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2002 Mercury Grand Marquis

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mercury Grand Marquis do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 78.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

48 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

78 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THEY WILL WIPE PART OF THE TIME THEN ATTEMPT TO SCRUB PART OF THE TIME. WHEN SCRUBBING ACTION OCCURS THERE IS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND THE WIPERS SKIP OVER PART OF THE MOISTURE LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD PARTIALLY COVERED AND IN HEAVY RAIN, CREATS AS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO LACK OF VI…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, THEY WILL WIPE PART OF THE TIME THEN ATTEMPT TO SCRUB PART OF THE TIME. WHEN SCRUBBING ACTION OCCURS THERE IS A TERRIBLE NOISE AND THE WIPERS SKIP OVER PART OF THE MOISTURE LEAVING THE WINDSHIELD PARTIALLY COVERED AND IN HEAVY RAIN, CREATS AS VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION DUE TO LACK OF VISIBILITY. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED WITH MY DEALER, BILLION LINCOLN-MERCURY IN SIOUX FALLS, SD SINCE THE FIRST OCCURENCE IN MAY OF 2003. AT THAT TIME I BELIEVE THE WIPERS WERE REPLACED AND SINCE THEN IS HAS BEEN A STALLING SITUATION WITH FORD UNTIL MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. I HAVE LOGGED CALLS TO MERCURY'S CALL CENTER BEGINNING IN MAY OF 2004 ADVISING THEM OF THE PROBLEMS AND WORKING WITH THE DEALER. I FINALLY WAS SENT A PACKET OF FORMS TO FILL OUT AND SEND IN TO THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD IN WAUKESHA, WI. BY THE TIME I RECEIVED THE FORMS. FILLED THEM OUT AND SENT IN, THEY WERE RECEIVED BY THE DISPUTE BOARD ON OCOTBER 14, 2004, MY WARRANTY EXPIRED SEPTEMBER 18, 2004 SO FORD SAID THE DISPUTE BOARD HAS NO JURISDICTION THUS THEY ADVISED ME, TOO BAD. I MIGHT ADD, THIS CAR SITS IN OUR GARAGE IN SIOUX FALLS FROM OCTOBER UNTIL APRIL OF THE NEXT YEAR AND HAS DONE SINCE IT WAS NEW IN THE FALL OF 2001 WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. WE ARE IN TUCSON FOR THOSE MONTHS AND USE ANOTHER CAR. THIS ACCOUNTS FOR THE PROBLEM NOT SURFACING EARLIER THAN 2003.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10100428

40,000 miles · Apr 28, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OFF OF CARWASH CONVEYOR, THE ENGINE RACED TO FULL SPEED. I HAD TO US BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE, AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE CAR. WITH THE FRONT TIRES LOCKED, THE CAR STILL ACCELLERATED OVER TWO SPEED BUMPS BEFORE STOPPING.

NHTSA ODI #10067960

15,213 miles · Apr 9, 2004
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PROBLEMS WITH MY WIFE'S 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS NOT CRANKING AT ODD TIMES. I HAVE CRANKED UP THE CAR, AND DRIVEN IT INTO THE GARAGE, THEN GO BACK OUT A COUPLE MINUTE LATER - 15-30 MINUTES - AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. THE LAST TIME I PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE ONE EVENING AND WHEN MY WIFE WENT TO GO TO WORK THE NEXT …

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PROBLEMS WITH MY WIFE'S 2002 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS LS NOT CRANKING AT ODD TIMES. I HAVE CRANKED UP THE CAR, AND DRIVEN IT INTO THE GARAGE, THEN GO BACK OUT A COUPLE MINUTE LATER - 15-30 MINUTES - AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CRANK. THE LAST TIME I PULLED THE CAR INTO THE GARAGE ONE EVENING AND WHEN MY WIFE WENT TO GO TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT CRANK. THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT ABOUT A YEAR AGO, REQUIRING A MODULE BE REPLACED. AFTER THAT WE NOTICED THE FOOT PEDAL ADJUSTMENT DIID NOT WORK AND A LOOSE CONNECTION WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM. THE STARTING PROBLEMS DID NOT START UNTIL AFTER THE TURN SIGNAL MODULE WAS REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND OTHER INCIDENTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH FOR THIS MODEL MERCURY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10065824

14,427 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A WHISPERING AIR SOUND. *AK *MR

NHTSA ODI #10061624

8,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Seat BeltsService Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury

THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WHEN PARKING. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED A TEMPORARY FIX BY PUTTING SHIMS UNDER THE FRONT END. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER.…

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THE CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS LOWER THAN NORMAL WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END WHEN PARKING. THE DEALERSHIP PROVIDED A TEMPORARY FIX BY PUTTING SHIMS UNDER THE FRONT END. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER. THIS RESULTED IN INJURIES TO THE CONSUMERS ARM. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TENSIONER PULLEY FALLING OFF. THE PARTS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT PLATE FAILED TO LOCK IN THE BUCKLE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *JB ALSO, FRONT RIMS HAVE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST. DEALER INSPECTED BRAKES, BUT WEREN'T ABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN OF CONSUMER. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10055734

43,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Tires

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED DUE TO BELT FAILURE WHICH HAD PROTRUDED THROUGH THE TIRES. *AK *JB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042461

5,500 miles · Oct 8, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP ENGINE STARTED TO REV TO A HIGH RATE. DRIVER SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, WHICH FAILED. HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MECHANIC, AND CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10042553

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2003
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING SUSPENSION IS VERY BOUNCY, WHICH CAUSES VEHICLE TO BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10039962

3,400 miles · Aug 15, 2003
Tires

THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. MICHELIN 97SM+S/MODEL-SYMMETRY. *AK THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10027279

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2003
Electrical SystemSuspensionUnknown Or Other

THIS IS A CONCERN AND I AM WONDERING, IF IT SHOULD IN FACT BE A COMPLAINT. I PURCHASED A 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS ON JUNE 12TH OF 2003. I WAS ASSURED THIS, AS OTHER AUTOS HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT AND IN GOOD ORDER. I AM NOW NOTICING THE IGNITION KEY SOMETIMES DOES NOT TURN WHEN I AM TRYING TO START THE CAR. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, I RAN A CA…

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THIS IS A CONCERN AND I AM WONDERING, IF IT SHOULD IN FACT BE A COMPLAINT. I PURCHASED A 2002 MERCURY MARQUIS ON JUNE 12TH OF 2003. I WAS ASSURED THIS, AS OTHER AUTOS HAD BEEN CHECKED OUT AND IN GOOD ORDER. I AM NOW NOTICING THE IGNITION KEY SOMETIMES DOES NOT TURN WHEN I AM TRYING TO START THE CAR. EQUALLY IMPORTANT, I RAN A CARFAX REPORT AND DISCOVERED ON 11/18/02 THIS CAR HAD 27,262 MILES. WHEN I PURCHASED IT, AND BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS 27,279 I WAS ASSURED THIS WAS A GOOD CAR. I FIND NOW, THAT IT WAS NOT THE RETIRED, SENIOR CITIZEN WHO WANTED A NEW AUTO TRADE IN, BUT THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR FROM BURLINGGAME, CA. NOW I AM WONDERING IF I SHOULD BE CONCERNED THIS CAR WAS SITTING FOR 8 MONTHS AND THUS ONLY HAD 17 MILES MORE IN JUNE THAN IN NOVEMBER? OR BE SUSPECT ABOUT THE ODOMETER BEING ROLLED BACK? IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM ACCURATE A 2002 WOULD ONLY HAVE 17 MILES MORE IN 8 MONTHS FROM NOV. 2002 TO JUNE 12, 2003.THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10025559

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Engine And Engine Cooling

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.