NHTSA Complaint #10420151 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

ON VACATION IN MAINE WITH MY 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY I WAS DRIVING DOWN A VERY NARROW, HEAVILY WOODED TWO LANE ROAD AT ABOUT 20 MPH, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING A LOUD BANG UNDER THE HOOD OCCURRED. DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND INVESTIGATE. I HAD TO DRIVE SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET TO TRY TO GET ON A STRAIGHT AWAY FOR SAFETY. THERE WERE SEVERAL LOG TRUCKS THAT HAD TO PASS AS WELL AS OTHER TRAFFIC. I DISCOVERED THAT THE #6 SPARK PLUG HAD "BLOWN OUT" OF ITS HOLE AND DESTROYED THE THREADS, COIL PACK, AND SPARK PLUG. AFTER GETTING THE TRUCK TO A REPAIR FACILITY THE OWNER/MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS 5.4L TRITON ENGINE DOES THIS ALL THE TIME. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE REPAIRS TWO OR THREE OF THESE A WEEK, IN FACT THERE IS A "REPAIR KIT" AVAILABLE FROM MOST AUTO PART STORES. DOING SOME RESEARCH AFTER GETTING HOME I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC FORD PROBLEM THAT THEY REFUSE TO ADDRESS. I WILL BE SELLING THIS TRUCK BECAUSE IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME. I DON'T NEED TO BE STRANDED ON BACK COUNTRY ROADS OR INTERSTATES WITH ANY OF THE OTHER 7 SPARK PLUGS READY TO LAUNCH FROM MY ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING OR CAUSE. *TR