Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesCrash
WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, MILEAGE 67,000, COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AND WILL BE IF NOT CORRECTED. MANY EXACT COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMING TO LIGHT. HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS SLIDING ON…
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WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, MILEAGE 67,000, COMPLETE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL AND WILL BE IF NOT CORRECTED. MANY EXACT COMPLAINTS FOUND ONLINE. VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMING TO LIGHT. HAD TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A WOODED AREA FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS SLIDING ON ROAD. LATER REALIZED IT WAS A ABS SYSTEM FAILURE NOT SLIDING. ABS LIGHT IS ON. BRAKE SYSTEM NEEDS SERVICE LIGHT ON. EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON. APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE TIME, WHEN FIRST DRIVING VEHICLE, ONLY THE SERVICE BRAKE DISPLAY IS ON. THE VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO BUCK/STUTTER, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. AFTER ACCELERATING, THAT STOPS AND RETURNS TO WHAT I DESCRIBED.ABOVE. I READ SINCE THERE WERE NO FATALITIES REPORTED FORD WILL NOT RECALL. I AM CERTAIN THERE HAVE BEEN FATALITIES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, JUST NOT IDENTIFIED.
NHTSA ODI #11307988
187 miles · Jun 24, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesWheels
BRAKE FAILED THE REGEN SYSTEM FAILURE AND ABS BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED AN ALMOST SERIOUS ACCIDENT $7000 FOR REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM 1000S OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IT IS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE 2 WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID
NHTSA ODI #11103677
124,230 miles · Jul 6, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
CAR STALLED WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. LOST ALL POWER AND WOULD NOT RESTART WITHOUT JUMP.
NHTSA ODI #11003520
128,764 miles · Jul 11, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
NO WARNING FOR HYBRID BATTERY MALFUNCTION. ON 07082016 THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY IN MY FORD ESCAPE HAS A MALFUNCTION CODE P0A81 AND THE BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN WAS NOT WORKING. THERE ARE NO WARNING MESSAGES OR ICON LIGHTS TO INFORM ME (THE OWNER) THAT THE BATTERY IS MALFUNCTIONING. DOCUMENTATION: …
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NO WARNING FOR HYBRID BATTERY MALFUNCTION. ON 07082016 THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY IN MY FORD ESCAPE HAS A MALFUNCTION CODE P0A81 AND THE BATTERY PACK COOLING FAN WAS NOT WORKING. THERE ARE NO WARNING MESSAGES OR ICON LIGHTS TO INFORM ME (THE OWNER) THAT THE BATTERY IS MALFUNCTIONING. DOCUMENTATION: #1 AUTOZONE MYZONE HEALTH REPORT POWERED BY INNOVA PERFORM ON 07052016 AND #2 JOHNSON BROTHERS FORD-LINCOLN INVOICE 192231, 07072016. INCIDENT - 07032016, THE WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED "SERVICE THE EMISSION" AND THE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. THE FORD ESCAPE WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE AND OTHERWISE WAS OPERATING NORMAL WITH THE MESSAGE AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS WORKING AS EXPECTED. 07052016, THE FORD ESCAPE WAS TAKEN TO AUTOZONE TO GET A READING FOR THE MESSAGE WHICH WAS P0128. FORD DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED $600 TO REPAIR THE TIMER. 07062016, AT ABOUT 7:00 A.M. I TOOK THE ESCAPE IN FOR THE TIMER REPAIR. THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT THEY WILL VERIFY/VALIDATE THE ISSUE AND WILL CONTACT ME BEFORE REPAIRS ARE PERFORMED. 07072016, AT ABOUT 4 P.M. FORD DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME TO PICK UP THE ESCAPE AND THAT THEY HAD VERIFIED/VALIDATED THAT IT WAS THE TIMER AND HAS REPAIRED THE TIMER. AT ABOUT 5:40 P.M. I PAID $554.30 FOR THE TIMER REPAIR AND PICKED UP MY VEHICLE. BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE TO THE DEALERSHIP CLOSING TIME NO ONE REVIEWED THE CHARGES WITH ME. WHILE DRIVING HOME THE VEHICLE DIDN'T PICK UP SPEED AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STIFF. THE HYBRID BATTERY DID NOT KICK IN AS EXPECTED. 07082016: AT ABOUT 7:15 A.M. I RETURNED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP COMPLAINING THAT THE ESCAPE HAD NO POWER. ALSO, NOW THE HYBRID BATTERY WASN'T WORKING. AT ABOUT 9:00 A.M. FORD DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO ME. ALSO, THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS WAITING FOR FORD CORPORATE TO RESPOND ON THE HYBRID NOT WORKING ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10883876
77,000 miles · Dec 27, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Visibility/wiper
CAR WAS PARKED. REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND BURN MARKS WERE SEEN ON THE GLASS. THUS FAR OUR COST TO REPLACE THE WINDOW AND WIPER BLADE MOTOR AND BLADE HAS BEEN 460 DOLLARS. WE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM BUT THE WINDOW REPAIR CAME IN UNDER THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE WEAR AND TEAR AND THUS WAS NOT COVERED. …
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CAR WAS PARKED. REAR WINDOW EXPLODED AND BURN MARKS WERE SEEN ON THE GLASS. THUS FAR OUR COST TO REPLACE THE WINDOW AND WIPER BLADE MOTOR AND BLADE HAS BEEN 460 DOLLARS. WE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM BUT THE WINDOW REPAIR CAME IN UNDER THE DEDUCTIBLE. THE WIPER MOTOR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE WEAR AND TEAR AND THUS WAS NOT COVERED. I HOPE A RECALL WILL BE ISSUED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO POSTS WE HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10557486
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
MANY OF THE CASES INCLUDE THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF FORD AND THEIR NEGLECT TO HANDLE ANY OF THE ISSUES. ONE OF THE CASES INCLUDED A TEENAGE GIRL HAVING THE SAME VEHICLE AS MYSELF. HER PARENTS HAD REPORTED THE ISSUES TO FORD AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM(S) TO MAKE THIS ONE STORY OF MANY SHORT...THE GIRLS CAR BROKE DOWN WH…
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MANY OF THE CASES INCLUDE THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF FORD AND THEIR NEGLECT TO HANDLE ANY OF THE ISSUES. ONE OF THE CASES INCLUDED A TEENAGE GIRL HAVING THE SAME VEHICLE AS MYSELF. HER PARENTS HAD REPORTED THE ISSUES TO FORD AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM(S) TO MAKE THIS ONE STORY OF MANY SHORT...THE GIRLS CAR BROKE DOWN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AND FROM THE CASE HER PHONE DID NOT HAVE RECEPTION. A MAN WAS DRIVING BY AND SHE HAILED HIM TO PULL OVER AND HE ENDED UP RAPING THE GIRL AND MURDERING HER. THE FAMILY WAS BLAMED AND FORD WAS NOT PROPERLY CHARGED. THERE WERE OTHER CASES I STUDIED THAT INVOLVED FORD THAT INCLUDE MOSTLY THE TRANSMISSIONS LIGHTING ON FIRE AND KILLING THE INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE FACE JUDGMENT UNDER THE SUPREME COURT FOR THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THEY HAVE LET SEVERAL INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE WHILE THEY ARE POCKETING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. EVERY TIME I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR GONE TO THEM IN PERSON THEY TRY TO RAISE PRICES ON SIMPLISTIC PARTS THAT YOU CAN BUY CHEAPER ONLINE OR AT WALMART. THEY CHARGE FEES FOR EVERY SINGLE THING; EVEN IF YOUR FULLY COVERED WITH INSURANCE IT STILL IS NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. THEY HAVE HIDDEN IMPORTING PARTS FROM THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES AND IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THEY ARE EXPOSED FOR ALL THEIR MISCONDUCT; AS I DO NOT FIND IT IN ANY WAY FOR ANYONE NOR A COMPANY TO LET INNOCENT PEOPLE BE MURDERED. IT IS A FELONY UNDER THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE COURT CASES DATE BACK DECADES, IF THEIR WORKERS COULD NOT FIX THE "ISSUES" YEARS AGO AND THEY EVEN HAD ISSUES THE LAST YEAR WITH SEVERAL TEENAGERS GOING TO THEIR PROM THAT RESULTED IN DEATH AS WELL THEN I WOULD STATE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT FORD COMPANY SHOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND MAKE SURE THEY PAY EVERY PENNY BACK TO ALL THE VICTIMS INCLUDING MYSELF AND OTHERS THAT PURCHASED THEIR TOY CARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10512736
60,702 miles · Mar 12, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSuspension
FIRST, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED PER THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. WHILE DRIVING ON 03/09/13, NOTICED THE ABS DASH LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE 4WD DASH LIGHT ALSO STARTED TO BLINK INTERMITTENTLY. ON 03/11/13 I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE …
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FIRST, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED PER THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. WHILE DRIVING ON 03/09/13, NOTICED THE ABS DASH LIGHT STAYED LIT. THE 4WD DASH LIGHT ALSO STARTED TO BLINK INTERMITTENTLY. ON 03/11/13 I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PROBLEMS DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BROKEN TONE RING ALONG WITH MARGINAL BRAKE PADS. REPORTEDLY THE ABS AND 4WD SENSORS ARE INTERCONNECTED. REPORTEDLY, THE FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE TOO PITTED TO BE TURNED. QUESTIONED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS, NONE WERE LIST ON THE ESCAPE CONCERNING THIS ISSUE. ACCORDING TO ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS, THE PROBLEM WITH THE TONE RING IS NOT A COMMON ISSUE. WHILE WAITING ON HE REPAIRS, I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH REPEAT FAILURES OF THE PART. I PRESENTED THIS INFO TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY RELIEF OR RECOURSE OTHER THAT I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS DONE AGAIN. ANOTHER NOTE, THE REPAIRS HAVE A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE WARRANTY. IF THE DEFECTIVE PART HAS TO BE REPLACED, THE WARRANTY GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DATE OF INSTALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH POSSIBLE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS WHICH IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
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
DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction
Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine
In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.
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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