NHTSA Complaint #10364296 — 2003 FORD F-150

I HAVE A 2003 F150 THAT HAS 135K MILES. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAVE HAD NO MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL TODAY. I AM IN THE NAVY AND WAS DRIVING INTO WORK FOR DUTY WHEN MY SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM MY ENGINE. THE EXPLOSION WAS SO GREAT THAT IT BROKE THE COIL PACK IN THREE PIECES AND WHEN I PULLED OVER IN INVESTIGATE THE NOISE I TURNED ON THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD OPEN TO SEE THE SPARK COIL ACROSS THE PORT WHERE THE PLUG HAD BEEN AND IT WAS SPARKING (IT'S A WONDER THAT IT DIDN'T CATCH THE VAPORS ON FIRE FRON THE CYLINDER) THE PLUG ALSO SEVERED ONE OF THE VACCUUME HOSES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN TOWN AND THE MECHANINC TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR TRUCKS OVER 100K MILES, AND THAT THEY WOULD 'START POPPING OUT LIKE POPCORN'. THIS SEEMS OUTRAGOUS! I TRIED TO FIX IT MYSELF BUT NOW AM HAVING TO CONCEDE TO LETTING FORD DO THE WORK SINCE THEY HAVE THE REPLACEMENT KIT ( "BECAUSE THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS" - THEIR OWN WORDS). THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE! PLEASE FORCE FORD TO DO A RECALL. *TR