Air Bags. Review the 437 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 277 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 158 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports15 fire reports23 injury reports

Power Train complaints

277 reports

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101,637 miles · Nov 15, 2014

Power Train

I WAS GETTING INTO THE EXIT LANE ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR COMES TO A SUDDEN SLOW DOWN OF ABOUT 5 MPH. LUCKY I WAS ALREADY SLOWING DOWN.COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION HAD I NOT BEEN EXITING THE FREEWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10655176

83,731 miles · Nov 11, 2014

Power Train

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DRIVING AROUND 45 MPH IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, HIT THE BRAKES THEN THE GAS TO NO POWER AT ALL I WAS BARELY MOVING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WHEN THE TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING AGAIN I WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC BARELY AT A CRAWL. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER ! THIS PROBLEM IS JUST AS LIFE THREATENING AS THE LATEST RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BAD KEY/STARTER ISSUE. ARE THEY GOING TO WAIT TO RECALL TILL WE'RE KILLED DRIVING OUR FORD EDGE? AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS NOTICED ALL THE COMPLAINTS JUST THIS YEAR INVOLVING THE 2008 FORD EDGE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE? PLEASE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654266

62,000 miles · Nov 10, 2014

Power Train

KEPT LOOSING TRANSMISSION FLUID. DEALER TOLD ME POWER TRAIN AT A PRICE OF 1400 + THIS IS A FAULT OF THE EDGE MODEL WITH AWD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653842

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2014

Power Train

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I SENT AN EMAIL TO THE FORD COMPANY , WE HAVE A 2008 FORD EDGE WE BOUGHT NEW WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR NOT MOVING UNLESS YOU STOP AND RESTART IT, THE ISSUE WAS SO SPORADIC FROM THE 1ST YEAR THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM, THE CAR WOULD HAVE THE AIR BAG, WRENCH AND LOW TIRE LIGHT ON AND THE ODOMETER WOULD BE ALL DASHES, YOU COULD FLOOR IT AND THE TACH WILL MOVE BUT THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT MOVE AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE, LATELY THE ISSUE HAS BECOME AN EVERYDAY THING YET STILL THE DEALERSHIP CANT FIND THE PROBLEM,I WAS CHECKING ONLINE AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR EDGE, MANY VIDEOS SHOWING THE EXACT PROBLEM ,MY FORD DEALER IS LOOKING AT IT AGAIN. WE CAN NOT BE THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652635

86,600 miles · Oct 27, 2014

Power Train

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I HAVE ONLY HAD MY EDGE A MONTH, HAD IT CHECKED BUMPER TO BUMPER BEFORE PURCHASE (I WORK AT AN AUTO SHOP) AND READ REVIEWS ONLINE. I WISH I HAD SEEN THESE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION AND HARD SHIFTING/REVVING BEFORE PURCHASE!! AS SOON AS I BOUGHT IT, WITHIN A FEW DAYS WHEN I WOULD LEAVE WORK AND TRY TO ACCELERATE IT HESITATES, CLUNKS LOUDLY, THEN FINALLY CATCHES AND TAKES OFF.. I'VE ALREADY HAD NEW PLUGS/BOOTS/COILS DONE, NEW BELTS AND FLUSHES DONE. YESTERDAY WAS THE WORST - I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A RED LIGHT AND AS I WAS PRESSING THE PEDAL IT REVVED AND JERKED AND BANGED. SO GLAD I HAVEN'T EVEN MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT YET AND SEEING THESE COMPLAINTS, ALREADY KNOW I'M GOING TO BE SINKING MASSIVE MONEY INTO THIS VEHICLE! PLEASE RECALL FORD!!! I'VE DRIVEN CRAPPY CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE, I FINALLY GET SOMETHING THAT LOOKS NICE I SEE IS JUST ANOTHER MONEY PIT LEMON! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650403

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2014

Power Train

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DROVE THE CAR TO WORK WITHOUT ANY ISSUE. AFTER WORK, I DROVE TO A NEARBY CONVENIENCE STORE BY MY HOUSE AND HAD NO ISSUE. I LEFT THE STORE AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL BUT THE CAR BARELY MOVED AND WAS LABORING. I CHECKED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T ON THE L GEAR BUT IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WAS ON D. I KEPT PRESSING ON THE GAS AND NOTICED A WRENCH LIGHT ON IN THE DASHBOARD. I MADE IT HOME AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR WHICH WAS THE FASTEST THAT THE CAR WOULD GO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650004

127,000 miles · Oct 14, 2014

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Power Train

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I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I PULLED OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS SOON AS I GAVE IT ANY GOOD AMOUNT OF GAS IT STARTING DRIVING REALLY ROUGH AND SHAKING AND THE A/C WENT OUT YOU COULD HEAR THE MISFIRE ON THE CYLINDERS AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REVVING HIGH BEFORE IT WOULD SHIFT GEARS. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR ANYTHING AT THIS POINT. I TURNED BACK AROUND AND TOOK MY CAR BACK HOME TURNED IT OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WE PULLED THE CODE AND IT WAS P0352 (IGNITION COIL 2 OR PCM) SO WE BOUGHT AND CHANGED ALL SPARK PLUGS AND COIL 2. THIS STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. SO I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND $3000 LATER THEY HAD TO REPLACE MY PCM (THE MAIN COMPUTER THAT RUN THE CAR) ALL 6 COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ABOUT MY CAR HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. PLEASE RECALL THIS. MY COMPUTER SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT WHEN I DO REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644521

93,000 miles · Oct 13, 2014

Power Train

DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOT WHEN SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS BECOMES VERY ROUGH. ENGINE REVS- BUT CAR HAS NO FORWARD MOVEMENT. WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND BACK IN TO A PARKING SPACE. WE SHUT THE CAR OFF- TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED- STILL SHIFTED A LITTLE HARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10644347

125,980 miles · Sep 21, 2014

Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING AND THE WRENCH CAME ON THE DASH AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER . I CAME TO A STOP AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS GOOD. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WOULD REV HIGH BUT BARELY MOVE. I GOT HOME SLOWLY AND PARKED IT AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT LATER AND TRIED IT, ALL THE POWER WAS BACK AND THE WRENCH WAS GONE AND IT DIDN'T CLUNK INTO GEARS LIKE IT WAS EARLIER. I THINK BY SHUTTING IT OFF AND TAKING OUT THE KEY FOR A COUPLE HOURS RESET A COMPUTER GLITCH IN THIS CAR. I HAVE HEARD MANY STORIES JUST LIKE MINE AND SPEAKING FOR MANY 08 EDGE OWNERS WE WANT THIS RECALLED. THIS COULD RESULT IN TONS OF MECHANIC BILLS AND UNANSWERED ISSUES FOR OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637829

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2014

EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS WITHOUT WARNING AND WITHOUT GREAT CONSISTENCY. THIS HAPPENS MULTIPLE TIMES PER DAY/TRIP WITH NO RESOLUTION. DEALER AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AS NO CODES ARE THROWN WHEN IT HAPPENS AND IT RESTARTS AFTER STALLING. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAF…

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NHTSA ODI #10637622

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.

08V301000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jul 3, 2008

FORD IS RECALLING 142 MY 2008 EDGE AND LINCOLN MKK ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. THE FUEL TANK WELD FIXTURE MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A CONTAMINANT DURING PRODUCTION WHICH COULD CAUSE A DIMPLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK AT A SPOT WELD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS DIMPLE COULD RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK OR A FUEL DRIP FROM THE TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-437-7332.

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