NHTSA Complaint #10777840 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY I-95 IN FLORIDA. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MISS AS WE ACCELERATED. WE TOOK THE CAR INTO A FORD DEALER SERVICE FOR PLUG REPLACEMENT. THIS AUTO HAS A 4.6 LITRE V-8 ENGINE. WE WERE AMAZED TO FIND THAT IT WILL COST UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO REPLACE 8 SPARK PLUGS. THAT COST ESCULATES IF ANY PLUGS ARE BROKEN. THE PLUGS ARE TWO PIECE CONSTRUCTION AND SEPARATE ON REMOVAL. ONLY FORD CAN REMOVE THE PLUGS AND MORE WILL BE CHARGED FOR ANY BROKEN. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THESE PLUGS WITHOUT BREAKAGE. FORD RECOMMENDS NOT CHANGING THE PLUGS UNTIL 100,000 MILES. BY THAT TIME YOU ARE OUT OF GUARANTY AND IF THEY ARE HARD TO COME OUT AT 60,000 MILES IMAGINE IF THEY ARE LEFT IN. THESE PLUGS ARE KNOWN TO BLOW OUT OF THE HEAD AND I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY ACCIDENTS. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN 83 YEARS OLD AND A MECHANICAL ENGINEER. MY WIFE AND I ARE FISHERMEN AND NEED A VEHICLE TO BRING OUR BOAT TO WATER. WE ARE AVID FORD OWNERS AND ARE GREATLY DISSAPOINTED.