NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
44 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jul 30, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train
JUST BOUGHT THE CAR...I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PALM SPRINGS ...AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE ROAD THE CAR JUST STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY....I PULLED OVER AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN IT WAS FINE FOR 10 MIN THEN DID IT AGAIN. STARTED AGAIN AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY AT 40- 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH HAZARDS ON. PROBLEM SEEME…
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JUST BOUGHT THE CAR...I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PALM SPRINGS ...AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE ROAD THE CAR JUST STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY....I PULLED OVER AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN IT WAS FINE FOR 10 MIN THEN DID IT AGAIN. STARTED AGAIN AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY AT 40- 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH HAZARDS ON. PROBLEM SEEMED TO STOP AS LONG AS I DROVE AT THIS SPEED AND WAS NOT ON AN INCLINE OF ANY TYPE. CAR PULLS AT TIMES BUT MOSTLY DRIVES FINE IF I'M NOT ON THE FREEWAY AND IF I DON'T DRIVE OVER AN HOUR AT 60MPH. OTHERWISE IT STALLS OUT AT UNEXPECTED MOMENTS ON FREEWAYS. A VERY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE AND VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10532774
92,000 miles · Mar 30, 2013
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
AFTER ONLY 2 MONTHS OF PURCHASE O/D LIGHT WENT ON AND TRANSMISSION SHOT!!! ABSOLUTELY HEART WRENCHING AS I HAVE NO WAY TO WORK NOW... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10505020
71,000 miles · Mar 8, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. IN 2010, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY AN AUTHOR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED DUE TO INTERNAL DAMAGE. IN 2010, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS, THE PEDAL RELEASED. THE CONTACT PERFORMED THE REPAIR WHICH CONSISTED OF CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
NHTSA ODI #10502078
30,000 miles · Feb 26, 2013
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 31,000. UPDATED 04/30/13*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10500128
62,250 miles · Nov 11, 2012
Power Train
COULD NOT GET SPEED NO FASTER THAN 35 TO 45 MILES, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS STALLING IN NEUTRAL, SOUNDED AS IF I WAS GUNNING THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO, BUT I WASN'T. RIDING REAL ROUGH AT TIMES WITH A RATTLING NOISE WHEN SLOWING DOWN GETTING READY TO STOP, SOUNDED AS IF THE AXLE OR SOMETHING WAS GOING TO DROP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREE…
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COULD NOT GET SPEED NO FASTER THAN 35 TO 45 MILES, SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS STALLING IN NEUTRAL, SOUNDED AS IF I WAS GUNNING THE GAS TO MAKE IT GO, BUT I WASN'T. RIDING REAL ROUGH AT TIMES WITH A RATTLING NOISE WHEN SLOWING DOWN GETTING READY TO STOP, SOUNDED AS IF THE AXLE OR SOMETHING WAS GOING TO DROP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WHEN TURNING EITHER WAY OR WHILE RIDING STRAIGHT FORWARD, SOUNDED AS IF THE TIRES WERE RUBBING AGAINST SOMETHING, IT ALSO LET OUT A GASSY SMELL OF FUMES THAT WAS VERY DANGEROUS TO INHALE. THE FUMES SMELL LIKE THE GAS FUMES YOU SMELL IN YOUR HOUSE, LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP ANYTIME.....AND THEY WANT YOU TO PATRONIZE AMERICAN MADE CARS WELL I'M FED UP, THEY NEED A RECALL ON THIS MALFUNCTION (P T U) POWER TRANSFER UNIT IS WHAT THEY DIAGNOSED IT TO BE, I HAD TO PAY QUITE A BIT OF MONEY TO GET THIS FIX, THIS COULD BE UNSAFE, IF THIS CAR WAS ALL TOGETHER STOP OR THE AXLE FALLS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. PLUS THE STOP ENGINE LIGHT DIDN'T EVEN DETECT THIS, AND IT SHOULD HAVE, I'M REALLY FIRED UP ABOUT THIS I TRIED TO PUT MY VIN # AT THE TOP AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME.
NHTSA ODI #10485464
73,010 miles · Nov 25, 2011
Power TrainCrashInjury
I WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE,WHEN I TURNED AROUND MY VEHICLE WAS HEADING TOWARD ME TRIED TO STOP IT RAN ME OVER AND THEN HIT A TREE , I RECEIVED INJURY TO MY LEGS, ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED ON THE LEFT FRONT END. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT, ALSO I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIM…
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I WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE,WHEN I TURNED AROUND MY VEHICLE WAS HEADING TOWARD ME TRIED TO STOP IT RAN ME OVER AND THEN HIT A TREE , I RECEIVED INJURY TO MY LEGS, ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED ON THE LEFT FRONT END. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE FORD LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT, ALSO I FEEL I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED, FOR MY INJURIES AND THE COST FOR ME TO FIX THIS VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10437246
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2011
Power TrainSteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WOULD INTERMITTENTLY FAIL WHILE DRIVING OR STOPPED. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD BECOME TIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. IF THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED AND ALL OF THE LINES WERE FLUSHED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,000. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A STEERING, RACK AND LOWER CONTROL ARM. SIX MONTHS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10409093
20,000 miles · Jan 27, 2011
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
TRANSMISSION WENT AT 20,000 MILES, REPLACED 2 ABS SENSORS, GS PEDAL STICKS, FRONT DISC BRAKES WARP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10379261
21,500 miles · Feb 9, 2010
Power Train
WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE, MY ESCAPE RUMBLED A BIT, THEN WAS RUNNING FINE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GO OVER TRAIN TRACKS, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER THE TRACKS SAFETY AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT OTHER THEN …
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WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME, AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND STARTING TO ACCELERATE, MY ESCAPE RUMBLED A BIT, THEN WAS RUNNING FINE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO GO OVER TRAIN TRACKS, IT SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING. THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER THE TRACKS SAFETY AND OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT OTHER THEN THE SLIGHT JERKING A LITTLE EARLIER, THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. I TRIED TO SEE IF REVERSE WOULD WORK, AND THAT DID NOT EITHER. THANKFULLY MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY-THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 21,500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE! AND I REGULARLY GET MAINTENANCE. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR ABOUT 500 MILES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS OKAY (ALTHOUGH MY MPG SEEMS TO HAVE GONE DOWN SOME). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10307922
37,000 miles · Aug 21, 2009
Power Train
A PIECE IN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY IS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE KEY TO GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION, AND INSTEAD OF FORD REPLACING THAT ONE PIECE THEY SUGGEST YOU REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY WHICH IS AT LEAST 400.00 VS MAYBE 50.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10281339
Official recalls
2Sep 29, 2015
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.
Sep 3, 2014
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
2DP12006 · 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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