NHTSA Complaint #10068278 — 2001 FORD F-150

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