2004 Ford F-350

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.

TWENTY FIVE OF THE ODI FAILURE REPORTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD COMPLAINTS.TWENTY ODI REPORTS DO NOT CONTAIN A VIN (AND MAY OR MAY NOT BE DUPLICATIVE OF FORD REPORTS).THE 14 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 2 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE ALL MINOR.SUBMITTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-070, FORD'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER CONTAINED ABOUT 5,000 CONSUMER REPORTS (MORS) AND 8,700 FIELD REPORTS (CQIS).FORD REVIEWED THE COMPLAINTS AND CATEGORIZED THEM.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS SHOWN ABOVE REPRESENT A COUNT OF UNIQUE VEHICLES THAT FORD CATEGORIZED AS ALLEGEDLY STALLING DUE TO A SUBJECT ENGINE COMPONENT ('A' CATEGORY, SEE FORD'S IR RESPONSE LETTER FOR FURTHER DETAIL); SOME OF THESE VEHICLES RECEIVED MULTIPLE REPORTS.ODI HAS NOT YET CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THESE REPORTS, NOR HAS ODI CONFIRMED FORD'S CATEGORIZATION OF THE REMAINING REPORTS (WHICH FORD STATES DO NOT PERTAIN TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT).FORD SUBMITTED NEARLY 19,000 WARRANTY CLAIMS, MANY OF WHICH INVOLVED CLAIMS FOR A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 04-13-08) AND FIELD SERVICE ACTION (FSA 03B05) WHICH FORD IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIAL REMEDIES FOR STALLING COMPLAINTS.ODI HAS NOT CONFIRMED THAT EITHER OF THESE ARE A REMEDY FOR ENGINE STALLING COMPLAINTS.SEVERAL OTHER DEALER COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO ENGINE STALL WERE ALSO SUBMITTED AS WELL AS OVER 50 PRODUCT MODIFICATIONS, 15 OF WHICH INVOLVE REVISIONS TO THE SOFTWARE FOR THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL UNIT.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED AND ODI IS UPGRADING PE04-070 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, ODI WILL ESTABLISH AND UPDATE MANUFACTURER FAILURE REPORT COUNTS, FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FREQUENCY AND TREND OF STALLING COMPLAINTS, AND DETERMINE THE SCOPE AND SAFETY IMPLICATION OF STALLING EVENTS.ODI WILL ALSO INVESTIGATE FORD'S REMEDIES, THEIR EFFECTIVENESS, AND WHETHER FURTHER ACTION IS REQUIRED.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 76 MPH with his wife in the front passenger seat, the vehicle shuddered uncontrollably and stalled. The contact and his wife were concerned for their safety. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact stated that as an independent mechanic, he used a code reader to retrieve diagnostic trouble codes for the fuel control module wiring harness failure. The contact related to the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V270000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the fuel control module wiring harness failure had caused warning lights to fail to illuminate as needed. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an elbow vacuum tubing connector was previously replaced under the recall; however, the contact advised the manufacturer that the recall involved replacing the entire fuel control module wiring harness. The manufacturer informed the contact that the recall was already marked completed and no further repairs could be covered. The contact stated that the dealer and the manufacturer had failed to honor the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 190,019.

NHTSA ID

11655439

Incident

Mar 18, 2025

Mileage

190,019 mi

While driving at 40-50 MPH the vehicle will lose power and then then stalls while moving leading to loss of power. The loss power of affects the power steering posing a direct threat for an auto collision due to the difficult in steering the moving vehicle into an emergency lane. Avoided several accidents with this truck. Once it is stalled it can take numerous times to restart the vehicle. This issue seems to occur more on slopes going up hill. This does not seem to occur as often going downhill or on areas with no incline. Currently vehicle has 126,931.8 miles on it. Regularly serviced and otherwise running fine.

NHTSA ID

11462676

Incident

Apr 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Ford F-350 equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Discover AT3, Tire size: 265/75/R16, DOT Number: UPWM1M11718M16L. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the rear driver’s side tire had a sidewall blowout. The contact stated that all four tires had sidewall blowouts months apart. The tire blowouts had damaged the rims. The contact replaced the front driver’s, passenger’s, and rear driver’s side tire with the spare after each blowout. The dealer was made aware of the failure and replaced the rear passenger’s side tire. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the rear driver’s side rim, rear driver’s and front passenger’s side tire were sent to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was not available.

NHTSA ID

11434207

Incident

Sep 24, 2021

MY TRUCK HAS MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE BOUGHT IT AND THREE DAYS LATER THE EGR WENT OUT THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW I GOT A BLOWN MOTOR

NHTSA ID

11365419

Incident

Sep 18, 2020

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE FUEL FILTER WAS COVERED WITH SILVER DEBRIS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 332,000.

NHTSA ID

11354839

Incident

Sep 13, 2020

Mileage

332,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND MADE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTION CONTROL MODULE. CASA FORD (5815 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX 79925) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 220,000.

NHTSA ID

11339799

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD F-350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. ALSO, WHILE IDLING, THE ENGINE RPMS REMAINED VERY HIGH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ATTEMPT TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ICP SENSOR AND INJECTOR CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11203466

Incident

Mar 1, 2019

Mileage

200,000 mi

TAKATA INFLATORS; MY VEHICLE STARTED ALL TYPES OF PROBLEMS INTERMITTENT ONES THAT COST ME SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS NEVER FIXING THE PROBLEM THIS IS WERE IT ALL BEGAN,,.MY VEHICLE DIED GOING UP FAIRLY STEEP HILL TO GRAVE YARD, IT IMMEDIATELY ROLLED BACK SHOVING A FAMILY MEMBERS VEHICLE DOWN HILL A WAYS UNTIL THEY TURNED AWAY FROM THE CLIFF EDGE LEAVING ME ALL ALONE.UNTIL GOING THROUGH A RUN OFF DITCH STOPPING OVER IT INTO 2 TREES. I HAD NO STEERING NO BRAKES AND THANK GOD THE TREES WERE THERE TO STOP MY TRUCK IF NOT THEIR WAS A 100 FOOT CLIFF NEXT.. I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT RECALLS OR SUCH I JUST TRIED TO FIX MY TRUCK PROBLEM BY PROBLEM AS SYMPTOMS CAME ON I HAVE ALL TYPES OF RECENT RECEIPTS THAT ALL CAME FROM SILVERISH DARK MAYBE EVEN GRAY MATTER STUFF IN THE TANK. WHEN I GET MY BANK STATEMENT I WILL ITEMIZE ALL AND SUBMIT THEM WHEN FINAL COST IS OVER.

NHTSA ID

11190120

Incident

Feb 14, 2019

Mileage

268,000 mi

BUCK/JERK OR SURGE - 6.0L VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 8/22/2005. *TT

LOW/REVERSE GEAR SET PINION SHAFT(S) THAT MAY WALK OUT, CAUSING METALLIC PARTICLE CONTAMINATION. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 04B24. TRANSMISSION REVERSE PLANET REPLACEMENT. *TT SUPPLEMENT #1 AND #2. *TT SUPPLEMENT #3. *TT

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 05B29: SUPPLEMENT#3. CHARGE AIR COOLER DUCT REPLACEMENT. *SC

SAFETY BELT RETRACTION SPEED. *TT

USE OF STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST STUDS IN SERVICE FOR 5.4L 2V ENGINE. *TT

LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE - SNOW PLOW EQUIPPED VEHICLES - 6.0L DIESEL WITH SINGLE GENERATOR. *TT