NHTSA Complaint #10272715 — 2001 FORD E-250

I OWN A 2001 FORD E250 VAN. THIS VAN HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VEHICLE AND MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN EASY AND PREDICTABLE. HOWEVER TODAY THE THIRD SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THOUGH IT WAS A EXHAUST LEAK AT FIRST BECAUSE OF THE SOUND. I PULLED OF THE FREEWAY AND OPENED THE ENGINE COVER. AT THIS POINT I RESTARTED THE ENGINE TO FIND THE EXHAUST LEAK. A LARGE FLAME IMMEDIATELY BEGAN BURSTING OUT OF THE OPEN SPARK PLUG HOLE. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF QUICKLY THIS SCARED ME CONSIDERABLY AS I KNOW THEIR ARE FUEL LINES THAT RUN RIGHT BY THE SPARK PLUG. I HAD IT TOWED FROM THEIR TO A SHOP. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF FORDS ENGINES. I EVEN FOUND CASES WERE CARS HAD BEEN DESTROYED BY FIRE AS A RESULT. IT CONCERNS ME THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. I DO NOT EXPECT WARRANTY FROM FORD FOR A VEHICLE THIS OLD. HOWEVER THIS SEEMS TO BE A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM AND I WOULD THINK THAT MERITS A RECALL. I HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER THAT RIDES IN HER CAR SEAT NEXT TO ME IN THE VAN AT TIMES. THAT CAR SEAT IS LESS THAN TWO FEET FROM THE SPARK PLUG IN QUESTION. SEPARATED ONLY BY A THIN ENGINE COVER. AGAIN I AM REALLY QUITE AMAZED THAT THIS HAS NOT RESULTED IN A RECALL. *TR