8.8
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,160
- Average Mileage:
- 133,300 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 75 complaints
Most common solutions:
- ford should have a recall (60 reports)
- had the head re-threaded (7 reports)
- not sure (6 reports)
- replaced engine head (2 reports)
« Read the previous 20 complaints
On the way back home to Arkansas from Vegas..spark plugs blew..leaving carload of 6 stranded on highway in Texas.. had to replace all plugs, coil, casing, etc..fast forward 30 days later..taking kids to school...same exact thing happened..30 DAYS LATER!!!! FORD NEEDS TO RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!
- Heather B., Bentonville, AR, US
Fix the problem, it's a defect from the manufacturer, these are still factory installed plugs.
- kanalet2, Saint Helens, OR, US
I called Ford Customer Service to discuss.They informed me that they could do nothing to assist with this situation and that they did not see it as an issue, as there were no recalls.
There is no need to rant, the next time I pay cash for a $50K+ car, it will be a different brand. That is the consumers only recourse.
- 2003engineargh, Bourbonnais, IL, US
First off, I am a young single mother with VERY little income with health issues that could bring a giant to his knees pain wise and now a cancer scare. I bought this car to be more "reliable" than my previous car, and it had the seat room as well. My daughter has to be seen in Madera CA for one of her CP and LA for her craniofacial appointments. Now, I dropped my kids off at school which are all in kindergarten (twins and a child i am raising), which is across the street from where I live, I get in the car, and make it maybe 50 when the car starts to jerk and sound like a motorcycle. I am about to lose my ever loving mind. I have my youngest in the car who is three. luckily there were two guys that were working at the warehouse across the street. They looked at my car and said the spark plug had blown out of the head and that the coil or distributor was now shot out. I buy all new spark plugs, and a new coil. Which by the way, we only replaced that one because we could only hand tighten it, don't know if there is a socket made for Fords in this particular department. But we get the parts changed and i turn it on. Its ok. I turn it off because my neighbor helping me said since its only hand tightened that it is not wise to take it too far or drive excessively. So I didn't touch the car... Until today. I turned on the car for the first time after testing it and the coil is out of the boot and I am back to square one. I WANT THIS FIXED. I have stuck with Fords since I could drive, and this is what I get... Thank you FORD. Thank you for taking advantage of a mother who is barely making it, not knowing if her electricity is going to be paid. Now I get to deal with THIS.
- Vanessa T., Bakersfield, CA, US
I AM IN AWE THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, KEPT BUILDING THEM AFTER THEY FOUND OUT, AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT CHARGE US OUT THE ASS TO FIX THE ISSUE!
- tlance, boise, ID, US
2003 Ford Expedition 5.4 v8 . Started the truck the morning of 7/01/14, heard a loud bang like a shoot gun and the engine starts making a loud noise. Opened up the the hood and had a spark plug and coil gone. They where under the truck on the ground. Just found out from a recall site that this engine has had problems with ejecting spark plugs. It's still in the shop, been two days now but after reading about the problem I feel unsafe driving the truck. What if one ejects when I'm driving and and get caught in a moving part of the engine? How is that not a safety hazard. I think Ford should have to fix the problem!!!!!!
- bsilvers, Perry, KS, US
This is my second blown plug in two months. There are thousands of complaints and we know what the problem is. I have now spent $2000 fixing this and had to find alternate means of transportation while the truck was in the shop twice. I never touched the spark plugs, so Ford can't blame me.
I notified my US Senator Dick Blumenthal. People need to contact him ASAP with their stories. He can help us.
- Curt A., Hamden, CT, US
Not sure what the problem is but Ford should have a recall if this is happening. I am now trying to get this fixed. It is a great head ache going from a two car family to using one. I am military and now have have to inconvenience my family as I have a small child who now has to wake up at 0500 to take me to work in the morning. I see a recall for exterior lights but not for an engine. How does that work?
- singletonrd, Fort Benning, GA, US
NHTSA should force Ford to make a recall. There are so many examples of this happening. I make sure to keep my vehicles properly professionally maintained, and this is a huge safety issue. Thankfully I was close to home and only driving 15 mph. Can you imagine highway speed and 100's of miles from home?
- Curt A., Hamden, CT, US
I bought this suv for my family about 3 months ago and we went on a little trip for vacations and suddenly heard a little tickling on the engine and there was that boom! Really i felt disapointed because that screwed my vacations and my financial situation! I tought i had a nice ride!! But is just a piece of s***t i will like to have ford to repair it..because is their fault..someone can get hurt or have an accident and no one wants to hear something like that! I loved that suv but..now i have to get something better..i don't trust FORD anymore! Feel really sad!
- juanclackamas, Oregon City, Clackamas, US
I was coming from church and the damn truck starts. To shake. And then a ticking noise under the hood and i was at the light and a loud boom noise sounded like a gun shot. and the car cut off. and then i started it up and it was low on pressure. I had no speed and there was a loud smell. I found out the spark plugs had blew. what kind of sh*t is this? ford needs their ass kicked for selling junk ass cars like this. i could have died if the truck would have caught on fire, so i have decided to let this hunk of junk go back and get me something better. i have a family to think about so the hell with the expedition. i don't want nothing else made by ford. i will take this problem higher to get some answers about this. i see i'm not the only one that has been through this.
- Jerry G., Auburn, AL, US
This has been one of the best running trucks until it blew a spark plug. Why in the world would FORD make an aluminum head with only 6 or 7 threads in it for the spark plug without using in steel inserts????????????
- D N., San Luis Obispo, CA, US
I bought this truck in July 2012. The first morning I owned this piece of crap I went to drive to work all proud in my new truck and made it a block from my house when I heard this loud banging sounding like a belt snapped and was slapping against the inside of the hood, I pulled over and the truck starts shaking and dies. I get it towed back to the dealership where they tried to tell me it was my problem but I did get them to take care of it. A spark plug blew out of the head. I have now almost owned this truck for a year next week... last Saturday at 11:30 pm with my children the god awful noise happens again. And there is single mom with 3 kids walking at midnight. The truck is in the shop now and I'm yet to find out if it is the same cylinder, in which that case I may have a $3000 bill to replace the head. My fingers are crossed it isn't and I can get this fixed just long enough to get rid of this PIECE OF SH*T FORD. Never again will I buy a Ford. Its fairly clear this is a problem it's just too bad that no one at Ford is doing anything about this.
- Malissa F., Mission, BC, canada
I BOUGHT MY EXPEDITION IN MAY AND HAD IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS WHEN I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE SO I PULL OVER AND SHUT IT OFF,GET OUT AND LOOK,PUZZLED TO FIND MY TIRES WERE OK AND NO FLAT,SO I GET BACK IN AND START IT UP AND DRIVE A LITTLE WAYS AND THERE IT GOES AGAIN SO IM THINKING OK MAYBE MY BELT BROKE SO I LEAVE IT RUNNING AND RAISE THE HOOD AND MY BELTS FINE,SO WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?WELL I HAD NO ONE TO COME GET ME OR TOW SO I DROVE IT HOME ABOUT A MILE,LOUD AS HELL LIKE A TRACTOR.I CALLED A MECHANIC AND HE TOOK IT TO HIS SHOP AND SAID IT BLEW A PLUG AND DAM DID IT,IT HAD BEAT THE HELL OUT OF MY FAN COVER,LUCKY IT DIDN'T GET INTO MY FAN.WELL HE FIXED IT,HAHA,HE THOUGHT BECAUSE WELL I GOT LUCKY THIS TIME I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT ALMOST BLEW MY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON,THINKING HAHA I'M SMART JUST TO GET IT FIXED AND FIND OUT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.FORD COMPANY,I LOVE MY EXPEDITION BUT HATE HOW YOU TREAT YOUR PEOPLE,SO FIX THE DAMN PROBLEM OR I WILL NEVER EVER BY ANOTHER FORD AGAIN ,THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS 2003 SOMETIME OR ANOTHER,THE OTHER OWNER JUST DIDNT BRING IT IN,FIX MY PROBLEM ON MINE PLEASE SO I MAY KEEP ENJOYING MY FORD! DON'T KEEP MESSING WITH US ALL,THANK YOU!
- Rebecca Y., Piggott, AR, US
I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK ONLY THREE MONTHS BEFORE THIS CRAP HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY AND BOOM..... IT BLEW THE PLUG OUT AND DESTROYED MY COIL. I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING WITH THE WARRANTY PEOPLE FOR ALMOST A WEEK NOW. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT IT IS NOT COVERED IN THE WARRANTY. WELL AS FOR WHAT MY WARRANTY PAPER... IT SAYS : THAT CYLINDER HEADS ARE COVERED. IF I AM NOT MISTAKING THAT THE SPARK PLUGS ARE IN THE CYLINDER HEADS... IT STRIPPED OUT THE THREADS OF THE HEAD. SO..... IT SURE LOOKS LIKE A MALFUNCTION, DEFECT, OR A FAILURE TO ME. SURE SOUNDS LIKE I MAY HAVE TO GET A ATTORNEY INTO THIS FIGHT.
- gargar67, ward, AR, US
What I thought was a quick trip out to the bank turned into a nightmare. We had 6 children in the car was stopped at a red light and then we heard this awful loud popping noise. Thought the engine had blown. Thankfully we made it to a parking lot and sit for over 2 hours trying to figure out the problem. Now I am stranded home with no reliable car.
REALLY FORD!!!!!
FIX THIS ISSUE KNEW I SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH A SUBURBAN!!!
- Tab P., Here, GA, US
I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS REGUARDING THE SPARK PLUG BLOWING OUT OF MY CAR. THE FORD DEARLERSHIP WHERE I GOT ALL MY WORK DONE IS PLAYING DUMB. THEY'RE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SPARK PLUG AND OFFERED TO FIX MY CAR FOR $3600.00
- veravaughn, Woodbridge, VA, US
This is NOT Ford-Tough and it seems like Ford doesn't give a damn!
I take really good care of my car. Even the dealership/service was impressed and said he never saw an almost 10 year old Expedition with that mileage in such good shape.
Now the spark plug blew out and took all the fun away from driving this car. I have to expect any moment for this to happen again!!
Ford doesn't care and doesn't want to address/fix this problem. This does it for me. I had several Ford trucks before but I will NEVER buy Ford again. They are only interested to sell a new car. I did all the scheduled services and kept the car in good shape, now it lost all it's value and the "Ford-Tough" company doesn't know me anymore! Bye-bye Ford.
- achimw, San Jose, CA, US
On my first real family vacation since retiring from the Army in 2008. Had my wife, son, Mom and her boyfriend in the truck going to Seaside Heights, NJ for a Tomatoe Pie (24" round, OMG). Just as we were pulling into town I hear a super loud pop and my truck sounding like the muffler fell off. Couldn't figure it out then so we continued into town and had our tomato pie. Took it to a Ford dealership the next morning thinking it will cost a few hundred bucks to replace a plug and coil. A day later, when I called the dealership to find out what the hold up was, he said the engine had to be replaced, a piece of metal from the plug got into the engine and it had to be replaced. I was 600 miles from home and did not know if I could drive the truck home without breaking down again. A week later the truck was finally done. (I had to call the dealership every day to get an update, thats sad). $6,500 later we are on our way. Now I am having problems with the ignition, a local Auto Zone guy told me to google the problem and low and behold I find this site and read over 35 people had the same problem. Now I am pissed. Did I have to spend $6,500 or could they have informed me of the known problem? I went there thinking I would have to buy a new vehicle, but $6,500 is a lot less than $52,000. I agree with everyone on here that if Ford knows, and we know they do, they should have recalled the engines or agree to pay for 75% of the repairs. My family gave me this vehicle after my brother (owner) passed away. I keep it going in his memory. Now I am at a lost for words and thought.
- Shawn M., Jonesborough, TN, US
I hear what sounded like an exhaust leak for a week or so. Nothing major. Actually it sound quite minor, like a pinhole leak in the exhaust system. Is it related? Unsure but I will say the timing is suspect. It's been hard since I've installed helicoils so any advice is greatly appreciated.
- Greg A., Houston, TX, US