NHTSA Complaint #10320064 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

I OWN A 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY WITH A 5.4L TRITON V-8 ENGINE, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, 2WD, 137 INCH WHEELBASE, STANDARD EMISSION, WITH NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS AND APPROXIMATELY 114,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND SOUNDED LIKE THE EXHAUST HAD COME OFF THE ENGINE. UPON INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE NUMBER 8 SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE ENGINE AND DAMAGED THE IGNITION COIL. THE THREADS WHERE THE SPARK PLUG SCREW INTO THE HEAD WERE DAMAGED, BUT REPAIRABLE. I REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND COIL. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE OR INJURY IN MY PARTICULAR CASE, THE POSSIBILITY FOR SUCH IS LIKELY IF THIS PROBLEM IS SYSTEMIC. WHEN THE SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD, IT CAN BE DONE WITH A LOT OF FORCE, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY/DEATH, DEPENDING UPON THE PROXIMITY OF PEOPLE AT THE TIME. ALSO, WHEN A SPARK PLUG COMES OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD, GAS FUMES RELEASED MAY BECOME IGNITED BY SPARKS FROM THE COIL OR SPARK PLUG WIRES, RESULTING IN A ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION IF NECESSARY. *TR