NHTSA Complaint #10155567 — 2003 FORD F-350 SD

I WAS TRAVELING DOWN RTE 37W IN TOMS RIVER NJ WHEN A LOUD "BOOM" OCCURRED IN MY ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A CONTINUOUS LOUD "TICKING" SOUND. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED (2003 FORD F-350) TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION. AFTER SPEAKING WITH LEAD TECHNICIANS AT FORD, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH FORD MOTORS AND THEY ARE SURPRISED THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. MY SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD DUE TO LACK OF THREADING WITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS WILL COST APPROX $4000.00 TO REPAIR THIS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECTLY AND THEY CANNOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS REPAIR AND DO NOT RECOGNIZE THIS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH FORD MOTORS. I STARTED DOING MY OWN RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE VIA INTERNET AND HAVE COME ACROSS HUNDREDS OF CASES AND COMPLAINTS OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING WITH FORD ENGINES. THERE IS EVEN A CLASS ACTION SUIT THAT IS IN THE WORKS OUT OF CALIFORNIA. SOME OF THE LINKS CONTAINING THIS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML HTTP://WWW.TWOGUYSGARAGE.COM/FORUM/ARCHIVE/INDEX.PHP/T-7423.HTML HTTP://WWW.JASPERENGINES.COM/PDF/4.6_&_5.4_STRIPPED_THREADS.PDF THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THIS IS ALSO VERY COMMON AMONGST FORD TRUCK MOTORS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE LINKS I HAVE PROVIDED ABOVE OR EVEN DO A SEARCH ON SPARK PLUG PROBLEMS WITH FORD VEHICLES, YOU WILL SEE HOW OFTEN THIS OCCURS BUT FORD FAILS TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER. *JB