NHTSA Complaint #10433618 — 1999 FORD ECONOLINE

MY FORD E350 1999 MADE A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE AS I WAS LEAVING MY HOME. I PULLED RIGHT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I FOUND OUT THAT THE #2 SPARK PLUG HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES. I AM A MECHANIC, AND FORMER JET ENGINE MECHANIC ALSO. MY OBDII CONFIRMED A MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #2 THAT IS HOW I LOCATED WHICH PLUG IT WAS. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $260 TO LOOK AT IT, AND UP TO $1700 IF THEY COULD REPAIR IT. PLUS TOWING. I ASKED HOW MUCH A NEW ENGINE WOULD COST SINCE THE VAN IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. FORD SAID IT WOULD COST $7,200 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THIS VAN HAS COST MORE FOR REPAIRS THAN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIFE. I AM 62. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR $700.00 COIL ON SPARK PLUG $130 ABS BRAKE SENSOR $138.00 FLEX PLATE AND FLYWHEEL $700.(CAUSED BY LOOSE IGNITION SWITCH) EGR BLACK BOX $400 REPLACEMENT. FORD WANTED $100.00 TO CHANGE MY FUEL FILTER. I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT THE SPECIAL WRENCH FOR $16 ,DID IT MYSELF IN 15 MINUTES. RECALL FOR WIRING NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER THAT COULD CATCH FIRE, 1/2 DAYS WAGES LOST. IT TOOK ME 4 HOURS TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS. IT WAS THE WORST DESIGN I HAVE EVER SEEN. A NIGHTMARE TO GET TO THE SPARK PLUGS. I SOLD THE VAN FOR $500 TONIGHT. GLAD THE NIGHTMARE IS OVER. *TR