NHTSA Complaint #10298994 — 2002 FORD EXPEDITION

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE HEAD ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS ON THANKSGIVING, 11/26/2009. THE ENGINE WAS SMOKING AND IT SMELLED LIKE GASOLINE. MY MECHANIC SAID THIS IS HAPPENING TO FORDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET IF YOU DO A "GOOGLE " SEARCH ON FORD SPARK PLUGS POPPING. THE REPAIR COST ME $500. ON JANUARY 8, 2010, ANOTHER SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT FROM A DIFFERENT CYLINDER. THE TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW. MY MECHANIC ADVISED ME NOT TO PUT NEW FORD HEADS ON THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE NEW HEADS WILL HAVE THE SAME DEFECT. I EXPECT THIS NEW REPAIR TO COST $500 AS WELL. FORD NEEDS TO BE ORDERED TO ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO THE GAS VAPORS BEING PUMPED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE THE POPPED OUT PLUG IS STILL SPARKING. I WAS FORTUNATE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL THE STRONG GAS FUMES. *TR