NHTSA Complaint #10361826 — 2002 FORD F-150

FORD F150 2002 WAS HAVING WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE. DAY BEFORE SOUNDED LIKE LIFTERS WE NEEDING ADJUSTMENT (TAPPING) THAT SEEMED TO GET BETTER AS IT DROVE. WAS TURNING ONTO A HIGHWAY TYPE ROAD, ENGINE MADE A BANG THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT THREW A ROD, FOLLOWED BY LOUD POPS. THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR OIL. IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CUT THE ENGINE. HAD TO TOW TRUCK TO DEALER ($90). FORD DEALER IDENTIFIED BLOWN SPARK PLUG #3, AND USED A KIT TO INSTALL HELICOIL TO ALLOW REPLACEMENT SPARK PLUG. THEY SAID INDUCTION CLEANING WAS ALSO NECESSARY DUE TO THE NON-FIRING CYL, PLUS ALL NEW PLUGS. REPAIR COST $950. LOST USE OF TRUCK FOR TWO DAYS, AND THEN FOUND OUT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITHOUT A RECALL; AND IT COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ON OTHER SPARK PLUGS. SPARK PLUGS ORIGINAL TO VEHICLE AND NORMAL MAINTENANCE WAS CONDUCTED ON THE TRUCK. WAS ADVISED I COULD HAVE DONE NOTHING DIFFERENT TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING.. SHOCKED AND APPALLED TO READ OF THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCE, AND FORD EVEN HAS A KIT TO REPAIR THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR