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

Visibility complaints

25 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2007

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RECENTLY PURCHASE A 2007 FORD EDGE, THIS VEHICLE HAS SUCH A GLARE THAT YOU ONLY HAVE ABOUT 50% VISIBILITY. YOU CAN SEE THE FULL DASH, TO INCLUDE ALL THE VENTS AND OTHER ITEMS ON THE DASH. I CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER TO WHICH THEY ACTED AS IF "WOW" THIS IS THE FIRST WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THIS.. THEY ADVISE THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A ANSWER. SO I CONTACT THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT. I WENT THRU THE PROBLEM WITH THE PERSON ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE. HE ACTED SURPRISED AND SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS, BUT , GET THIS, HE HAD A READY REMEDY, HE SUGGEST THAT I GO AND BUY A MAT TO COVER THE DASH. I ASK HIM IF HE WOULD WANT TO DO THAT TO A NEW VEHICLE THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED. I SUGGESTED TO HIM THAT HE NEEDS TO GET HIS ENGINEERS AND PERSONS IN AUTHORITY TO READ ALL OF THE BLOGS ON THE FORD WINDSHIELDS , I TOLD HIM THAT I FOUND COMPLAINTS WHERE AS THE CUSTOMERS HAD CONTACT FORD ABOUT A MAJOR GLARE, THAT DATED BACK TO 2005 ON THE EXPLORERS. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GET THE AUTO MANUFACTURES TO TAKE ACTION, I WILL BE MORE THAT HAPPY TO PROVIDE THE LINKS TO THE COMPLAINTS ON THE FORD EDGE IF NEEDED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10198339

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2007

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2007 FORD EDGE THE WINDSHIELD OF THIS VEHICLE HAS AN UNACCEPTABLE REFLECTION FROM THE DASHBOARD THAT RESTRICTS AND INTERFERES WITH DRIVER VISION. ALSO THE LIGHT COMING IN FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM HAVING A CLEAR VIEW THE CLOCK OR THE MESSAGE CENTER WHILE DRIVING. THESE ARE EXTREMELY SMALL LETTERS AND NUMBERS AND SUFFER FROM THE REFLECTION FROM THE WINDSHIELD. *JB THE SEVERITY OF THE REFLECTION IS NOT CONSTANT AS LIGHTING CONDITIONS VARY. HOWEVER THE CAMEL DCOR ON THE DASHBOARD ON THE FORD EDGE PROVIDES A CONSTANT FILM APPEARANCE ON THE WINDSHIELD. MOST ANY TIME A QUICK GLANCE OUT THE SIDE WINDOW WILL REVEAL A CLEAR AND CLEAN VISION. PAGE 268 OF THE FORD EDGE OWNER?S GUIDE CAUTIONS, ?AVOID CLEANERS OR POLISHES THAT INCREASE THE GLOSS OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DULL FINISH IN THIS AREA HELPS PROTECT THE DRIVER FROM UNDESIRABLE WINDSHIELD REFLECTION?. ON THE EDGE, FORD INSTALLED A U TYPE ONE INCH CHROME TRIM ON THE DASHBOARD WHICH EXTENDS TO 10? OF THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT PROVIDES A BEAUTIFUL REFLECTION INTO THE WINDSHIELD. TWO ATTENDEES AT A NEW OWNER SEMINAR BY A DEALERSHIP COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS REFLECTION. FORD SHOULD RESEARCH MEANS OF REDUCING EXCESSIVE WINDSHIELD REFLECTION AND PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH REMEDIAL ACTION. POLAROID EYE GLASSES HELP. PERHAPS FORD SHOULD PROVIDE THESE. THIS WINDSHIELD VISION IMPAIRMENT IS NOT LIMITED TO FORD PRODUCTS. ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS A MUCH SLANTED WINDSHIELD WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. CONSEQUENTLY CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO DEVELOPING A VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD WHICH SPECIFIES THE LIMITATIONS ALLOWED FOR WINDSHIELD REFLECTION WHICH RESTRICTS VISION. ROY J. CUMMINGS 3233 N. TULSA AVE. OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73112 405 942 3136 ROYJC82@COX.NET FORMER HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAM MANAGER, RETIRED TRANSPORTATION SAFETY INSTITUTE OKLAHOMA CITY, OK USDT OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

NHTSA ODI #10198204

1 miles · Aug 1, 2007

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DESIGN FLAW WINDSHIELD ! YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD AT ANY TIME OF THE DAY, MORNING, OR DUSK! THERE IS A TOTAL MIRROR IMAGE OF THE DASH-BOARD IN THE WINDSHIELD FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND TOP TO BOTTOM! YOU MUST WHERE SHADED SUN GLASSES TO DRIVE THIS CAR EVEN AT NIGHT AND WHEN THERE IS NO SUN SHINING!!!!!!??????? I HAVE HAD NUMBERIOUS E-MAILS AND VISITS TO FORD WITH NO RESULTS. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A AN ACCIDENT AS YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE CORNER OF THE WINDSHIELD. I VISITED OUR LOCAL STATE POLICE OFFICE, AND THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS, EXCEPT THAT IS AGAINST THE LAW TO DARKEN THE WINDSHIELD ! NO ONE WANTS TO COMMIT THEMSELVES OR ADMIT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL PROBLEM, AS I DO BELIEVE THIS IS COMMON ON CROSSOVERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10198137

45,000 miles · Jun 11, 2007

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PURCHASED A NEW FORD EDGE ON 12/29/06. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AT LEAST 7 TIMES. CALLED MY SERVICING DEALER , CALLED LOCAL DEALER. VISITED 10 DIFFERENT AUTO AGENCY'S TO DISCUSS PROBLEM. FORD HAS DESIGNED THE WINDSHIELD SO THAT THE ENTIRE DASH BOARD SHOWS UP AS A DOUBLE IMAGE IN THE WINDSHIELD! THIS IS NOT JUST A LITTLE PORTION , BUT THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GLASS MANUFACTURES, TINTING COMPANIES ETC., ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I AM WASTING MY TIME. IN FACT AFTER NUMEROUS TRIES WITH FORD MOTOR CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY SAY AND I QUOTE THAT MY PROBLEM HAS BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED, AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS A NORMAL VEHICLE CHARACTERISTIC ! I PURCHASED THIS FORD EDGE IN GOOD FAITH, AND CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SAFE, IN FACT I CONTACTED CONSUMER REPORT, AND THEY SUGGESTED I CONTACT YOUR OFFICE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE SUN IS SHINING OR IF THE SUN IS NOT SHINING, YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD SAFELY, YOU MUST WHERE POLORIZED SUN GLASSES AT ALL TIMES, INCLUDING AT DUSK. THIS IS WRONG. I HAVE DONE AND SAID EVERYTHING I CAN TO MAKE FORD AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, AND I GOT NOWHERE. THE NEXT STEP IS TO VISIT A OPTHAMOLOGIST TO SEE WHAT DAMAGE IS BEING DONE TO THE EYE. IN 6 MONTHS THIS FORD EDGE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY 1500 MILES, BY MY WIFE, AND I DROVE IT ANOTHER 1000 MILES JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS JUST ME. AFTER A LONG TRIP, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE TAKING A NAP TO REST YOUR EYES. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO FOUND UPON INSPECTION OF OTHER MAKE CROSS OVERS, THAT FORD IS RIGHT, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE NEW CROSS OVERS. I DRIVE A CADILIAC ESCALADE EXT, AND I DO NOT HAVE TO WHERE SUN GLASSES TO DRIVE THIS PICKUP. I HOPE THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, AS I REALLY THINK THIS CAN BE SERIOUS! I WILL WAIT TO HEAR FROM YOU . I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MR. KEITH MC CALLS OFFICE AND WE WILL WAIT YOUR REPLY. SINCERELY, J.A.H. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10192879

600 miles · Apr 23, 2007

Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD WHEN TRYING TO LOOK OUT THE WINDSHIELD. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED DURING THE DAYTIME AND UNDER ANY ROAD CONDITIONS. THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT ON SUNNY DAYS. THE DEALER NOTICED THE FAILURE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CURR…

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NHTSA ODI #10188589

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