2001 Ford F-150 engine and engine cooling problems

“The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. After visual inspection, the contact was able to conclude that the sound originated from the passenger’s side exhaust manifold. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a failure with the bolts securing the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred three times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.”

“VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND MOTOR WAS OFF. VEHICLE CATCH ON FIRE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAD TO GO TURN IT OFF BUT WE COULD NOT SAVE ANYTHING FROM THIS TRUCK IT GOT VERY DAMAGED. *TR”

“I WAS DRIVING HOME AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE HOOD AND IT SOUNDED LIKE PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM GAVE WAY. I PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD. THE ONLY ONE TO EVER TOUCH THE ENGINE WAS FORD AND THAT THEY HAD REPLACED A SPARK PLUG SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I GOT ON LINE AND FOUND OUT THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF THESE SPARK PLUG EJECTIONS. I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM ? THE FACT THAT THE SUPER-HEATED AIR AND MIXTURE FUEL SPRAYING ALL OVER THE UNDERNEATH OF THE HOOD IS A EXTREME DANGER, IT WOULD SEEM THAT WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. *TR”

“PULLED OUT OF SIDE ROAD ONTO MAJOR HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY A LOUD FLAPPING NOISE FROM ENGINE WAS HEARD. IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD AND TURN VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. WAS TOLD THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT SHOULD BE A EASY FIX, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE BECAUSE THE HEAD HAD TO BE REMOVED TO EXTRACTED TO DAMAGED PLUG. OUR FIX IS COSTING UPWARDS OF $700. *JS”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150 TRITON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR STATE INSPECTION WHEN THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE, ENGINE MANIFOLD AND BOLTS WERE CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 05/21/12 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE MATERIAL USED WERE DEFECTIVE.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MANIFOLD AND THE WIRING HARNESS WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SHUT OFF AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.”