NHTSA Complaint #10596310 — 2005 FORD F-150

5.4L TRUCK ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND SERVICED AT FORD DEALERSHIPS. IT WAS RUNNING PERFECT UNTIL IT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN IDLING ROUGH AT A STOP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, WE JUST KNOW OUR TRUCK. TOOK IT IN FOR A TUNE-UP (REPLACED SPARK PLUGS, ETC.) AND OIL CHANGE. PERFECT BILL OF HEALTH - COULDN'T REPLICATE PROBLEM. ENGINE CHECKED OUT DIAGNOSTICALLY- PERFECT. THEY SUGGESTED IT COULD BE AN INTERMITTENT STICKING FUEL INJECTOR, SO WE WERE GOING TO GET AN ADDITIVE TO ADD TO THE FUEL TANK. DIDN'T MAKE IT THAT FAR. DROVE IT HOME - 35 MILES - GOT HOME AND ENGINE STALLED IN DRIVEWAY. TURNED BACK ON, ENGINE DIED AGAIN. LONG STORY SHORT - TOWED IT BACK TO FORD - THEY WERE ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM - OIL PRESSURE DROPS SUDDENLY (INTERMITTENTLY)- POINTING TO CAM PHASER, TIMING AREA OF ENGINE - END RESULT - NEED NEW ENGINE - THIS ONE IS SHOT AT ONLY 68K MILES - ESTIMATED COST $7,400 PLUS TAX. EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. DID SOME INTERNET RESEARCH, APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THESE 5.4L ENGINES ARE BREAKING DOWN LEFT AND RIGHT IN THESE TRUCKS. DON'T KNOW WHAT CHANGED. HAD A 1999 EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4L - GREAT VEHICLE. CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE - WAS TOLD TO KEEP ALL RECEIPTS IN THE EVENT OF A RECALL. AN ENGINE SHOULD NOT BLOW AT 68K MILES, ESPECIALLY A BUILT FORD TOUGH ENGINE. WE'VE OWNED FORDS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY USED TO BE RELIABLE, LONG DRIVING VEHICLES. *TR