NHTSA Complaint #10306206 — 1999 FORD F SERIES

I WAS DRIVING MY 1999 FORD F150 4X4 WITH 5.4L ENGINE HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I PROCEEDED TO GO AND THEN "POW" THE TRUCK BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO KEEP IT RUNNING LONG ENOUGH TO GET THROUGH THE INTERSECTION AND ON A SIDE ROAD. I HESITATED TO OPEN THE HOOD BECAUSE OF THE STRONG GASOLINE SMELL BUT IT WASN'T ON FIRE "YET" SO I OPENED IT AND FOUND ONE OF MY IGNITION COILS (COIL PACKS) LOOSE ON TOP OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I REALIZED THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. I WAS ABLE TO CATCH A RIDE TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE WITH COIL AND PLUG IN HAND. THE SALESMAN AT THE STORE IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND EVEN KNEW THE ENGINE WAS A 5.4L BEFORE BEING TOLD. HE SAID THAT IF I WAS LUCKY I WOULD PROBABLY JUST HAVE TO INSTALL A HELICOIL OR THREADED INSERT IN IT. THE OTHER OPTION WAS TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD. I PURCHASED NEW COIL AND PLUG THEN DROVE BACK TO MY TRUCK. I TRIED TO CLEAN THE THREADS WITH A SPARK PLUG THREAD CHASER BUT THERE WERE NO THREADS LEFT TO CLEAN. I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. SOME PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD MULTIPLE SPARK PLUGS BLOW OUT OR "SPIT OUT" ON THE SAME VEHICLE. WHY DOESN'T FORD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS? THE GASOLINE SMELL WAS DUE TO THE FUEL INJECTOR STILL SPRAYING WHILE THE PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD. WHAT IF IT HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE? I HAVEN'T REPAIRED IT YET BUT WILL TRY THE "REPAIR KIT" THAT WAS HANDED TO ME WHEN I BOUGHT THE COIL AND PLUG. I THINK FORD SHOULD RECALL ALL THE 5.4L ENGINES THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND INSTALL THE HELICOIL OR INSERT TO PREVENT A CUSTOMER BREAKDOWN OR A POTENTIAL VEHICLE FIRE. *TR