NHTSA Complaint #10357091 — 2001 FORD EXPEDITION

THE SPARK PLUG (PASSENGER SIDE, SECOND BACK FROM FRONT OF ENGINE) EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD WHILE PARKED. WE HAD DRIVEN FOR 20 MINUTES, STOPPED AT A RESTAURANT, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, BUT RESTARTED IT WITHIN ABOUT 60 SECONDS. THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, WITHIN 1 SECOND. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AT THE TIME. MY ENTIRE FAMILY WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. THE SOUND OF THE EJECTION WAS SUFFICIENTLY LOUD THAT IT RESEMBLED A GUNSHOT, TO WHICH AN OFF-DUTY OFFICER REACTED. THE COIL PACK WAS DAMAGED BEYOND USE, THE SPARK PLUG INSULATOR SHATTERED. THE PLUGS APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL MOTORCRAFT PLUGS, ALTHOUGH AT 130K MILES, THEY WOULD BE VERY OLD. THEY HAD SUFFICIENT CARBON AND WEAR THAT THEY COULD BE ORIGINAL PLUGS OR PLUGS FROM THE FIRST SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT (IF IT WAS DONE). REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PERFORMED. *TR