NHTSA Complaint #10228574 — 2001 FORD F-150

IN JANUARY I HAD DRIVEN MY F150 TO THE STORE, WHEN I RETURNED TO IT IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED IT I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS SOUND WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BACKFIRING SOUND UPON ADDING A FEW RPM'S TO THE ENGINE. I SHUT IT OFF TO INSPECT AND DISCOVERED THE FAR REAR SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN SHOT CLEAR OUT OF THE HEAD AND WAS LYING LOOSE INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SPARK PLUG AND THE HEAD EACH HAD ENOUGH THREADS LEFT FOR THE PLUG TO RESET. THE COIL WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE DAYS AGO (5/18/08) I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN HEARD THE SAME POP AND THE SAME BACKFIRE SOUND. UPON INSPECTION THIS TIME I FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH THE PLUG HAD NOT COME OUT OF THE HEAD THIS TIME IT WAS CLEARLY LOOSE. THERE ARE NO LONGER USABLE THREADS ON EITHER THE HEAD OR THE PLUG AND I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $2500 (DISCOUNTED RATE) TO REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 78000 MILES ON IT AND THAT I OWE $16000 AND CAN'T EVEN TRADE IN NOW. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THE FORD TRITAN V8 ENGINE AND THAT FORD HAS NOT CHOSEN TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT. *TR