NHTSA Complaint #10108277 — 2001 FORD F-150

1) 90,000 MILES ON MY 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW 5.4L V8. ) TWO BLOWN SPARK PLUGS IN ABOUT EIGHT WEEKS TIME. THE SECOND ONE LEFT ME AND MY FAMILY (WIFE AND 3 CHILDREN AGE 5 & UNDER) STRANDED IN THE DESERT BETWEEN SAN DIEGO AND EL CENTRO ON INTERSTATE 8.*AK 3) THE PLUGS STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS ON THE HEAD AND AFTERMARKET INSERTS WERE INSTALLED IN ORDER TO INSTALL NEW PLUGS. AFTER DISCUSSING THE PROBLEM WITH A COUPLE OF GARAGES AND DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT BY FORD DESIGN THEIR ARE ONLY 6 OF THE 12 THREADS ON THE SPARK PLUG THAT ARE ENGAGED IN THE HEAD. AFTER SOME TIME ENGINE VIBRATION AND EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE HEAD DUE TO HEAT ALLOW THE SPARK PLUG TO LOOSEN UP. AT THAT POINT, THE PLUGS INCREASED MOVEMENT HAS ENOUGH FORCE TO DESTROY THE REMAINING THREADS. FROM THE NUMBER OF REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM, I BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL EITHER RESULT IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR A FACTORY RECALL. HOWEVER, I LIKE FORD AS A COMPANY AND HOPE THAT THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE POOR DESIGN BEFORE A SUIT IS FILED.