NHTSA Complaint #10254203 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

I HAVE A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION WITH THE TRITON 5.4 LITRE V8 ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 100,000 MILES AND IS USED FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION ONLY. TODAY WE HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME A PRICE OF OVER $700 TO HAVE A TEMPORARY FIX OF A HELI COIL PLACED INTO THE SPARK PLUG HOLE TO REPLACE THE STRIPPED THREADS CAUSED BY THE BLOWOUT AND TO HAVE THE COIL REPLACED. HE MENTIONED THAT THIS TEMPORARY FIX IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE CAN GUARANTEE WILL WORK SO HE ALSO OFFERED ME A $5000 "PERMANENT FIX" OF HAVING THE ENTIRE ENGINE BLOCK REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO MY FINANCIAL SITUATION, I CANNOT AFFORD THE PERMANENT FIX AND AM HAVING TO OPT FOR/GAMBLE WITH THE TEMPORARY FIX ATTEMPT. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AND RESEARCH INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE PROBLEM. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE MECHANIC AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP ATTEMPT THE $700 TEMPORARY REPAIR. WITH THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO FORD AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE PART OF A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *TR