NHTSA Complaint #10598573 — 2008 FORD F-150

PURCHASED USED 2008 FORD F-150 5.4L V8 GASOLINE TRUCK A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. LAST YEAR THE TRUCK STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL ONCE THE ENGINE WARMED UP. THE CAM PHASER SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NEXT WE WILL HAVE A CAM PHASER LOCK OUT SYSTEM INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC SAYS THAT 50% OF THE TIME IT FIXES THE PROBLEM BUT THE OTHER 50% REQUIRES A BRAND NEW ENGINE. ALSO, KEYSTONE IS THE ONLY ENGINE THAT MY MECHANIC WILL USE FOR THE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH 2004 TO 2008 MODEL YEARS. ALL SEARCHES ONLINE AND DISCUSSIONS WITH VARIOUS PEOPLE (FRIENDS, FAMILY, FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANICS, PUBLIC FORUMS) HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT CAN COST UP $7,000 TO FIX YET FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THE ENGINE OR OFFERED TO MODIFY THE ENGINE BY INSTALLING THE LOCK OUT KIT. NOW THE TRUCK HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN MORE THAN A COUPLE OF MILES IN THE LAST YEAR SO THE ENGINE IS NOT DESTROYED. THE MOST COMMON COURSE OF THE BREAK DOWN IN THE ENGINE IS AS FOLLOWS: CAM SENSOR FAIL, CAM PHASERS BREAK IF NOT LOCKED OUT, FRAGMENTS OF THE PHASER GETS INTO THE OIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO BE DESTROYED. *TR