NHTSA Complaint #10091265 — 2002 FORD F-150

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 55 MPH AND HEARD A TERRIBLE SOUND COME FROM THE ENGINE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A PISTON DISCONECTED FROM THE CONNECTING ROD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE #3 SPARKPLUG LOOSEND UP AND DAMAGED THE PLUG HOLE. THE SAID THAT THE HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BIIL WOULD RANGE FROM $3500-4500. I DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED SO THE VEHICLE SAT AT THE DEALER FOR 5 MONTHS. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE WAS A REPAIR THAT COULD BE DONE BUT IT WASN'T RECOMENDED BY FORD. THE REPAIR WAS TO REMOVE THE HEAD AND SLEAVE THE BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG HOLE. I HAD THEM REPAIR IT THIS WAY. THE COST TO ME WAS $1796.00 AND THERE WAS NO WARANTY BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A FORD RECOMENDED REPAIR. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AND COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT GREAT EXPENSE TO THE CONSUMER. NOT ONLY IS THERE GREAT EXPENSE BUT, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT.*AK