NHTSA Complaint #10326807 — 2002 FORD F-150

ON APRIL 17, I NOTICED A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE SOURCE OF THE SOUND, AND THOUGHT IT WAS A VACUUM LINE LEAK. I STARTED THE TRUCK ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 14 AND I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY A SMALL BLACK CLOUD, UPON EXAMINING UNDER THE HOOD, I FOUND THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HOLE AND THE COIL HAD BEEN BLOWN OFF WITH IT, BREAKING THE PLASTIC THAT HAD A STEEL INSERT THAT WAS SCREWED DOWN TO THE BLOCK. I TRIED TO REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG, BUT COULD NOT GET IT STARTED IN TO THE THREADS ON THE HEAD. I FOUND OUT THAT O'REILY'S SELLS A CYLINDER HEAD REPAIR KIT # 42025 SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT HAD A INSERT THAT YOU SCREWED INTO THE HEAD AND IT WAS THREADED ON THE INSIDE TO ACCEPT A EXTENDED LENGTH SPARK PLUG THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE KIT, I TRIED THIS KIT @ $64 DOLLARS PLUS THE NEW COIL @ $43, UPON COMPLETING THE WORK WITH THE KIT AND THE NEW COIL INSTALLED, I STARTED THE TRUCK AND STILL HAD THE SAME WHISTLING PROBLEM AND WAS LOSING COMPRESSION, I CONTACTED A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND FOUND OUT FROM HIM THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HE SEE THIS SAME PROBLEM ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS OR SO, I TOOK THE TRUCK TO HIM AND HE WORKED ON IT FOR APPROX. 6 HOURS AND HAS THE PROBLEM FIXED, HOWEVER, HE SAID HE COULDN'T PROMISE THAT THIS IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN, TO THE SAME PLUG OR OTHERS. IF FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WHY WON'T ANYBODY MAKE THEM FIX IT AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE LITTLE GUY (CONSUMERS?) *TR