NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
40 reportsClear category filter158,493 miles · Apr 12, 2024
Exterior Lighting
The contact owns a 2007 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, another motorist yelled out that the brake lights were not working. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic four times where it was diagnosed that the housing, LED conversion, tail light bulb, socket, and …
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The contact owns a 2007 Ford Edge. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, another motorist yelled out that the brake lights were not working. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic four times where it was diagnosed that the housing, LED conversion, tail light bulb, socket, and connector needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,493.
NHTSA ODI #11582586
Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2022
Exterior Lighting
Rear turn signal blubs continue to blow out over and over. Last time I went to replace the bulb had fused to housing. I'm afraid it is going to catch fire. Also tired of buying bulbs every few months to replace burned out ones.
NHTSA ODI #11462701
227,000 miles · Apr 16, 2021
Exterior LightingPower TrainService Brakes
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKE PEDAL GOT REAL SPONGY AND THEN SOUNDED LIKE AIR BLOWING THROUGH LINES. BARELY GOT HOME WITH MINIMAL BRAKE USAGE. I WAS DRIVING ON LEE ROAD LUCKILY NOT TOO FAR FROM MY HOME. ALSO FOG LIGHTS DON'T WORK. NOT SURE IF IT'S A SWITCH RELATED PROBLEM OR SOMETHING ELSE. IT ALSO FEELS LIK…
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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY BRAKE PEDAL GOT REAL SPONGY AND THEN SOUNDED LIKE AIR BLOWING THROUGH LINES. BARELY GOT HOME WITH MINIMAL BRAKE USAGE. I WAS DRIVING ON LEE ROAD LUCKILY NOT TOO FAR FROM MY HOME. ALSO FOG LIGHTS DON'T WORK. NOT SURE IF IT'S A SWITCH RELATED PROBLEM OR SOMETHING ELSE. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP LIKE THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO GO ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE WITHOUT REALLY GETTING ON THE PEDAL. AND IT ROLLS BACKWARDS ON HILLS LIKE IT'S A MANUAL TRANSMISSION
NHTSA ODI #11408502
Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2020
Exterior Lighting
DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT BULB KEEPS GOING OUT. THE SOCKET APPEARS TO BE MELTED/CHARRED. I HAVE HAD THE BULB REPLACED THREE TIMES IN LESS THAN A YEAR. EVERY TIME THE BULB GOES OUT, MY BRAKE LIGHT IS AFFECTED AND I GET PULLED OVER AND ISSUED A FIX-IT TICKET BY THE POLICE.
NHTSA ODI #11300779
115,000 miles · Mar 28, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
MY BLINKER LIGHT STARTED BLINKING REALLY FAST AND I KNEW THAT THAT INDICTATED THAT I HAD A BULB OUT. I SAW THAT IT WAS THE REAR LEFT AND PURCHASED A NEW BULB FOR IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR HOW TO CHANGE THE BULB PROPERLY AND FOUND SEVERAL VIDEOS FOR HOW TO DO IT BUT THEY ALL SHOWED THAT THE BULB SOCKET HAD OVERHEATED AND WAS BURN…
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MY BLINKER LIGHT STARTED BLINKING REALLY FAST AND I KNEW THAT THAT INDICTATED THAT I HAD A BULB OUT. I SAW THAT IT WAS THE REAR LEFT AND PURCHASED A NEW BULB FOR IT. I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR HOW TO CHANGE THE BULB PROPERLY AND FOUND SEVERAL VIDEOS FOR HOW TO DO IT BUT THEY ALL SHOWED THAT THE BULB SOCKET HAD OVERHEATED AND WAS BURNT. SURE ENOUGH, WHEN I OPENED UP MINE TO CHANGE THE BULB, THE SOCKET THAT HOLDS THE BULB IS BURNT AND THE THE BULB WAS PARTIALLY MELTED INTO THE SOCKET. I CHECKED OTHER SIDE AND IT IS THE SAME THING. THE SOCKET IS BURNT AND CHARRED AND THE BULB IS STUCK IN IT. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN OVERHEATING ISSUE AND I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #11081738
19,500 miles · Feb 18, 2018
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE REAR TAIL LIGHT SOCKET ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IS EXTREMELY CHARRED. THE LIGHT BULB ON THAT SIDE HAS FAILED 5 TIMES OVER 7 YEARS, CLEARLY FROM OVERHEATING, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN LIGHT. THE OTHER SIDE HAS NEVER FAILED BUT SHOWS EARLY SIGNS OF OVERHEATING.
NHTSA ODI #11073519
91,500 miles · Oct 10, 2016
Exterior Lighting
I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED MY RIGHT BLINKER FLASHING QUICKLY SO I GOT A NEW REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB. WHEN REPLACING THE BULB I NOTICED THAT THE BULB WAS MELTED INTO THE SOCKET. I CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT WAS CHARRED AND MELTED EVEN WORSE THEN THE BULB THAT WASN'T WORKING. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT COUL…
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I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED MY RIGHT BLINKER FLASHING QUICKLY SO I GOT A NEW REAR RIGHT TURN SIGNAL BULB. WHEN REPLACING THE BULB I NOTICED THAT THE BULB WAS MELTED INTO THE SOCKET. I CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT WAS CHARRED AND MELTED EVEN WORSE THEN THE BULB THAT WASN'T WORKING. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT COULD START A FIRE AND MY CHILD IS IN THE BACK SEAT!
NHTSA ODI #10915017
48,940 miles · Sep 20, 2016
Exterior Lighting
DOME LIGHTS BY REAR VIEW MIRROR DO NOT GO OFF. SINCE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MANY FORD VEHICLES; I FEEL IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I GOT A NOTICE MONTHS AGO ABOUT A RECALL ABOUT THE TAKATA AIR BAGS ON MY FORD EDGE, ALSO. STILL AWAITING THE REPAIR. THE RECALL SAID TO WAIT FOR THEM TO CALL.
NHTSA ODI #10908133
Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2016
Exterior Lighting
DOOR AJAR LIGHT DOESN'T TURN OFF WHICH LEAVES THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA ODI #10899689
68,000 miles · Jul 22, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
WHEN OPERATING THE TURN SIGNALS IN EITHER DIRECTION THE REAR LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, AND THEN PERMANENTLY. UPON PULLING THE REAR BULB HOUSING, I NOTICED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKET WAS BURNT IN APPEARANCE. OPON TRYING TO REMOVE THE BULBS, ONE OF THE RETAINING TABS ON ONE SIDE BROKE OFF. INSIDE THE SOCKE…
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WHEN OPERATING THE TURN SIGNALS IN EITHER DIRECTION THE REAR LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, AND THEN PERMANENTLY. UPON PULLING THE REAR BULB HOUSING, I NOTICED THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHT SOCKET WAS BURNT IN APPEARANCE. OPON TRYING TO REMOVE THE BULBS, ONE OF THE RETAINING TABS ON ONE SIDE BROKE OFF. INSIDE THE SOCKETS (BOTH SIDES) WERE FULL OF WHITISH CORROSION. THE MAIN ISSUE HERE IS TWOFOLD: IF YOU LOOK ONLINE ON THE FORD EDGE FORUM, YOU WILL SEE MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. SECONDLY, THIS PRESENTS A FIRE AND DRIVING HAZARD. KEEP IN MIND MY WIFE'S CAR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 70,000 MILES ON IT YET AND IS GARAGE KEPT. SHE DOES NOT RIDE THE BRAKES AND TURN SIGNALS ARE USED AS OFTEN AS NEEDED...HAZARDS HARDLY EVER USED. I'LL HAVE TO PAY FOR 2 NEW SOCKETS AND BULBS WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #10887692
Official recalls
5Mar 10, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.
Feb 16, 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Air Bags:frontal
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.
Jan 10, 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
May 31, 2016
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.
Oct 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Lincoln MKX, and Ford Edge vehicles, manufactured June 15, 2006, to September 22, 2008, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use, the affected vehicles may leak fuel from the fuel tank seam weld under the tank mounting reinforcement brackets.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 12, 2014. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and either clean and treat the fuel tank with a corrosion preventative or replace the tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S22.
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
2PE09031 · Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint
Opened Jul 13, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
ON JULY 13, 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-031 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 AND 2008 FORD EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON THREE OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING.ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN EARLY WARNING DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD.PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE PINCH BOLT USED TO SECURE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT STUD TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE.ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT A CRASH OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR INJURY.HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COULD BE OBTAINED TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORD IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER FOR PE09-031 INDICATE THAT IN EARLY MY 2007 PRODUCTION THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY PROCESS.THE PINCH BOLTS USED WERE HAND STARTED AND HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CROSS THREAD AND NOT ACHIEVE PROPER CLAMP LOAD, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A LOOSE JOINT.IN NOVEMBER 2007, CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO CHASE AND CLEAN THE FIRST SIX THREADS OF THE BOLT TO PROVIDE EASIER HAND STARTING OF THE NUT AND ENSURE GOOD THREAD ENGAGEMENT BEFORE TIGHTENING. FORD ALSO IDENTIFIED ONGOING CONCERNS WITH THE POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT (PTU) SEALS AND FRONT SUSPENSION HYDRO-BUSHINGS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WHICH BOTH REQUIRE DISASSEMBLY OF THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT TO REPAIR.IF THE BALL JOINT IS NOT PROPERLY REASSEMBLED FOLLOWING SUCH SERVICE, THE JOINT MAY SEPARATE IN LATER SERVICE.FORD HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AND NEW PINCH BOLTS TO THE PTU REPAIR KIT TO IMPROVE THE JOINT REASSEMBLY PROCESS. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF FAILURE DATA IDENTIFIED 31 INCIDENTS OF JOINT SEPARATION (WITH 12 SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT THEY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING).REPAIR RECORDS FOR THESE 31 VEHICLES SHOWS THAT 28 INVOLVE SEPARATION OF THE JOINT ON THE PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE, WHICH IS THE SIDE THAT MUST BE DISASSEMBLED FOR PTU SERVICE.TWENTY-THREE OF THESE WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISASSEMBLED FOR CONTROL ARM BUSHING SERVICE, PTU SERVICE OR OTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR. THE EIGHT CLAIMS THAT DID NOT INVOLVE PRIOR SERVICE REPAIRS REQUIRING JOINT DISASSEMBLY ALL OCCURRED VERY EARLY IN VEHICLE LIFE, INDICATING THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY JOINTS MANUFACTURED WITH LOOSE PINCH BOLTS ARE STILL IN SERVICE.ALL OF THESE JOINTS FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS IN SERVICE AND 10,000 MILES (THE MAXIMUM FAILURE MILEAGE IS 8,097 MILES).THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SUCH FAILURES (I.E., NOT INVOLVING PRIOR SERVICE/DISASSEMBLY) SINCE DECEMBER 2008.THE RATE FOR INCIDENTS THAT DID NOT OCCUR FOLLOWING SERVICE AND, THUS, MAY BE RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY FORD IS VERY LOW (2.5 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED VERY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLES AND ARE NOT SHOWING A CONTINUING FAILURE TREND.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking
Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve
ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO
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