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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

59 crash reports6 fire reports36 injury reports

Power Train complaints

329 reports

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40,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009

Power Train

TRANSMISSION COOLANT LEAK. ROLLS BACK, ENGINE SHUTS OFF, LEAKS TRANSMISSION FLUID. ACCIDENT RISK. FORD NOT GOING TO REPLACE BAD PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273233

29,000 miles · Jun 2, 2009

Power Train

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MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED 4WD WITH APPROX. 29,000 MILES STARTED RUNNING A LITTLE LOUDER THAN NORMAL. THEN IT BEGAN SHAKING WHILE IN MOTION, USUALLY BETWEEN 35 TO 40MPH. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A BAD TRANSFER CASE. WHEN THE PART NEVER CAME IN I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A STOP SHIPMENT ON THE PART BECAUSE OF A DEFECT THEY FOUND IN THE MANUFACTURING. ALMOST A MONTH LATER THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE PART. HAD I NOT STILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY EXPENSIVE AND UPSETTING REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10272648

44,500 miles · May 12, 2009

Power Train

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I BOUGHT MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN 02/2008. LAST WEEK MY ESCAPE STARTED STICKING WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PETAL AND IT WOULD LAG THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN JUMP AND JERK FORWARD. THEN I NOTICED THAT I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOOK IT IN FOR THEM TO CHECK BECAUSE TRANSMISSION ISSUES WERE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. WELL BOY WAS I SURPRISED WHEN THE FORD DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM CALLED ME AND SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $1600.00 TO FIX BECAUSE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND LINE WAS LEAKING AND THAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE AN EXTERNAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND HENCE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ONLY INTERNAL PARTS. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOW SEE THAT MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR 08 ESCAPES YET FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT BUT RIPPING OFF THEIR CONSUMERS. THE SERVICE CENTER AT THE DEALER EVEN TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THEY WERE SEEING IN THE ESCAPES LATELY AND THAT THEY ARE FIXING THESE DAILY. WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? HERE I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GOOD BY BUYING A NEW CAR LAST YEAR AND I AM HAVING MORE PROBLEMS WITH IT THAN I DID WITH MY 10 YEAR OLD MAZDA I TRADED IN FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268468

14,444 miles · May 8, 2009

Power Train

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I BOUGHT A FORD ESCAPE 2008 ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. THE CAR STALLED OR DIED OUT SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I THEN HAVE A FORD DEALER TO FIX THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING AND THE LEVEL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THEY REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND THE CAR LOOKS NORMAL NOW. HOWEVER, I DID BRIEF RESEARCH OVER INTERNET, AND FOUND TRANSMISSION COOLER SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR FORD ESCAPE. I SUSPECT IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND RECALL SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PREVENT SIMILAR FAILURE HAPPEN ON OTHER CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268215

43,000 miles · Apr 30, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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THE 2008 FORD ESCAPE I OWN LEAKED TRANSMISSION FLUID THROUGH THE A/C CONDENSER. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS ENGAGED INDICATING A PROBLEM AND THE SUDDEN STARTS BEGAN WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT AND PROVIDES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT GIVEN THAT THE AUTOMOBILE'S TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY DUE TO THE LACK OF FLUID AND SURGES FORWARD. THERE IS CURRENTLY A TSB ON THIS DEFECT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED SINCE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM TO ALL ESCAPE'S MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO A FEBRUARY OF 2008. THE SOLUTION WAS TO REPLACE THE CONDENSER THAT HAS THE FAULTY SEAM DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267363

18,000 miles · Apr 27, 2009

Power Train

I HAD COME BACK FROM A BUSINESS TRIP AND HAD PARKED THE CAR AT THE AIRPORT. WHEN I STARTED DRIVING, THE CAR WAS LURCHING, FEELING LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS CONTINUED ALL THE WAY HOME. THE NEXT DAY, IT WORSENED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND DO MANY OTHER THINGS SURROUNDING THAT…

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NHTSA ODI #10266867

35,000 miles · Apr 17, 2009

Power Train

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I PURCHASED MY 2008 FORD ESCAPE IN DECEMBER, 2008 WITH 35K MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD A LEAK IN MY TRANSMISSION COOLER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 ESCAPE. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED THE WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, BUT IT STILL IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON A VEHICLE THAT IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265916

50,000 miles · Mar 13, 2009

Power Train

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2008 FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 1/4 MILE WARNING. FORD HAS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS PROBLEM: # 7-25-9 (DEC. 24-07) AND 08-3-3 (FEB. 18-08). REPAIR IS A SIMPLE CALIBRATION. SINCE THIS IS A SERIOUS, POTENTIALLY DEADLY DEFECT, WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS? FORD WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE MY MILEAGE WAS BEYOND WARRANTY. IT WAS NOT BEYOND WARRANTY WHEN THE FIRST TSB WAS ISSUED. IF THIS HAD BEEN A RECALL AND FORD HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ME, I WOULD HAVE HAD IT FIXED THEN, BEFORE IT NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261734

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2009

Power Train

WE BOUGT A 2008 FORD ESCAPE LIMITED ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO,IT NOW HAS 70,000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO GO OUT., AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THE COMPRESSOR AND THE GEARBOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TRASMISSION FLUID POURS OUT AND IT SHIFTS SO HARD INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR THAT TIRES SPIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260721

43,641 miles · Mar 4, 2009

Power Train

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I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MY DAUGHTER. HER 2008 FORD ESCAPE STARTED JERKING AS IF THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING THEN ENGAGING. UPON CHECKING THE FLUID LEVEL I FOUND IT WAS SHOWING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DIPSTICK. MY DAUGHTER IS A REGISTERED NURSE AND DOES A LOT OF DRIVING WITHIN OUR TRI-STATE AREA SO AS STRANGE AS I THOUGHT IT WAS TO BE THAT LOW, I ADDED 2 QTS. OF FLUID. TWO DAYS LATER IT WAS THE SAME SITUATION AGAIN EXCEPT THIS TIME I HAD HER MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER DEALER INSPECTION SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED REPLACED. I CALLED THE DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER TO SEE IF WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE 3YR. 38,000 MI. WARRANTY BECAUSE HER MILEAGE WAS AT 43641. I ASKED ABOUT IT BEING COVERED UNDER THE 5YR. 60,000 MI. POWER TRAIN WARRANTY BECAUSE IT IS CALLED A TRANSMISSION COOLER, AGAIN I WAS TOLD NO. NOW I AM SURE NOT A ROCKET SCIENTIST BUT TO ME A TRANSMISSION COOLER SOUNDS AS IF IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION OPERATION! MY ARGUMENTS WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR PROVED FRUITLESS. WHAT REALLY TICKED ME OFF WAS WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC WHO HANDLED THE REPAIR SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLER WAS LEAKING IN THE SEAM (FAULTY WORKMANSHIP???). THE END RESULT IS THE REPAIR COST MY DAUGHTER $667.04. WHEN I ASKED TO SEE THE OLD PART THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE MECHANIC HELD ONTO IT BECAUSE EACH MECHANIC KEEPS OLD PARTS TO SELL AS SCRAP. I WENT BACK AND GOT THE OLD TRANS. COOLER BECAUSE I FIGURED IF ANYONE SHOULD MONEY OUT OF THE SCRAP ALUMINUM IT SHOULD BE MY DAUGHTER. THE PLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLER RIGHT BEHIND THE GRILLE IS THE STUPIDEST DESIGN. WHY WASN'T SOME TYPE OF GUARD INSTALLED IN FRONT OF IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260697

Official recalls

15V606000 · 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

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)

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.

14V284000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

May 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.

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

DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving

Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System

On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages

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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