Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE STATION INFORMED THE CONTACT OF SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 07S48 REGARDING HIS WHEELS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER USED FOR POLICE PURSUITS, THEREFORE, THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE STATION INFORMED THE CONTACT OF SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 07S48 REGARDING HIS WHEELS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER USED FOR POLICE PURSUITS, THEREFORE, THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VEHICLE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN SHAKES INTERMITTENTLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AIR LEAKED FROM THE TIRES. UPDATED 12/12/07.
ON CERTAIN POLICE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FOUR ROAD WHEELS AND SPARE WHEEL BASED ON THE WHEEL PART NUMBER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2007. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-343-5338.
ON CERTAIN POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI) AND COMMERCIAL HEAVY DUTY (TAXI) VEHICLES, AT EXTREMELY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE SOUND INSULATING PANEL, LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE UNDERBODY, COULD SAG AND POSSIBLY CONTACT THE SURFACE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE INSULATOR MIGHT EXPERIENCE CHARRING OF THE OUTER LAYER, BURNING ODOR, OR SMOKE WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING DASH INSULATOR AND INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN INSULATOR PAD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
2
EA04034 · Fracture Of The Steel Wheel Rim
Opened Dec 21, 2004 · Closed Mar 8, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels; Wheels:rim
FRACTURE (CRACKING) OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE (SV) WHEEL, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03-009 (SAFETY RECALL 03V-279), OCCURS IN THE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 TO 2005 POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES ONLY; CIVILIAN SPECIFICATION AND OTHER MY VEHICLES ARE UNAFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.FOR THE AFFECTED SUBJECT WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK OCCURS IN THE HEAT AFFECTED ZONE OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD THAT ATTACHES THE RIM TO THE OUTBOARD WHEEL DISC.THE CRACK INITIATES UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD NEAR THE HEEL (WHERE AIR LEAKAGE CANNOT BE ASSURED) AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THROUGH CYCLIC BENDING AS THE WHEELS ROLLS.ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF RIM CRACKS EITHER PRESENTED NO SYMPTOMS OR WERE DETECTED SAFELY VIA RECURRING SLOW AIR LEAKAGE, ODI IDENTIFIED 6 INCIDENTS WHERE RAPID AIR LEAKAGE LEADING TO A FULL OR PARTIAL DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WAS ALLEGED.FOR THESE WHEELS, EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS HAD FORMED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE RIM AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWN TOGETHER.TWO OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A CRASH, ONE DURING A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT.ALTHOUGH THE MINORITY OF CASES, FORD?S ASSESSMENTS OF FIELD RETURN WHEELS SHOWED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS EXIST IN APPROXIMATELY 17 PERCENT OF THE CRACKED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM.IN A WHEEL WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, AS THE AREA BETWEEN THE CRACKS IS REDUCED BY GROWTH A HIGH STRESS CONDITION (SUCH AS WOULD OCCUR IN AN AGGRESSIVE VEHICLE MANEUVER DURING A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT) MAY CAUSE THE CRACKS TO JOIN TOGETHER RAPIDLY.IF THE CRACKS ARE OF SUFFICIENT SIZE, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE RIM MAY BE COMPROMISED RESULTING IN RAPID AIR LOSS AND RIM DEFORMATION.FOR POLICE VEHICLES USED AT HIGH SPEED, RAPID DEFLATION AND LOSS OF RIM STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AFFECTS VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.FATIGUE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FRACTURE MECHANISM; THEREFORE, WHEEL FRACTURE CAN BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR (AND AT AN INCREASED INCIDENCE LEVEL) AS LONG AS THE AFFECTED WHEELS REMAIN IN SERVICE.IN DECEMBER 2004 (WITHIN MY 2005 SV PRODUCTION) FORD INTRODUCED A SHOT PEEN PROCESS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF SV WHEELS.SHOT PEEN WHEELS, WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY UNIQUE PART NUMBER STAMPINGS, HAVE NOT EXHIBITED FRACTURE IN POLICE SERVICE TO DATE.UNDER 07V-079, FORD WILL INSPECT SVS REGISTERED FOR POLICE USE AND REPLACE EARLIER DESIGN LEVEL WHEELS WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS.POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT MY 2005 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 2004 ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL (SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS).AGENCIES SHOULD BE DILIGENT IN ENSURING THAT NON-SHOT PEEN WHEELS ARE REMOVED FROM OUT-OF-SCOPE VEHICLES OR OTHER WHEEL SUPPLY INVENTORIES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
FRACTURE (CRACKING) OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE (SV) WHEEL, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03-009 (SAFETY RECALL 03V-279), OCCURS IN THE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 TO 2005 POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES ONLY; CIVILIAN SPECIFICATION AND OTHER MY VEHICLES ARE UNAFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.FOR THE AFFECTED SUBJECT WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK OCCURS IN THE HEAT AFFECTED ZONE OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD THAT ATTACHES THE RIM TO THE OUTBOARD WHEEL DISC.THE CRACK INITIATES UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD NEAR THE HEEL (WHERE AIR LEAKAGE CANNOT BE ASSURED) AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THROUGH CYCLIC BENDING AS THE WHEELS ROLLS.ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF RIM CRACKS EITHER PRESENTED NO SYMPTOMS OR WERE DETECTED SAFELY VIA RECURRING SLOW AIR LEAKAGE, ODI IDENTIFIED 6 INCIDENTS WHERE RAPID AIR LEAKAGE LEADING TO A FULL OR PARTIAL DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WAS ALLEGED.FOR THESE WHEELS, EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS HAD FORMED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE RIM AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWN TOGETHER.TWO OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A CRASH, ONE DURING A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT.ALTHOUGH THE MINORITY OF CASES, FORD?S ASSESSMENTS OF FIELD RETURN WHEELS SHOWED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS EXIST IN APPROXIMATELY 17 PERCENT OF THE CRACKED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM.IN A WHEEL WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, AS THE AREA BETWEEN THE CRACKS IS REDUCED BY GROWTH A HIGH STRESS CONDITION (SUCH AS WOULD OCCUR IN AN AGGRESSIVE VEHICLE MANEUVER DURING A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT) MAY CAUSE THE CRACKS TO JOIN TOGETHER RAPIDLY.IF THE CRACKS ARE OF SUFFICIENT SIZE, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE RIM MAY BE COMPROMISED RESULTING IN RAPID AIR LOSS AND RIM DEFORMATION.FOR POLICE VEHICLES USED AT HIGH SPEED, RAPID DEFLATION AND LOSS OF RIM STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AFFECTS VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.FATIGUE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FRACTURE MECHANISM; THEREFORE, WHEEL FRACTURE CAN BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR (AND AT AN INCREASED INCIDENCE LEVEL) AS LONG AS THE AFFECTED WHEELS REMAIN IN SERVICE.IN DECEMBER 2004 (WITHIN MY 2005 SV PRODUCTION) FORD INTRODUCED A SHOT PEEN PROCESS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF SV WHEELS.SHOT PEEN WHEELS, WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY UNIQUE PART NUMBER STAMPINGS, HAVE NOT EXHIBITED FRACTURE IN POLICE SERVICE TO DATE.UNDER 07V-079, FORD WILL INSPECT SVS REGISTERED FOR POLICE USE AND REPLACE EARLIER DESIGN LEVEL WHEELS WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS.POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT MY 2005 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 2004 ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL (SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS).AGENCIES SHOULD BE DILIGENT IN ENSURING THAT NON-SHOT PEEN WHEELS ARE REMOVED FROM OUT-OF-SCOPE VEHICLES OR OTHER WHEEL SUPPLY INVENTORIES.
Wheels:rim
FRACTURE (CRACKING) OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE (SV) WHEEL, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY INVESTIGATED UNDER PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE03-009 (SAFETY RECALL 03V-279), OCCURS IN THE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 TO 2005 POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES ONLY; CIVILIAN SPECIFICATION AND OTHER MY VEHICLES ARE UNAFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.FOR THE AFFECTED SUBJECT WHEELS, A FATIGUE CRACK OCCURS IN THE HEAT AFFECTED ZONE OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD THAT ATTACHES THE RIM TO THE OUTBOARD WHEEL DISC.THE CRACK INITIATES UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD NEAR THE HEEL (WHERE AIR LEAKAGE CANNOT BE ASSURED) AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THROUGH CYCLIC BENDING AS THE WHEELS ROLLS.ALTHOUGH THE VAST MAJORITY OF RIM CRACKS EITHER PRESENTED NO SYMPTOMS OR WERE DETECTED SAFELY VIA RECURRING SLOW AIR LEAKAGE, ODI IDENTIFIED 6 INCIDENTS WHERE RAPID AIR LEAKAGE LEADING TO A FULL OR PARTIAL DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WAS ALLEGED.FOR THESE WHEELS, EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS HAD FORMED IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE RIM AND SUBSEQUENTLY GROWN TOGETHER.TWO OF THE INCIDENTS RESULTED IN A CRASH, ONE DURING A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT.ALTHOUGH THE MINORITY OF CASES, FORD?S ASSESSMENTS OF FIELD RETURN WHEELS SHOWED THAT MULTIPLE CRACKS EXIST IN APPROXIMATELY 17 PERCENT OF THE CRACKED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER A FORD EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM.IN A WHEEL WITH MULTIPLE CRACKS, AS THE AREA BETWEEN THE CRACKS IS REDUCED BY GROWTH A HIGH STRESS CONDITION (SUCH AS WOULD OCCUR IN AN AGGRESSIVE VEHICLE MANEUVER DURING A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT) MAY CAUSE THE CRACKS TO JOIN TOGETHER RAPIDLY.IF THE CRACKS ARE OF SUFFICIENT SIZE, THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE RIM MAY BE COMPROMISED RESULTING IN RAPID AIR LOSS AND RIM DEFORMATION.FOR POLICE VEHICLES USED AT HIGH SPEED, RAPID DEFLATION AND LOSS OF RIM STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY AFFECTS VEHICLE CONTROL AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.FATIGUE IS THE FUNDAMENTAL FRACTURE MECHANISM; THEREFORE, WHEEL FRACTURE CAN BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR (AND AT AN INCREASED INCIDENCE LEVEL) AS LONG AS THE AFFECTED WHEELS REMAIN IN SERVICE.IN DECEMBER 2004 (WITHIN MY 2005 SV PRODUCTION) FORD INTRODUCED A SHOT PEEN PROCESS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF SV WHEELS.SHOT PEEN WHEELS, WHICH ARE IDENTIFIED BY UNIQUE PART NUMBER STAMPINGS, HAVE NOT EXHIBITED FRACTURE IN POLICE SERVICE TO DATE.UNDER 07V-079, FORD WILL INSPECT SVS REGISTERED FOR POLICE USE AND REPLACE EARLIER DESIGN LEVEL WHEELS WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS.POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT MY 2005 VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 2004 ARE NOT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS RECALL (SINCE THEY WERE ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED WITH SHOT PEEN WHEELS).AGENCIES SHOULD BE DILIGENT IN ENSURING THAT NON-SHOT PEEN WHEELS ARE REMOVED FROM OUT-OF-SCOPE VEHICLES OR OTHER WHEEL SUPPLY INVENTORIES.
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN WILL BE USED AS A REMEDY.FORD ADVISES THAT A SA IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING FUTURE WHEEL FAILURES (INCLUDING RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEEL FAILURES) BECAUSE: 1) FAILURE RATES ARE LOW BASED ON FORD?S ANALYSIS, AND 2) DRIVER WARNINGS (REPETITIVE SLOW AIR LOSS, AND OR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION) ALLOW EARLY AND SAFE DETECTION OF CRACKED WHEELS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 25 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS (INVOLVING 22 VEHICLES) WHICH ALLEGE A RIM FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE STEEL WHEELS.ABOUT HALF THE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE REMEDY WHEEL USED FOR RECALL 03V279, AND MOST OF THE REMAINING VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL.THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PERTINENT FORD COMPLAINTS IS MADE DIFFICULT BY FORD?S PRIOR RECALL AND WARRANTY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS, WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVE FAILURES OF RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEELS, ARE BASED ON ANALYSIS CONDUCTED TO DATE AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED, THUS ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, PERTINENT FAILURE REPORTS AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED.ODI AND FORD WILL DISCUSS DETAILS FOR CONDUCTING AN AUDIT ANALYSIS OF FAILED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER THE NEW SA.ADDITIONALLY, ODI IS AWAITING FORD?S LAB ANALYSIS OF TWO WHEELS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF VOQ REPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE NOTED CRASH EVENT.A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FORD?S SERVICE ACTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING ONGOING RIM FRACTURES.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Wheels
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN WILL BE USED AS A REMEDY.FORD ADVISES THAT A SA IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING FUTURE WHEEL FAILURES (INCLUDING RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEEL FAILURES) BECAUSE: 1) FAILURE RATES ARE LOW BASED ON FORD?S ANALYSIS, AND 2) DRIVER WARNINGS (REPETITIVE SLOW AIR LOSS, AND OR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION) ALLOW EARLY AND SAFE DETECTION OF CRACKED WHEELS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 25 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS (INVOLVING 22 VEHICLES) WHICH ALLEGE A RIM FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE STEEL WHEELS.ABOUT HALF THE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE REMEDY WHEEL USED FOR RECALL 03V279, AND MOST OF THE REMAINING VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL.THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PERTINENT FORD COMPLAINTS IS MADE DIFFICULT BY FORD?S PRIOR RECALL AND WARRANTY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS, WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVE FAILURES OF RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEELS, ARE BASED ON ANALYSIS CONDUCTED TO DATE AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED, THUS ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, PERTINENT FAILURE REPORTS AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED.ODI AND FORD WILL DISCUSS DETAILS FOR CONDUCTING AN AUDIT ANALYSIS OF FAILED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER THE NEW SA.ADDITIONALLY, ODI IS AWAITING FORD?S LAB ANALYSIS OF TWO WHEELS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF VOQ REPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE NOTED CRASH EVENT.A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FORD?S SERVICE ACTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING ONGOING RIM FRACTURES.
Wheels:hubcap/cover
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN WILL BE USED AS A REMEDY.FORD ADVISES THAT A SA IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING FUTURE WHEEL FAILURES (INCLUDING RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEEL FAILURES) BECAUSE: 1) FAILURE RATES ARE LOW BASED ON FORD?S ANALYSIS, AND 2) DRIVER WARNINGS (REPETITIVE SLOW AIR LOSS, AND OR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION) ALLOW EARLY AND SAFE DETECTION OF CRACKED WHEELS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 25 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS (INVOLVING 22 VEHICLES) WHICH ALLEGE A RIM FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE STEEL WHEELS.ABOUT HALF THE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE REMEDY WHEEL USED FOR RECALL 03V279, AND MOST OF THE REMAINING VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL.THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PERTINENT FORD COMPLAINTS IS MADE DIFFICULT BY FORD?S PRIOR RECALL AND WARRANTY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS, WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVE FAILURES OF RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEELS, ARE BASED ON ANALYSIS CONDUCTED TO DATE AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED, THUS ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, PERTINENT FAILURE REPORTS AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED.ODI AND FORD WILL DISCUSS DETAILS FOR CONDUCTING AN AUDIT ANALYSIS OF FAILED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER THE NEW SA.ADDITIONALLY, ODI IS AWAITING FORD?S LAB ANALYSIS OF TWO WHEELS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF VOQ REPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE NOTED CRASH EVENT.A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FORD?S SERVICE ACTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING ONGOING RIM FRACTURES.
Wheels:hub
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN WILL BE USED AS A REMEDY.FORD ADVISES THAT A SA IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING FUTURE WHEEL FAILURES (INCLUDING RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEEL FAILURES) BECAUSE: 1) FAILURE RATES ARE LOW BASED ON FORD?S ANALYSIS, AND 2) DRIVER WARNINGS (REPETITIVE SLOW AIR LOSS, AND OR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION) ALLOW EARLY AND SAFE DETECTION OF CRACKED WHEELS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 25 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS (INVOLVING 22 VEHICLES) WHICH ALLEGE A RIM FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE STEEL WHEELS.ABOUT HALF THE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE REMEDY WHEEL USED FOR RECALL 03V279, AND MOST OF THE REMAINING VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL.THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PERTINENT FORD COMPLAINTS IS MADE DIFFICULT BY FORD?S PRIOR RECALL AND WARRANTY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS, WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVE FAILURES OF RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEELS, ARE BASED ON ANALYSIS CONDUCTED TO DATE AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED, THUS ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, PERTINENT FAILURE REPORTS AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED.ODI AND FORD WILL DISCUSS DETAILS FOR CONDUCTING AN AUDIT ANALYSIS OF FAILED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER THE NEW SA.ADDITIONALLY, ODI IS AWAITING FORD?S LAB ANALYSIS OF TWO WHEELS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF VOQ REPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE NOTED CRASH EVENT.A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FORD?S SERVICE ACTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING ONGOING RIM FRACTURES.
Wheels:rim
DURING A SEPTEMBER 23, 2004 MEETING AND IN SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS IN NOVEMBER, FORD ADVISED THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THEIR PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN IMPROVED STEEL WHEEL FOR MANUFACTURING AND SERVICE COMPONENT USE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, INDICATING THIS WOULD OCCUR IN DECEMBER 2004.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN INCORPORATES AN ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURING PROCESS (SHOT PEENING) WHICH LOWERS TENSILE STRESS IN THE SURFACE LAYER OF THE RIM MATERIAL ADJACENT TO THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD. THEORETICALLY THIS SHOULD IMPROVE RIM DURABILITY BY REDUCING FATIGUE CRACK INITIATION SITES.INDICATIONS FROM FORD?S ACCELERATED TESTING METHODS SHOW AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NEW WHEEL.IN ADDITION TO PRIOR SAFETY RECALL 03V279 AND SERVICE ACTION (SA) 03M03, FORD WILL ANNOUNCE A NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SA FOR VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO DECEMBER 2004 THAT SUFFER RIM FRACTURES IN SERVICE.THE NEW WHEEL DESIGN WILL BE USED AS A REMEDY.FORD ADVISES THAT A SA IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING FUTURE WHEEL FAILURES (INCLUDING RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEEL FAILURES) BECAUSE: 1) FAILURE RATES ARE LOW BASED ON FORD?S ANALYSIS, AND 2) DRIVER WARNINGS (REPETITIVE SLOW AIR LOSS, AND OR STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION) ALLOW EARLY AND SAFE DETECTION OF CRACKED WHEELS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 25 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS (INVOLVING 22 VEHICLES) WHICH ALLEGE A RIM FRACTURE OF ONE OR MORE STEEL WHEELS.ABOUT HALF THE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE REMEDY WHEEL USED FOR RECALL 03V279, AND MOST OF THE REMAINING VEHICLES WERE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL.THE PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING PERTINENT FORD COMPLAINTS IS MADE DIFFICULT BY FORD?S PRIOR RECALL AND WARRANTY PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.THE MANUFACTURER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS, WHICH PRIMARILY INVOLVE FAILURES OF RECALL 03V279 REMEDY WHEELS, ARE BASED ON ANALYSIS CONDUCTED TO DATE AND ARE CONSIDERED TO BE CONSERVATIVE.FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS REQUIRED, THUS ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA).DURING THE EA, PERTINENT FAILURE REPORTS AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REVIEWED.ODI AND FORD WILL DISCUSS DETAILS FOR CONDUCTING AN AUDIT ANALYSIS OF FAILED WHEELS REPLACED UNDER THE NEW SA.ADDITIONALLY, ODI IS AWAITING FORD?S LAB ANALYSIS OF TWO WHEELS WHICH WERE THE SUBJECT OF VOQ REPORTS, ONE OF WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN THE NOTED CRASH EVENT.A DETERMINATION WILL BE MADE AS TO WHETHER FORD?S SERVICE ACTION IS SUFFICIENT FOR ADDRESSING ONGOING RIM FRACTURES.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.
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