Complaint Review: Ford Motor Company - Dearborn Michigan

A Ford TSP on the plugs indicates Ford is aware of the poor engine and 2-part spark plug design Ford used in their 04 - 08 F150 5.4L 3V trucks.  In fact acknowledged this awareness by reporting they fixed the problem in 2008.  Nevertheless, of the hundreds of thousands of trucks Ford sold from 04 - 08 (boasting #1 truck sold in America), they are are making a killing off of it. Reading from others, most are charged about $1200 to have just their plugs replaced, because the plugs break off in the engine. 

The Apple Ford dealership in Maryland told me my #2 coil was bad and that I needed to replace 8 plugs and one coil.   The estimated damage was $700 for one coil and 8 spark plugs, plus at least 1/2 hour labor per plug if one breaks off in the engine.  I told them I could not afford that much to have plugs changed.  The service center didn't waste the words to warn me that they will break off, and I will need a special tool to remove them.  Fortunately, autoforum.net and fordf150.net had Ford customers who'd been ripped of warning anyone who thought to look at their site.  Otherwise, I'd have been forced to call a tow truck and paid to have broken plugs removed from the heads of my engine.

I bought a $99 tool from LISLE, who designs and sells specialty tools to help consumers with poor design problems such as these.  I fixed my truck with a $42 coil from BWD, and 8 $12.77 spark plugs, using the LISLE 65600 tool.  It was a horribly difficult job which most consumers would not likely be able to complete with what they have at home, and
the LISLE 65600.  Of course, the plug broke off inside my engine heads, although I followed Ford's TSP to the letter. 

This design flaw was the best thing that could have happened to dealership service stations. So I should point out the possibly obvious: Ford dealerships have NO motivation to be careful when removing your plugs. First of all, if they finish a job quickly, they can move on to another. However, should they accidentally and carelessly break a plug, worst case scenario for them? They get an at least 1/2 hour of labor extra PER plug to remove the piece they left behind.

TO AUTHOR:  Mat P.,  You must have financial concerns with ford, possibly as a paid representative.  Otherwise, what happy customer visits a web site called, "RipoffReport" about a truck they own, or don't own, to defend Ford Motor Company?  And you insinuated the complainant was 'negligent' for not changing the plugs earlier than their 'owner's manual' told them to change them; "Neglect or ignorance is not an excuse when it comes to vehicle ownership."   Is not Ford negligent for allowing this to go on for so many years?  Is Ford not negligent for continuing to sell 2-piece Motorcraft (Autolite) spark plugs which Ford Knows will break off in the consumer's engines?  You also stated, "The cost to change the plugs on these models are only $200 - $250 more expensive than the 4.6L models.  Gotta pay to play."  With so many customers paying about $1200 for a spark plug change,  do you think $950-$1000 is a reasonable price for a hard working customer to pay for what should be a simple spark plug change on a Working Man's truck?  Since those customers did not buy BMWs or Porsches, they shouldn't have to 'Pay to Play.'  Ford must be the wrong company for all of them.  And we all need to make sure that's the last $1200 spark plug change they'll ever need, when it comes time for their next truck.  No Ford loyalty ... no customer loyalty.  Now Ford has to pay to play ... dirty.