NHTSA Complaint #10983576 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD BLAST FOLLOWED BY SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT ALSO PERCEIVED A FUEL ODOR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED A WIRE HANGING AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE TECHNICIAN REMEDIED THE ENGINE HEAD AND REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.