1998 Ford E-Series

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.

I HAVE NOT HAD AN "INCIDENT" WITH MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION, BUT I AM SCARED SENSELESS HAVING READ THE MANY REPORTS BY OWNERS WHO HAVE. I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS AGES 3 AND 7 WHO RIDE DAILY IN OUR FAMILY VEHICHLE. I AM URGING YOU TO CONSIDER A MANDATORY RECALL ON EXPEDITIONS WITH SIMILAR CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS TO THE 2000 MODELS. PLEASE DON'T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO SUFFER OR DIE.

NHTSA ID

10127323

Incident

Jul 1, 2005

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION OF FIRESTONE STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT 225 75 R/16 MS LOAD RANGE E TUBELESS RADIAL 2 STEEL PLY TIRE. ON 1999 WINNEBAGO MINNIE MOTORHOME (FORD V10 - E SUPERDUTY SERIES) WITH 9,400 MILES. WE LIMPED THE VEHICLE INTO NEAREST GAS STATION WITH STEEL BELT SHOWING ON TIRES. NO APPARENT ROAD DAMAGE TO TIRE. THE TREAD JUST SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. TIRES WERE CHECKED AT DEALERSHIP TWO DAYS PRIOR TO TRIP FOR PROPER AIR PRESSURE AND WEAR PRIOR TO LEAVING ON TRIP. EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND CONTACT FIRESTONE DIRECTLY REGARDING THIS MATTER AND SEE IF THEY WILL ASSIST.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090514

Incident

Sep 5, 2004

Mileage

9,400 mi

I HAVE A 1998 FORD DIESEL VAN THAT I HAVE JUST PURCHASE ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. THE FORMER OWNER GAVE ME A CLUE OF A PROBLEM THAT I DIDN'T PICK ON WHEN I BOUGHT IT. HE SAID DON'T FILL THE TANK FULL OR THE FUEL WILL OVERFLOW. WELL IT DOES OVERFLOW FULL OR NOT BUT WORST WITH A FULL TANK. FORD AND THE NHTSA HAD ISSUED A RECALL FOR POSSIBLE CRACKING OF FUEL TANKS IN VAN'S LIKE MINE. THE RECALL WAS FOR 1997 THRU 2001 ECONOLINE_VAN'S. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN CHARLESTON SC BUT THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME THAT NO RECALL WAS EVER MADE ON MY VAN. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. BUT A RECALL WAS MADE ON JUNE 29, 2000. THE FUEL TANK DOES NOT APPEAR TO LEAK WHILE STOPPED EVEN IF THE MOTOR IS RUNNING AND I HAVE LET IT RUN FOR MORE THAN A HOUR. IT LEAKS VERY BAD WHILE UNDERWAY. THE WIRING HARNESS THAT RUNS BY THE FUEL TANK AND JUST UNDERNEATH IT IS FULL OF DIESEL FUEL. I OPEN UP THE HARNESS PLASTIC COVER AND DRAIN THE FUEL FROM IT BUT IT WILL FILL UP AGAIN AS SOON AS I DRIVE THE VAN. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TRIED TO PIN POINT THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO. I CLEAN THE TANK BUT THE FUEL WILL REAPPEAR WITH NO VISIBLE SOURCE OF LEAK. THIS HAS GOT ME SCARED AND SINCE FORD WILL NOT LOOK AT IT UNLESS I AGREE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND I AM AT LOST AS TO WHAT TO DO NOW. I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM IS JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER VAN'S THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY REPAIRED OR INSTALL INSULATORS TO PROTECT THE TANK FROM CRACKING IF IT IS NOT LEAKING. I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD LOOK AT THE VAN AND FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE IF THE TANK IS INDEED CRACK LIKE I SUSPECT. I FOUND THAT A RECALL # 01V114000 WAS MADE ON MARCH 30, 2001 FOR POSSIBLE FUEL TANK CRACKING IN 1998 E350 VAN'S. I ALSO FOUND THAT NHTSA HAD ALSO ISSUE A TSB #15113 FOR 1998 FORD E350 VANS FOR POSSIBLE FUEL FILL VALVE SEALING CONDITION. I THINK RECALLS ARE MORE IMPORTANT ANYWAY AND CAN BE VERIFIED.

NHTSA ID

10070392

Incident

Jun 15, 2003

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE INSIDE PASSENGER SIDE DUEL TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH.*AK CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE TIRES AND 15 MINUTES LATER THE ENTIRE TREAD BLEW OFF THE TIRE. IT DAMAGED THE WIRING, FRAME AND BODY. THIS WAS NOT A RECALLED TIRE. CONSUMER NO LONGER TRUST THE REMAINING TIRES, FORD OR FIRESTONE. *PH *JB

NHTSA ID

10033530

Incident

Aug 7, 2003

Mileage

18,500 mi

I OWN A 1998 COACHMAN MOTORHOME, CLASS C WITH STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT225/75R16 M/S TIRES ON IT. WHILE TRAVELING UP I64 HEADED TOWARD CROZET, VA. FROM MY HOME IN MECHANICSVILLE, VA. I EXPERIENCED TIRE PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING ALONG AROUND 62 MILES PER HOUR I EXPERIENCED A SEVERE BUMPING WHICH FELT LIKE A TIRE PROBLEM AND AFTER PULLING OVER AND INSPECTING THE TIRES DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT REAR OUTSIDE TIRE WAS THE PROBLEM. AFTER CALLING GOOD SAMS ROAD SERVICE AND GETTING THE TIRE CHANGED THE TIRE LOOKED AS IF THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND WAS COMING APART. THESE TIRES ONLY HAD ROUGHLY 16,800 MILES ON THEM AT THE TIME. THE SPARE HAD NEVER BEEN USED AND STILL HAD THE STICKER ON IT SO I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON MY TRIP. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FIRESTONES WEB SITE AND TO THIS DAY HAVEN'T HEARD A WORD ABOUT THE TIRES. THESE TIRES ARE LOAD RANGE 'E' TIRES AND HAD 80 LBS. OF AIR IN EACH BECAUSE I CHECK THEM BEFORE TAKING ANY TRIPS. I'VE GOT ANOTHER TIRE ON THE FRONT OF MY RV THAT IS WEARING ODD ALSO. NORMALLY WHEN A TIRE IS UNDER INFLATED IT WEARS THE OUTSIDE TREADS DOWN AND IF OVER INFLATED IT WEARS THE CENTER TREAD OR TREADS DOWN. THIS TIRE IS WEARING DOWN ON THE SECOND AND FOURTH TREAD. ISN'T THIS ODD? THE FIRST, THIRD AND FIFTH TREAD LOOK OKAY. I'D HATE TO THINK MORE OF THESE TIRES DOING THE SAME THING AND POSSIBLY CAUSING INJURY OR DAMMING THE NEXT TIME. WE WERE FORTUNATE THIS TIME. THANK YOU. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023781

Incident

Jun 13, 2003

TIRE SIZE LT22575R16; THESE TIRES ARE USED ON A WINNEBEGO MOTORHOME 1999. THE INSIDE REAR OF THE WHEEL WELD WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A TIRE CAPPING OFF. THE OTHER TIRES ARE NOW STARTING TO EXEMPLIFY THE SAME FAILURE PATTERN. TS THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE INSIDE REAR TIRE HAD LOST THE CAP. THE DEALER FOUND THAT ALL OF THE TIRES WERE SEPARATING. SCC

NHTSA ID

8022466

Incident

Oct 7, 2002

WITHOUT WARNING REAR DUAL FIRESTONE (225/75R/16) TIRE TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO PROPANE GAS LINE OF THE MOTOR CARRIER AND TAIL PIPE FRAMING UNDER WHEEL WELL. DOT # VD11XD347AK.*AK *TT

NHTSA ID

8004102

Incident

Jan 12, 2002

FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES P225/75R16 DOT VD1L1XD EXPERIENCED BLOWOUTS, ONE OCCURRED WHILE IT WAS RAINING, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

876792

Incident

Dec 14, 2000

FORD: THE BLOWER MOTOR ON SOME VEHICLES ARE OPERATING EITHER INCORRECTLY OR NOT OPERATING OR JUST FUNCTIONING ON ONE SPEED. *PE

SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE

WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT

GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT

INTERMITTENT ROUGH IDLE - NON-COMMANDED EGR (EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE) FLOW. *TT

DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1876, B1880, B1915 AND/OR B1920 IN THE ECS MODULE - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET HIGH CURRENT DEVICES. *TT