Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
0310405/26/200310002768Bi-fuel lpg vehicles (with coolant lock off) may exhibit a no start condition. *tt09/16/2003
1445511/01/2000616551Oil leak from the front or rear cylinder head oil supply rail end plugs. *tt03/02/2001
98330102/04/1998607462This bulletin provides procedures on neutralizing the exhaust, transmission and engine mounts. *tt09/23/1999
98232511/23/1998603931The malfucntion indicator lamp ( mil ) may illuminate and diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0455 may be stored in memory. *yc03/11/1999
98274004/01/1998603593Concerns with high pressure oil pumps are not serviceable. *yc02/25/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
0210605/27/2002636078Some bi-fuel lpg vehicles (with coolant lock off) may exhibit a no start condition. *tt11/05/2002
463808/01/1998615176Malfunction indicator lamp on, with p0300 - p0308 misfire diagnostic trouble codes with a 4.6l engine. *tt01/03/2001
98-473809/01/1998607152Cold engine knock 5.4l action. *ak11/03/2000
98031204/01/1998603506Excessive white smoke. verify glow plug operation by performing glow plug system operation check on the hard start/no start diagnostic sheet. *tt07/14/2000
816302/01/2000612337Some vehicles with 4.6l, or 6.8l engines may exhibit a roller finger follower coming off during engine cranking in cold temperatures below zero degrees f. a one-time noise from the engine may be heard, followed by rough running / misses06/07/2000
98331602/03/1998607481Some customer may complain of a ticking noise on initial cold start-up in park position and neutral position. *tt09/23/1999
99603405/01/1999606947Experiencing a engine knock at cold start-up. *tt09/08/1999
9981605/03/1999606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5w-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year. *tt08/19/1999
98231311/23/1998603760Some vehicles with a 7.3l direct injection (di) turbo diesel engine, one or more of the following concerns may be present: rough idle, stalling, hesitation/ stumble, loss / lack of power, poor fuel economy, and excessive oil consumption.03/04/1999
98211011/01/1998603673During high idle speeds throttle sticks after steady state driving in cold ambient temperatures. *yc03/01/1999
98031704/01/1998603510Symptoms regarding p0300-p0308 misfire dtcs with 4.6l engines. *yc02/23/1999
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE - BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
98231411/23/1998603761Premature wear of the belt tensioner may occur on some vehicles. *yc03/04/1999

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DP05005FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/22/200501/04/2006SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
 On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
DP05005FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/22/200501/04/2006SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
 On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
DP05005FORD MOTOR COMPANY09/22/200501/04/2006SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
 On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
08/28/2004595002
 The truck was started and the spark plug blew out from the engine. the truck was taken to a local dealership. they stated it wasn't a problem. the next time, the spark plug blew out while traveling on the highway at 55 mph. the consumer had to coast to the side of the road. please provide details. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
07/12/2004358902
 While starting my ford truck with the 5.4 l engine i heard a very loud pop and the engine ran as if the head gasket blew. a non-ford mechanic verified the no. 3 spark plug on the passenger side blew out and stripped the threads from the cylinder head insert that this ford dealer inserted to repair an earlier blown spark plug. the old insert for the previous failure was removed and replaced with a new type according to the ford mechanic. this is the second time for this to happen. on july 10, 2003, approximately 1 yr and 2 days before this failure the no. 3 spark plug blew out stripping the treads in the cylinder head. numerous non-ford mechanics i've talked to have verified this been a fairly common occurrence in the 5.4 l ford engine in trucks and suv's. an individual that i work with had the same spark plug (no. 3 passenger side) blow out from her ford explorer with the 5.4 l engine approximately 6 weeks ago. *la
04/18/2001103/01/1998
 Spark plug number four had blown out of head, consumer managed to get vehicle to a mechanice and was informed that head was made of aluminum and engine was made of iron, this is what caused the spark plugs to blow, right head was replaced for a total cost of $1900, partial reimbursement ws given to consumer. *slc
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
12/30/2001108/30/2000
 While driving the vehicle the oil light came on, discovered vehicle was low on oil and replaced oil, next day vehicle made a terrible noise and was taken to dealer only to find the oil had been burned up through the converter.engine is bad due to the casings. *jg
07/07/2000109/01/1999
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
10/09/2000109/01/1998
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak