NHTSA Complaint #10721283 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

AFTER PICKING UP LAUNDRY, ON MY WAY TO STAPLES ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, THEN A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF TRUCK. TURNED IT BACK ON THEN HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. GOT THE TRUCK HOME OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED SPARK PLUG OUT OF ENGINE ATTACHED TO A DAMAGED COIL. I TRIED TO PUT IN NEW SPARK PLUG BUT IT WOULD NOT SCREW IN, THE THREADS IN CYLINDER HEAD WERE STRIPPED. FOUND OUT IT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY TO GET CYLINDER HEAD RETHREADED. WROTE TO FORD CORPORATE THEY ASKED ME FOR VIN NAME AND BASIC INFO. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON IN TRITON ENGINES. IT IS A DESIGNER FLAW IN FORD. FORD KNEW ABOUT IT FOR YEARS NOW. SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT FOR NO REASON. AFTER SPARK PLUG POPS OUT A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMES OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO EXPLODE. THIS HAPPENS IN FORD TRITON ENGINES. THIS IS UNSAFE.