NHTSA Complaint #10484858 — 2006 FORD ESCAPE

WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2003 FORD ESCAPE 2.3L XLS (FWD, 5-SPD MANUAL) AT 65MPH, PRACTICALLY COASTING DOWN A HILL. 26 MINUTES AFTER ENGINE START SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND SUBSEQUENT POPPING SOUNDS. THIS WAS FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY SEVERE POWER LOSS FROM THE ENGINE. SHE DROVE IT TO THE NEXT BEST OFF-RAMP, AN ADDITIONAL 2 MILES. WHEN SHE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY SHE SAYS SHE HAD TO REV IT UP QUITE A BIT TO MAKE AN INTERSECTION TO GET TO THE GAS STATION WHERE THE CAR ROLLED TO A STOP. THAT LOUD BANG TURNED UP TO BE THE NBR 3 CYLINDER BLOWING ITS SPARK PLUG CLEAN OFF THE SPARK PLUG BORE. THE SPARK PLUG BORE WAS COMPLETELY THREADLESS. THE SUBSEQUENT POPPING SOUNDS WERE DUE TO THE SPARK PLUG NOT BEING ON THE NBR 3 CYLINDER AS THE FUEL THAT CONTINUED TO SPRAY INTO THE CYLINDER WAS BURNING OFF. THE IMMEDIATE POWER LOSS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ENGINE LOOSING 25% OF ITS CHUGGA-CHUGGA AND THE LOSS OF THE CHT SENSOR SIGNAL WHICH BOTH THEN CAUSED THE PCM (POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE) TO GO INTO LIMP MODE AND FURTHER REDUCE ENGINE POWER. FIRST THING I DID WAS PLUG IN MY OBDII SCANNER AND CHECK FOR CODES. I FOUND THE FOLLOWING THREE: P0303 - CYLINDER 3 THREE MISFIRE. P0353 - IGNITION COIL 'C' PRIMARY/SECONDARY CIRCUIT. P1289 - CYLINDER HEAD TEMP SENSOR HIGH INPUT. I THEN PERFORMED A KOEO (KEY-ON/ENGINE-OFF) CHECK WITH MY OBDII SCANNER AND FOUND THE FOLLOWING TWO CODES: P0119 - ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE CIRCUIT INTERMITTENT/ERRATIC. P1289 - CYLINDER HEAD TEMP SENSOR HIGH INPUT. THE CHT PROBE (CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE) COVER/BOOT WAS POPPED OFF THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT COVER AND THE WIRES WERE BROKEN OFF THE CHT PROBE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THE SPARK PLUG TERMINAL BROKE OFF. THE IGNITION COIL PACK WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED (LOOKED LIKE AN EXPLODED CIGAR, CARTOON STYLE). *TR