NHTSA Complaint #10051295 — 2003 FORD EXCURSION

MY 2003 EXCURSION HAD A MAJOR TURBO FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON I-10 ON 12-26-03. MY FAMILY AND MYSELF WERE TRAVELING TO HOUSTON. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD A TOTAL OF 1,049 LIFE TO DATE MILES. WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES WE HEAR A LARGER POP NOISE AND A LARGE DROP IN THE ENGINE POWER. I ONLY HAD A FLASH OF A DASH LIGHT AND IT WENT RIGHT BACK OFF. I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE. WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25 TO 35 MPH TRYING TO GET TO THE NEXT EXIT. NOTICE LARGE VOLUME OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER ASAP AFTER SEEING THIS. THE SMOKE CAME INTO THE CAB FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM (A/C). PULLED MY DAUGHTER FROM THE VEHICLE, ALSO HAD MY WIFE GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT RELEASED THE HOOD LOCK, CHECKING THE HEAT ON THE HOOD FIRST. RAISED THE HOOD FOUND FIRE COMING FROM EXHAUST PIPE FROM THE TURBO. JUST SMOTHER THE FIRE OUT TO ENSURE IT WOULD NOT SPREAD. SAW THE OIL AROUND THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THROUGH OUT THE SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS A 6.0 DIESEL ENGINE AND IS A 4X4 EXCURSION. IM FILING THIS REPORT FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS NOT FOR MYSELF. MY CONCERN IS FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT EXPOSED TO THIS TYPE OF CONDITION WHICH CAN HAPPEN WITH A DIESEL ENGINE. IM A VEHICLE SUPERINTENDENT OF A LARGE CITY TRANSIT SYSTEM. AND HAVE SEEN FIRES FROM A TURBO FAILURES. 6.0 DIESEL IS A INTERNATIONAL PRODUCT, AND THE SERIES 40 ENGINES ARE PRONE FOR THIS TYPE OF FAILURES. THIS MAY BE THE ONLY FAILURE THAT IS REPORTED FOR THE 2003 6.0 DIESEL. BUT WITH ONLY 1,049 MILES THIS FAILURE SHOULD HAVE NOT OCCURRED. THEIR SHOULD BE SOME WAY TO ENSURE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOULD HAVE CAME ON AND STAYED ON FOR THIS CONDITION FOR A FAILED TURBO. ITS AT THE DEALER AT THIS TIME GETTING REPAIRED. BEST REGARDS, BRYAN J. GARNER