Air Bags. Review the 330 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 193 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports22 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

193 reports

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97,000 miles · Jun 16, 2015

Power Train

THE VEHICLES TRANSMISSION SLIPS THEN BANGS INTO GEAR WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A ROLLING STOP, ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS UP HILL, OR AT ANY SPEED AFTER COASTING DOWN A HILL AND HAVING TO REV UP TO GO BACK UP A HILL. CAR FEELS LIKE A REAR END COLLISION OCCURRED.

NHTSA ODI #10725630

81,000 miles · May 21, 2015

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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HIGHWAY SPEED THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN. SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO, INFORMATION PANEL WENT BLANK, POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION/REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON, AIRBAG FRONT LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED CAR TO SHOULDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND SHUT KEY OFF. RESTARTED CAR AND EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL EXCEPT CAR HAD VERY LITTLE POWER TO MOVE UNTIL ABOUT 10 MPH WAS REACHED WHEN A HARD TRANSMISSION SHIFT PUT CAR INTO GEAR AND ALL BECAME FULLY OPERATIONAL. THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN A ONE WEEK PERIOD OF TIME, ALWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SUBSEQUENT RESEARCH BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATED THIS A COMMON PROBLEM REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF TWO SPEED SENSORS IN TRANSMISSION AT COST OF $629.00.

NHTSA ODI #10717682

118,000 miles · Mar 20, 2015

Power Train

DRIVES FINE AND THAT AT TIMES ACTS AS IF IT IS STUCK IN GEAR OR NEUTRAL. I BOUGHT THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED AND WITHIN ONE YEAR HAD TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WARRANTY COMPANY REPLACED, AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING AS IF IT IS STUCK IN GEAR INCONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT DRIVE PERFECT AND THEN WHEN I AM DRIVE AROU…

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NHTSA ODI #10700691

77,000 miles · Mar 17, 2015

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PRESENCE OF A LEAK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS NEAR THE TRANSFER CASE AND THE AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

NHTSA ODI #10694828

87,500 miles · Mar 16, 2015

Electrical SystemPower Train

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I FILED THE ORIGINAL COMPLAINT (10680995) ON FEBRUARY 3RD, BUT I WANTED TO EDIT OR UPDATE IT, BUT COULDN'T FIND THE WAY, SO I AM TAKING THE LIBERTY TO POST A NEW ONE. IT HAS BEEN 2 AND A HALF MONTHS SINCE THE INCIDENT AND AS A DISGRACE IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE FOR THE FORD DEALER IN CENTRAL AMERICA TO GET THE COMPUTER MODULE PART. CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS AMOUNT OF TIME WITHOUT YOUR VEHICLE, SPECIALLY IF IT IS YOUR WORKING TOOL? THE FOLLOWING WAS MY STATEMENT IN THE FIRST REPORT: "I HAVE A 2007 FORD EDGE WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE TO DATE. THIS IS USUALLY MY FAMILY CAR, DRIVEN BY MY WIFE. WE LIVE IN GUATEMALA AND DROVE TO A HOUSE ON THE BEACH, THAT IS ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. ON JANUARY FIRST WHEN WE WERE RETURNING I STARTED THE CAR AND NOTICED A SHAKE AND SPUTTER, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A DEFECTIVE SPARK PLUG. I MANAGED TO DRIVE OUT OF WHERE WE WERE AND AS SOON AS WE GOT TO THE MAIN HIGHWAY I HAD TO STOP AND CALL FOR A TOW. THE SHAKING AND SPUTTERING WERE FRIGHTENING. THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAYS THAT AT LEAST 3 IGNITION COILS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND ARE NOT SURE IF THE PCM ALSO HAS TO BE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, SINCE THERE ARE PARTS STOCK PROBLEM HERE, I HAD TO WAIT ALMOST A MONTH TO GET THE PARTS AND NOW THAT I HAVE THEM (THE COILS) I STILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN THE REGION TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. I HAD TO REPORT THIS AS IT IS NOT A UNIQUE PROBLEM TOBUYERS IN THE US, ALSO ABROAD". SO FAR, I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. LAST FRIDAY IT WAS STILL IN BACKORDER IN THE FORD PLANT, OR SO THEY SAY. I DONT KNOW EITHER HOW MUCH IS GOING TO COST, BUT AT THIS RATE I JUST WANT TO GET RID OF THAT PIECE OF JUNK. I HAVE PROVIDED A FLORIDA CONTACT AS THERE IS NO ACCESS TO OTHER COUNTRIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10694632

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2015

Power Train

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I NOTICE OIL LEAKING I PUT ON JACK STANDS TO EXAMINE SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE WHAT'S CALLED THE PTU WHICH IS PART OF THE TRANSFER CASE FOR THE AWD IT APPEARS THERE IS AN INNER SEAL AND OUTER SEAL. IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE OUTER SEAL LEAKING FROM THE PTU THE SIDE THAT THE CV AXLE IS ON CONNECTED TO PASSENGER TIRE. I CALLED FORD AND THEY WANT 1200-1500 DOLLARS TO FIX A SEAL THAT'S NOT RECALLED. IT'S KNOWN TO BE HAPPENING TO ALL FORD EDGES I HAVE NO WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WHICH MAKES IT HARDER TO AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10692804

88,000 miles · Feb 20, 2015

Power Train

THE PTU IS OVERHEATING AND SPILLING OUT THE BREATHER TUBE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10689671

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2015

EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS IN NEUTRAL. IT JERKS LIKE SOMEONE HAS RAN INTO YOUR VEHICLE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. SPEEDOMETER GOES TO ZERO. IF YOU COME TO A STOP, YOU MAY NOT GET GOING AGAIN. HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AND REPLACED A SENSOR COSTING ME $425.00 AND LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. HAD THIS CHECKED OUT AND NOW THEY ARE HOLLERING ANOTHER SENSOR HAS WENT BAD AND THIS ONE IS GOING TO COST $600.00. DID NOT HAVE THIS ONE FIXED!! ALSO HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED HOME ONE TIME COSTING EVEN MORE MONEY.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10684268

113,115 miles · Feb 16, 2015

Power Train

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ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY 2007 FORD EDGE BEGAN TO LEAK A FLUID WHICH I THOUGHT MAY HAVE BEEN TRANSMISSION FLUID. ONCE I NOTICED THE LEAK I STOP DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT INTO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) AND I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO HAVE THE TRANSFER CASE REPLACED. THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF THIS ISSUE HAD OCCURRED IN OTHER 2007 FORD EDGES. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE VERY PREVALENT BUT FORD HAS DECIDED TO LEVY THIS EXPENSE TO THE CUSTOMER RATHER THAN ADMIT THERE IS A REAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE'S DRIVETRAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE FORD TO DO WHAT MAZDA HAS DONE WITH THE "SISTER" VEHICLE AND COVER THE COST OF THIS REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683734

80,000 miles · Feb 11, 2015

Power TrainFire

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED FLUID LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10682795

Official recalls

21V158000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Mar 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.

21V081000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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

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

Air Bags:frontal

17V024000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.

16V384000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.

14V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

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

PE09031 · 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