NHTSA Complaint #10554042 — 2005 FORD F SUPER DUTY

VEHICLE ENGINE (6.0 DIESEL) UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY DIED WHILE CLIMBING A NARROW MOUNTAIN STATE HIGHWAY, JUST IN BETWEEN SWITCHBACKS THAT HAD NO SHOULDERS; HAD ENOUGH SPEED TO JUST CLEAR ROAD ONTO A SHOULDER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD EVER DISPLAYED PREVIOUSLY TO THIS INCIDENT. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DEALER. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED LOSS OF HIGH PRESSURE OIL; AND FICM FAILURE AND GLOW PLUG MODULE FAULT BY OBD AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT NOW'S CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. STC FITTING REPLACED, DECLINED FICM AND GPM REPAIRS DUE TO COST AND VEHICLE ABLE TO RUN TO GET IT HOME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THESE 3 PARTS, AMONG OTHERS ON THE 6.0 ENGINE, HAVE EXTREMELY HIGH FAILURE RATES, ALL RESULTING IN AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER AND POTENTIAL STRANDING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED WITHOUT SATISFACTION. THE NHTSA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS AS A SAFETY AND INHERENT DEFECTIVE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE (AND COST!!!). IT MAY ALSO BE AN EMISSIONS CONTROL ISSUE AS THESE PARTS FAIL AND ARE NOT REPAIRED OR ARE REMOVED. THIS VEHICLE IS FACTORY STOCK AND DEALER MAINTAINED, HAD 6 YEAR, 75,000 MILE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR