE DOING NOW IS REPLACING THE ONE HEAD THAT BLEW, WITH THE SAME YEAR HEAD JUST FOR IT TO BLOW AGAIN DOWN THE ROAD.

Mileage: 28,000

HEAD GASKET LEAKS. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS IN TRANSIT AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN A POP WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE BLEW A SPARK PLUG AND LOST POWER. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Mileage: 49,000

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF DRIVER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD, ON AN 2001 FORD, F-150 LIGHTNING ALL FACTORY 5.4L SUPERCHARGED V8. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING IN EXTREME RAIN AT AROUND 40 MPH, AND 1000 RPM. VEHICLE HAS 31,000 MILES, AND NO MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER RPM, SPARK PLUG COULD HAVE BECOME A PROJECTILE INJURING SOMEBODY, OR CAUSING A WRECK AT 5:00 TRAFFIC TIME. *AK

Mileage: 31,000

2001 F 150 5.4 L ENGINE DRIVING ALONG AND SPARK PLUG # 3 BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *LA

Mileage: 65,907

FORD F-150 PICKUP BLOWS SPARK PLUG OUT OF CYLINDER, CAUSING THOUSANDS IN REPAIR COSTS. HAPPENED ON MY 2001 F-150 A FEW HUNDRED MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. (37,000 MI)

Mileage: 37,000

SPARK PLUG EXPLOSIVELY BLOWN FROM CYLINDER HEAD. *AK

Mileage: 48,400

2001 FORD F150 "LIGHTNING" 5.4L V8. BLEW OUT THE 3RD SPARK PLUG BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD. THIS IS DUE TO A SMALL NUMBER OF THREADS THAT HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE HEAD ON 1999-2003 FORD F150 LIGHTNINGS, AS WELL AS OTHER FORD PRODUCTS THAT UTILIZE THE SAME HEAD DESIGN (MOSTLY 5.4L V-8S). HEAD WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, ALONG WITH THE COIL PACK THAT WAS DESTROYED BY THE EJECTED PLUG. DO NOT KNOW IF AN OPEN CYLINDER COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. *LA

Mileage: 35,760

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD AT NORMAL OPERATING SPEED (40MPH). THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE FORD F150 TRITON V8 ENGINES (HAVING REVIEWED SEVERAL INTERNET WEB SITES). THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WHERE THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER OVERHEATS AND CAUSES THE SPARKPLUG TO BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. CONSUMERS MUST BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND FORD NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. IF I WERE ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE TRUCK WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURED I SHUDDER TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. SHAME ON FORD!!!*AK

Mileage: 97,466

I OWN A 2001 HARLEY F150 FORD TRUCK WHICH HAS A CONSISTANT PROBLEM, NOT DIAGNOSED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY DEALERS, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY POPS ON. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRUCK HAD TO BE IN THE SHOP WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE. SHOULDN'T THE COMPUTER RECORD THIS INFORMATION. IT'S STILL NOT FIXED AND NOW THE TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

Mileage: 1

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MANNING FOLD BRACKET FELL DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. BUT BEFORE IT FELL HIT THE GAS CABLE ACCELERATOR. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE REBUILT DUE TO IT CONSUMING OIL THROUGH THE RINGS ON THE PISTONS. TRUCK WAS STILL BURNING OIL. IF LET TO SIT FOR MORE THAN 10 MIN. IT WOULD BLOW A HUGE CLOUD OF BLUE/GRAY SMOKE AND ACCORDING TO TOWNE FORD BLUE SMOKE WAS OIL. *TT

Mileage: 1,000

I HAVE A 2001 F150 SUPERCREW WITH A 5.4 AUTOMATIC 4X4 TOWPACKAGE. SINCE THE TRUCK WAS NEW I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH IT CONSUMING OIL, ON AN AVERAGE OF 3 QUARTS EVERY 3000 MILES. WHEN I WOULD TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP THEY WOULD CONTACT FORD AND RELAY A MESSAGE THAT IT WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. ON 5/13/03 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO ONE OF THE DEALERSHIPS TELLING THEM THAT I WAS GOING TO PURSUE GOING TO A LEMON LAW ATTORNEY. THAT SAME DAY THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE PISTON RINGS WERE LINED UP AND HAVE LOST COMPRESSION. THE TRUCK IS CURRENTLY IN THE DEALERSHIP HAVING THE WHOLE BLOCK AND HEADS REBUILT. I AM ASHAMED THAT IT TOOK A THREAT TO FINALLY GET THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4. *TT

Mileage: 1,000

VEHICLE SMOKES ALMOST EVERY TIME WHEN FIRST CRANKED UP. IS NOW BEGINNING TO SMOKE WHILE DRIVING SOME, ESPECIALLY WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF CRANKING. VEHICLE STALLS MOSTLY IN AFTERNOON WHEN OUTSIDE TEMP IS ABOVE 70. VEHICLE HAS SLIGHT SHAKE AND VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING STILL WITH TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. VEHICLE MAKES CLUNKING NOISE AROUND FRONT TO FRONT LEFT SIDE IF ALLOWED TO COAST TO AROUND 20 MPH THEN ACCELERATING. *JB

Mileage: 20,000

RE: 2001 FORD SVT LIGHTNING MY VEHICLE VIOLENTLY EJECTED A SPARK PLUG FROM THE ENGINE'S HEAD, WHILE MERGING ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. UPON FAILURE, THE VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY STARTED MISFIRING, BUCKING, AND WAS A HANDFUL WHEN PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD ONLY USED 4 SETS OF THREADS ON THEIR LIGHTINING HEADS FROM 1999 TO EARLY 2003. CONVENTIONAL HEADS TYPICALLY USE BETWEEN 8 AND 10 THREADS TO HOLD A PLUG, BUT FORD DESIGNED THEIR HEADS WITH ONLY 4 THREADS ON MANY MODULAR 5.4-LITER V8 MOTORS TOO (NOT JUST THE LIGHTNING). THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE CHANGED THE HEAD DESIGN IN EARLY 2003 TO A NEW PART WITH 8 THREADS. BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR OLDER LIGHTNINGS (AND OTHER F-150'S), EVEN THOUGH THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM (FIRE, LOSS OF CONTROL, ETC.). I HAVE ALREADY HAD MY HEAD REPLACED WITH ANOTHER INFERIOR 4-THREAD DESIGN, AND I WONDER WHEN THE NEXT PLUG WILL BE BLOWN FROM MY ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NHTSA ENCOURAGE FORD TO RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY LIGHTNING OWNERS.

Mileage: 10,000

THE EGR SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT APPEARED 2,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. SCC

Mileage: 38,000

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET WHICH IS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER STATES WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORRMATION. THANKS. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON.HAD VEHICLE SERVICED,THEY REPLACED THE SENOR.ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AGAIN. MR

VEHICLE "DOGS" DOWN (LOSS OF POWER) WHEN TURNING RIGHT. ONLY WHEN YOUR TURNING A CORNER AT LOW SPEED DOES THE ENGINE STALL. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND REPLACED PARTS HAVE NOT FIXED THE SITUATION.*AK

HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AT 1900 MILES. SUSPENSION, FUMES, BRAKES, SIGNAL SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES.

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THE DEAL DID FIX THE FIRST PROBLEM BUT IGNORED COMPLAINTS THAT THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT FIXED. AT 36000 MILES THE DRIVE BELT WENT OUT AND STILL THERE WAS PROBLEMS W/ INJECTORS . NOW DEALERS WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY BECASUE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 36900 EVEN THOUGH THEY PUT THE FIRST 1,234 WHEN THE TRUCK WAS BOUGHT NEW.*AK

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES. AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS REPLACED, DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM.*AK

SERPENTINE BELT BROKE WHILE BACKING UP AND VEHICLE LOST STEERING ABILITY, TOWED TO DEALER, PART WAS REPLACED.*AK THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A POLE.*YH

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE STARTS TO MAKE A POPPING SOUND. I PULLED OVER AND RAISED THE HOOD. THE #3 SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT FROM ITS SEATING IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. I HAD THE TRUCK TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL INJECTION RAIL. THE SPARKPLUG IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE FUEL RAIL. IF THE SPARK PLUG COMES LOOSE AND IT FLIES INTO THE FUEL RAIL, THE RAIL COULD BURST CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITING A FIRE. THE SPARK PLUG PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY FORD, HOWEVER NOTHING WAS DONE TO GUARD THE FUEL RAIL.

CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES SINCE 31,168 MILES. *JG *AK

ENGINE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

VEHICLE STALLED AT ANY SPEED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES. REPROGRAMMED COMPUTER, BUT THAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. FORD WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT HAD NO SOLUTION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, TRACKER PASSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND SOON AFTER, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN, ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS USUALLY HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. THREE WEEKS LATER, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN AGAIN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WOULD ALSO LUNGE FORWARD AND REV WHEN IN A STOPPED POSITION WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE, DEALER HAS REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION, VAPOR VLAVE, AND COMPUTER, VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REMEDIED. *JB

TWO DAYS AFTER TRUCK PURCHASE, REPORTED TO DEALER TRUCK HAS BAD VIBRATION, ROUGH IDLE, PULLS TO THE RIGHT, TRUCK HESITATES TO GO INTO GEAR, TRUCK HESITATES BEFORE SHIFTING, ENGINE KNOCK AND CLUNK IN T-CASE AREA. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE,ROAD FORCED BALANCE 4 TIRES,SWITCHED TIRES AND WHEELS,FRONT END ALIGNMENT THREE TIMES,TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED,CRANKSHAFT PULLY REPLACED,DAMPERS INSTALLED FOR VIBRATION. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. FORD HAS OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE TRUCK BUT THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME ALL OF MY MONEY BACK.

TWO DAYS AFTER TRUCK PURCHASE, REPORTED TO DEALER TRUCK HAS BAD VIBRATION, ROUGH IDLE, PULLS TO THE RIGHT, TRUCK HESITATES TO GO INTO GEAR, TRUCK HESITATES BEFORE SHIFTING, ENGINE KNOCK AND CLUNK IN T-CASE AREA. TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE,ROAD FORCED BALANCE 4 TIRES,SWITCHED TIRES AND WHEELS,FRONT END ALIGNMENT THREE TIMES,TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACED,CRANKSHAFT PULLY REPLACED,DAMPERS INSTALLED FOR VIBRATION. ALL PROBLEMS STILL EXIST. FORD HAS OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE TRUCK BUT THEY WILL NOT GIVE ME ALL OF MY MONEY BACK.

RADIATOR RECALL CUTOFF DATE (FORD #01B83) - THE CUTOFF DATE FOR THIS RECALL (MISSING RADIATOR UPGRADE) HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED BY FORD AS MAY 5, 2001 BASED ON SALES DELIVERY DATE. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT ON APRIL 30, 2001 AND PRICED TO INCLUDE THE RADIATOR UPGRADE. THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITHOUT THE UPGRADE. I PAID FOR THE UPGRADE WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE (JUNE 2001) AND DID NOT GET IT. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THIS RECALL AS IT WAS BUILT AND PRICED BEFORE THE CUTOFF DATE AND I DID NOT GET THE UPGRADE THAT I PAID FOR. *AK

SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS BRAND NEW VEHICLE, THE EXHUST HAS BEEN BLACK. THE DEALER'S COMPUTER SAYS THAT NOTHING IS WRONG, I THINK IT IS AN EPA VIOLATION, BUT BECAUSE STATE EMISSIONS IS NOT A REQUIRED TEST IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THEY SAY THAT SINCE IT'S NOT A SAFTEY HAZARD, THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT.*AK

4.6 LITER ENGINE; WHENEVER MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN VEHICLE WILL HESISTATE TO TAKE OFF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HARMONIC VIBRATION STARTS AT 40MPH AND OCCURS AGAIN AT 65-70MPH. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/R16)

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUBSTANCIAL VIBRATION BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 15 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TIRES, A RIM, 3 DRIVESHAFTS, SHIMS IN THE REAR END, A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NEW DRIVETRAIN MOUNTS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUBSTANCIAL VIBRATION BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE DEALERS SHOP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON 15 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE TIRES, A RIM, 3 DRIVESHAFTS, SHIMS IN THE REAR END, A NEW TRANSMISSION AND NEW DRIVETRAIN MOUNTS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. NLM

ENGINE FAILED. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER THE COST.

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND VEHICLE VIBRATES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER SHIP FOR REPAIRS FOR 28 DAYS.*AK

F-150 SUPERCAB WITH TOWING PACKAGE DELIVERED WITH FORD SPECIFIED WRONG RADIATOR. STANDARD RADIATOR IS A 1.02" WIDTH CORE. SUPER COOLING, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE TOWING PACKAGE SPECIFIES A 1.42" CORE RADIATOR. REQUEST FORD REPLACE MY SMALLER RADIATOR WITH THE PROPERLY SPECIFIED RADIATOR.*AK

ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL AND A NEW ONE WAS ON ORDER. IT WAS REPLACED ON 2-12-2001. ON 4-17-2001 OIL WAS LEAKING FROM SAME SPOT. DEALER SAID IT WAS COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION IF POSSIBLE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE DASHBOARD GAUGES AND ODOMETER WENT BLANK. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED FROM THE TRAVEL LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE FORD DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO, STEVENS FORD IN MILFORD, CT CLAIMS THAT THERE IS A OPEN WIRE IN THE DASHBOARD WIRING.

FORD HAS INSTALLED THE WRONG SIZE RADIATOR ON THERE TRUCKS WITH THE TOWING PACKAGE AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AND CORRECT IT.*AK

THIS WAS 2ND TRANSMISSION FAILURE; BOTH TIMES THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SPRAYED UNDER VEHICLE & TIRES, MAKING VEHICLE SLIDE ON ROAD. BOTH TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT WERE REPLACED; TECH STATED THE REAR SEAL HAD BLOWN.*AK

INCORRECT RADIATOR INSTALLED AT FACTORY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN HEAVY DUTY PER TOWING PACKAGE OPTION, CAME WITH STANDARD RADIATOR, DEALER INVESTIGATING REPLACEMENT OPTIONS.*AK