NHTSA Complaint #10928042 — 2008 FORD F-350 SD

I NOTICED A PLUM OF WHITE SMOKE OUT THE TAIL PIPE. THAT INDICATED STEAM, WATER IN THE SYSTEM TO ME. ALL THE GAUGES WERE NORMAL AND I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED THE FLUID LEVELS. NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM. I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT IN FOR 36 HOURS. I DROVE IT .4 MILES HOME AND PARKED IT. AT THE APPOINTED TIME I DROVE TO NORTH COUNTRY FORD. IT TOOK THEM ANOTHER DAY TO FIND THE DIESEL MECHANIC WHO COULD WORK ON THE VEHICLE. 24 HOURS LATER I AM TOLD THE ENGINE IS BLOWN; FLUID GOT INTO THE MANIFOLD AND WAS SUCKED INTO THE # 3 CYLINDER. DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF PARTS THAT COULD BE SALVAGED THE COST OF REPLACEMENT COULD EXCEED $ 12,000. THIS VEHICLE HAS 95,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS HAD TOW OTHER INCIDENTS WITH THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN: IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR, IN PREPARATION FOR A TRIP TO ARIZONA I HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. ABOUT 1400 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP WHEN WE ENCOUNTERED ANY HILLS OR MOUNTAINS. I PARKED THE TRAILER AND TOOK THE TUCK TO CASSA FORD. THEY HAD THE TRUCK FOR 4 DAYS AND $ 1600.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. I ASKED IF ANYTHING DONE AT THE TIME IT WAS SERVICE OR THE DRIVING FROM THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE HAD CAUSED OR EXACERBATED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID NO, IT WAS A PUMP PROBLEM. IN 2011, IT BEGAN TO BLOW BLACK SMOKE OUT THE TAILPIPE; THE DASH SCREEN INDICATED IT WAS CLEANING THE EXHAUST. WITHIN 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND DIED. I CALLED FORD I WAS TOLD TO WAIT AN HOUR AND TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE; GIVE THE ENGINE AN OPPORTUNITY TO 'RE-SET' ITSELF. THAT DIDN'T WORK! A TOW WAS SENT AND THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NELSON FORD DEALER IN FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA. IT WAS A FAILED EGR VALVE. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.