NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
26 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Oct 24, 2024
EngineUnknown Or Other
when i bought my car on [XXX] I drove it home from Hooksett NH from Alfa Car dealership tire pressure light came on battery light and the check engine light all came on and when I stopped and turned the car off all lights went off. I owned the car for two days and all of a sudden my car would not start it was fine went to drop …
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when i bought my car on [XXX] I drove it home from Hooksett NH from Alfa Car dealership tire pressure light came on battery light and the check engine light all came on and when I stopped and turned the car off all lights went off. I owned the car for two days and all of a sudden my car would not start it was fine went to drop my dog off and the car wouldn't start for a few hours this happened. When driving white smoke came out of the rear and I had an oil in the car. The car completely dies in the middle of the road and doesn't start all the oil is gone and there is a hole through my engine. 1. NO dealership will not help in any way 2. yes mine and many more on the road 3 yes I called the dealership and they want me to pay 200 dollars for a warranty 4 yes a mechanic looked at it when I was on the side of the road 5. no 6 no lights and nothing showed me any signs INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11621779
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2021
Unknown Or OtherFire
SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSE THE FIRE OVER THE ENGINE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PART IS CALLED BUT IT STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING WHAT HAVE CAUSE THE SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOW THE CAR DOESN'T START
NHTSA ODI #11440346
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2021
EngineService BrakesUnknown Or Other
I BOUGHT MY CAR A FEW YEARS AGO FROM A USED CAR LOT. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS EVER SINCE. MY BREAKS KEEP GOING, MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND THE TRIMMING AROUND MY WINDSHIELD IS FALLING OUT. I'M AFRAID THE WINDSHIELD IS GOING TO FLY OFF. ALL I KEEP SEEING ATE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11408220
179,000 miles · Apr 6, 2021
Unknown Or Other
THE CAR LOSES POWER, TOOL LIGHT POPS UP WHEN I'M DRIVING I CAN'T SEE SPEED I'M GOING. TURN THE CAR OFF AND EVERYTHING RESETS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA ODI #11406782
137,000 miles · Oct 19, 2020
Unknown Or Other
DRIVING GOING ABOUT 50 MPH ON COUNTY HIGHWAY. STARTING LOSING ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, WITH A VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALSO GOING AT LEAST 50 MPH. PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON RIGHT AWAY, MADE IT TO A DRIVE WAY AND LIGHTS WERE DIMING, NO POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN TRYING TO EXCEL SPEED, THERE WAS NONE. TOOK TO AUTO SHOP TO FIND OUT T…
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DRIVING GOING ABOUT 50 MPH ON COUNTY HIGHWAY. STARTING LOSING ALL POWER TO VEHICLE, WITH A VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALSO GOING AT LEAST 50 MPH. PUT HAZARD LIGHTS ON RIGHT AWAY, MADE IT TO A DRIVE WAY AND LIGHTS WERE DIMING, NO POWER, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN TRYING TO EXCEL SPEED, THERE WAS NONE. TOOK TO AUTO SHOP TO FIND OUT THAT IT IS THE POWER CONTROL MODULE. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND NEEDS THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS.
NHTSA ODI #11365156
182,889 miles · Feb 23, 2020
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
WHILE TRAVELING FROM WORK TO HOME HAD A LOST OF POWER AND STARTED MAKING NOISE UPFRONT SO PULLED OVER AND CHECKED EVERYTHING AND IT WAS FINE FLUIDS CHECKED REGULARLY AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A PTU PROBLEM AND IT HAS THE JERKING AND SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A CHAIN NOISE AND SOUNDS LIKE A SLAPPING SOUND. HAS SOMETHING LEAKING UP BY TRA…
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WHILE TRAVELING FROM WORK TO HOME HAD A LOST OF POWER AND STARTED MAKING NOISE UPFRONT SO PULLED OVER AND CHECKED EVERYTHING AND IT WAS FINE FLUIDS CHECKED REGULARLY AND WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A PTU PROBLEM AND IT HAS THE JERKING AND SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A CHAIN NOISE AND SOUNDS LIKE A SLAPPING SOUND. HAS SOMETHING LEAKING UP BY TRANNY PRETTY SURE ITS THE PTU CAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHERE'S IT'S LOCATED AND HAVE READ LOTS OF THINGS ONLINE AND EVERYTHING. THEIR SHOULD REALLY BE RECALL FOR THE PTU UNIT BEFORE SOMEONE MAJORLY GETS HURT CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF POWER ALL OF SUDDEN WHEN TRAVELING. WAS TRAVELING HIGHWAY HOME.
NHTSA ODI #11310903
97,000 miles · Feb 19, 2020
SuspensionUnknown Or Other
HAVE HAD TO REPLACE REAR WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLIES MULTIPLES TIMES ON 2007 FORD EDGE.BIG SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #11310139
123,129 miles · Aug 14, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainUnknown Or Other
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION FOR AWHILE, CAR WAS RUNNING OKAY UNTIL I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR GOES LIMP. MY VEHICLE MAKES LOUD/HARD CLANK NOISE. LOSS OF POWER, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER, LOUD/HARD CLANK SOUND WITH EVERY GEAR CHANGE P-2. VEHICLE HAD DISPLAYED NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS. I AM ABLE TO P…
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VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION FOR AWHILE, CAR WAS RUNNING OKAY UNTIL I CAME TO A STOPLIGHT AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR GOES LIMP. MY VEHICLE MAKES LOUD/HARD CLANK NOISE. LOSS OF POWER, WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER, LOUD/HARD CLANK SOUND WITH EVERY GEAR CHANGE P-2. VEHICLE HAD DISPLAYED NO ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS. I AM ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER, TURN IT OFF AND TAKE THEY KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. THEN THE WRENCH LIGHT IS OFF WHEN I RESTART THE CAR. STAYS IN LOW GEAR FOR A LONG TIME WHEN I START TO ACCELERATE, AND UNTIL VEHICLE EVENTUALLY ACCELERATES FASTER, OTHER CARS ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR SINCE MY CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AT A NORMAL PACE. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE TO BE FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET. FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THIS ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR IS KILLED FROM THE EXTREME LOSS OF POWER THE VEHICLE IS SUFFERING FROM WHEN THIS OCCURS!
NHTSA ODI #11244064
92,867 miles · May 18, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherWheels
FUEL LEAK AND MAJOR WATER CORROSION TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR. TRIED TO GET WHEEL BARRINGS DONE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED OFF AND ON. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR AND IT IS UNSAFE. THEY PRICED THIS CAR AT 10000 WITH FINANCE CHARGE WHEN I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS 6500 I PUT 1500 DOWN PLUS 746 MAKE UP DOWNPAYMENT. I HAVE …
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FUEL LEAK AND MAJOR WATER CORROSION TO UNDERCARRIAGE OF CAR. TRIED TO GET WHEEL BARRINGS DONE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED OFF AND ON. I AM STILL PAYING ON THIS CAR AND IT IS UNSAFE. THEY PRICED THIS CAR AT 10000 WITH FINANCE CHARGE WHEN I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS 6500 I PUT 1500 DOWN PLUS 746 MAKE UP DOWNPAYMENT. I HAVE STILL BEEN PAYING ON IT AND I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT CANT BE WORTH THAT MUCH IF THIS WAS A FLOOD CAR. THE CAR MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHICH IS THE WHEEL BARRING BUT CANNOT BE EASILY FIXED. AND WILL COST ME ALOT OF MONEY WHILE IM STILL PAYING
NHTSA ODI #11208402
100,000 miles · Nov 3, 2018
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherWheels
THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS RUNNING KIND OF ROUGH AND SHIFTING KIND OF HARD REVERSE WOULD NOT WITH BANG AND IN GEARS ON THE FREEWAY BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT AND HAD IT PUT ON AN ODB READER IT SAID P0353 IGNITION COIL C SO I HAD THAT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS ALL SIX OF THEM AND IT DID NOT CLEAR …
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THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS RUNNING KIND OF ROUGH AND SHIFTING KIND OF HARD REVERSE WOULD NOT WITH BANG AND IN GEARS ON THE FREEWAY BUT THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT AND HAD IT PUT ON AN ODB READER IT SAID P0353 IGNITION COIL C SO I HAD THAT REPLACED ALONG WITH THE SPARK PLUGS ALL SIX OF THEM AND IT DID NOT CLEAR THE CODE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR JUST DIED I HAD IT BROUGHT TO REPAIR SHOP THEY PUT IT ON THE SCANNER IT READ IGNITION COIL A B C D E F. SO I GOT AN IGNITION COIL PACK WHICH CONSISTED OF 6 IGNITION COILS AND 6 MORE SPARK PLUGS BRAND NEW AND HAD THOSE INSTALLED AND NOW THE CAR WON'T START AND I CHECKED THE FUSES SEVERAL RELAYS ARE BLOWN AND IT KEEPS POPPING FUSES AND THERE'S A DRAW ON THE BATTERY WHICH I HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY AND BUY A NEW ONE BECAUSE MY REVERSE LIGHTS JUST JUST THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE ON WHEN MY CAR WASN'T EVEN ON OR HE WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION AND IT WAS NOT IN ANY POWER FOR ANY LIGHT SOURCE POSITION
NHTSA ODI #11145130
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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