NHTSA Complaint #705501 — 1991 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE MISSING WHEN GOING UP HILLS AND ALSO ROUGH IDLE AT START UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NAPA, A AAA APPROVED SHOP, WITH ASE MECHANICS. THERE WAS A LEAKING HEAD GASKET WHICH ALLOWED ANTIFREEZE TO GET IN THE NUMBER 3 CYCLINDER AND PLUG. WHEN THEY TOOK THE HEAD OFF TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T CRACKED THEY FOUND THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES AND PUSH RODS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE PUSH ROD ENDS WERE WORN TO THE SHAPE OF FOOTBALLS AND HAD WORN INDENTATIONS IN THE ASSEMBLIES. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER USED OIL. I CHANGE THE OIL/FILTER EVERY 3 MONTHS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN LOW ON OIL OR OVERHEATED. THE SHOP OWNER AND THE MECHANIC BOTH SAID THEY THINK IT IS A DESIGN FLAW AND I SHOULD REPORT IT. PARTS HAD TO BE ORDERED FROM CHICAGO BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY IN WA OR OR. THE REASON THEY WERE GIVEN WAS THAT THESE PARTS COULDN'T BE KEPT IN STOCK BECAUSE OF THE HIGH DEMAND FOR THEM. I BABY MY VEHICLES AND REQUIRED SERVICE WORK IS DONE ON TIME. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS COST ME $1,493.41 TO REPAIR SOMETHING WHICH I DON'T THINK SHOULD HAVE GONE WRONG. IN THIS CASE AN ACCIDENT DID NOT HAPPEN BUT COULD HAVE IF THE RODS HAD GONE THROUGH THE HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING.