NHTSA Complaint #10161931 — 2002 FORD E-350

FORD E-350 WITH 5.4 TRITON V-8 IN HVAC SERVICE TRUCK. BLEW SPARK PLUG OUT OF # 7 CYLINDER @ 92,000 MILES ON 5/15/06. LOST DAY OF WORK TO MAKE REPAIRS ON TRUCK , REPAIR PARTS $130.00 ON 6/22/06 BLEW SPARK PLUG OUT OF #2 CYLINDER. PUT TRUCK DOWN FOR 2 DAYS WHILE REPAIRS WERE MADE. I HAD ALL PLUGS REMOVED 4 OF THE REMAINING INCLUDING #2 WERE BAD. THAT'S 5 OF 8 THAT THE THREADS WERE COMPROMISED . ALL OF THESE WERE FACTORY INSTALLED ORIGINAL PLUGS. I HAD THE REPAIR SHOP INSTALL REPAIR SLEEVES IN ALL THE PLUG HOLES. THE TERRIBLE PART OF ALL OF THIS IS THAT I MAY HAVE BEEN LUCKY. I DIDN'T HAVE TO REMOVE THE HEADS , IF THE HEAD IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REPLACE IT,NOT USUALLY A REAL MAJOR JOB. BUT THANKS TO FORDS ENGINEERS THE ONLY WAY TO REPLACE THE HEADS IS TO REMOVE THE COMPLETE CAB. IN A PICKUP IT'S TOUGH IN A VAN WHO ARE THEY KIDDING. *JB