8.7
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $830
- Average Mileage:
- 158,000 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 45 complaints
Most common solutions:
- recall the engine! it's not safe! (16 reports)
- replaced spark plug and coil (12 reports)
- not sure (9 reports)
- installed heli-coil, replaced all plugs & timing chain brakt (4 reports)
- fix kit from napa auto parts (3 reports)
- heads rebuild with new ss threads (1 reports)
too few threads in the head for the pressure exerted on plugs. Common issue with these engines, and Ford has only excuses.
- Shawn T., Sandia Park, NM, US
I AM A SINGLE MOM. I WORK EVERYDAY. I SPENT $2,500.00 ON MY EXPEDITION AFTER MANY MONTHS OF HARD SAVING. I HAVE HAD THE SPARK PLUG COME OUT 14 TIMES IN 5 MONTHS! I JUST CAME ACROSS THIS WEBSITE OR I WOULD HAVE REPORTED IT SOONER. PLEASE DONT SHRUG THIS OFF. ITS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERLOOK FOR THOSE OF US THAT OWN THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE ISSUE EXISTS. I HAVE A TWO YEAR OLD LITTLE BOY. HIS DAD PASSED AWAY BEFORE HE WAS BORN AND WE ARE ALONE. WE LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK AND IF I DONT WORK, WE DONT EAT. I DO NOT RECIEVE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FINANCIALLY AND MY TRUCK IS THE KEY FACTOR OF SURVIVAL FOR MY SON AND MYSELF. WITHOUT MY VEHICLE I CANNOT GET TO WORK. PLEASE RESOLVE THE ISSUE. RECALL RECALL RECALL
- michellebennett, Carriere, MS, US
Extremely lucky during a cross country trip that the plug blew out entering into Indianapolis. We were able to limp our way to a Ford dealership for repairs. I'm going to miss our Expedition since I have no intention of driving any such vehicle with this potential. Ford has presented their lack of loyalty to me by not issuing a recall so my loyalty to Ford is no more. By the way I have a Chrysler 4-cyl with 245K on it and going strong!
- Kurt K., Clarksville, TN, US
Really, the spark plug blows out of the head. What engineer thought this was a good design. Just driving along and all of a sudden my truck sounds like an old farm tractor. I knew what it was as soon as I heard the noise.I had to have not only my truck but also a trailer towed for 50 miles I could just see $1000 flying out the window. Honestly, how is this not a recall. The prevalence on the internet is overwhelming. I would never buy another Ford that has this potential. (This covers a lot of territory with Ford) This is a safety issue as the gas just starts pouring out the cylinder as soon as this occurs.
- Chuck S., Waunakee, WI, US
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spark plugs came out and the truck caught a fire and burned up. I have no car now because of this issue and need some help with this issue because this should not have happen with the engine.
- sherryb, Homestead, FL, US
In less than 3 months had second spark plug blow out. Yikes. In reading blogs on internet sounds like a common problem. Bummer in time to have to stop and get repair plus cost to have done.
- Steven R., San Jose, CA, US
When the engine heads were manufactured Ford did not allow for enough thickness of the cylinder heads at the location for the spark plugs.
I replaced the blown out plug with a Dorman Kit.
I'm concerned enough with this issue of the cylinder heads to not drive the vehicle out of town or too far from home.
I don't want another spark plug to blow out and be on the road far away from home.
Ford should have made this a RECALL.
- Pat K., Arlington, TX, US
Spark plug shot out of head again. This is the same plug that shot out before. Since Ford know this is a problem they should correct it. Because I don't have the funds to fix this..
- eugenethomas707, Silvis, IL, US
FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY YEARS. Yet has done nothing to take care of it even though there manufacturing caused it. The Feds ought to make them provide a fix via a recall at their cost in the same way VW is forced to pay for their failure!
- perrycog2, Franklin, US
I can't believe a company would make an engine with this bad of a problem and not help the consumers that own them. Why would I buy from a company again if I know if something pops up they will just leave the customer hanging.
- dsimm, Colorado Springs, US
THIS TIME THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN AND THAT IS NOT CHEAP, THREE COIL PACKS AND SPARK PLUGS ALONG WITH A MECHANIC BILL, THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED FROM FORD, FORD HAS COST CONSUMERS MORE MONEY THEN JUST A NORMAL TUNE UP. THIS IS AN EXPENSE THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR AS A MANUFACTURE IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD HAVE CAME WITH A WARNING THAT THE ISSUE EXISTED AND WILL CONTINUE FOR THE LIFE OF THE AUTOMOBILE, I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE.
- t.redfield, Shoshone, US
DURING THIS EVENT FOR THE THIRD TIME I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM TOWN ABOUT 15 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE WHEN TWO MORE PLUGS BLEW OUT THIS TIME THE PRESURE FROM THE PLUG BLOWING OUT BROKE THE COIL PACK AND NEEDED REPAIRED WITH OTHER PARTS, THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT OFFERED NO FIX.
- t.redfield, Shoshone, US
ON 12/22/2006 WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM RENO NEVADA THE ENGINE MADE AN AWFULL NOISE AND HAD NO POWER 55 MILES AWAY FROM ANY HELP, THE EXPEDITION HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST TOWN. IT WOULDNT HAVE BEEN SUCH A BIG ISSUE OTHER THEN THE FACT THAT IT WAS -15 DEGREES OUTSIDE, WE HAD OUR FRIENDS WITH US WHOM ALSO HAD A 18 MONTH OLD BABY WITH HELP BEING OVER TWO HOURS AWAY GIVEN WHAT TIME OF NIGHT IT WAS 11:30 PM THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, A HWY PATROL OFFICER PULLED IN BEHIND US AND AND LEFT US WITH A BLANKET AND CALLED FOR THE TOWING COMPANY TO MAKE SURE HELP WAS ON IT'S WAY. WE ALL MADE IT HOME SAFE BUT THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE, IT SHOULDN'T HAVE NEVER TAKEN PLACE TO BEGIN WITH.
- t.redfield, Shoshone, US
THIS WAS THE SECOND PLUG THAT HAD JUST BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE LUCKY FOR US WE WERE NEAR HOME WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN.
- t.redfield, Shoshone, US
This is the first time the spark plug blew out but the 4th time the coil has gone bad. So far between the other 3 coils and this blow out, I have spent over $3,600 dollars on repairs that FORD should have recalled and repaired on all these Tritian engines. It's not like this has been isolated instances nor is it only happening on Expeditions. Not only is is costly it scares it could give someone a heart attack with the explosion of a spark plug blowing out of your engine and could catch fire and by what I have read the Heliacoil seal may not be the end of the fix. Ford needs to step up and take responsibility for their vehicles after all Ford trucks are rated number one in their class and Ford should stand behind their products and stop trying to blame consumers for torching the plug too tight. Ford does my tune ups so if they put the plus in too tight they are to blame. So I have had 4 repaired and have another 4 more to blow before that is the possible end of this issue.
Step up Ford and take responsibility for your problems! This certainly will effect my decision to buy another Ford Truck. Might have to go to GMC.
- Lisa J., Severn, MD, US
This is the 2nd time this has happened in this vehicle. The 1st time for this used engine that I replaced. After sitting with a blown engine for 3 years, I had to replace the engine back in November 2013. It blew this plug after Christmas with even very limited snow driving only.
I haven't had the money yet to fix it this time. This obviously should have been recalled a long, long time ago. This is by far the worst engine in a vehicle that I have ever had the misfortune of owning.
- Kerry S., Bates City, MO, US
My daughter was driving our 1999 Ford Expedition when it started making a loud noise (sounded awful) and she had to pull over on the freeway. I drove over to help her and discovered it had blown out a spark plug. Never head of such a thing until I read all of the problems reported on this site. This will likely be a very expensive repair for an older vehicle in otherwise good shape. Very disappointed in Ford for not recalling to cover this problem. My last Ford.
- Bruce C., Wodinville, WA, US
This is a terrible design by Ford. I've had 3 blow out and now one can not be fixed with a heli-coil, so now I'm going to have to spend 50% of vehicles value to fix a problem that Ford should fix. We need a recall for the faulty installation of spark plugs in 1999 Ford Expeditions.
- elmir_b, Elgin, IL, US
This is first complaint ... of many to come. A fire resulted. Burning myself to save the truck after spark plug ejected. Bought the replacement plugs with self tapping thread sheath... they blew out... Bought the helicoils.. they blew out... tried high temp repair putty. Worked for 1 day.. total cost in lost work , repairs, time and pain...I'm a Ford guy... My 87 daily driver I expect to work on.. I don't expect to have to have someone follow me picking up spark plugs and carrying a fire extinguisher. Recall this engineering paper weight.
- Ronald P., Sparta, NJ, US
Ok, so the first time was a bitch... Son in college driving home and the plug blows.... Ford Dealer in Chico Ca charges, $800....
2nd third, and fourth time.... My mechanic replaces for around $ 450.00 each time... I then take it to another local mechanic to do a tune up and check out the work my yard mechanic performed.... He tells me that he uses a better fix then it does it again.......another $ 450.00
So hey Ford.....what the hell is the issue? I have 5 F550's, 2 F250's and Explorer, and a couple F150's.... and a new Chevy Truck... Own up to your problems and fix this crap..
- Jim B., Oakdale, US