NHTSA Complaint #10223221 — 2001 FORD EXCURSION

SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER AND VERY NOISY CONDITION. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN 6 MONTHS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME WAS OCTOBER OF 2007. THE TWO INCIDENTS DO NOT INVOLVE THE SAME CYLINDER OF THE ENGINE BUT THEY ARE ON THE SAME HEAD. THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT $500 DOLLARS AND COST ME THE LOSS OF MY VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS. THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL FORD 5.4L AND 6.8L ENGINES. MY BROTHER HAS A 5.4 V-8 AND HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE IN HIS VEHICLE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE CONCERN BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP BECAUSE IT INVOLVES SOMEWHERE AROUND 17 MILLION ENGINES AND IS NOT COST EFFECTIVE. IN MY ESTIMATION, IF FORD DOES NOT WANT TO ISSUE A RECALL, WHICH I CAN UNDERSTAND BECAUSE IT WOULD BE AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT OF WORK AND MONEY, THEN THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO HELP WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THE ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE DESIGN OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD AND THE AMOUNT OF THREADS. ONLY ABOUT THREE THREADS HOLD THE PLUG IN THE HEAD. *TR