10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 6
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 99,168 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The #4 spark plug blew out of my 2002 Ford F150. It happened twice within 2 weeks of each other.
- Stamford, CT, USA
Spark plug ejection on 2002 Ford F150 5.4L V-8 engine.
- Lexington, KY, USA
I was returning from work on 1/2/08 when my 2002 Ford F-150 (Triton 5.4L) began to pop and run rough, I smelled gasoline in the cab of the truck and pulled right over, upon looking at the engine I noticed the #3 plug lying on top of the engine, it had blown out. This plug was factory installed and had never been removed from the engine.
- Toms River, NJ, USA
I currently own a 2002 Ford F-150. At about 70,000 miles a spark blew out on the drivers side. This was the original plug. Had to have helicoil installed. Prior to this incident, my 2001 Expedition had the same problem. This was also the original plugs, but this motor only had 60,000 miles. Unfortunately, the Ford dealer I had it towed to would not perform helicoil, so I had to replace the head. They said Ford did not recommend helicoil. So I have owned 2 Ford within 1 year of each other and both have had the exact same problem with plugs. It's apparent that Ford has a design flaw. I heard from a Ford dealer that the newer body style of F-150 has had a correction in the thread design in the heads.
- Lincoln, CA, USA
#3 S parkplug blew out of head and also broke coil on plug. Ford service shop installed helicoil to fix problem and replaced coil on plug. Also had Ford service look at noisy ac blower motor fan and it was also bad. Vehicle is a 2002 Ford F150 supercrew 5.4L with only 28,500 on it. Did not keep parts. Vehicle out of warranty but I called customer relations and they only covered about 1/3 of cost to repair spark plug problem and none of the ac blower.
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA
I woke up last week to the sound of a car alarm. I looked outside and the front of my Ford F 150 was engulfed in flames. It was so hot the tires melted into the driveway. We had not driven the truck in several days. It appears the fire started in the engine as the entire front of the vehicle is incinerated.
- Lake Tapps, WA, USA
Ford F 150 number 3 spark plug blew out of the cylinder head. 2002 with 90000 miles.
- Elk Garden, WV, USA
My wife was driving in the car pool lane during rush hour traffic when the number three spark plug was ejected from the head of my 2002 Ford F150 lightning. My wife loss power. It was a very dangerous situation to be in the car pool lane when losing power. I am a mechanic and a spark plug should not just eject itself. Luckily my wife was able to maneuver the truck over and off the freeway. Ford was contacted. They said they know of this issue with the spark plugs, but at this time it is the consumers responsibility to pay for the repairs. I feel it should be a recall. There has been thousand of complaints regarding this same issue and nothing has been done.
- Alta Loma, CA, USA
On thurs. 12-07, I was driving 40 mph when I heard a loud pop, the truck was running rough and loud. I pulled over, it blew a spark plug(#4). Towed it to the dealership, was told the head would be replaced, then when I returned for the truck was told they would only repair the hole with a helicoil, which I found a service bulletin #0214 that states engine assemblies with aluminum cylinder heads repaired in vehicle have been found to leak coolant and/ or oil from the cylinder head gasket area. The dealership seems to think this is trivial, and refuses to replace the head under warranty. Truck is an '02 F-150 lightning. 5.4 motor.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
My husband was driving to work and heard a loud pop. His truck was towed to a Ford dealer and we were told it was the #3 spark plug blew out. Warranty company refuses to fix it. I have had to lose 2 weeks of work so far so that my husband can go to work. It is costing us $2400 to fix his truck. We have found out that this is a common problem with these vehicles.
- Chicago, IL, USA
I was driving down the road about 45 mph, when I heard a loud noise so I pulled over, found the pass side rear plug was shot out of the motor and laying on the top of the engine. The coil pack is cracked and the mounting bracket snapped off. I have done nothing to fix this yet!yes I have old parts.
- Glendale, AZ, USA
The 2002 F150 lariet was running great, had not had any problems leading up to this incident. The number 7 spark plug ejected from the head, caused loss of power of the engine, taken to a Ford dealer and they are telling us they can replace the head for $3300 our cost. I feel this is a defect in the head and Ford should be responsible to replace.
- Slocomb, AL, USA
2002 F 150 V 4.2L V6 engine. 83000 miles has defective intake manifold gasket that can cause leak of coolant into cylinders causing engine to blow up possibly causing car to become uncontrollable causing a serious accident. Ford has no plans despite receiving numerous complaints.
- Boca Raton, FL, USA
I was driving my 2002 Ford F-150 when the spark plug (3rd one on passenger side blew out of the head on the engine. The engine is a 4.6 liter Triton engine. It made a large bang then a thumping noise and loss of power to engine so I hurried and pulled over and shut the engine off. Tried to put spark plug back in. It stayed in for a few days and blew out again. It will not stay in. The cost of repairs could reach $2000 easily. If someone was near the engine when it went off it might of killed them. Very dangerous situation. I looked up on the internet to find a way to fix the problem and found out hundreds if not thousands of people have had the same problem with these engines.
- Fort Knox, KY, USA
Spark plug blow out on my 2002 F150, 5.4L, V8, Ford pickup. Mileage at time of the incident,46337. While turning right after stopping at a stop sign, I heard a loud pop. The engine lost power and continued to pop very loud. I pulled to the side of the road and called a tow truck. I knew what the problem was, because my brothers 2001, F150, 5.4L, V8, Ford pickup, mileage aprox.103000 had the same problem. Ford knows about the problem and has a new head with 8 threads instead of 4, but claim no responsibility for the failure. My truck is a the dealership that I purchased it from. I have an extended warranty that is covering the replacement of "one" head. I am paying for the replacement of the other head. I think it is totally wrong to replace only one head when they both have the same defect!!
- Oroville, CA, USA
Vehicle experienced sudden stalling at various speeds. Took vehicle to dealer for checkup, but the cause was undetermined.
- Topeka, KS, USA
Electrical: At 306 miles the solenoids had to be replaced. Upon shutting the vehicle off; the dash board would still illuminate. Also, upon shutting the vehicle off it would continue to run. This has happened a total of four times. The transmission completely failed with no warning. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and was told the windshield had a leak which corroded the electrical system. The electrical problems started at 44000 miles. The gasket had to be replaced, and the harness wiring had to be replaced also. Upon trying to start the vehicle again the battery would be completely dead.
- Fort Pierce, FL, USA
Excessive exhaust smoke. Poor performance.
- Mesa, AZ, USA
Spark plug self launching from Ford F150 5.4 L engine
- Lexington, KY, USA
- Nashua, NH, USA