10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
20,517 miles

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problem #38

Apr 032008

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles
1999 Ford F150 5.4L V8 blew out the number four (4) spark plug located on the passenger side in the rear. Personal research has told me that this is a very common problem due to a "factory defect" (Ford Motor Company does not admit this) of not having enough threads in the head to hold the plug. Recommended repairs include replacing the head, which is $2,500 job. I am using a thread tapping dye with an insert to fix this problem. It is still not put back together at this time. In my opinion, Ford needs to recall the heads on the 5.4L motors for any and all years that have had these blow-out problems.

- Kinder, LA, USA

problem #37

Feb 132007

F-150 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Have a 1999 F150 that has a fix recorded for the head gasket, but has no recall. Even though Ford knows there is a fault, and should take care of or repay the consumer for fixing, since Ford knows there is a problem.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #36

Jan 282007

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,233 miles
1999 Ford F-150 spark plugs blowing out.

- Burlington, KY, USA

problem #35

Oct 022005

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 117,400 miles
I was driving my family down a winding major mountain highway in my 1999 Ford F150 truck (5.4L V-8, 117400 mileage) when a loud bang came from the engine area and my truck lost power. This startled me and I lost momentary control of the truck. I regained control and pulled to the road side. The next day (10/3/05) I took the truck to fairway Ford service department. They had replaced all the spark plugs about 10,000 miles previously. They determined the problem to be a "blown out spark plug". both the service advisor and the service manager said the problem was caused by a bad design by Ford (not enough threads to hold the plug) and the previous plug replacement had nothing to no with problem. They said neither they nor Ford would take any responsibility for the problem they corrected the problem by installing a remanufactured left side cylinder head, all per a Ford technical service bulletin. The cost was $2549.35. They kept the old parts.

- Crestline, CA, USA

problem #34

Sep 152004

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles
1999 F 150. The engine spit the spark plug out and damaged the head, coil, wiring and hood.

- Kearney, NE, USA

problem #33

May 092005

F-150 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 45,000 miles
Manufacturing defect - plug thread failure vehicle is a 1999 Ford F-150 4X with 5.4L Triton and approx. 45,000 miles. While unaggressively accellerating at normal highway speeds the engine lost power and a loud popping sound could be heard. The vehicle was immediately pulled to the side of the highway, turned off, and towed to a repair facility. No injury or crash occurred. Investigation indicated a spark plug and coil had been ejected from the head. The plug was the 2nd from the front on passenger side. The threads in the head were stripped such that a new spark plug could not be seated. A helicoil was installed for approx. $300 and loss of vehicle for a week, but it failed after approximately 3 months. This failure was evidenced by engine misfire, power loss and sluggishness. Investigation revealed that same plug was not firing, and was not able to be removed because the helicoil threads were also stripped. The head was replaced at a cost of $3,626 with and additional 2 weeks lost vehicle use (2 comparable quotes from reputable auto repair providers were obtained). Repair time was longer than usual as the part had to be ordered from out-of-state and expedited shipping was deemed too expensive. At this time, however, the engine misfires continuously at idle and frequently at highway speeds. The vehicle is currently in the shop for a 3rd time to investigate this continuing condition.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #32

Nov 012004

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 53,000 miles
I was merging onto a busy road safely, and a spark plug blew out of my engine head. It caused an immediate loss of power and almost caused an accident because the truck would not move in heavy traffic. It also posed a fire hazard as fuel continued to pour into a cylinder with no spark plug sealing the top of it.

- Cordova, TN, USA

problem #31

Aug 312004

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 103,000 miles
Drove my F-150 truck to eat then when I came out I drove it about 100 yards and stop and did about 15 minutes shoping at home depot when I came out and started it it made a bang. It sounded like a hole in the tail pipe. When I took it to the dealer they said it was a cylinder head from a blow spark plug.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #30

Mar 082004

F-150 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles
On the day listed below my 1999 Ford F150 with a Triton 5.4L V8 engine ejected a spark plug from the cylinder head. Upon inspection by a mechanic it was determined that the threads in the cylinder head failed. The compression in the cylinder then ejected the spark plug. After the spark plug was ejected and before I could get stopped there was a strong smell of gas in the cab of the truck. Which I assume was caused by the open cylinder and fuel being expressed through the spark plug opening.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #29

Sep 112003

F-150

  • 80,000 miles
Whenever consumer turned the key to start the engine, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the engine. Spark plugs were removed, that were covered with anti freeze. Engine head gaskets were leaking, and that caused the engine to throw a rod. Ford has a current technical service bulletin concerning this engine problem.

- Mohawk, NY, USA

problem #28

Nov 112002

F-150

  • miles
Noticed a smell of burnt motor oil at right side front on 11/9/2002. Check all fluid levels. They were ok went to auto dealer where I bought the truck Monday morning 11/11/2002. Mechanic check the truck out and found out the head gasket leaking oil. He said he has replaced several of these type head gaskets(most of the time rightside) on the 5.4 engines from 1999 to present. The truck is out of manufactors warranty being that is older that 3 years. Ford company knows there is a problem and they should have to repair the truck free of charge. I am glad that I purchased an extended warranty. But it is not fair for the company that I purchased the warranty to pay for this. I have to pay the first $50.oo and that is not right also. The dealer has started repairing the truck as soon as they found the problem and the warranty company said it was ok to the repairs. I have not complaints with the dealer doing the repairs. They have always given me very good service.

- Franklin, VA, USA

problem #27

Nov 082002

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
Consumer state while traveling notice a oil smell inside vehicle consumer notice oil was leaking between engine block and the head.

- Mooresville, IN, USA

problem #26

Apr 012002

(reported on)

F-150 4WD

  • miles
Vehicle gets less than 15 mpg, sometimes less than 14 mpg under all driving conditions. Advertised mileage was 15 city 17 hwy. Not even close! no safety defect listed.

- Trenton, NJ, USA

problem #25

Feb 282002

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
Oil is leaking on passenger's side between the cylinder head and engine block. This leakage could eventually cause head gasket to blow.

- Doulasville, GA, USA

problem #24

Dec 042001

F-150

  • miles
Rough engine idle. Dealer checked 3X's and says it's the way Ford leans the engines that causes the rough idle. They can't replace parts unless they find a bad one. They ran electrical test equipment and found nothing. I'm not the only one that has this problem.

- Shalimar, FL, USA

problem #23

Jun 012001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Catalyic converter had been replaced 3 times. Fuel was going into engine /burned through and caused a hole in cataylic converter. No remedy.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

Mar 012001

F-150 4WD

  • miles
Engine has severe knock at start up, and uses oil, dealership has repeated told me that this is not a issue. Other Ford truck owners have informed me that their engines where replaced under warranty, while I have been put off and now vechicle is off warranty.

- Hutchinson, MN, USA

problem #21

Mar 272001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While traveling at approximately 10 mph under wet/rainy conditions consumer attempted to make a right turn when vehicle failed to follow path of road, and went straight ahead. As condsumer was driving engine light began to flash, and then vehicle stalled, no power steering as well as brakes failed vehiicle went straight into a ditch, consumer suffered injuries, contacted dealer but not willing to even inspect vehicle.

- Federal Way, WA, USA

problem #20

Apr 092001

(reported on)

F-150

  • miles
Engine keeps failing. Consumer has replaced engine 3 times, cause is unknown. Please provide further infromation.

- Alabaster, LA, USA

problem #19

Feb 012001

F-150

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle burns too much oil. Consumer thinks that vehicle has burned oil. But, when taken to dealer, dealer told her that there was no oil leak, but they will look into it.

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

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