I HAD JUST PICKED UP MY SON FROM HIS SCHOOL AND MADE A LEFT TURN AT THE STOP SIGN TO GO TO THE MAIN ROAD TO PICK MY DAUGHTER FROM HER SCHOOL WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED IN MY TRUCK. THE RED WAS AHEAD,CARS WERE LINED,KIDS WERE CROSSING THE ROAD,AND I HAD TO SOMETHING REALLY FAST. I DROVE IN TO A DRIVEWAY IN MY RIGHT WHICH WAS A PARKIN…
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I HAD JUST PICKED UP MY SON FROM HIS SCHOOL AND MADE A LEFT TURN AT THE STOP SIGN TO GO TO THE MAIN ROAD TO PICK MY DAUGHTER FROM HER SCHOOL WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED IN MY TRUCK. THE RED WAS AHEAD,CARS WERE LINED,KIDS WERE CROSSING THE ROAD,AND I HAD TO SOMETHING REALLY FAST. I DROVE IN TO A DRIVEWAY IN MY RIGHT WHICH WAS A PARKING FOR A HOSPITAL. I KEPT TRYING TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR,BUT THE WOULDN'T STOP. IT WENT OVER THE CURB AND HIT A TREE. I CALLED THE POLICE, THEN MY INSURANCE,CAR WAS TOWED TO THE BODY SHOP. THE FORD STORE DID THE DIAGNOSTICS ON THE BRAKE AND TOLD MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER HAD FAILED.MY INSURANCE COMPANY GOT THE WORK STARTED FOR THE BODY DAMAGE. I CALLED THE FORD STORE SEVERAL TIMES ASKING FOR A COPY OF THE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE WOULD NOT RETURN MY CALL OR GIVE ME A COPY.THREE WEEKS LATER WHEN BODY STARTED THEY SENT A REPORT TO THE BODY SHOP THAT THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT, WAS UNDETERMINED SENT THIS REPORT AFTER HE SPOKE TO THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL OF FORD. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT 3:15 ON SEPT.17TH AND MY CAR WENT THROUGH A 60,000 MILE CHECK UP ON SEPT.16TH. AT THE FORD STORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10294090
53,092 miles · May 14, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
SLOW SPEED, APPLIED BRAKES, NO RESPONSE. PEDAL WAS SOFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10227821
Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2005 FORD EXPEDITION WITH PEDAL DESIGN DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALSO CAN GET DEPRESSED. DEALER TOLD HIM THEY COULD DO NOTHING IT WAS THE WAY THE PEDALS WERE SET UP. *KB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS WERE TOO…
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2005 FORD EXPEDITION WITH PEDAL DESIGN DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALSO CAN GET DEPRESSED. DEALER TOLD HIM THEY COULD DO NOTHING IT WAS THE WAY THE PEDALS WERE SET UP. *KB THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDALS WERE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10213923
1,000 miles · Apr 17, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
BRAKE PEDAL AND GAS PEDALS TOO CLOSE. MANY TIMES GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN DEPRESSED WHILE TRYING TO ONLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10188098
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CC: FORD MOTOR COMPANY ; FAIRWAY FORD, PLACENTIA, CA TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2005 FORD EXPEDITION XLT. IN AUGUST 2006 I INCURRED A BRAKING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THEY REPLA…
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NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION CC: FORD MOTOR COMPANY ; FAIRWAY FORD, PLACENTIA, CA TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: WE ARE THE OWNERS OF A 2005 FORD EXPEDITION XLT. IN AUGUST 2006 I INCURRED A BRAKING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND HAD IT CHECKED OUT. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS AND MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS. PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN RESOLVED. THEN LAST WEEK ON FEB. 14TH WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MI/HOUR AS I BROKE THE VEHICLE GROANED, SHUDDERED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY SOFT. AFTER SEVERAL PUMPS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. UPON DRIVING A LITTLE FURTHER IT DID IT AGAIN. THEN WE RESUMED USING THE VEHICLE UNTIL SUN. FEB. 18TH WHEN THE SAME THING OCCURRED WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND BEGAN TO BRAKE AT THE APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 20 MI/HOUR. WE RETURNED OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED OUT. THEY SAID THEY RAN A FULL BATTERY OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND FOUND THE VEHICLE TO BE FREE OF PROBLEMS. WE FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT LOSES ITS ABILITY TO BRAKE. WE REALIZE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT AS FAR AS FAIRWAY FORD IS CONCERNED WE NEED TO CONTINUE DRIVING UNTIL IT DOES IT OFTEN ENOUGH THAT THEY CAN PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. OUR PROBLEM IS THAT COULD MEAN A MAJOR ACCIDENT TO SAY THE LEAST. WE ARE INQUIRING AS TO WHETHER THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS. WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN ANY PATHS THAT WE SHOULD TAKE IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY IF THIS IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE OR AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT IN GETTING THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AS WELL. ANY DIRECTION THAT YOU COULD PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183304
22,000 miles · Aug 29, 2006
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT CRAIG AND I-15. THIS IS KNOWN TO HAVE A GREEN LIGHT, YET THE TRAFFIC WILL SUDDENLY STOP INSTEAD OF A STEADY FLOW. I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPEDITION THAT I PURCHASED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE. SUDDENLY THE TRAFFIC STOPPED, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I NO…
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I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AT CRAIG AND I-15. THIS IS KNOWN TO HAVE A GREEN LIGHT, YET THE TRAFFIC WILL SUDDENLY STOP INSTEAD OF A STEADY FLOW. I WAS DRIVING MY FORD EXPEDITION THAT I PURCHASED LESS THAN 2 WEEKS BEFORE. SUDDENLY THE TRAFFIC STOPPED, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. I ENDED UP HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I GOT CITED FOR GOING TOO FAST FOR THE CONDITION OF THE TRAFFIC. AT THAT TIME I DID NOT NOTICE A PROBLEM WITH THE PEDALS, ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE HAVE A CONFLICT. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW TO ME, I DID NOT NOTICE THE PROBLEM UNTIL A MONTH LATER, ALTHOUGH I QUESTIONED HOW I COULD HAVE THIS COLLISION AFTER SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES AS I DID. AFTER THE VEHICLE GOT OUT OF THE SHOP, I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN AND NOTICED THE ACCELERATION INCREASING. IT WAS THEN THAT I REALIZED THAT I WAS PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. I AM 6'3" TALL WITH A 11 1/2 IN SHOE. MY FOOT IS LARGER THAN THE AVERAGE MAN, I BELIEVE THAT THE PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER UNTIL YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS AND MAKE A CONSCIENCE EFFORT TO SWITCH FROM ONE PEDAL TO ANOTHER. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10166967
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN HE PIVOTS THE FOOT TO THE LEFT TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL THE FOOT WILL ALSO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. HE FEELS THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE TO CLOSE TOGETHER.*AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10143010
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1
PE08070 · Steel Wheel Fracture
Opened Dec 9, 2008 · Closed Apr 15, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels; Wheels:rim
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
Wheels:rim
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
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