NHTSA Complaint #10311488 — 2001 FORD EXPEDITION

BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG FROM 2001 FORD EXPEDITION TRITON 4.6L ENGINE DURING OPERATION ON A PUBLIC ROAD. THE SECOND SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE ROAD. THIS MADE A LOUD "BANG" SOUND AS IF A TIRE BLEW OUT. THE LOUD SOUND CONTINUED LIKE A LOUD EXHAUST LEAK AND GASOLINE VAPORS WERE IMMEDIATELY PRESENT IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO PREVENT AN ENGINE FIRE AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SAFELY PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE AVOIDING MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS REQUIRED AGGRESSIVE MANEUVERING TO AVOID MOVING TRAFFIC. THE CAR IS NOW AWAITING REPAIRS, WHICH IS EST. AT >$3,000. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON FORD VEHICLES WITH THE TRITON ENGINE. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE SEEN A SPARK PLUG "BLOWN" OUT OF THE SOCKET LIKE THIS. THE PLUGS WERE REPLACED ONCE AT ABOUT 50K MILES. THE ENGINE HAS ABOUT 110K MILES TODAY. *TR