IllustrationRECENTLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK ON MY 2007 FORD ESCAPE AND I HAD TO RUN INTO A CURB TO STOP THE VEHICLE, ITY CAUSED ABOUT $1500 DAMAGE TO THE CAR. NO PERSONNEL INJURIES WERE CAUSED. I HAD TO RUN THE CAR INTO A CURB TO KEEP FROM REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE.
2007 Ford Escape
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Escape do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 996.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Escape years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
3925–50K
4650–75K
3375–100K
50100–150K
17150K+
211 reports with mileage · 43 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.
- Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
254 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, ALTERNATOR, AND BATTERY MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 04/19/17LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND THE KEY WAS TURNED, THE VEHICLE HAD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE PANEL READ "BRAKE SERVICE NEEDED" IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND ALL OF TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED AND THE KEY WAS TURNED, THE VEHICLE HAD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND THE PANEL READ "BRAKE SERVICE NEEDED" IN ADDITION, THE ABS AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. UPDATED 05/04/17*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DOOR AUTO LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE WARNING INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND EVENTUALLY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DOOR AUTO LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND BURNED OUT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
DOOR AJAR ACTIVATES CONSTANTLY SETTING OFF THE CAR ALARM AND KILLING THE CAR BATTERY. THIS HAPPENS WHILE CAR IS SITTING STATIONARY, AND OR MOVING (WHILE DRIVING) THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 4-2007, AND IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN, AND IS HAPPENING UP TO THE DAY THIS WAS SUBMITTED (8-25-2016. THIS IS …
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DOOR AJAR ACTIVATES CONSTANTLY SETTING OFF THE CAR ALARM AND KILLING THE CAR BATTERY. THIS HAPPENS WHILE CAR IS SITTING STATIONARY, AND OR MOVING (WHILE DRIVING) THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 4-2007, AND IT HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN, AND IS HAPPENING UP TO THE DAY THIS WAS SUBMITTED (8-25-2016. THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND FORD...YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT IT. YOU SAY IT ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT IF YOU GO TO FORD OR A DEALER TO HAVE THE ALARM AND DOOR SWITCH DISCONNECTED THEY SAY THEY CANT DUE TO A SAFETY ISSUE.
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.
I WAS TOLD BY LOCAL DEALER THE THE DRIVERS DOOR AND PASSENGER REAR DOOR HAD FAULTY DOOR LOCK/ DOOR SENOR ISSUES. I NOTICED ON LINE OTHER YEAR ESCAPE HAD SAME ISSUES BUT SEE NO RECALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT AND DRIVER HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND ODOR. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE VISIBLE BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EVACUATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THERE WERE TWO INJURIES, ONE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SMOKE INHALATION AND NERVE DAMAGE. THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM RIB PAIN AND SMOKE INHALATION. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000.
PULLED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT AND THE ABS/4WD LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER AND HAD TO REPLACE THE CRACKED FRONT ABS RING FOR THE SECOND TIME
STARTED TO DRIVE AND THE ABS/4WD LIGHT CAME ON. WENT TO DEALER AND HAD TO REPLACE THE CRACKED FRONT ABS RING. THIS HAPPENED ON 27JAN2012 AND AGAIN ON 23DEC2013
Official recalls
215V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Sep 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.
14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
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