NHTSA Complaint #10088309 — 1999 FORD F-250 SD

A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE WHICH IS DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS WELL AWARE OF. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS NEW OR IT HAS MANY THOUSANDS OR, IN MY CASE, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, OF MILES ON IT. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE BEEN FORCED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS ON VEHICLES THAT ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. FOR THOSE VEHICLES, LIKE MINE, THAT ARE NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE FULL COST OF THE REPAIR IS LEFT UP TO THE CONSUMER. THE AVERAGE REPAIR COST FOR THIS MAJOR MALFUNCTION IS $2,500.00-$3,500.00. THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE SITUATION FOR THE BASIC FACT THAT FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE ON THE PUBLIC RECORD STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL FOR THESE ENGINES BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR THEM TO FIX THEM ALL, BECAUSE THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE IS THE ONE THAT FORD INSTALLS IN MOST OF IT'S HIGH END TRUCKS AND SUVS. THIS POSITION BY FORD IS JUST NOT FAIR BUSINESS AND IT CERTAINLY IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER WHO SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT A BETTER PRODUCT WHEN PAYING $25,000.00-$40,000.00 FOR SAID PRODUCT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DEFECT IS ONE KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THEIR ENGINEERING TEAM WHO FINALLY REDESIGNED THE ENGINE IN THE 2002 MODEL YEAR TO AVOID THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *JB