NHTSA Complaint #10300377 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITON WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TAPPING NOISE ALL DAY AS I DROVE AROUND TOWN. WHEN I HIT MY HOME TOWN I WAS A .10 OF A MILE FROM MY HOUSE AND A HUGE BANGING NOISE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND I COULD SMELL GASOLINE VAPORS. FROM INSPECTION UNDER THE HOOD I NOTICED THE COIL ASSEMBLY ABOVE IN THE RIGHT REAR CYLINDER WAS BROKEN AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING ON THE MOTOR. IT HAD BLOWN A SPARK PLUG. I HAD PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD INSPECT FOR REPAIRS. THE CAR WAS SUB-LETTED OUT TO A FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT A HELICOIL REPAIR WAS WHAT WAS ONCE ACCEPTED BUT THEIR DEALERSHIP NO LONGER PERFORMED THAT PROCEDURE BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. FORD PUT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAID THE BEST REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE HEAD BUT A HELICOIL TYPE REPAIR WOULD SUFFICE. BECAUSE OF THIS TEMPORARY FIX ANNOUNCEMENT AND FORD'S INABLILTY TO ADMIT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRITON MOTOR BUILT BETWEEN 1997 AND 2008 MY EXTENDEDE WARRANTY COMPANY WILL NOT MAKE THE BEST RECOMMENDED FIX. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUTABLE. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY OF FIVE AT RISK OF BREAKING DOWN AND POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. *TR