NHTSA Complaint #10500078 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY TRIP GOING THE POSTED INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MAJOR LEAK HAD JUST OCCURRED. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THE REAR SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD EJECTED ITSELF DESTROYING THE THREADS THAT HOLD IT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ALSO DESTROYING THE HELI COIL PACK THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG. I HAVE NEVER FILED A COMPLAINT OR SAFETY REPORT ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THIS TIME THE ONLY REASON I AM FILING A REPORT IS DUE TO THE FREQUENCY THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE ON FORD TRITON MOTORS. IT SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND UPON VERY LITTLE INVESTIGATING ON MY PART I HAVE FOUND THAT EVERY PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT IT EITHER OWNS A VEHICLE WITH THE SAID MOTORS IN THEM AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, OR IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I AM A DEDICATED AND LOYAL FORD OWNER AND ALWAYS WILL BE, HOWEVER I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN A PROBLEM OCCURS WITH SUCH FREQUENCY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STEP UP AND MAKE GOOD ON ISSUES THAT CLEARLY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. *TR