1998 Ford E-150

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?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS FILLING UP THE FUEL TANK WITH FUEL, THE FUEL LEAKED OUT. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIDSHIP FUEL TANK DEVELOPED A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTED THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10971593

Incident

Jan 16, 2017

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD E-150 EQUIPPED WITH A CCI AIRTOUCH PNEUMATIC GAS/BRAKE. THE MODEL WAS UNKNOWN. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CAUSE OR WARNING. THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, TREES, AND A STREET LAMP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

NHTSA ID

10681211

Incident

Feb 2, 2015

Mileage

84,000 mi

LEFT FRONT TIRE (MICHELIN P235/75R15 LTX M/S2) SEPARATION AT 25 MPH. ALSO, NOTICEABLE STRESS CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE. TIRES BOUGHT 01/2010; WITH 7/32 TREAD REMAINING. REFERENCE 13T012000. *JS

NHTSA ID

10608670

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

152,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, FUEL SPEWED OUT OF THE FILLER NECK AND ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,750.

NHTSA ID

10484587

Incident

Nov 5, 2012

Mileage

80,750 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK STRAPS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK AND STRAPS WERE THE SAME AS THE ONES UTILIZED ON THE 1998-2003 FORD F-150, IN WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ID

10425451

Incident

Sep 9, 2011

Mileage

250,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-150. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE CONTACT WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE WITH DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND FRAME. THE CONTACT SUFFERED NECK PAIN AND WAS SEEN BY A DOCTOR AT THE HOSPITAL. A CAT SCAN WAS PERFORMED BUT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO SUFFER FROM NECK PAIN. THE DOCTOR PERFORMED AN MRI AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NECK CAUSED BY TRAUMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE INJURY MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SEAT BELT LAYING ON THE NECK DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10416465

Incident

Aug 28, 2009

Mileage

200,000 mi

98 FORD E-150 / SAFETY RECALL-01S14 I CONTACTED CHALMERS FORD DEALER ([XXX]) SANTA FE,NM 473-3673 / FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE([XXX]) 1-800-392-3673 MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXACTLY THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS RECALL AND WAS TOLD I WAS NOT ON THE LIST AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE-I DISCOVERED THE LEAK WHEN I WAS PUMPING GAS INTO THE GAS TANK AND A HUGE PUDDLE OF GAS WAS OBSERVED DRIPPING FROM VAN BY AN OBSERVANT CUSTOMER-I STOPPED PUMPING GAS IMMEDIATELY AND RETURNED HOME-UPON MY RETURN I INSPECTED EDGE OF TANK AND ALL THE HOSES AND SAW THAT GAS HAD FORMED A RING WHERE THE FUEL HAD LEAKED OUT-DID NOT SEE LEAK FROM HOSES BUT THEY WERE DETERIORATED-LEAK WAS FROM UPPER TANK AREA AND FLOWED DOWNWARD-IF THIS IS NOT TAKEN CARE OF SOON THERE COULD BE MANY FORD OWNERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CAR FIRES-MANY OF THE VEHICLES SUCH AS MINE ARE CONVERSION VANS AND WE CARRY OUR ENTIRE FAMILIES IN THEM-VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT OR CHEAP PART OR POOR DESIGN-PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10401188

Incident

May 14, 2011

Mileage

143,786 mi

06-03-2007 RIGHT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE AND I COULD NOT GET INTO MY VAN. NO ABUSE ON MY PART. I HAD THE DOOR HANDLE REPLACED BY FORD DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE ($125.00). 03-03-2008 LEFT DOOR HANDLE (OUTSIDE PART) BROKE WHEN I PULLED THE HANDLE. I NOW HAVE TO GET INTO MY VAN BY THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND CRAWL OVER TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. THIS IS AWFUL SINCE I HAD ADVANCED COPD BREATHING PROBLEMS. I HAD TO ORDER THE PART TODAY, AND HOPE FOR THE BEST TO GET IT INSTALLED, AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE. THE HANDLES SHOULD NOT BROKE ON A 1998 VEHICLE SO SOON. I HAVE READ ALL COMPLAINTS FOR 1998 FORD E150 VANS, I HAVE A SHERROD CONVERSION VAN. 04-10-2009 BACK A/C & HEAT DOES NOT BLOW COLD OR HEAT FROM BACK UNIT. THE FAN PART IS THE ONLY PART THAT WORKS IN THE BACK UNIT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS. 01-20-2002 THE FRONT A/C & HEAT DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME SHERROD IS OUT OF BUSINESS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, AND REPLACEMENT AT MY EXPENSE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THESE PROBLEMS, AND HELP ME OUT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297724

Incident

Jan 20, 2001

Mileage

59,000 mi

VIBRATION/HARSHNESS ABOVE 45 MPH (72 KM/H) AFTER TIRE BALANCE. *TT

FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR. *TT

SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4R70W TRANSMISSION (DRIVESHAFT >70 INCH) MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION / ROUGHNESS ON ACCELERATION OR UNDER LOAD AT ABOUT 50-55 MPH. *TT

SUBJECT REGARDING EXAGGERATED ENGINE BRAKING ON DECELERATION. *YD

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ACCELERATED FRONT DISC BRAKE PAD WEAR UNDER EXTREME LOADING CONDITIONS. *TT

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT RAPID WEAR OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS (UNDER 10,000 MILES). *TT