NHTSA Complaint #10159067 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

APPROXIMATELY AT 8 AM, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. SHE WAS DRIVING A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD POPPING NOISE. AFTER ARRIVING AND STARTING THE CAR TO HEAR WHAT WAS GOING ON, I KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. 5 YEARS AGO I DROVE A 1999 F250 FORD WITH A V10 AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AGREED A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE ON THE EXPEDITION ON THE #3 CYLINDER. THEY REPAIRED IT BY PUTTING A PLUG INSERT (HELI-COIL) IN. THEY PUT THE INSERT IN WHILE THE HEAD WAS STILL ON THE VEHICLE. NOW THREE WEEKS LATER THE RODS ON #3 AND #7 PISTONS ARE BENT AND THE VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP ONLY OPTION TO US WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF NEARLY $4,500. *JB