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2008 Ford Edge

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford Edge do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 724.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

664 reports with mileage · 455 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • 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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Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD CHANGE GEARS VIOLENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD CHANGE GEARS VIOLENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI #10433683

68,500 miles · Oct 11, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE VEHICLE WOULD AT DIFFERENT TIMES, HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, IN DRIVE, ETC. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN. THIS PROBLEM WOULD ARISE, AND THEN GO AWAY. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE COMPUTER, AND IT RAN FINE FOR WEEKS, THEN THE PROBLEM CAME ABOUT AGAIN, AND WENT AWAY, THE LAST TIME ARO…

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THE VEHICLE WOULD AT DIFFERENT TIMES, HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, IN DRIVE, ETC. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN. THIS PROBLEM WOULD ARISE, AND THEN GO AWAY. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE COMPUTER, AND IT RAN FINE FOR WEEKS, THEN THE PROBLEM CAME ABOUT AGAIN, AND WENT AWAY, THE LAST TIME AROUND SEPT 18TH, IT WAS WORSE, SO I HAD IT TOWED AND REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE OUTPUT SHAFT SENSOR AND TURBIN SHAFT SENSOR AT A COST OF $700. I WAS IMPELLED TO REPORT A CONCERN, AFTER SEEING OTHER CONCERNS ON LINE FOR THE SAME ISSUES, AND A CUSTOMER OF MINE WHO HAS AN EDGE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THE DEALERSHIPS DO NOT SEEM TO WANT TO SERIOUSLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, AND I FELT LIKE THEY WERE TRYING TO AVOID ADMITTING TO A MAJOR PROBLEM. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429501

73,453 miles · Sep 4, 2011
Power Train

WHENEVER YOU ACCELERATE, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO JERK. THE POWER TRAIN PROBLEM INDICATOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF. THE CAR FREQUENTLY JERKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10423251

48,965 miles · Dec 11, 2010
Power Train

2008 FORD EDGE HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSE ANY MORE REPAIR ATTEMPTS OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-65 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SYMPTOM THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY MAKE AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG AND VIOLENT JERK OF THE EN…

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2008 FORD EDGE HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD MOTOR CO. REFUSE ANY MORE REPAIR ATTEMPTS OF DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-65 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR SYMPTOM THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY MAKE AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG AND VIOLENT JERK OF THE ENTIRE VEHICLE AS IF BEING REAR ENDED. THIS OCCURS SO FAST AND QUICKLY THAT IT IS OVER ALMOST AS SOON AS IT BEGAN. THIS IS SUCH A FRIGHTENING AND DISTRACTIVE ORDEAL FOR NOT ONLY THE DRIVER BUT ALSO THE OTHER OCCUPANTS THAT FAMILY IS AFRAID TO USE THE VEHICLE. IT IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FOR A SECOND THEN VIOLENTLY REENGAGES. THE PROBLEM FIRST OCCURRED IN MAY 2010 @ 48K MILES. NOW AFTER 13K MILES, 6 MONTHS AND 7 TRIES AT REPAIR/DIAGNOSIS AT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH FORD DEALERS AND FORD MOTOR CO. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS! I REALLY FEEL THAT FORD WAS JUST STALLING AND NOT ADMITTING TO DEFECT/MALFUNCTION IN ORDER TO LET THE 5YR - 60K MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRE. THE TRUTH IS NO VEHICLE IN THE WORLD IS ENGINEERED/BUILT TO TAKE THIS PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT AND NOT FAIL. I BELIEVE IF THIS ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED IT WILL LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, AND I PRAY THAT NO ONE IS INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10369973

66,000 miles · Aug 22, 2010
Power Train

2008 FORD EDGE - TRANSMISSION AND ACCELERATION DEFECT. OUR EDGE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT GO AT ALL. AFRAID OF RUNNING INTO SOMETHING. WE GOT THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. RPM ARE OVER 7 AND CAR WON'T GO PAST 20 MPH. WE HAVE H…

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2008 FORD EDGE - TRANSMISSION AND ACCELERATION DEFECT. OUR EDGE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP AND THEN JUMPS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT GO AT ALL. AFRAID OF RUNNING INTO SOMETHING. WE GOT THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT CHANGE GEARS. RPM ARE OVER 7 AND CAR WON'T GO PAST 20 MPH. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. BECAUSE IT OFTEN RUNS FINE AND THEN SUDDENLY HAS THIS ISSUE WHERE IT WON'T GO, IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY. I'VE SEEN MANY, MANY OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SAME CAR, SAME ISSUE ALL OVER THE WEB. FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING. STARTED IN APRIL '10, ISSUE STILL NOT FIXED AS OF AUG '10. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351188

56,000 miles · Jul 24, 2010
Power Train

2008 FORD EDGE, TRANSMISSION ISSUES. CAR ACTED LIKE THE BRAKES WERE ON THEN WHEN I WENT TO THE NEXT STOP SIGN I COULD NOT GO FORWARD, WHEN TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS IT SOUNDED LIKE THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS FALLING OUT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION HAD I BEEN OUT IN A BUSY CITY, AND STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ETC... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345050

18,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Power Train

MAJOR HESITATION WHEN PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL AFTER COMING TO A STOP OR TRYING TO PASS SOMEONE. HAPPENS FREQUENTLY (EVERY DAY). FORD DEALER SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342972

26,000 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Power Train

2008 FORD EDGE AWD 26K MILES PURCHASED USED. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SLOW. VARIES UNDER DIFFERENT LOAD AND THROTTLE POSITIONS. SOME TIMES SLIPS BETWEEN 2 TO 3 SHIFTS. NOTICED THE DAY PURCHASED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341119

34,000 miles · Jun 22, 2010
Power Train

HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DELAYS IN GOING TO THE NEXT GEAR, CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE A HIGH RPM. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO, IT SEEMS THE CAR SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10339504

45,200 miles · May 15, 2010
Power Train

I AM ANOTHER FORD EDGE OWNER WITH SAFETY CONCERNS RELATING TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MY CAR UPON ACCELERATION GOT ME FAR ENOUGH INTO A HIGHWAY TO BE STRUCK BY AN ON COMING 18 WHEELER. THANK GOD, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND ME. THE RPS ROAR AND THE CAR BASICALLY CRAWLS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND WHEN IT DOES IT FEELS AS IF YOU H…

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I AM ANOTHER FORD EDGE OWNER WITH SAFETY CONCERNS RELATING TO TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MY CAR UPON ACCELERATION GOT ME FAR ENOUGH INTO A HIGHWAY TO BE STRUCK BY AN ON COMING 18 WHEELER. THANK GOD, HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND ME. THE RPS ROAR AND THE CAR BASICALLY CRAWLS, THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES AND WHEN IT DOES IT FEELS AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN RAMMED IN THE REAR END. I HAVE READ MANY MANY COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRING IN THE FORD EDGE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HAVE FORD CORRECT THIS ISSUE BEFORE OTHERS ARE KILLED. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP, LONG LEWIS FORD IN HOOVER, ALABAMA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330568

Official recalls

6

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

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.

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

2

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