10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 5
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,831 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
1999 Ford Expedition 5.4L V8 Triton engine. Number 7 cylinder spark plug was ejected from the head while driving in town. Ignition coil on top of spark plug was sheared off of it's mounting on the head. Needed to use a spark plug thread repair kit to repair the threads in the head and a new ignition coil to replace to broken one. Approx $100 to repair.
- Orem, UT, USA
Ford Expedition 1999 ejected spark plug problem. After having this problem three time already, I start researching about it and seems that 100th of owner of Ford Expedition from 1997 to 2003 are having a recurring problem. Why is not a recall on this when hundreds of owners are spending from $300 to $700 on repairs that Ford should be responsible. It is noticeable that its a manufacture problem not a customer problem.
- Port Saint Lucie, FL, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. After driving all day, the vehicle was parked for a few minutes. When it was restarted, the engine suddenly caught fire. There was smoke emitting from the hood and sparks from the engine. The fire department extinguished the fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. There were no injuries. A fire report was filed. Neither the manufacturer nor the dealer had been notified. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.
- Bowie, MD, USA
On my way home from Kansas to Colorado when we heard a sound like a flat tire but it wasn't. my spark plug had shot out of my cylinder head. This could have caused fuel to spray out and start a fire. This is a common problem with the Triton 5.4L engines, but there has not been a recall or anything to fix it.
- Colorado Springs, CO, USA
1999 Ford Expedition with the 5.4L Triton engine blew out a factory installed original spark plug causing a engine fire. This seems to be common among this particular engine. Ford will not acknowledge a defect in the design, but online research concludes this problem is widespread and very dangerous. Ford should be compelled to recall these engines and repair or replace the engine at no cost to the customer.
- Simpsonville, SC, USA
Heard a knocking noise coming from the engine department, took said vehicle to a dealership to be checked out, was told that it was a leaking exhaust manifold, I then checked what I was told and did not find any problems with the exhaust, then three weeks later without warning the no. 3 cylinder spark plug ejected from its port and breaking the ignition coil assembly, as of now, we are trying to figure out how to fix said problem because I have researched the issue and see that Ford does not have to fix said problem.
- Tacoma, WA, USA
While driving my 1999 Ford Expedition 5.4L and coasting down a hill all of a sudden a loud pop and the a loud exhaust noise. I smelled fuel and immediately pulled over. Upon opening my hood I found a small fire (thank god I carry a fire extinguisher) and that my engine had spit out a spark plug stripping all the plug threads. It is now in the shop being repaired for an unknown cost.
- Harrison, MT, USA
I have a V8 Triton 5.4L which has blown a spark plug from the engine block. I was not putting undo stress or wear and tear on my engine when this occurred. I kept maintenance up on my vehicle so therefore this should never have been an issue. There was no accident as I was able to pull over and out of the way of traffic but this could be potentially dangerous since fuels being expelled into the engine and a spark plug blowing out of the head leaving a gaping hole where the fuel is still being expelled and there is still a spark is very dangerous. I have researched this and so many other owners of the same vehicle have had this happen to them stranding people and worse. How is a manufacturer allow a design and integrity flaw like this go unnoticed or fixed.
- Marysville, WA, USA
Was driving car to work this morning. Made a right hand turn and heard a knocking noise suddenly after completing turn. Pulled to side of road and immediately shut down vehicle. After shutting down I smelled what appeared to be gasoline. Called my insurance company and they had vehicle towed to Ford dealership. After waiting a few hours they told me spark plug had popped out and cylinder head needed to be fixed along with plug, and it was indeed gasoline I smelled. They said it would need major repair to fix, and tried to convince me to pay and arm and a leg. I don't care about that, I care that my child could have been in car, as I pick her up every day from school. Also mad that a fire could have started and Ford does nothing about this problem and that there have been thousands of complaints from Ford truck owners with Expedition and F150's from 97-02. Something better be done to recall these faulty engine components, or families will suffer from Ford's lack of safety with these plugs and cylinder heads/coils.
- Hayward, CA, USA
1999 Expedition 5.4 while driving I heard a loud noise.motor shut off. Smoke coming from hood I put out the firer and seen #3 coil blown out. The spark plug was no were to be found the spark plug hole threads came out whit the plug what a have seen Ford did not put many theards in the head thy made a new head for that motor so they know the heads are no good plus the injector is putting gas in that cylinder that why it started the fire.
- Anaheim, CA, USA
Driving home from work, I heard what sounded like a gun shot coming from under my hood. Come to find out it was the #3 spark plug being blown out causing damage to the coil. I took the car to the Ford garage and they gave me 3 options. 1. heli coil it, but they will not guarantee the work and that will be $600. 2. buy a new head, that will cost $3000 3. buy a new motor and that will cost $6000 I feel that I'm getting the short end of the stick. This is a common problem with the 5.4L trition engines and from what I gather this is a very dangerous defect. Someone needs to protect the people.
- Mckinleyville, CA, USA
1999 Ford expidition with 5.4L V8 blew a sparkplug out of the head.
- Rainier, OR, USA
Two weeks prior to this failure, there was a distinct ticking noise that changed with RPM. Sounded like a collapsed lifter. While returning home on memorial day 2008, experienced a loud popping noise, followed by continued whoosing noise and poor engine performance. After inspecting engine, noticed #7 spark plug had come out and broken the coil-on-plug coil unit. Failure occurred 2 blocks from my home, so I limped it home. Have not had it repaired yet.
- Delafield, WI, USA
Spark plug # 3 blew out of 4.6 Triton Ford engine in our 1999 Expedition. Looking at internet data this seems to be a very common theme with the Triton engines. Cost us over $1,000 to fix.
- Louisville, KY, USA
Started my vehicle and heard a loud noise followed by a steady popping noise. I opened the hood and found the rear spark plug on the passenger side had been blown out of the engine. I have since read hundreds of other complaints of this occurring, some causing fires.
- Canonsburg, PA, USA
The contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that he heard a loud popping sound when the vehicle was started. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that there is a defect with the cylinder head, which caused the spark plug to disengage. The current and failure mileages were 86,800.
- Evansville, IN, USA
- the contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. He was having problems with the aluminum head spark plugs, the number 3 & 4 cylinder failed, and the mechanic told him it was a design flaw. The failure was caused by not having enough thread in the aluminum spark plug head. He needed a new engine or a head job. It will cost him over $3000. He stated that there was a service bulletin for this problem. The current and failure mileage were both 110,000.
- North Syracuse, NY, USA
Under normal usage at @ 135,000 miles oil began to leak from the rear of the head gasket on the passenger side of the engine. There are at least five tsb's in effect for this problem. No repair has been made account prohibitive cost. Truck being driven. Adding 1 quart of oil about every 2 weeks.
- Davisburg, MI, USA
Head gasket failure. Right hand, rear side of the engine. I can smell strong burning oil when engine is running and after shut-off. Oil saturated starter.
- Peabody, MA, USA
- Hillsboro, MO, USA