NHTSA Complaint #10404751 — 2004 FORD F-150

I PURCHASED MY TRUCK SIX MONTHS AGO, AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE I NOTICED A TICKING IN THE ENGINE, AFTER INQUIRING TO THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE ENGINE NOISE HE INFORMED ME THAT HIS SERVICE TECH'S HAD INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM. THE NOISE HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED SINCE PURCHASE. I WAS AT AN ENGINE RE-BUILDERS PLACE OF BUSINESS WITH A FRIEND AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF I KNEW WHAT THE TICKING WAS, I REPLIED NO AND HE TOOK ME INTO HIS OFFICE AND PRINTED A TECH BULLETIN (AERA TB2471) THAT ADDRESSED THE CAMSHAFT AND LASH ADJUSTER DESIGN CHANGE FOR FORD 5.4L VIN 5 ENGINES. THESE WERE REDESIGNED IN 2005 TO CORRECT THE TICKING NOISE AND KEEP VALVES FROM DROPPING, WHICH THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME HE HAD 5 VEHICLES IN HIS SHOP DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I WENT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL ISSUE (CLOCKSPRING IN AIR BAG) THE SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THE TICKING AS I DROVE UP, I ASKED IF HE KNEW OF THE SERVICE BULLETIN AND SHOWED HIM THE COPY I HAD, HIS COMMENT WAS TO NOT TOW ANYTHING! I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR THIS LOCATION AND WAS TOLD TO CONTACT FORD DIRECTLY, WHICH I HAVE AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. THE MECHANIC I SPOKE WITH SAID THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS ENGINE, LOOK FOR THE NUMBER 5 AS THE EIGHTH DIGIT IN YOUR VIN NUMBER. I FEEL THAT THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN COMPLETELY MISREPRESENTED TO ME DURING AND AFTER PURCHASE AND FEEL LEMON LAWS OR RECALLS SHOULD BE USED OR IN PLACE.