NHTSA Complaint #10321821 — 2002 FORD EXPEDITION

MARCH 17, 2010 I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON LELAND AND LOVERIDGE WITH MY 4 SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS AND HEARD A POP. THEN A CONTINOUS EXTREMELY LOUD POPPING NOISE. I TURNED INTO THE ARCO AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO RIVERA AUTO REPAIR INC. ON MARCH 22, 2010. THE #3 SPARK PLUGGED HAD POPPED OUT. THEY HAD TO DO A SLEEVE AND REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS ALONG WITH THE IGNITION COIL ON THE PLUG. AFTER MY RESEARCH, THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THE 2002 EXPEDITIONS BECAUSE OF A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE. AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT, I HAD 81909 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I DO HAVE THE OLD PARTS. IT SEEMS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM GLAD I WAS NOT ON A FREWAY. THEY MUST BE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED FROM THIS DEFECT. HERE IS A WEBSITE WITH SEVERAL COMPLAINTS LIKE MINES, SPARK PLUGS POPPING OUT ON THEIR OWN. INCLUDING # 3 LIKE MINES. HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2002/FORD/EXPEDITION/ENGINE CONSEQUENCES TO SUCH PROBLEM CAN BE LOSS OF POWER, FUEL SPURTING OUT OF THE PLUG OPENING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRES CAN START FROM VAPORS BEING IGNITED BY LOOSE SPARK PLUGS. ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE DEATH. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL WHEN FORD HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS DEFECT IN THEIR ENGINE. THERE IS CONSENSUS THAT THE SPARK PLUG THREADS ON THE ENGINE ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALUMINUM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR DIES FROM THE RESULT OF A BLOWN SPARK PLUG SINCE IT APPEARS TO BE VERY COMMON ON THESE TYPES OF VEHICLES. THANK YOU!