Dt*: the contact stated a loud exhaust noise was heard while driving 55 MPH on normal road conditions. There were no prior warning signals. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined the bolts were snapping off the exhaust manifold due to a manufacturer defect. The vehicle has yet to be repaired.
1999 Ford Expedition engine complaints
Page 5 of 10: complaints 101 to 130 of 274, newest first, as owners wrote them.
1999 ford expedition, 88k miles, spark plug ejected from passenger side of engine. This occurred in heavy traffic while in left lane of smoketown road in prince william county, virginia. The vehicle stalled after I let off the gas pedal right after a loud bang and popping sound was heard in engine. I was able to restart vehicle, but had to keep the RPM's up to keep from stalling. After cutting off several cars in center and right lane, the vehicle was pulled into a parking lot on right side of road. I detected a strong smell of gasoline present when hood was raised. Not once did the "check engine" light come on; unlike all the other times it came on when nothing was wrong with the truck. The vehicle was towed to a ford dealer and a $3400 head replacement performed because head was ruined by stripped spark plug ejecting. Upon checking internet, I found that this is an ongoing increasing problem. It appears that an inquiry done by your agency concluded in january of 2006 that this is a rarely occurring incident of little to no danger. I beg to differ. A simple google query will show thousands if not tens of thousands of complaints regarding ford triton engine spark plug problems posted on various message boards. It is a matter of time before someone gets hurt or killed either directly or indirectly from this obvious problem. I'm just glad I was alone driving and not my wife and children. My wife would have remained in the stalled vehicle while sitting in the passing lane. Considering the enormous number of potentially affected vehicle this issue involves, I will also be bringing this matter to the attention of every elected official I can send an email to.
On august 2, 2006, while traveling in michigan, a spark plug suddenly blew out of my 1999 ford expedition. There was no prior warning or indication of any problem. I had to have it towed to bay city, mi, where a ford dealer told me that it would cost approx. $3500 to repair the problem. He said it was a recurring problem with ford expeditions. My car had approximately 120000 miles on it at the time. I kept the spark plug and coil attachment, and it doesn't look like the grooves on the plug gave way or were stripped.
Dt*: the contact stated the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where they determined the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced. Although repair was made, the check engine light illuminated a second time. The vehicle was taken to the dealership this time where they determined the oxygen sensor needed to be replaced therefore causing a need to replace the engine.
Driving at 25 MPH in residential area of cleveland oh spark plug #3 blew out of head, leaving me stranded for 2 days waiting to get repairs finished. 5.4 triton engine, properly maintained with 59,000. Miles on it.
Spark plug blowing from cylinder head.
In feb of 2005 my 1999 ford expedition with the 5.4 v-8 blew the passenger side 3rd spark plug right out of the head. The car had apox. 95,000 miles on it and ford said warranty would not cover it. It would take 3,500 $ to fix. So I towed it away from grass vallley ford, a decided to have a mecanic fup a heli coil. That lasted little over a year and in june of 2006 the same plug shot out. I think this is fords problem and needs to be dealed with.
1999 ford expedition bought brand new at serramonte ford in colma ca. Serviced in strict accordance every 5000 miles per ford owner manual and at the same ford dealership exclusively. Lost engine, timing chain at 55,000 miles, lost transmission at 130000 miles.
While driving a loud "pop" was heard followed by an exhaust-type sound emanating from engine compartment. Vehicle was driven 4 blocks to our home where inspection revealed the blown plug.
For the second time in 6 months I had an engine spark plug ejection in my 1999 expedition. The spark plug detached from the cylinder and was ejected from the engine. I heard a loud pop while driving, the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound. I also lost some power while driving, the vehicle did not stall. I did smell gas when the incident occurred. I was able to slowly drive the vehicle to the repair shop.
Approximately at 8 am, my wife was driving to work when she heard a loud bang under the hood of the car. She was driving a 1999 ford expedition. The engine started making a very loud popping noise. After arriving and starting the car to hear what was going on, I knew what the problem was. 5 years ago I drove a 1999 f250 ford with a v10 and it did the same thing. The local dealership agreed a spark plug had blown out of the engine on the expedition on the #3 cylinder. They repaired it by putting a plug insert (heli-coil) in. They put the insert in while the head was still on the vehicle. Now three weeks later the rods on #3 and #7 pistons are bent and the vehicle is inoperable. The dealership only option to us was to replace the engine at a cost of nearly $4,500.
I bought a used 1999 ford expedition. I owned it for less than 30 days before the first spark plug ejected. After having the dealer fix it the problem it happened again in less than 30 days. I had to spend 1000 to have the car towed home from ny, the price of the rental car and another 3500 to get a new head. Not to mention the 500 I paid the dealer to fix the car.
I am a school teacher that drives a 1999 expedition v8. I was on my way to school two weeks ago and heard a loud bang come from under my hood. It then started to sound like a john deer tractor. I had my spark plugs replaced last year and thought that it would be the same again. I took it to the same mechanic that replaced spark plugs last year and told me that the plug blew my thread out and that it might need some serious engine repairs because of it. He also told me that this is a common problem with these ford vehicles. Apparently it is going to cost me 3,000 to fix. I am a teacher and find it ridiculous to have to pay for this when there has been so many complaints over the same engineering problem! Ford needs to do something about this. After seeing so many complaints online, it really makes me upset and feel emotional stress. The need to recall these aluminum engines.
I had just left a stop light when I heard a loud pop. It sounded like something blew up! The car was really loud and ran rough after that. I had it towed to the shop. They said we blew a spark plug and stripped the threads that hold it in place. At a cost of $1,600 to repair we are having a friend look at it. He thinks he might be able to order a kit called timesert to possibly fix it. I hope it works because it will save us a great deal of money. After investigating the problem online, it definitely is a big problem for ford. They must issue a recall immediately.
Head gasket is leaking.
My 1999 ford expedition had a spark plug blow out. The vehicle has approximately 60,000 miles.
Leaking right head gasket due to faulty manufacturing. Oil leak is dripping on the muffler potential fire hazard and pollution.
Dt*: the contact stated when taking the vehicle in for normal routine service, a leak in the head gasket was discovered. The vehicle is currently at the dealership awaiting repairs.
#3 spark plug blew out of engine taking the thread insert with it.
Dt*: the contact stated the engine shut down while driving at 50 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a local dealership where the cause was determined, but the dealer was unable to make the necessary repairs. An independent repair shop inspected the vehicle and determined the engine suffered electrolysis problems. The antifreeze leaked onto the engine because the compartment was made of weak aluminum. Therefore, the compartment could not sustain the fluid.
Engine spark plug blow out at 80,000 miles on engine. Engine had 40,000 on it from new and was consuming oil due to the right head leaking oil. Ford replaced the head gasket. The gasket did not solve the problem so a new motor was installed. Now at 120,000 (80,000 on the motor) after the spark plugs were changed, a plug blew out of the head. A helicoil was installed after the plug blow out but that also failed. Rebuilt head is being installed. Feel this is a ford problem on this spark plug blow out. The 5.4l head is not manufactured to withstand the horsepower.
My 99 ford expedition's spark plug ejected from the head. This has caused emotional distress, not being able to get to and from work and other places. I had it repaired for a price of $300 dollars. This was ridiculous, ford should pay all expenses. Then I was driving today and another plug blew. My truck is sitting on the side of the road right now. This is terrible!
Dt*: the contact stated while driving there was a loud bang in the engine. The vehicle immediately lost power and was uncontrollable. The contact pulled the vehicle to the side of the road. It was towed to an independent repair shop and the spark plugs were replaced. One month later another spark plug blew out of the engine. The vehicle was taken again to an independent repair shop were the spark plugs were replaced.
Pulling out from a stop sign in neighborhood when suddenly smoke smell and loud rhythmic banging from under hood. I immediately pulled over and had the vehicle towed to shop. They discovered a spark plug had blown through the head, requiring a head replacement. Subsequently I discovered this is a problem with ford vehicles with the triton engine-design defect in that their are only 5-6 threads holding spark plugs in leaving them susceptible to this type of failure during normal operation. Ford would not assist me with repairs stating there was no recall dealing with this issue.
1999 ford expedition - blow spark plug out of number 3 cylinder. Result is loss of power and very poor drivability at low speeds. Also, gas smell from leading injector in now open cylinder. Fortunately I was not towing when the plug blew, or the loss of power could have resulted in an unsafe situation. Ford dealer recommends replacing the cyl. Head ($3,000), doesn't acknowledge any defect that ford has authorized. Several other mechanics indicate this is a common problem on this engine, deals with insufficient number of threads to hold the plug in the aluminum head.
Driving down the interstate highway heard a loud pop, then a continious huffing sound from the engine compartment accompanied by a severe vibration. Pulled vehicle into the nearest rest stop and checked engine, found the second spark plug on the right bank (passenger side) had forceabily ejected taking the threads with it. The engine is a triton 5.4l. The engine was repaired at a dealer (ford country in henderson nv) by replacement of the head.
Dt: the contact stated while driving vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. When depressing the brakes the rmps revved very high. When lifting foot off the brakes the vehicle accelerated. He eventually depressed the brakes hard enough so that the vehicle stopped. The cruise control was not in use. He took his vehicle to the dealer. They told him that the pcv had a leak in the vacuum system. The vehicle is now being repaired.
My '99 ford expedition 5.4l engine blew out a spark plug. Current mileage is 64,400 miles.
1999 ford expedition 5.4l eng. Driving between office bldgs at low speed, hear explosion in vehicle front, heard debris impacting under engine hood and wheel wells. Had truck towed to dealer. Informed of spark plug blowout damaged header. Told this is common on 5.4l not covered by warrantee. Cost: $3,600.
Blown spark plug in a 1999 ford expedition with a 5.4l. Vehicle was sitting idle when failure occurred. Inserts were installed in spark plug hole.
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