There are 3 owner-reported engine complaints for the 1999 Ford E-450in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
A PLUG BLEW OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE CAUSING AN ENGINE FIRE.
FORD V10 TRITON BLOWS UP A SPARK PLUG WHILE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE ENGINE OUR RV FILLED WITH PROPANE, WITH MY HANDICAP SON AND GRANDCHILD IN THE RV. HEARD A LOUD LIFTER NOISE, PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE ENGINE, AS MY HUSBAND WAS LOOKING AT THE ENGINE THEN THE LOUD EXPLOSION THOUGHT WE BLEW A MOTOR I CAME OUT TO SEE IF MY HUSBAND WAS OK, THANK GOD THE PLUG COIL AND OTHER STUFF MISSED HIS HEAD. FUEL, COIL, PROPANE THIS IS NOT A GOOD MIXTURE FOR GETTING YOUR RV TO THE REPAIR SHOP, THIS ENGINE IS A DEADLY AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE THE SPARK PLUG AND OTHER STUFF SHOT OUT AS IF FROM A CANNON! THIS RV WE USE TAKE MY VENTILATOR DEPENDENT SON [XXX] TO HIS DOCTORS? APPOINTMENTS, ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I BOUGHT THIS RV WAS FOR MY HANDICAP SON. THIS RV WE TAKE ON OUR FAMILY VACATIONS WITH OUR HANDICAP CHILDREN IN THIS RV FULL OF PROPANE,. FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINES BEFORE THERE IS A CATASTROPHE. DO I GET THIS PLUG REPAIRED IN (HOPES) IT STAYS AND DOES NOT BLOW UP AGAIN? IS THIS NOT TAKE A CHANCE ON (HOPE) THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE ON THE ROAD? AND (HOPE) IT DOES NOT IGNITE AND (HOPE) THE FULL PROPANE TANK DOES NOT EXPLODE? 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR
I FOUND OUT THAT BECAUSE OF A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FORD TRITON ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS THEY ARE PRONE TO "SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT". IN CERTAIN INSTANCES THIS CAN RESULT IN FIRE AS THE SPARK PLUG BECOMES A MISSILE AND CAN BREAK FUEL LINES ETC. AFTER SUCH AN EVENT THE REPAIR FOR OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLES CAN EASILY BE WELL INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND FORD WILL ACCEPT NO RESPONSIVELY. I OWN SUCH AN ENGINE AND IN THE INTEREST OF POSSIBLY PREVENTING THIS, I HAVE LOOKED INTO REPLACING THE SPARK PLUGS FAR EARLIER THAN FORD MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDS AND INSTALL THE NEW ONES PER THE LATEST INFORMATION REGARDING THE USE OF ANTI-SEIZE PRODUCTS ON THE THREADS. BECAUSE OF THIS DESIGN, IT SEEMS THAT TO REPLACE 10 SPARK PLUGS IN MY RV EXCEEDS $1000. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACCEPT LIABILITY FOR THEIR ERROR. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026