NHTSA Complaint #10166630 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

1999 FORD EXPEDITION, 88K MILES, SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE. THIS OCCURRED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHILE IN LEFT LANE OF SMOKETOWN ROAD IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA. THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL RIGHT AFTER A LOUD BANG AND POPPING SOUND WAS HEARD IN ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT HAD TO KEEP THE RPM'S UP TO KEEP FROM STALLING. AFTER CUTTING OFF SEVERAL CARS IN CENTER AND RIGHT LANE, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT ON RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD. I DETECTED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE PRESENT WHEN HOOD WAS RAISED. NOT ONCE DID THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON; UNLIKE ALL THE OTHER TIMES IT CAME ON WHEN NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND A $3400 HEAD REPLACEMENT PERFORMED BECAUSE HEAD WAS RUINED BY STRIPPED SPARK PLUG EJECTING. UPON CHECKING INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING INCREASING PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT AN INQUIRY DONE BY YOUR AGENCY CONCLUDED IN JANUARY OF 2006 THAT THIS IS A RARELY OCCURRING INCIDENT OF LITTLE TO NO DANGER. I BEG TO DIFFER. A SIMPLE GOOGLE QUERY WILL SHOW THOUSANDS IF NOT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING FORD TRITON ENGINE SPARK PLUG PROBLEMS POSTED ON VARIOUS MESSAGE BOARDS. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. I'M JUST GLAD I WAS ALONE DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. MY WIFE WOULD HAVE REMAINED IN THE STALLED VEHICLE WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSING LANE. CONSIDERING THE ENORMOUS NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY AFFECTED VEHICLE THIS ISSUE INVOLVES, I WILL ALSO BE BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION OF EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL I CAN SEND AN EMAIL TO. *JB