2001 Ford F-150 Complaint Log

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

WHILE TURNING THE STEERING LOCKED AND VEHICLE HIT TELEPHONE POLE AND FIVE MAILBOXES. DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

WHILE DRIVING THE TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING LOST OF CONTROL. TS *TT

(1) CONDITION WAS PRESENT AT TIME OF PURCHASE (2) PASSENGER SEAT BELT OCCASIONALLY UNLATCHES; BACK SEAT- MIDDLE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT LATCH. SEAT BELT COVER IS DOWN AND PROHIBITS MECHANISM FROM WORKING.*AK (3) SEAT BELTS NEED TO BE REPLACED

MY 2001 FORD LIGHTNING SHOT A SPARK PLUG OUT OF ITS MOTOR. THE TRUCK IS 100% STOCK AND HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED. I JUST TURNED THE KEY AND IT POPPED OUT, STRIPPING THE MOTOR HEAD.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HIT AT 60 MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGINS SEVERELY SLIP FROM GEAR TO GEAR. FORCING TO PULL OUT OF THE ROAD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

FAX E-MAIL FM GREG JOHNSON (KY) THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED OF A POTENTIAL HEALTH HAZARD TO OCCUPANTS IN HIS VEHICLE IN WHICH THEY INHALE WHITE PARTICLES THAT COME FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. *JB

PURCHASED 2001 FORD F150 LARIETSUPER CREW CAB PU ON 4/01/2000, 26 MILES ON ODOMETER, AT TIME OF PURCHASE ALSO PURCHASED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PKG AND EXTENDED WARRANTY, ESP, FROM FORD , HAVE HAD SERIOUS BRAKING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE, VEHICLE WAS REPEATEDLY SERVICED AT FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THESE REPAIRS, NONE OF WHICH WERE COVERED, IN MAY 2002 ENTIRE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE REP[LACED, WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT ONE OF THE ELEECTRONIC BRAINS THAT CONTROL /OPERATE THIS COMPONENT FAILED, ON DEC 27, 2002 THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT ENTIRELY, LUCKILY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY AT THE TIME, WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT STILL SITS, HAVE CALLED, E-MAILED AND MAILED INFO TO FORD CUSTOMER CARE WITHOUT ANY RESULTS OTHER THEN FROM PHONE REP SAYING THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT FORD WILL DO...THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY TO MAINTAIN AND FOR A FORD IS DEFINATLY NOT BULIT "FORD TOUGH"...I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE ATTITUDE OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY REGARDING MY DISAPPOINTMNENT WITH THIS VEHICLE

WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION, DRIVER'S SHOULDER HARNEST DID NOT RETRACT AND NEITHER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE TOTALED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

SPARKPLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE HEAD

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 5 MPH INSIDE OF THE A PARKING LOT CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.THE VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKES, CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*JB

TAKE A LOOK A MY VEHICLE HISTORY, I BABY MY TRUCK - NEVER USED OFF-ROAD. I HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED BY FORD. I HAD TO BUY A WARRANTY THAT COVER MOST OF THE STUFF. SOME PARTS WITH DEFECTS THAT WERE REPLACED. MOST REPLACED AT 40,000-80,000 MILES 1.) TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REPLACED 2.) REAREND REPLACED 3.) I'M ON MY THIRD SET OF ALL 4 BALL JOINTS 4.) TIE RODS, TIE ROD ENDS (REPLACED TWICE NOW) 5.) COIL 6.) HEADLIGHT HOUSING (3-4 TIMES) 7.) BRAKES, NUMEROUS THINGS WORKED ON AND REPLACED DEALERSHIP WAS NEVER ABLE TO STOP THE THUMPING NOISE THAT IS STILL THERE, SAID IT WAS NORMAL (NOT) 8.) IDLER ARM (REPLACED TWICE) 9.) SUNROOF SWITCH REPLACED TWICE, REPORTED LOUD BANG WHEN OPENING. A&B KIA SAID IT WAS NORMAL - NO, NOW IT IS COMPLETELY BROKE AND WILL BARELY OPEN AND HAVE TO FORCE CLOSED. 10.) SIDEVIEW MIRRORS VIBRATED 11.) ABS SENSOR REPLACED 12.) KEYLESS ENTRY REPLACED 13.) STEERING BEARINGS REPLACED 14.) BACK BUMPER IS RUSTING THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS I CAN REMEMBER RIGHT OFF HAND. I'VE GOT ALL RECEIPTS. I TAKE CARE OF THIS TRUCK - WASH AND WAX ONCE A WEEK BY HAND (UNLESS REALLY BAD WEATHER) THEN I JUST TAKE IT TO THE CAR WASH AUTOMATIC OR ACTUAL PEOPLE WASHING. KEEP INSIDE JUST AS NICE. IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT A VEHICLE FOR SAFETY/RECALL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD START WITH MINE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WENT INTO CRUISE CONTROL ON IT'S OWN WHILE AT A RED LIGHT. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN TURNED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 58 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. AT THIS POINT CRUISE CONTROL WAS OFF. PROCEEDED TO TRAVEL AT 45 MPH. TOOK FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL THEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT 58 MPH, THEN BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. *TT

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET WHICH IS LEAKING OIL. CONSUMER STATES WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORRMATION. THANKS. TS

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL STAY UP WILL NOT GO DOWN. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEARLER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT HAD A RECALL PERFORMED. SINCE THEN, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WILL UNLATCH WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE BUCKLE WILL EITHER FAIL TO LATCH OR UNLATCH GIVING ERRATIC OPERATION. CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD WILL NO LONGER GIVE ANY ASSISTANCE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS RQ04011.*PCO

VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITHOUT SEATBELTS WORKING PROPERLY 100%. DT RQ04011.*PCO

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR IN COLLISION. CONSUMER STATES' BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, DRIVERS AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. PH

VEHICLE WAS IN A LOW SPEED IMPACT UNDER 5 MPH AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO RETRACT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BRUNT THE DRIVER'S ARM. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE PEDAL WILL STICK IN THE IDLE POSITION CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS DEALER REPLACED STUCK THROTTLE BODY. *TT

RIGHT FRONT VIBRATION,RIGHT FRONT FLOOR AND MIRROR VIBRATION , THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTORY RESULTS

WHILE AT A STOP ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT CONSUMER FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER STATES' BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVERS SIDE CAUGHT FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE EGR SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT APPEARED 2,000 MILES OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. SCC

CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE TIRE TREAD FOR EXCESSIVE WEAR AND FRONT ALIGMENT. TEHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE ALIGMENT IS OUT OF SPECIFICATION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER AGREED WITH THE ALIGMENT WAS OUT SPECIFICATIONS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT IT WILL BE HARD TO START THE VEHICLE AND THEY WILL HAVE TO TRY NUMEROUS OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE WILL START. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR

THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPERATED FROM THE SIDEWALL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRE AT HIGH SPEED. JOHN PIERCE THE FORD DEALER SERVICE MANAGER AGREED THAT IT HAD TO BE A FAULTY TIRE. THE DEALER WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TIRE BUT WILL NOT FIX THE 750 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE BLOWOUT. MY MAIN CONCERN THOUGH IS THE OTHER TIRES. I WAS DRIVING THIS TIME BUT MOST OF THE TIME MY WIFE AND CHILDREN ARE IN THE TRUCK ALONE. HOW SAFE IS THAT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WOULD ONLY HONOR THE PRORATED WARRANTY AND NOTHING ELSE. DT

I HAVE A 2001, FORD, F-150 PICKUP. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD STEERING TROUBLE SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT WAS IN THE SHOP IN MAY OF 2001 AND NO PROBLEM COULD BE FOUND. A SECOND DEALERSHIP REVIEWED MY CONCERNS AND FOUND THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF. THE TOE IN AND TOE OUT WAS PROPERLY ADJUSTED. THE CAST AND CAMBOR WAS 5 DEGREES OUT AND THERE WAS NO ADJUSTMENT AVAILABLE.

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WHEEL AND HUB FAILED DROPPING METAL PADS TO THE GROUND. CAUSE IS UNKNONW. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

WHILE PULLING A TREE STUMP UP FROM THE GROUND. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOY AND LOCK UP THE SEATBELTS. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I REAR ENDED A STOPPED VEHICLE. I HIT HIM DIRECTLY IN THE REAR WHILE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH. MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, BUT I WAS SAVED FROM SERIOUS INJURY BY THE SEAT BEAT. I NOTIFIED FORD AND RECEIVED A RETURN LETTER FROM [XXX], CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHICH BASICALLY STATED THAT "THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO DEPLOY UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, NON DEPLOYMENT IN A COLLISION, IS NOT NECESSARY INDICATIVE OF A DEFECT. WHAT, IS THIS MAN A MORON TO THINK A DIRECT REAR END COLLISION WITH A STATIONARY OBJECT AT 50 MPH IS NOT THE RIGHT CONDITION. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY COMPETENT PEOPLE. SINCERELY YOURS. [XXX] DT INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WILL JERK MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS *DT

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. UPON IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CLOCK SPRING WAS INOP. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED FROM A CHIPPED BONE IN FOOT, A SPRAINED ANKLE AND WRIST, AND A LACERATION ON THE EAR. THE CONSUMER ALSO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND JAW-WHICH CAUSED HIM TO HAVE TMJ. *SCC

FOUND TIRE SEPARATION ON 3 OF 4 ORIGINAL TIRES. SEPARATION WAS LOCATED APPROX 1/2 FROM RIM AND APPROX 1.5 INCHES LONG. ON TWO OF THE TIRES THE SEPARATION WAS LOCATED ON THE OUTSIDE AND ONE HAD THE SEPARATION LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS THE ONE THAT CONCERNED ME MORE THAN THE OTHERS BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE DON'T LOOK ON THE INSIDE OF THIER TIRES. THESE SEPERATIONS WERE ALL NOTICED WHEN TIRES WHERE BEING ROTATED AND BALANCED. TIRES WERE SHOWN TO THE LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A TIRE SEPERATE AT THAT AREA OF THE TIRE AND THEY WOULD REPLACE AT A PRO-RATED PRICE. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE ALL THREE TIRES AT NO COST. THE TRUCK IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. DEALER EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED THAT SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED, CAUSING CLUTCH ASSEMBLY TO LEAK.*AK

WHEN ENGAGING AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, THEY COME DOWN. IF PASSENGER OR DRIVER HAS ARM OVER LOCK,ARM GETS PINCHED AND BRUISED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AKI

WHILE BACKING INTO DRIVEWAY SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *YH

WE (ABRA AUTO BODY AND GLASS--APPLE VALLEY LOCATION) ARE REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD IN A 2001 F150 THAT WAS CRACKED IN AN ACCIDENT. WE FOUND THAT THE CLEAR COAT ISN'T STICKING TO THE BASE COAT, WHERE THE URETHANE IS. THERE IS ADHESION BETWEEN THE CLEAR COAT AND URETHANE, BUT NOT CLEAR COAT AND BASE COAT. IT IS PEELING OFF IN CHUNKS, CREATING A WINDSHIELD ADHESION PROBLEM WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD TO COME OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN A SEVERE CRASH OR A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THIS IS A POTENTIAL FOR A DEADLY SITUATION IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN. THIS COULD POSSIBLY BE A PROBLEM FOR MANY TRUCKS OUT THERE. IS THERE STILL A PROBLEM WITH ADHESION BETWEEN BASE AND CLEAR COATS IN SILVER COLORS??? THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR VEHICLE DRIVERS. I CONTACTED THE FORD HOTLINE (800-392-3673) AND SPOKE WITH ARIAL (EMPLOYEE NUMBER 2141) AND HE TOLD ME THAT BECAUSE WE ARE NOT A FORD DEALER, THERE IS NOTHING THAT HE COULD DO TO LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. THE CUSTOMER WOULD NEED TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE INSPECTED. I LET HIM KNOW THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE ISN'T DRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF THIS. I ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE COULDN'T INSTALL THE WINDSHIELD WITH THIS PROBLEM STILL THERE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE CUSTOMER WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER THEN TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I VERIFIED THAT HE WANTS ME TO HAVE THE CUSTOMER PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER TO CHECK OUT THE WINDSHIELD ADHESION PROBLEM?? HE SAID "YES". I THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND CONTACTED RANDY KAISER AT APPLE VALLEY FORD IN APPLE VALLEY MINNESOTA FOR FURTHER ADVISE INTO THIS ISSUE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH SELF ADJUSTER CAME APART AND GOT CAUGHT UP IN BRAKES, STOPPED CAR INSTANTLY.*AK

NAR 1/29/2003. THE CONSUMER STEERED ABRUPTLY TOWARD THE LEFT LANE, STRUCK THE GUARD RAIL WITH THE LEFT FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AND CONSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. AACORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT THE CAP TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MISSING AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE BRAKE LINES AND FLUID WAS FOUND LEAKING FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ASSEMBLY WHICH WAS DISENGAGED FROM THE VEHICLE.

A SHORT IN WIRING CAUSING HORN TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL FRONT RIGHT TIRES SNAPPED OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. SIZE ,/DOT UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE FUMES COMING FROM THE A/C MAKING THE CONSUMER SICK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

ON DRY PAVEMENT, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 70 DEGREES, AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND SUNNY AT 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, IN LIGHT TRAFFIC, WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2001 F150 SUPERCREW. DURING NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURES, WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE SPACING BETWEEN CARS, NORMAL BRAKING PROCEDURES WERE EMPLOYED. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AT ALL FROM THE BRAKES. THIS LEFT MY WIFE, THE DRIVER, NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THE ROAD SERVICE TO AVOID A REAR COLLISION WITH A SMALLER CAR, IN WHICH SHE HIT A ROAD SIDE FOOD STAND. THE FOOD STAND WAS DESTROYED AND THE TRUCK RECEIVED HEAVY DAMAGE.*AK

A SCRAPING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR WAS NOTICED AT 31,000 MILES. INFORMED DEALER OF NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE BRAKES SCRAPPING. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. 51,000 MILES NOISE TURNED INTO A WINING SOUND. DEALER SAID IT WAS A NON-RELATED SOUND. FORD REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY FOR MIS-DIAGNOIS DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER DID NOT GIVE ANY FURTHER ADVISE NOR RECOMMENDATIONS AT 31,000 MILES. FORD SAID A WHEEL BEARING CHECK WAS NOT DONE AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER TECH SAID AXEL WAS OUT OF FACTORY TOLLERANCE WAS CAUSE. REPAIR COST WAS $3,500.00. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MADE THE NOISE , I WAS DESCRIBING THE NOISE AS POSSIBLE BRAKES, BUT NOW FORD SAYS THAT IS WHAT I ASKED THEM ONLY TO LOOK AT. THAT IS NOT TRUE, I SAID IT IS MAKING A NOISE , SOUNDS LIKE THE BRAKES, THEY SHOULD HAVE DROVE IT RATHER THAN JUST LOOKING AT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE THEN, NOW THEY SAY I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK IF THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. I DID NOT AS THEY SAID IT WAS OK. WHEN IT STARTED GRINDING , I THEN BROUGHT IT BACK. I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH TRANSMIISSION FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM REAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER IFORMATION. *AK

WHILE MOVING SLOWLY CONSUMER HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO JACK THE VEHICLE UP. THERE WERE THREE LEFT LUG NUTS FINGER TIGHT AND ONE WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH. WHEN CHECKING OTHER LUG NUTS THEY FOUND THREE FINGERS TIGHT LOOSE ON LEFT REAR ALSO. *AK *YH

RE: 2001 FORD SVT LIGHTNING MY VEHICLE VIOLENTLY EJECTED A SPARK PLUG FROM THE ENGINE'S HEAD, WHILE MERGING ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP. UPON FAILURE, THE VEHICLE OBVIOUSLY STARTED MISFIRING, BUCKING, AND WAS A HANDFUL WHEN PULLING OVER TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. FORD ONLY USED 4 SETS OF THREADS ON THEIR LIGHTINING HEADS FROM 1999 TO EARLY 2003. CONVENTIONAL HEADS TYPICALLY USE BETWEEN 8 AND 10 THREADS TO HOLD A PLUG, BUT FORD DESIGNED THEIR HEADS WITH ONLY 4 THREADS ON MANY MODULAR 5.4-LITER V8 MOTORS TOO (NOT JUST THE LIGHTNING). THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AS THEY HAVE CHANGED THE HEAD DESIGN IN EARLY 2003 TO A NEW PART WITH 8 THREADS. BUT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR OLDER LIGHTNINGS (AND OTHER F-150'S), EVEN THOUGH THIS COULD BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM (FIRE, LOSS OF CONTROL, ETC.). I HAVE ALREADY HAD MY HEAD REPLACED WITH ANOTHER INFERIOR 4-THREAD DESIGN, AND I WONDER WHEN THE NEXT PLUG WILL BE BLOWN FROM MY ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE NHTSA ENCOURAGE FORD TO RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES AS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR MANY LIGHTNING OWNERS.