2002 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

MY 2002 F150 RECENTLY SPIT OUT A SPARK PLUG, STRIPPING THE THREADS OF THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEAD. THE SERVICE SHOP WHERE I TOOK IT TOLD ME THAT IT'S BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS FOR SOME TIME, AND REFUSED TO FIX IT. *TR

ON MY BIRTH DAY I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LIKE NEVER BEFORE I BLEW THE #4 SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BROUGHT IT BACK TO WORK WHAT A ROUGH RIDE. THEN STARTED TO LOOK IN THE HOLE WITH A BORE SCOPE TO FIND OUT THE TREADS WERE GONE YEAH. CALLED AROUND TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST ME AND THE CHEAPEST WAS A MACHINE SHOP CALLED LENTECH AUTOMOTIVE AT A PRICE OF 300.00 NOT BAD BUT I MADE SOME MORE CALLS AND FOUND A KIT TO DO IT AT BENSONS AUTOPARTS 65.00 HOPE THIS WILL FIX IT. *TR

01/22/09 I PARK MY 2002 F150 AT WORK AT ABOUT 4:00PM. ABOUT 04:40PM THE FIRE ALARM SOUNDED. MY TRUCK WES ON FIRE, I HAD JUST PARK IT! THE FIRE MAN SAID IT WAS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR FIRE'S. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE NUMBER 7 AND 8 SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS MISFIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH THREAD TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS IN PLACE. SPARK PLUG NUMBER 8 AND REPLACED AND NUMBER 7 WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,227.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE SPARK PLUGS FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND EXAMINED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. A WITNESS STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOISE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND POPPING NOISES WERE HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THERE WERE NO COMPLAINTS FOUND FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,332 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,600.

MY PROBLEM IS WITH MY FORD 2002 TRITON ENGINE, THE SPARK PLUGS BLOW OUT WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY CAN CAUSE THE GAS VAPORS TO CATCH FIRE AND START SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE MOTOR , I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE NOW AND IT IS VERY COSTLY, THERE SHOULD BE RECALL DONE ON THIS PROBLEM, I KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS, THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN, IM SURE OTHERS HAVE HAD WORSE PROBLEMS THEN MYSELF WITH THESE TYPES OF ENGINES, PLEASE HELP US BY CALLING FOR FORD TO RECALL THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR

DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT UNLATCHED WITHOUT DEPRESSING BUTTON. USUALLY I TURN MALE END OVER TO AVOID. PROBLEM. HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2009 90000 MI. *TR

2002 FORD F150 5.4 LITER ENGINE. TRAVELING AT APPROX 25 MPH I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SOMETHING HITTING THE HOOD. THE CAR STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND GASOLINE FUMES STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO A REPAIR GARAGE WHO INDICATED THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN FROM THE HEAD. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON FORD PROBLEM BY THE GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS VERIFIED THIS. THE HEAD WAS REMILLED AND THE PLUG AND COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD DOES ACKNOWLEDGE AN ISSUE AND HAS ISSUED A TSB HOWEVER WARRANTIES DO NOT COVER REPAIR. WITH THE PLUG BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD GAS VAPORS WERE BEING INJECTED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE RISK OF FIRE IS PRESENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

I EXPERIENCED A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS STRANDED ON A NARROW ROAD AND HAD TO CALL FOR HELP. MY DAD CALLED A TOW TRU CK AND WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER IN KAILUA KONA, HAWAII. WE SAW THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID HIS TRUCK DID THE SAME THING. AT THE DEALER THEY SAID THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY IT DID THAT. AFTER GETTING IT REPAIRED FOR $600.00, MY TRUCK WOULD NOT RUN. THEY SAID, YOU NEED A NEW ENGINE AT THE TUNE OF $5,000.00. IT RAN FINE PRIOR TO THAT SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AN EXPERT MECHANIC SUSPECTS THEY MISHANDELED THE INSTALLATION. THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE. THIS STARTED OUT A FORD PART DEFECT, BUT IS ENDING UP A DESTROYED ENGINE. I WILL DEMAND THEY FIX IT, OR WE WILL SUE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!! FORD SHOULD NOT BE BAILED OUT. WHY CAN'T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? JAIL, PERHAPS? I AM WITHOUT A TRUCK. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD F150 DURING THE LAST RAIN WE HAD WATER LEAKED IN FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND GOT INTO THE FUSE BOX AND SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY, FUSE BOX AND A MODULE TOTAL COST WAS OVER $1,000.00. INSURANCE SAID THEY COULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS SO THE ADJUSTER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TALKED TO FORD AND THEY SAID NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NO REIMBURSE MENT COULD BE MADE, BUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS WHY HASN'T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. *TR

I NOTICED A TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM MY ENGINE APPROXIMATELY 2 DAYS BEFORE I EJECTED (BLEW OUT) A SPARK PLUG WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. I CHECKED MY OIL THE DAY BEFORE THE BLOW-OUT AND THE OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. I WAS TRAVELING ON BUSINESS AT THE TIME AND FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO A HOTEL A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE ROAD. I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND HAD TO PAY $800.00 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED. WHEN I ASKED THE MECHANIC WHAT CAUSED THE SPARK PLUG TO BLOW OUT, HE SIMPLY REPLIED THAT IT HAPPENS A LOT WITH "THESE FORD ENGINES". *TR

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE IGNITED MY OTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT AND ALSO CAUSED DAMAGES TO MY HOME. BOTH VEHICLES WERE A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP LUNCH ONE DAY FROM WORK AND WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC TO HEAD BACK I HEARD A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER AND A SOUND THAT MADE ME THINK THE SERPENTINE BELT BROKE. THE PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE HEAD AND BROKE A COIL PACK IN HALF. I TALKED TO THE FORD DEALER THAT I GET MY PARTS AT, AND HE TOLD ME IT HAPPENS ALOT ON 4.6 LITERS, 5.4 LITERS, AND V-10 FORD TRUCKS SO MUCH THAT THEY STAY WELL STOCKED ON THE PARTS THAT I NEEDED TO FIX WHAT FORD DOESN'T CONSIDER TO BE A PROBLEM, THE FIX IS A WELL GREASED, EXTRA LONG 14 MM TAP AND HELICOIL, RED LOCKTITE, SPARK PLUG, COIL PACK, AND ANY OTHER BITS AND PIECES THE PLUG DESTOYS ON ITS WAY OUT, FROM THE REPORTS I'M READING I GOT LUCKY THTAT IT WAS JUST MY COIL THAT TOOK THE BRUNT OF IT, I'VE TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE AROUND THE AREA AND THEY SEE ANY WHERE FROM 2 TO 4 PER WEEK, AND ON TOP OF THAT THERE WAS TWO PEOPLE AT MY WORK THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WE ONLY HAVE 18 EMPLOYEES. ONE WAS IN A 5.4 AND THE OTHER WAS A V10. THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD DOESN'T RECOGNIZE IT. THE PART WILL BE REPARED AND WILL NOT BE AVALIBLE AND JUST COST ME MORE OF MY TIME AND MONEY DOING STUPID REPARES THAT ARE QUESTIONABLE AT BEST. *TR

INCIDENT INFORMATION DURING THE SUMMER, MY 2002 FORD F150 HAD A FACTORY RECALL FOR A CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, AND HAD THE RECALL REPAIR DONE. ON NOVEMBER 16, 2008 I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED. TRAFFIC SLOWED IN FRONT OF ME SO I TRIED TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. IT DID NOT DEACTIVATE WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE, SO I PUSHED THE OFF SWITCH. THE LIGHT INDICATING IT WAS ON WENT OUT, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DEACTIVATE. I HAD TO LITERALLY STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN, (NARROWLY AVERTING A CRASH) AND STAYED ON IT UNTIL I WAS DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH. COMING TO A TURN-OFF, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AT 35-MPH, AND TURN THE KEY OFF. UPON RESTARTING THE ENGINE, IT STILL RACED TO A HIGH RPM. I HAD TO PULL THE FUSE IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME. I CALLED MY DEALER, AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST $65 TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED. I REFUSED, AND CALLED FORD MOTORS. I WAS TOLD THERE THAT IF THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME AS THE RECALL, THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE. IF IT WAS ANY OTHER PROBLEM, THERE WOULD BE A $65 CHARGE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A RECURRENCE OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY ENCOUNTERED AND THAT THOUSANDS COULD BE AT RISK. SIGNED. *TR

DRIVING TO PICK UP MY SON AT SCHOOL FOR A TRIP. AS I TURNED LEFT ACROSS TRAFFIC I HEARD A LOUD POP IN MY 2002 FORD F150 AND THEN A LOUD SERIES OF LOUD POPS AS MY ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE. I MOVED THE VEHICLE TO A PARTS STORE JUST UP THE STREET AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRITON V-8 ENGINE HAD JUST EJECTED A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO THEN CHARGED ME A GREAT DEAL TO REPAIR THE HEAD AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG. *TR

ON 11/1/08 I WAS DRIVING AND HEARD LOUD POP FROM MY ENGINE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I SAW THAT THE SPARK PLUG IN THE SEVENTH CYLINDER OF MY 2002 F150 5.4 TRITON HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD AND BROKE THE COIL. THIS WAS PRECEDED BY A TICKING NOISE THAT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAK. I PERSONALLY CHANGED MY PLUGS AT 100,000 MILES AND THE TRUCK CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 125,000 MILES ON IT. WHILE ON THE INTERNET RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I REALIZED THAT I'M NOT ALONE AND THIS IS A NATION WIDE PROBLEM WITH THE F150. AT THIS POINT MY TRUCK IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING AT LEAST $2000 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE HEAD. I AM RESEARCHING A COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO REPLACING THE PARTS AT THIS TIME. *TR

MY 2002 FORD F-150 WITH A 4.6 LITER V8 BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG WHILE ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP. THE SPARKPLUG THAT BLEW OUT WAS THE 3RD FROM THE FRONT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUG IN THAT CYLINDER ARE NOW RUINED AS WELL AS THE COIL FOR THAT PLUG. TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM I WILL PROBABLY END UP BUYING A $250 KIT TO RE-TAP THE HEAD. *TR

TWICE WITHIN ONE YEAR, ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASION, MY 2002 F150 FORD TRUCK HAS EJECTED A SPARK PLUG. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE LEADING UP TO THE EVENT OCCURRING. BOTH TIMES I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED. THE REPAIR BOTH TIMES CONSISTED OF THE INSTILLATION OF A HELI COIL AND THE BILL WAS AROUND $700.00. *TR

INTERMITTENT STARTING PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE ANTI THEFT UNIT IN THAT IT WON'T ALLOW THE TRUCK TO START. IF ALLOWED TO SIT FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT USUALLY STARTS. FORD DEALERSHIPS SAY THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE IT WHEN THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. WELL, NOW THE PROBLEM SEEMS PERMANENT, AS IT WON'T START AT ALL. WHEN ASKED IF SYSTEM CAN BE TURNED OFF THEY SAY "NO, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE" THEIR SAFETY ISSUE HAS PUT ME IN PERIL ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. ONE BEING ON A BOAT RAMP WITH RISING WATER AND A VEHICLE THAT WON'T START. HOW SAFE IS THAT? THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW, AND THEY TELL ME THEY MUST DUPLICATE THE NOT STARTING SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S WRONG, IN FACT IT IS NOT STARTING. *TR

TRUCK MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECS. WHILE DRIVING DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL, HEARD LOUD POP. WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. BLOWN SPARK PLUG OUT OF #2 CYLINDER. WITH THE USE OF HELICOIL REPAIRS CAME TO APPROX. $700. LESS THAN 6 WEEKS LATER #4 CYLINDER BLEW SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME (AFTER MUCH RESEARCH OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS) INSTALLED LONGER THREAD SPARK PLUGS SUGGESTED BY FORD PARTS DEPARTMENT. THIS TIME REPAIR COSTS WERE $800.00. IF FORD HAS MADE A SPECIAL KIT AND NEW LONGER SPARK PLUGS FOR THIS "PROBLEM" ISN'T THAT A SUBTLE ADMISSION OR GUILT/RESPONSIBILITY. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING...ADMIT YOUR MISTAKES AND TAKE CARE OF THESE REPAIRS. "BUILT FORD TOUGH" MY EYE!! MY NEXT TRUCK WILL BE A TOYOTA... *TR

STARTED OFF FROM STOP SIGN AND AROUND 30-35 MPH, HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND PULLED OVER TO FIND #3 CYLINDER HAD BLOWN SPARK PLUG OUT. COIL WAS DAMAGED ALSO. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO NEAREST SHOP 40 MILES AWAY. *TR

PURCHASED USED 2002 F-150 LARIAT WITH 80K MILES IN 4/08. SEPT 9TH THE SPARK PLUG #6 BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD TO TAP AND PLACED HELICOIL TO FIX. OCT 10TH THE SPARK PLUG #8 BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 90K. *TR

I HAVE A 5.4L ENGINE IN MY FORD TRUCK AND IT KEEPS STRIPPING OUT SPARK PLUGS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPORT .COM. ONE GUYS TRUCK BURNT TO THE GROUND IN 12 MINUTES AND COULDN'T EVEN GET HIS NAVIGATION SYSTEM OUT OF HIS VEHICLE. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE DASH TOWARDS HIM. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD WITH THE MATTER AND THEY STATE THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND YOU ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE TO RECALL IT. I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOUR VEHICLE CAN BURN TO THE GROUND IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT KEEPS HAPPENING TO PEOPLE ALL OVER AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE CALLED ON THESE ENGINES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR HURT IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. IT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED, NOT AFTER. *TR

070508 DISCOVERED FLAT TIRE ON TRUCK PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OF HOME. DETERMINED FLAT WAS CAUSED BY VALVE STEM CRACK. HAD VALVE STEM REPLACED AT TIRE SHOP. DIFFERENT TIRE, SAME BRAND, WENT FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE, 082608. HAD ROAD SERVICE REPLACE WITH SPARE TIRE TO DRIVE HOME. INSPECTED TIRE AT HOME AND DETERMINED ANOTHER VALVE STEM CRACK/DEFECT. NO ACCIDENT OR VEHICLE DAMAGE OCCURRED, ALTHOUGH THE INTERSTATE FLAT MAY HAVE BEEN BUT I WAS NOTIFIED BY PASSING MOTORISTS THAT TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. WILL TAKE LATEST FLAT TIRE TO TIRE SHOP THIS WEEKEND TO HAVE ANOTHER VALVE STEM REPLACEMENT. CONCERNED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ARE SAME MAKE AND BRAND, BOUGHT AT SAME TIME, AND I HAVE HAD TWO VALVE STEM FAILURES IN TWO MONTHS. *TR

MY FORD F-150 GOT ON FIRE BECAUSE FORD FAILED TO SEND ME A RECALL LETTER. I ONLY RECEIVED A LETTER IN MARCH/08 TELLING ME THAT THE PARTS TO BE REPLACED WOULD BE AVAILABLE ON MAY/08. *TR

I HAVE A '02 FORD F150 WITH 51,581 MILES ON IT. YESTERDAY, CYLINDER #3 DECIDED TO BLOW THE SPARK PLUG RIGHT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER READING MANY OTHER FRUSTRATED CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, I FOUND OUT THAT I WAS QUITE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY ERUPT IN FLAMES. FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS ANY ISSUE WITH THIS DESIGN EVEN THOUGH IT'S WELL DOCUMENTED. FORD EXPECTS IT'S CUSTOMER TO REPLACE THE HEAD TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AT THE CUSTOMER'S EXPENSE. MINE $3,322.96. NOW THE BETTER PART. BECAUSE IT APPEARS THE DESIGN HAS NOT CHANGED, EVEN BY REPLACING THE HEAD THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD. THE EXPLOSION HAD DENTED THE INSIDE OF THE HOOD. I FOUND A BROKEN COIL LAYING ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND THE CORRESPONDING SPARK PLUG LAYING BENEATH THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO RE-THREADED THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND INSTALLED A NEW SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE PERFORMED AS USUAL FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND THEN THE SAME EXACT SITUATION OCCURRED, INVOLVING THE SAME EXACT SPARK PLUG. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE, THE PLUG AND COIL WERE SO DAMAGED THAT THE HEAD COULD NOT BE RE-THREADED AND REPAIRED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THAT DOZENS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE TO AN ENGINE AND/OR PISTON DEFECT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE REQUIRED DRILLING OUT THE AFFECTED HEAD, TAPPING IT, AND INSTALLING A HELICOIL BEFORE THE SPARK PLUG COULD BE REPLACED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE, SINCE IN ADDITION TO THE EXPENSE AND INCONVENIENCE THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT HAS CAUSED ME, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WELL. WHILE I HAVE NOT HAD AN ENGINE FIRE, OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE REPORTED ENGINE FIRES. *TR

PAINT PEELING IN SMALL SHEETS AROUND EDGES OF HOOD. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE BUT, CAN FIND NO RECALL ON VEHICLE. HAS ALUMINUM HOOD ALSO. ONLY PAINT PEELING AS PRIMER STILL SHOWING. *TR

WHILE BEING 250 MILES AWAY FROM HOME, THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE OF MY 2002 F-150 TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO BUY TOOLS AND PERFORM A TEMPORARY REPAIR IN ORDER TO GET MY TRUCK HOME. I THEN HIRED A MECHANIC TO REPAIR THE ENGINE USING A HELI-COIL. UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T TRUST THE TRUCK NOW AS I BOUGHT IT TO PULL MY CAMPER AND AM CONCERNED OVER BEING STRANDED. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 TRITON ENGINE. I AM NOT SURE WHY FORD HAS NOT PERFORMED A RECALL ON IT. *TR

MY 2002 FORD F150 5.4 SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE MOTOR WITH ONLY 42000. MILES ON IT. $ 890.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT 36 MPH ON A PAVED STREET THE LEFT OTTER TIE ROD END BROKE . CAR WAS CLOSE TO BEING OUT OF CONTROL BUT WAS SAFELY BROUGHT TO A STOP. REPLACED ALL TIE ROD ENDS, PITMAN ARM AND CENTER LINK. (SHOP THAT DID THE ALIGNMENT SAID I WAS THE SECOND CAR THAT HAD BROKEN A TIE ROD. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS A 2001 F150). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE SPARK PLUGS STRIPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. INSTEAD, HE SIMPLY NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG STICKING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE IS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN, BUT IT RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT IN 2002 FORD TRITON ENGINE. IN PAST 3 YEARS HAVE HAD 2 SPARKPLUGS BLOW OUT WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 65MPH. PROBLEM CORRECTED BY RETAPPING AND REPLACING THE PLUG AT APPROX $700 REPAIR EACH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG MN7 ON MY WAY HOME. I STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP. WHEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GO, I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AND THEN MY #5 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. ONE MAY 4TH 2008, #3 AND #4 BLEW OUT AND IT COST ME $2,000 TO FIX THIS. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT APPEARS THAT A LOTS OF FORD F150 OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX IT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND FELT AND HEARD A POP IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD THINKING IT WAS A TIRE BLOW OUT. ONCE I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRES I STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS NO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD AND SPLIT THE COIL AND POSSIBLY DAMAGED ANOTHER COIL. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THE SITUATION. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND FOUND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A FORD DESIGN ERROR. *TR

IN MY CASE THERE WERE THREE SEPARATE OCCURRENCES WHERE MY SPARK PLUGS SHOT OUT OF MY ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY CRUISING ALONG ABOUT 70 MPH. I ACTUALLY THOUGHT I BLEW A TIRE.THIS WAS AT NIGHT SO IN THE MORNING I CHECKED IT OUT WITH A FRIEND'S HELP AND SAW THE PLUG SITTING RIGHT WHERE IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE. SO WE WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW PLUG AND COIL PACK AND THREADED IT BACK IN AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT IT STAYED THERE AND STILL IS THERE TODAY. THIS FIRST TIME WAS ROUGHLY 3 1/2 YRS AGO. THE NEXT TIME IT HAPPENED WHILE MY SAME FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK TO HIS HOUSE BUT THIS TIME IT WAS A DIFFERENT PLUG AND WE WEREN'T SO LUCKY THREADING IT BACK IN. THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED OUT SO WE HELICOILED IT BACK IN OURSELVES AND IT IS STILL THERE TODAY. THIS SECOND TIME WAS ROUGHLY 2 YRS AGO. THE LAST TIME HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT RIGHT AS I STARTED MY TRUCK UP.THE PLUG ACTUALLY HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF THE HOOD WHEN IT BLEW. SO AGAIN I BOUGHT A NEW PLUG AND COIL PACK AND LUCKILY IT THREADED BACK IN AGAIN. SO NOW I AM VERY GUNSHY NATURALLY EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. TO PROPERLY CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IT WOULD COST A SMALL FORTUNE AND TO SELL IT AS IS WHO WILL BUY IT. ALSO ON THIS SAME VEHICLE MY TRANSMISSION BLEW AT 39,000 MILES WHEN THE WARRANTY RAN OUT AT 36,000 NATURALLY I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THAT COST ME $3,500 AND A WEEK STRANDED. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED AT A DEALERSHIP. THE TRUCK IS A F150 HARLEY DAVIDSON EDITION. IT NOW HAS ROUGHLY 94,000 MILES ON IT. THE DATES ARE ALL APPROXIMATE ALONG WITH THE MILEAGE WHEN THEY OCCURRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NEVER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

2002 F-150 FORD 4.6 V-8 SPARK PLUG EJECTION. FIRST TIME HAPPENED ON JUNE 20 2008 IN THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER TRUCK SHOWING 160,000 KMS. I REMOVED THE HEAD SENT IT TO MACHINE SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. 11 MONTHS LATER(182000) THE HELI-COIL THAT WAS INSTALLED CAME OUT WITH THE SPARK PLUG. REMOVED THE HEAD AND INSTALLED REMAN HEAD (ON RIGHT SIDE) DURING THE SPRING OF 2010 I STARTED TO LOOSE COMPRESSION ON ALL CYLINDERS, RANGING FROM 0-90 LBS AND THE BEST CYLINDER AT 120 LBS) BROUGHT IT TO A FORD DEALER, AND RESULTS SHOWED LEAKING WAS AROUND SPARK PLUGS. FORD DECLARED I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO DO MY OWN REPAIRS. I PURCHASED A USED ENGINE FROM A WRECKER AND INSTALLED @ 190000KMS IN JULY 2010. I HAVE SPENT OVER $4000.00 ON THIS PROBLEM, AND I AM NOT DUMB ENOUGH TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT, I USE ANTI-SEIZE WHEN INSTALLING, AND TORQUE AS FORD RECOMMENDS! FORD NEEDS TO FESS UP TO THIS ISSUE AND OFFER SOME SORT OF RECALL PROGRAM. I'M SURE THAT MY REPAIR BILLS WOULD HAVE BEEN DOUBLE IF I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DISINTEGRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND HE WAS UNAWARE AS TO HOW IT COULD FAIL IF IT WAS NEVER USED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000...UPDATED 04/11/12 *BF

ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 16TH 2008 JUST BEFORE MIDNITE, I HEARD AN EXPLOSION THEN CAR HORN BLARING. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND SAW MY 2002 FORD F-150 ON FIRE. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE HOLE FROM THE EXPLOSION ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I YELLED TO MY WIFE, CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT MY TRUCK IS ON FIRE. MY TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR OVER 7 HOURS. I GOT HOME FROM WORK AT 4:30 PARKED MY TRUCK AND WAS DOZING OFF JUST BEFORE MIDNITE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FORD SO WAS UNAWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL I GOOGLED FORD 2002 F-150 FIRES. THEN I KEPT READING STORY AFTER STORY ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS WEBSITE. AMAZING I NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE THIS. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 F150 HARLEY DAVIDSON F150 KINGCAB TRUCK, BLACK IN COLOR AND THE PAINT ON THE HOOD IS CRACKING SOMETHING TERRIBLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN PENSACOLA AND THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT IN THE PAINT PROCESS BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. THEY QUOTED ME OVER $500.00 TO REPAINT JUST THE HOOD AND ANOTHER BODY SHOP QUOTED ME THE SAME BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE COMPLETELY STRIPPED AND REPAINTED. I HAVE NOTICED THAT SEVERAL OTHER FORD HD TRUCKS ARE DOING THE SAME THING ALSO ON OTHER BODY PART TO. I'M AFRAID THAT THIS MIGHT GET WORSE AND POSSIBLY START ON THE FENDERS. IS THERE EVER GOING TO BE A RECALL ON THE PAINT ON THESE TRUCKS OR DOES EVERYONE DRIVE AROUND PROUDLY IN A BEAUTIFUL TRUCK WITH CRACKING PAINT DISPLAYING THE FORD EMBLEM WITH THE HARLEY DAVIDSON REPUTATION NEXT TO IT? *TR

ON MY WAY TO A WEDDING I NOTICED THE RPMS KICK UP. I PUSHED BUTTON ON TRANS SELECTOR AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY (FOR NOW).WAS PARKING TRUCK AND FOUND I HAD NO REVERSE. MONDAY TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER , MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG TILL HE OPENED CUP TRANSMISSION. MECHANIC FOUND WELD ON SUN SHELL BROKEN. CALLED FORD NO HELP. SPRING HILL FORD PUT A REBUILT TRANS IN TRUCK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 F150 PICKUP TRUCK. WHILE PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON HIS VEHICLE HE FOUND CHIPS OF METAL AND PITTING ON THE FRONT ROTOR. IT IS TEARING THE TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRES, AND TORE UP THE INSIDE PAD. WHEN YOU STOPPED THE VEHICLE, IT WAS PULSING AS THOUGH YOU HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 79,000. UPDATED 07/10/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARKS PLUGS WERE LOOSENING AND STRIPPING OFF THE TREADS. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE ALSO DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. HE NOTIFIED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS FLYING OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE SPARK PLUGS DETACH, SPARKS FLY. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED AND BEFORE MOVING. THE FAILURE ALWAYS OCCURS WITH THE NUMBER THREE CYLINDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 07/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08. *JB

NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON THE FREEWAY - SPARK PLUG DISCHARGED OUT OF THE MOTOR. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP. TO REPAIR, THE HOLE FOR THE SPARK PLUG IN THE ALUMINUM HEAD WAS RETHREADED USING A STANDARD HELICOIL KIT. TWO SPARK PLUG HOLES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100 PER HOLE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

MY 2002 F150 HAS STARTED ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING ON IT'S OWN. I AM A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND SUGGESTED TO THE DEALER THAT THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL MODULE, THEY DENIED ANY ISSUES OF SUCH. MY WIFE EXPERIENCED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND AT ONE TIME CAUSING HER TO ALMOST BE HIT MY AN ONCOMING TRAIN. LUCKILY SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO IMMEDIATELY THROW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND BRAKE, THE TRAIN CAME WITHIN INCHES OF THE TRUCK. AGAIN FORD DENIES KNOWING OF ANY SUCK ISSUES WITH THE ACCELERATION. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED DUE TO THE LACK OF INTEREST ON FORDS PART. *TR

MY 2002 FORD F-150 EXTENDED CAB 5.4LITRE PICKUP BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER TO INQUIRE AS TO THE PRICE OF REPLACING AN EXHAUST GASKET AS THIS IS WHAT THE NOISE SOUNDED LIKE. THE SERVICE ADVISER AFTER HEARING THE MAKE MODEL AND SIZE ENGINE AND YEAR OF THE TRUCK SAID, "NO YOU DID NOT BLOW THE EXHAUST GASKET, YOU BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD". I WAS ASTOUNDED AS TO HOW HE COULD MAKE A DIAGNOSIS OF THIS TYPE AS I HAD NEVER EVEN HEARD OF SUCH AN OCCURRENCE. THE COST WOULD BE A MINIMUM OF $850.00. AFTER GOING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A PREVALENT PROBLEM. *TR

OUR 2002 F-150, CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD SATURDAY 5/10/08 EVENING AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 45 MINUTES AT OUT HOME. WE BELIEVE IT HAD TO DO WITH THE FORD RECALLS OUT ON THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. IT STARTED WHERE THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOCATED AND BURNED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

THE # 3 SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT OF THE MY FORD F150 5.4 V8 TRITON ENGINE. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH THREADS TO HOLD THIS IN CORRECTLY. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD. *TR