1999 Lincoln Navigator

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.

EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1999 BASED ON FIVE CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT SOME OF THE EIGHT HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS EITHER BECAME LOOSE OR CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF ITS RETAINING PLATE.ONE OF THE COMPLAINTS INDICATED THAT WHILE TOWIG A TRAILER THE HITCH ACTUALLY SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FOUR MOUNTING BOLTS ON THAT SIDE CAME COMPLETELY OUT. THIS ALLOWED THE HITCH AND TRAILER TO CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE.IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE AGENCY, FORD PROVIDED INFORMATION REGARDING NINE ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF LOOSE OR MISSING BOLTS, TWO OF THOSE ALLEGING SEPARATION OF THE HITCH ON ONE SIDE.THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF VEHICLE CRSHES, INJURIES, OR A COMPLETE SEPARATION OF A HITCH ASSEMBLY.SCOPE:1997 THROURGH 2000 MODEL YEAR EXPEDITIONS AND 1998 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR NAVIGATORS BUILT AT MICHIGAN TRUCH ASSEMBLLY PLANT FROM JULY 22,1 996 THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 1999.DEFECT: LOSS OF CLAMPING LOAD OF HITCH ATTACHMENT BOLTS.REMEDY:THE HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES WILL BE REPLACE WITH HIGHER STRENGTH BOLTS AND PLATES.ADDITIONALLY , THE TORQUE VALUE FOR THE MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE INCREASED AND AN ADHESIVE WILL BE ADDED TO THE BOLTS.

IT BLOWS THE SPARK PLUGS OUT WHILE DRIVING ON NORMAL STREETS IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2019 THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO BE REPAIRED TOLD ME THAT HAPPENS ALOT WITH THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11376834

Incident

Sep 30, 2019

Mileage

240,000 mi

LUGNUTS/FUEL LEAKING/LIGHTING/SEATBELTS

NHTSA ID

11111808

Incident

May 12, 2018

THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DROVE

NHTSA ID

11103098

Incident

Jun 2, 2000

FAULTY TRANSMISSION GEAR. THIS MAY BE AN OLDER MODEL, BUT WITH 156,000 MILES, THE GEARSHIFT EITHER PREVENTS THE TRUCK FROM STARTING, OR WILL START ROLLING ON ITS AFTER PUTTING TRUCK IN PARK AND REMOVNG KEY. I ALMOST LOST MY TRUCK FROM THAT AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED ROLLING AWAY. DESPITE ITS AGE, THIS PROBLEM JUST STARTED.

NHTSA ID

11084829

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

156,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROOF LEAKED WATER ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW POST AND THEN TRAVELED TO THE DASHBOARD AREA. THE WATER CAUSED ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR POWER DOOR LOCK COULD ONLY BE ACCESSED MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10871253

Incident

May 8, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS MY 255/ 75 17 CONTITRAC TIRES 5 OF THEM HAVE BLOWN OUT OR COME APART IN SOME MANNER! THE LAST TIME A FEW DAYS AGO WAS PRETTY CLOSE TO A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT 65MPH THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES !! THIS IS THE SECOND SET THAT HAS BEEN ON THIS TRUCK~! CONTINENTAL NO LONGER MAKES THIS SIZE AND THEY ARE NON RESPONSIVE TO MY COMPLAINTS PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ID

10730479

Incident

Jun 16, 2015

Mileage

111,000 mi

DURING REGULAR, CASUAL VEHICLE OPERATION, ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS FLEW OUT OF ITS SEAT. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND LOSE COMPRESSION. I THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND THERE WAS NO WARNING TO THIS HAPPENING. SPARK PLUGS WERE INSTALLED PER MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701832

Incident

Mar 24, 2015

WHILE DRIVING ....... WITHOUT WARNING THE AIR SUSPENSION LINE EXPLODED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNMANAGEABLE ... CAUSING ME TO GO OFF THE ROAD AND STRIKE VARIOUS STATIONARY OBJECTS ...... *TR

NHTSA ID

10568497

Incident

Feb 21, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

ENGINE MISFIRE WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) PEWEE, P0302, P0303, P0304, P0305, P0306, P0307, P0308, AND P0316. *TT

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

REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *TT

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

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