NHTSA Complaint #10045046 — 1998 FORD F SERIES

I OWN A 1998 FORD F150 XLT TRUCK. I MAINTAIN MY TRUCK AS REQUIRED (OIL, ETC). ON OCT. 25,2003 WHEN GOING TO TURN THE TRUCK ON I HEARD A LOUD NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE TRUCK SEEM TO STALL. I LOOKED UNDER THE TRUCK AND NOTICED A HOLE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE OIL PAN PANEL AND OIL CAME OUT. ONCE I GOT IT TO TALK TO MY MECHANIC HE INFORMED ME THAT HE KNEW OF THE 'NOTORIUS' OR 'INFAMOUS' REPUTATION THE (4.2L FORD ENGINES) HAVE. IT SEEMS DISTURBING TO ME THAT FORD WOULD USE ENGINES LIKE THIS ON VEICHLES AND US CONSUMERS SPENDING ARE HARD EARNED MONEY HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOU MAINTAIN WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK DOWN. I CAME TO FIND OUT THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE INVOLVED WITH CARS (MECHANICS AND MANAGERS OF WELL KNOWN PART STORES) CALL THIS TYPE OF MOTOR ENGINE. NOW I NEED TO PUT A NEW ENGINE INTO A TRUCK THAT OTHERWISE RAN FINE. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND WARN ALL MY CLOSE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES TO DO THE SAME.