IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST FORD DUE TO SPARK PLUGS EXPLODING OUT...

[daddylongtrips]

...OF THE HEADS OF THE 4.6L V-8?? I have a 2002 Ford Explorer with 70k miles and a 4.6 litre engine. A month ago one of the rear plugs exploded out of the head. The mechanic told me that this is common on the 4.6 Litre and the 5.0 litre V-8 and has been going on for years. Apparently the heads which are aluminum allow the factory installed spark plugs to loosen over time, and wham, they blow out of the cylinder. The mechanic "resleeved" the cylinder, replaced the coil pack, and I had a $350 bill...............Guess what, it happened again last night to another cylinder. Yes, I know, I will change plugs and re-torque to factory specs. Being that this is a common problem on so many Ford products, has anyone taken FORD to task??? Thanks for any help you can give.
Response to Mark F.......you get lawyers involved when Huge Corporations continue to build products knowing that they will not live up to expectations. For quite a few years, Ford has built a product that blows the spark plug out of the head because of the use of poor quality aluminum. No other Automobile manufacture has engines that blow spark plugs out of the head. THis is not an expected maintence or failure problem, this is a design problem. This problem has been brought to Ford Motor Corporation by many people over quite a few years with no fix, no cure, no redesign. Ford believes by acknowleging the problem, it will cost them many dollars. The individual alone can not fight the battle, a class action suit by competent lawyers could get it resolved. If you purchased a TV and it caught fire, and the manufacture wouldn't acknoledge the problem how would you fight them??? It's a Big Problem to anyone driving a 97-2004 Ford Products with a 4.6 or 5.0 litre engine

[Dr. Car Guy]

i never had heard a recall on this issue. sorry you are responsible for all costs for repairs. i would fix the other spark plug and get rid of it asap

[ahanix1989]

Spike's wrong, it's an issue with the engines. Unfortunantly, Ford is living up to their reputation, and refuse to take responsibility. Worse yet, the NHTSA isn't helping either.

At $350, you're lucky, some people have to spend upwards of $2000 for the repair.

[Mark F]

EVERY vehicle on the road has at least one or more "common problems." On what basis does that mean the lawyers have to get involved?

****EDIT****

That's hyperbole, not fact. Yeah you had a problem, an expensive problem. Lots of people have expensive problems with their cars. I know. I talk to them every day. Today I did a fuel pump in a Jeep that cost $800. I've done lots of those. They should never fail, right? I can't even tell you how many broken coil springs I've replaced in Taurus's, Explorers, Altima's and Honda's. Those should never break either, right? But they do. While we are on the Explorer how about those notoriously weak ball joints. Those ALWAYS wear out to the tune of $1,000 for all 4. How about the faulty ABS module last week on the VW Passat at $2,400? Lots of those seem to fail, but they shouldn't, right? Nothing should ever break on a car is what I'm getting here.

What percentage of Ford modular V8 owners experience this problem anyway? Half a percent? 3/4 of a percent? Is that statistically significant?

The point was and remains, every vehicle no matter who built it has its weak points. The perfect automobile has not been invented. If you can sue a carmaker over a blown spark plug then you can sue them over any fault and before long nobody will be making cars anymore because of the liability. Don't think it can happen? Ask the folks at Cessna who stopped building small personal use aircraft for 2 decades because the liability concerns became too much.

PS

I've seen more than a few blown spark plugs on non-Ford models so don't even try to tell me it only happens with Ford V8's.