1997 Ford E350 Engine Problems

MY V10 FORD E-350 MOTOR HAD A HEAD FAILURE AND A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE EXPLOSION SOUND CREATED A PANIC AND STARTLED RESPONSE THAT ALMOST LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THEY WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. THEY WORK ON FLEET VEHICLES REGULARLY AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MANY TIMES BEFORE. THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF THE ENGINE WAS TOO WEAK TO HOLD ON TO THE SPARK PLUG AND THAT LEAD TO THE EXPLOSION, FIRE, AND DAMAGE. THE SHOP INFORMED ME THAT THIS COULD VERY LIKELY HAPPEN AGAIN BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND IF I AM TRAVELING WITH MY FAMILY I COULD BE LEFT STRANDED, POSSIBLE A VERY DANGEROUS PART OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING STEEP OR DANGEROUS ROADS. IF THE VEHICLE CATCHES ON FIRE AGAIN IT COULD EXPLODE IF THE GAS LINE IGNITES. THIS ONE CYLINDER COST $800 TO FIX BUT NOW I HAVE 9 OTHER ONES TO WORRY ABOUT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A CURRENT RECALL BUT THERE WILL HAVE TO BE ONE ISSUED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ANY AMERICAN DRIVING A FORD VEHICLE WITH THIS ENGINE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE STATING SIMILAR SCENARIOS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10356671

Incident

Jul 3, 2010

Mileage

37,414 mi

MY 97 FORD CLUB WAGON HEATER LINES TO THE REAS HEATER DISINTEGRATED. I FOUND THE LEAK AND DISCONNECTED THE LINES TO FIND THEM DETERIORATED 3/4 THE LENGTH. I KEPT THE LINES FOR INSPECTION. CONTACTING FORD THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD NO INFORMATION OR RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE THIS OLD. MY FRIEND [XXX] , PASTOR AT CHURCH OF[XXX] , FREEPORT, ILLINOIS WAS NOT AS FORTUNATE. THE 97 FORD VAN THE CHURCH USES HAD LEAKED ENOUGH COOLANT OUT UNNOTICED THAT THEY ALMOST RUINED THE ENGINE FROM OVER-HEATING. THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING TO ALL VAN OWNERS TO WATCH FOR CORROSION AND LEAKS SO THEY DO NOT RUIN ENGINES AND A SOLUTION SHOULD BE GIVEN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10341713

Incident

Jun 30, 2010

Mileage

113,265 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD E350. THE CONTACT AWOKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO FIND HIS VEHICLE ON FIRE. HE ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND SUCCESSFULLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A FIREFIGHTER STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE OVER 250,000.

NHTSA ID

10268474

Incident

May 7, 2009

Mileage

250,000 mi

OUR 1997 FORD F350 TRUCK WAS PARKED IN OUR BARN AND CAUGHT FIRE YESTERDAY MORNING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE TRUCK AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BARN AND ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATV ON FIRE. I LEFT FOR WORK AT 7 A.M. AND HAD BEEN IN THE BARN BEFORE LEAVING. THE FIRST DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AT 8:04 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE, THE TRUCK WAS BASICALLY GONE. WE HAD OTHER DAMAGES CAUSED BY THIS FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268473

Incident

May 11, 2009

THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON MY '97 FORD E-350 VAN BLEW OUT (ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER THE PLUGS WERE CHANGED) WHILE STARTING TO DRIVE SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MORE THAN ONE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS COMMON ON THIS ENGINE (5.4 L 8-CYLINDER) AND THAT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED YET (ESTIMATED BY MECHANIC TO BE $1500 TO PULL THE HEAD AND REPAIR). I HAVE ALSO READ THAT THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF FIRE WHEN THIS HAPPENS, ALTHOUGH THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN OUR CASE (WE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE RIGHT AWAY AND HAD IT TOWED HOME). *TR

NHTSA ID

10252281

Incident

Jun 28, 2008

Mileage

203,000 mi

1997 FORD E350 V-10 ENGINE VAN BLEW OUT THE NUMBER 4 SPARK PLUG. LOUD POPPING SOUND FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF POWER AND STRONG FUEL SMELL. ALSO HAD A NEIGHBOR WITH AN F-150 THAT HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND IN UNDER 5 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245191

Incident

Oct 10, 2008

Mileage

108,817 mi

THE MOTOR HOME ENGINE OPERATED FINE WHILE WE WERE ON AN EXTENDED 1700 MILE TRIP. THE GAUGES REGISTERED NORMAL. WE CHECKED THE OIL & ANTIFREEZE & THEY WERE AT THE NORMAL LEVELS. AFTER WE RETURNED: AT MILEAGE 48526 WE STARTED THE ENGINE ON MAY 6, 2004 THE ENGINE STARTED WITH A LARGE KNOCKING NOISE & THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE OUT THE TAILPIPE. 2. ANTIFREEZE HAD GOTTEN INTO THE OIL SO THE ROD BENT & #1 CYLINDER WAS SCORED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. 3. THE HEAD GASKETS & HEAD WAS NORMAL - THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED!*JB

NHTSA ID

10082416

Incident

May 6, 2004

Mileage

48,526 mi

SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD OF AN E-350 FORD V-8 VORTEX ENGINE. MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN TO HAVE REPORTED FAMILIARITY WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 60,000 PLUS MILES. INDIVIDUAL WITH SAME TYPE AND YEAR (97) TRUCK IS HAVING SAME TROUBLE.

NHTSA ID

10002719

Incident

Jan 10, 2003

Mileage

63,000 mi

CONSUMER STATES THE 1997 FORD V-10 CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, CONSUMER IS UNSURE OF CAUSE. YD CONSUMER STATES NO FURTHER INFORMATION HAS BEEN AVAILABLE FROM INSURANCE COMPANY OR DEALERSHIP, CONSUMER MENTIONS THAT ON DOG DIED DUE TO THE FIRE. *TT

NHTSA ID

566030

Incident

Apr 21, 2001

AFTER VEHICLE WAS STARTED AN UNUSUAL NOISE OCCURRED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE CYLINDER. *AK *MJ

NHTSA ID

8011075

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT BOLTED TO LEFT SIDE OF TRITON V-10 ENGINE FELL OFF THE ENGINE AFTER BOLTS WHICH HELD THE HOUSING APPARENTLY VIBRATED LOOSE. THE FAILURE RESULTED DESTRUCTION OF BOTH THE SENDING AND RETURN OIL LINES TO THE OIL COOLER AND ALSO HEAVY DAMAGE TO OIL COOLER AFTER IT TOO ALSO FELL AFTER BEING YANKED BY THE FALLING OIL FILTER MOUNTING UNIT. AT TIME OF FAILURE THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INSTRUMENT GAGES WERE STILL READING FULL PRESSURE. ENGINE WAS SAVED FROM DAMAGE AFTER DRIVER SHUT ENGINE OFF AND STEERED MOTOR HOME DOWN A TWO LANE ROAD TO WHERE IT COULD SAFELY PULL OFF. NOTE THERE IS AN EXTREAM FIRE HAZARD ISSUE WITH THIS LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL SPRAYED ON THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE MANIFOLD. TIRES. SIX FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES AND A NON-FIRESTONE SPARE TIRE WERE REPLACED DUE TO SEVER CRACKING AND EVIDENCE THAT TIRES WERE SHOWING IMMENANT FAILURE. TIRES WERE ONLY LOAD RANGE D. VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE LOAD RANGE E. REPLACED WITH NON-FIRESTONES ON ALL POSITIONS. (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XE127 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

NHTSA ID

745253

Incident

Apr 25, 2001

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN SPARK PLUGS BLEWOUT ON ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

881709

Incident

Dec 27, 2000

OUR VEHICLE QUIT WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A 2-LANE RURAL HWY. W/NO SHOULDER. IT ACTED LIKE IT WAS LOSING POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLUTTERING ON & OFF AND THEN THE OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS STARTED TO FADE. THE ENGINE THEN QUIT TOTALLY. WE TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE; IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE. AFTER APPROX. 10 MINUTES WE TRIED AGAIN AND IT STARTED AND RAN FINE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME. WE TOOK OUR VEHICLE TO THE GALLOWAY FORD DEALERSHIP ON 3/25/99, INV.#FDTS344292, AND THEY SAID THE FOLLOWING ON THE INVOICE: ROAD TESTED 48 MILES AT HWY SPEED AND STOP & GO SEED W/FIRM & SOFT ACCELERATION. 2 DIFFERENT EVENTS DID HAPPEN. AFTER SHORT DRIVE HEADING TOWARDS I-75, TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO NEUTRAL OUT, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK TO SHOP, BUT DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE WAY BACK. TOOK TO TECH. THEY TRIED 1 MORE TIME TO RECORD ON GPS, NEGATIVE RECORDING/TOOK OUT 1 MORE TIME. BEFORE GETTING OFF LOT, THE ENGINE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO SHIFT, BUT JUST DIED. STARTED BACK UP. TOOK OUT AGAIN WITH GPS, NEITHER EVEN OCCURRED. AT VERY LOW SPEEDS, TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING OR NOT UP SHIFTING. VERY VERY LOW SPEEDS . . . . BOB BROOKS. THE TECHNICIAN AND SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS OR HOW TO CORRECT IT. I THINK THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IT MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON AN INTERSTATE AND THE ENGINE QUIT? WITH NO ENGINE POWER, DO WE HAVE STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL? I AM AFRAID TO USE MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. ANY HELP YOU CAN BE WITH THIS PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

NHTSA ID

705340

WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A STOP POSITION OR COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE WILL STALL. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

822487

VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND MAKE NOISE AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

532622

Incident

Jun 20, 1997