The contact owned a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and the driver's side rear tire had seized due to a fractured rear axle and bolt. Another vehicle then crashed into the contact's driver's side rear tire causing the vehicle to spi…
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The contact owned a 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound, and the driver's side rear tire had seized due to a fractured rear axle and bolt. Another vehicle then crashed into the contact's driver's side rear tire causing the vehicle to spin and the front windshield cracked upon impact. No air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact and her wife were transported to the hospital. The contact had a fractured sternum, neck pain, and a fractured vertebra. The contact's wife had bruises on her chest from the seat belt. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V181000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
NHTSA ODI #11466453
45,000 miles · May 9, 2011
Suspension
NOTICED CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM RIGHT REAR WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR POT HOLES. WHEN IT WAS RAINING THE RIGHT TIRE WOULD SPIN AFTER HITTING POT HOLE AND THE ELECTRONIC SKID CONTROL WOULD FLASH ON DASH INDICATING LOST TRACTION. IF THIS HAD BEEN ICE OR SNOW I COULD OF LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS THE RIGHT…
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NOTICED CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM RIGHT REAR WHILE GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR POT HOLES. WHEN IT WAS RAINING THE RIGHT TIRE WOULD SPIN AFTER HITTING POT HOLE AND THE ELECTRONIC SKID CONTROL WOULD FLASH ON DASH INDICATING LOST TRACTION. IF THIS HAD BEEN ICE OR SNOW I COULD OF LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS THE RIGHT REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING. RIGHT TIRES WERE VISIBLY WORN MORE THAN THE LEFT SIDE TIRES. DEALER REPLACED REAR CONTROL ARM BUSHING. 45,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER HAS PART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399567
55,000 miles · Dec 3, 2009
Suspension
I HAVE A 2007 SPORT TRAC W/ 55K THAT RECENTLY DEVELOPED A NOISE FROM THE FRONT ENGINE THAT WAS NOTICEABLE AT 45MPH OR HIGHER. AN INSPECTION BY A FORD DEALERSHIP HAS IDENTIFIED THE DRIVER'S SIDE.*TR
NHTSA ODI #10294439
3,000 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY SANDED THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT RE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER SPORT TRAC. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY SANDED THE BRAKE PADS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT RE-INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,404. UPDATED 01/07/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE IS NOW PULLING TO THE LEFT. UPDATED *JB
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH OF THE BOLTS FRACTURING, CAUSING THE STEERING GEAR TO BECOME LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS DECREASED STEERING EFFECTIVENESS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
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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