Tires. Review the 669 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 202 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 198 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

155 crash reports53 fire reports124 injury reports

Tires complaints

669 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

RIGHT FRONT FIRESTONE ATX TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARTION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DO A 360 DEGREE TURN ON THE INTERSTATE, VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #784786

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

TWO TIRE FAILURES WITHIN 8 WEEKS. ROTATED EVERY 3000 MILES, PROPERLY INFLATED.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727413

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

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AT APPROXIMATELY 11;30 P.M. MAY 28, 1999,AS WE WERE TRAVELING ALONG INTERSTATE 10, JUST OUTSIDE OF TALLAHASSEE ,FLORIDA, MY EXPLORER SUDDENLY VEERED TOWARD THE LEFT ABRUPTLLY. A LOUD CRASHING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. PULLING THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, MY WIFE AND I CHECKED TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXCEPT SHREDS OF A RADIAL TIRE. LUCKY FOR US , THAT AT THE TIME OF THE PROBLEM, I WAS DRIVING AND NOT MY WIFE, AS SHE WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO MANUEVER DURING THE PROBLEM. ALSO THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE DUE TO THE LATE HOUR. WITH GREAT PROBLEM, WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND ARRIVED AT OUR DESTINATION QUITE SHAKEN UP. AFTER FURTHER EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, WE REALIZED THAT THERE HAD BEEN MUCH DAMAGE TO THE UNDERPANELS OF THE CAR. I MUST NOTE, THAT AT THE TIME WE WERE TRAILERING A WAVE RUNNER . SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND THE BOAT ON THE ROAD. AFTER RETURNING HOME, I WENT TO FIRESTONE , A WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I PURCHASED 2 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THE BACK TIRES FROM FIRESTONE. ONE YEAR LATER , ALMOST TO THE EXACT DATE, WE WERE AGAIN VISITING IN THE TALLAHASSEE AREA, AND ON OUR WAY HOME THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE. AFTER GOING THROUGH THE ORDEAL THE LAST TIME, WE QUICKLY PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE TIRES AND SURE ENOUGH THE SAME THING WAS STARTING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. WE CHANGED THE TIRE AND CAME HOME. THE VERY NEXT DAY WE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BUT NOT WITH FIRESTONE TIRES. I MUST MENTION THAT THERE WAS A TOTAL OF $920 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO THE EXPLORER DURING THE MAY 1999 ACCIDENT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE DURING THE LATEST SHREDDING BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AGAIN. I AM QUITE UPSET WITH THE FACT THAT NOTHING WAS DONE FOR ME LAST YEAR OR THIS YEAR ECEPT A DENIAL ON FIRESTONES PART. MY FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT, NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.

NHTSA ODI #727410

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

I WANT TO ADD OUR NAME TO THE LIST OF THOSE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS TIRE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT. BUT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED DURING RUSHHOUR IN SEATTLE TRAFFIC WHEN IT WAS COLD (NOT HOT). THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. I WAS LUCKY TO MANEUVER T( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727408

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

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AS WE WERE RETURNING FROM VACATION ON 3/20/00 FROM FLORIDA, MY WIFE (THE DRIVER AT THE TIME) FELT WEIRD VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL. (NOTE -WE WERE APPROX. 5 MILES IN TO GEORGIA ON I-75 JUST PASSED THE GA/FL BORDER - NEAR LAKE PARK?). AS WE CONTINUED TO SLOW DOWN AND MOVE AWAY FROM OTHER TRAFFIC, WE HEARD A POPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE EXPLORER AS IF THINGS WERE KICKING UP FROM THE ROAD AND HITTING THE UNDERCARRIAGE. ONCE WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE, I LOOKED UNDER THE SUV AND DID A QUICK VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE TIRES, HOWEVER, ALL APPEARED TO BE NORMAL (NO FLATS, NOTHING THAT WE COULD VISIBLY SEE). WE PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND BEFORE WE EVEN REACHED MERGING SPEED (55 - 60 MPH), THE POPPING NOISE RETURNED AND WE COULD ACTUALLY SEE SMALL BLACK PARTS EXITING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE MANAGED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ENTER A GAS STATION AT WHICH TIME WE DISCOVERED A FOOT LONG PATCH OF THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETLY GONE. ALTHOUGH THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED, A COMPLETE FOOT LONG SECTION OF TREAD, THROUGH THE STEEL BELTS AND ALL, WAS GONE. NO OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE WAS VISIBLE (SIDE WALLS ALL OKAY, NO PUNCTURES, NAILS, ETC.). I INSPECTED THE REST OF THE TIRES AND WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP HOME ONCE THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED. ON 4/1/00, I WENT TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE CENTER (940 OLD MONROVIA RD, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806) AND HAD THEM INSPECT THE DAMAGED TIRE. ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT CONFIRM OR DENY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, THEY DID OFFER ME A NEW TIRE AT A PRO-RATED DISCOUNT. AT THAT TIME, I HAD THEM INSPECT ALL OF THE TIRES, PERFORM WHEEL BALANCES, ROTATIONS, ETC. BASED ON THE TREAD WEAR AT THAT TIME, FULL REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES WAS NOT NEEDED. SINCE THAT TIME, WE HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WITH THE LATEST NEWS ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES, I FELT IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPORT OUR EXPERIENCE. WE WERE FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND ARE AWAITING MORE RECALL INFO.

NHTSA ODI #727399

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

TiresCrash

TIRE BLOW OUT ON INTERSTATE 45 SOUTH. CAR TRAVELED ACROSS TRAFFIC LANES.CAR HIT CEMENT BARRIER AND CAME TO STOP FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. BACK WINDOW POPPED OPEN . PICTURES OF TIRE HAVE FLAP OF RUBBER SEPERATED FROM THE TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ODI #727385

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

NO SUMMARY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23570R16 )

NHTSA ODI #727353

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

I LIVE IN MD ,AND TIRE STILL FAILED NOT DUE TO HEAT( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727337

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

TiresCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON IH 37, NEAR CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE AUTO ROLLED 4 OR 5 TIMES DOWN THE EMBANKMENT OF THE INTERSTATE. DRIVER TAKEN TO HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE, AUTO TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMAPNY. LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE FLATTENED FROM THE RO…

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NHTSA ODI #727332

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2000

Tires

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I OWN A 1997 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, VIN # 1FMCU24X2VUB50580 PURCHASED BY ME IN DECEMBER 1996 IN NJ, THAT HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P255/70R16 TIRES. I WENT THROUGH A REPLACEMENT ON 12/11/98 THAT SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO THE RECALL PROBLEMS, WHERE I FOUND THE TREADS ON MY REAR TIRES TO BE SPLITTING AND STARTING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. I HAD THE TWO REAR TIRES INSPECTED AND REPLACED AT THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN GASTONIA, NC AFTER PAYING A REDUCED PRICE DUE TO PRORATION ACCORDING TO TREAD WEAR SINCE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE STILL UNDER THE TIRE WARRANTY PERIOD (33,185 MILES). THIS ALSO BRINGS UP ANOTHER CONCERN, WHERE I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, SINCE THEY ARE RECALLING THESE TIRES, WILL I BE REINBURSED FOR THE MONIES SPENT IN REPLACING THE FIRST TWO TIRES DUE TO THE DEFECT? I STILL HAVE TWO OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON MY EXPLORER AND SINCE I LIVE IN SOUTH CAROLINA (ALSO A HOT STATE), I AM CONCERNED ON HOW LONG IT WOULD BE BEFORE FIRESTONE GETS THE RECALL TO THOSE OF US WHO DON'T LIVE IN THE FIRST TWO PHASED STATE GROUPS FOR THE RECALL. I DO MONITOR MY AIR PRESSURE CONSISTENTLY, BUT TRAVEL 56 MILES EACH WAY (112 TOTAL) TO WORK EACH DAY VIA HIGHWAY BETWEEN GAFFNEY, SC AND CHARLOTTE, NC. EACH OF THE TIRES INFORMATION FOLLOWS: ORIGINAL TIRES FROM PURCHASE DATE - STILL ON REAR OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24815 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. 24816 UR BM06175-3, MADE IN USA. REPLACEMENTS TIRES FROM 1999 - ON FRONT OF VEHICLE: P255/70R16 (E4) O2 6555, 24817 UR BM06175-4, MADE IN CANADA. 30863 UR BM06175-6, MADE IN CANADA. COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON WHAT IS TO HAPPEN AND POSSIBLY WHEN IF KNOWN? THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR CONCERN AND TIMELY RESPONSE TO THIS MESSAGE. SINCERELY, JOHN A. BURROWS 117 GREENBRIAR DRIVE GAFFNEY, SC 29341 864-206-0106 (HOME) 704-559-4394 (WORK) 864-505-0711 (CELLULAR) A COPY OF THIS WAS ALSO SENT TO FORD AT: TIREINQUIRY@FORD.COM( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

NHTSA ODI #727300

Official recalls

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

00V422000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Dec 27, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SOHC ENGINES AND STILL RETAIN THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY (PART NUMBERS 97JF-9E926AB OR 97JF-9E926-AC). SOME OF THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES INSTALLED ALLOWED A GAP BETWEEN THE PLATE AND BORE TO BE BUILT TOO NARROW. THIS REDUCED CLEARANCE ALLOWED THE ENGINE DEPOSITS NORMALLY PRESENT IN THE THROTTLE BODY TO CONTACT OR BRIDGE THE GAP. IF THE ENGINE DEPOSITS BRIDGED THE GAP BETWEEN THE THROTTLE PLATE AND BORE AND THEN HARDENED, ON THE INITIAL APPLICATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AFTER THE ENGINE HAS COOLED, THE OPERATOR WOULD NEED TO APPLY ADDITIONAL FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BREAK THE BRIDGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN ENGINE SURGE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BREAKS FREE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODIES.

00V402000 · Suspension

Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, A FRONT SWAY BAR LINK CAN FRACTURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS.

00V168000 · Exterior Lighting

Jun 19, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

99V062001 · Vehicle Speed Control

Mar 30, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.

98V060000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 19, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES. THE ENGINE FUEL LINES CAN BE DAMAGED IF THE VEHICLE IS JUMP STARTED AND THE GROUND CABLE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL LINE BRACKET THAT IS LOCATED NEAR THE BATTERY. SINCE THE BRACKET IS NOT GROUNDED, THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL LINE BRAID COULD ACT AS A GROUND POTENTIALLY OVERHEATING THE PTFE INNER LINER OF THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FUEL LINES CAN LEAK, AND IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WARNING LABEL ON THE FUEL LINE BRACKET ADVISING OWNERS NOT TO USE IT FOR A JUMP START GROUND. ALSO A REVISED BOLT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE ALTERNATOR BRACKET TO PROVIDE A CONVENIENT JUMP START GROUND LOCATION.

97V074000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 30, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 5.0L ENGINES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, IDAHO, IOWA, MAINE, MICHIGAN (UPPER PENINSULA ONLY), MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THESE VEHICLES, WHEN OPERATED FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TEMPERATURES BELOW -20 DEGREES FARENHEIT, DO NOT RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE IN THE THROTTLE BODY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CAN BE CONTROLLED BY EITHER APPLYING THE SERVICE BRAKES OR SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL, INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL EFFORTS OR SOME INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE CAN RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED PCV SYSTEM WITH WATER HEATED VACUUM SOURCE.

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

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling

PE99049 · Windshield Wiper Malfunction

Opened Jul 28, 1999 · Closed Apr 24, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

There is no summary currently available

PE99045 · Steering Knuckle Separations

Opened Jul 6, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available

EA99001 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jan 7, 1999 · Closed Feb 9, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

ON JANUARY 23, 1997, FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE (SSM) 10240, ANNOUNCING THAT A REVISED THROTTLE BODY WOULD BE AVAILABLE DURING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1997 FOR 1997 MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORERS EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.0L SINGLE OVERHEAD CAM (SOHC) ENGINE.THE SSM STATED THE REVISED THROTTLE BODY WOULD ADDRESS INCREASED THROTTLE EFFORTS THAT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED ON THESE VEHICLES.ON JULY 31, 1998, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED SERVICE QUERY SQ98-014 TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY RECALL WAS WARRANTED FOR THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED BY SSM 10240.AT THAT TIME ODI HAD 14 REPORTS ALLEGING THROTTLES STICKING OPEN, INCLUDING THREE CRASHES, ON 1997 EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0L SOHC ENGINE.EA99-001 INVESTIGATED ALLEGED THROTTLE BODY STICKING, AND LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL, IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ON DECEMBER 22, 2000, FORD MOTOR COMPANY FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT CONCERNING THROTTLE BODY STICKING IN 1997-1998 MODEL YEAR EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES WITH 4.0 SOHC ENGINES THAT STILL RETAIN THE ORIGINAL THROTTLE BODY; SAFETY RECALL 00V-422.THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS ATTACHED.

RQ98020 · Fuel Line Damage From Jump Starting

Opened Nov 3, 1998 · Closed Nov 15, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

There is no summary currently available

SQ98014 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Jan 7, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

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