2000 Ford F-150 4.6L V-8. blown spark plug. Ford dealer claims that Ford will not approve a a repair and either the head ($3,000) or the motor ($5000) need to be replaced. There is no official tsb (technical service bulletin) on this problem, but unofficially, it seems that Ford is aware of the problem since the dealer put a "'special note" on the quote from Ford regarding the unapproved repair work above. From various internet searches, others have had trouble with Ford 4.6, 5.4 or V-10 motors with spark plugs blowing out of aluminum heads.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

We hae a 2000 Ford F350 that was recently in an accident and the body shop found that it had prior damage. We were never notified by the dealership that this vehicle had prior damage. The prior damage makes the vehicle unsafe to drive as it has the wrong cab on it and the wrong cab has been welded on, as you can see the welding marks underneath the truck, and also the seat belts have been bolted in and not drilled in, but their are many drilled holes in the bottom of the truck cab. The body shop feels that the truck is unsafe to drive as you never know when the welding could collapse. We have pictures of the previous damage along with two witnesses. We have notified mid states Ford and also Ford Motor Company with a long list of things that have happened since June 9th, 2003. Mid states Ford has not contacted us since dennis contacted them on July 8th and they said they would get right back to us. Ford Motor Company has not called us back since our last note to them last week. We just want some answers before something else happens. We also would like some resolutions to this problem.

- Maxwell, IA, USA

I have not gotten the problem fixed. The paint in the (rain gutters?) in the roof of the truck has cracks from front to back. I bought the truck in may and the dealer states they were not in there when I bought it. The dealer also states that the Ford company will not fix it. They stated that the it is in fact a factory defect but since I am past my 3 year 30,000 mile warranty it is my problem now..

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

1. brake rotors serviced 7 times(the 3rd. New set of rotors is currently on front). 2. exterior paint failed and required repainting. 3. front ball joints failed. 4. front hubs failed. 5. power steering pump failed. 6. water pump failed. 7. suspension bushing failed. 8. 3 of 4 stock tires developed bulges. 9. currently there are suspension problems developing in the front and the hubs do not engage automatically.

- Proctor, MN, USA

While driving, the spare tire cable broke, releasing the tire into oncoming traffic. The spare had never been used. The bottom "bell shaped" end of the cable sheared off.

- Brandywine, MD, USA