8.3
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $1,680
- Average Mileage:
- 122,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 24 complaints
Most common solutions:
- helicoil threads,new coil (14 reports)
- not sure (6 reports)
- new motor (1 reports)
- remove/replace engine (1 reports)
- replaced head (1 reports)
- spark plug re-thread (1 reports)
This year is prone to spark plugs blowing. It has an aluminum block with a steel head so spark plugs will blow. Poor design. Overall the truck is quite rugged even at high mileage.
- Rob P., Millbrook, ON, Canada
This is a terrible inconvenience and frightening to think that it could happen at any time and leave you stranded in the middle of "no where", a very dangerous situation, could even be life threatening and yet Ford will not own up and take responsibility for their inadequate design. It can be very costly to have "ALL" plug threads helicoiled, @ $280 a plug
- alvinchapman, Charlotte, US
Problem happened on a trip to Lubbock, Texas from new BRAUNFELS Texas. With 130 miles to go to Lubbock I lost power and had to limp to Sweeteater Texas. Autozone checked the code and said I had a misfire on #4 and #8 cylinders. I purchased 8 new plugs and two new coils. After switching the 4 and 8 coils with 1 and 5, the engine still idled rough. I limped to Lubbock where I had the codes read again. It showed # 8 cylinder was still misfiring. While changing the plugs, I found that the #8 plug was completely loose. I installed all new plugs making sure they torqued down. On November 17th I heard the ticking noise again and could smell a rich exhaust. The #8 plug had come loose again. Guess I'm headed to a shop to see if they can install a helicoil to prevent the plug from blowing out. Poor design as I have never had this happen with any vehicle before. You need to step up FORD and recall these vehicles with a permanent fix.
- faulknertx, New Braunfels, TX, US
Spark plug blew out in Atlanta just days after I got it out of the body shop following an accident. Insurance co. Decided not to cover it although when I cranked the truck at the body shop to leave, there was a bad skip in the engine. Ford dealer in Atlanta wanted $4800 to put a new head on. I had it towed home 150 miles by upgrading my AAA account to Premium (great deal) which gave me one 200 mile tow free. At a local shop I was charged $1200 for the insert kit, intake manifold gasket and labor. Labor seemed excessive 11 1/2 hours. I was unaware of any auto engine blowing out a spark plug but the dealer knew immediately the problem. What an eye opener that so many people have had the same thing to happen. Ford needs to do a recall.
- Fred W., Cleveland, TN, US
Heritage Ford seemed unconcerned." Bring it in we'll look at it". I've been smelling "gas fumes" at a cold start, probably the loose plug.
- Jeffery T., Milton, VT, US
Spark plug blew out, taking the threads with it. Still original plugs which owners manual shows need not to replace until 100,000 miles. I have 88,000. (Original owner) This of course happened when I was 200 miles from home on a Saturday night, 8:00pm. Had to have towed to a shop, which of course was closed. Two extra nights in motel. Monday morning contact shop when they open and they tell me this is an ongoing Ford Triton engine problem and they don't want to fix it. Have truck towed to nearest Ford dealership 46 miles......... They can put in a heli-coil but advise, "it may not hold"....... I have it done.... $430. This is one plug. I have 7 more......
From what I have read online, I should have the plugs replaced now, but several plugs will break on the change out. Now the great news!!!!!!!! Ford motor Co has come up with a new tool that will assist the mechanic in removing the broken plug........ They will also charge $100 more for each plug they break and have to use the tool....... If they break all the plugs on removal it will be $800 This is on top of installing the new plugs. And after the new plugs are in.... the heads are still aluminum and so are the threads..........With all the motors they have engineered, how did they come up with this? If you call customer service, they do nothing.
- David S., Williamstown, NJ, US
My wife was picking up the kiddos from school when the spark plug blew out. She pulled over and called me saying that it was making a ticking sound. Well, after a futile attempt to have her visually inspect the engine and relay what she heard and could see, we hung up on each other. I identified the issue when I got the truck home.
Note for young couples: educate your significant other on engine components and their function. I replaced the spark plug with a new one and was able to thread it in and tighten it. This lasted just under 2 days. My next attempt will be to install a helicoil or insert. I hope this lasts for awhile.
- winklertx, Aubrey, TX, US
This should not be happening. I have read all over the internet about this problem and talked to many people in both dealerships and the general public that the same thing has happen to. Some multiple times.
- fixinjets, Salisbury, NC, US
This is the 2nd time!!!!!! All you hear is "oh well, that's what happens to Fords". NO!!! This is B.S.! UGH!!!
- Mark G., South Elgin, IL, US
This was the first time a plug ejected out engine. Ford knows the problem and will not fix! W.T.F.!
- David H., San Diego, CA, US
Spark plug blew out putting a hole in the head. This has been a reoccurring problem, fixed once with a Helli Coil, now unfixable. Cannot find ANYONE that even wants to try to rebuild/replace head. Going to have to replace entire engine.
- Jamey S., New Richmond, OH, US
Spark plug blew out and stripped threads. Placed Helli Coil and fixed, but only temporarily. Now plug shot back out and put hole in head.
- Jamey S., New Richmond, OH, US
The plug that blew out was a stock plug. I have only owned this truck a little over a year so I haven't ever changed them. So I know it was not a tightening problem on my end. Completely ridiculous something like that can happen.
- gmorton, Friendsville, TN, US
I just got done putting new brakes on front axle and cleaned up back brakes. Took truck for test drive and spark plug blew out. Can't believe that it cost $585 to replace one plug and coil. This is the worst thing I have ever experienced. I just retired from Ford and am very upset that they don't think is should eligible for a recall. They are screwing the consumers with this issue. I asked my mechanic if I should replace all the plugs and he told me it will not stop this from happening again. I'm gonna trade by truck in but an seriously thinking of buying another brand.
- Denton L., North Olmsted, OH, US
My truck is a 05 ford f-150 4+4 with 53,000 miles. The spark plug broke off and went down in the motor causing the motor to lock up. It cost me 6,400 dollars to fix it. Ford would not do anything to help me. It had the same plugs in it that came with the truck.I am 52 years old and this has hurt me very bad. I will never buy another ford of any kind. nor will any of my family or friends and I will tell everyone I see about this. I hope ford gives their CEO's a big raise this year. My family will not have a christmas Thanks To FORD.
- bobuckner1, Newcomb, TN, US
I had just purchased this used truck and had put only 1700 miles on it, when the #3 spark plug blew out causing two gas explosions when I was 800 miles from home. It cost $981.98 towing and repair to a Ford garage. I had them install a spark plug insert instead of replacing the cylinder head at a cost of $3,900.00. Before the spark plug blew out I did smell gasoline around the engine a few times and I checked but found nothing.
I found that Ford does not cover this known problem out of warranty.
Ford recommendation is to replace the cylinder head. Ford has a service bulletin
TSB 07-21-2 to install a spark plug insert.
The spark plug blow out is a design defect by Ford of the aluminum cylinder head and should be covered by extended warranty especially since there is a potential of fire and explosion hazard. The owners manual states the spark plugs should be replaced at 100,000 miles. My spark plugs were OEM at only 79,000.
- Robert D., White Pigeon, MI, US
OK yes I'am back ,The girl from Colorado Springs,CO. Ok so 3 weeks ago I put a new transmission in my piece of s*t Ford f150 STX 4.6 4x4. Well now my truck is miss-firing. I"am so tired of putting money into this truck. FORD you need to get your s*t right with these trucks. We make the payments so why can't you not make the truck????????????????????????????????????????????????
- Brenda E., Colorado Springs, CO, US
After Internet search seems like the Triton 4.6 V8 of this model is notorious for blowing the plug.Should have been recalled and fixed.Plug blows and strips the cylinder.
- jclark005, Nederland, TX, US
coming home with my brother, had to tow my truck back
- Arthur T., Norwalk, CA, US
There have been over 230,000 incidents of this problem, yet FORD does not acknowledge the need for a recall. At a minimum, FORD should make repairs for free or at a large discount.
- Michael H., Chester, US