NHTSA Complaint #11056596 — 2012 FORD E-150

ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, DRIVING S81 JUST BEFORE THE SALEM EXIT, THE 2012 FORD E-150 WHITE CARGO VAN 4.6L ROMEO ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE #3 CYLINDER HEAD WHILE ACCELERATING FROM 40 MPH. THE PLANNED TRIP STARTED FROM HARRISBURG PA TO ANDREWS NC. TO WITNESS A SOLAR ECLIPSE. ENGINE FAILURE HAPPEN AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH JUST NORTH OF THE SALEM EXIT OFF 81 SOUTH. THERE WAS NO SHOP AVAILABLE TILL NEXT DAY TO REPAIR DAMAGE.. DAMAGES INCLUDED A OVERNIGHT STAY, MISSING THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2017 AND REPAIR AND PARTS COST OF OVER $300.00 SPARK PLUG WAS DESTROYED. THE COIL WAS DESTROYED AND THE CYLINDER HEAD WAS RENDER USELESS. AT THIS TIME A TEMPORARY TAP WAS MADE AND HELI COIL WAS INSERTED TO HOLD A NEW SPARK PLUG IN PLACE AND CONTINUE OUR TRIP THE NEXT DAY. SINCE THEN IT BLEW AGAIN AND I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION FOR ME AND MY TOOLS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS COMPLAINT TO CORPORATE FORD FOR REVIEW. FORD STATED THEY WILL RESPOND BY EMAIL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27. TO DETERMINE CULPABILITY FOR MANUFACTURING FLAW WITH INFERIOR ALUMINUM HEAD DESIGN. TOTAL DAMAGES ESTIMATE $2500 TO $4000. SINCERELY OWNER 12/22/17 SUBMITTED TO CAS & NHTSA. *TR