PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE REAR LIFT-GATE WINDOW WITH A LARGE CRACK ACROSS ITS ENTIRE HEIGHT JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. FORD DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS JUST POOR ENGINEERING AND THEY WILL NOT COVER OR ASSIST WITH THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, NOR WAS THERE ANY PLAN TO MAKE AVAILABLE A METAL VERSION OR PROPERLY ENGI…
Read full complaint
PLASTIC PIECE UNDER THE REAR LIFT-GATE WINDOW WITH A LARGE CRACK ACROSS ITS ENTIRE HEIGHT JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM. FORD DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT WAS JUST POOR ENGINEERING AND THEY WILL NOT COVER OR ASSIST WITH THE COST OF REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, NOR WAS THERE ANY PLAN TO MAKE AVAILABLE A METAL VERSION OR PROPERLY ENGINEERED REPLACEMENT PANEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368174
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2010
Structure
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AFTER HAVING IT FOR 3 MONTHS THE REAR LIFT GATE GOT A CRACK IN IT RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD SYMBOL. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT ON RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THIS WAS A USED VEHICLE, MY PARENTS OWN A 2003 EXPLORER AND THE SAME…
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AFTER HAVING IT FOR 3 MONTHS THE REAR LIFT GATE GOT A CRACK IN IT RIGHT NEXT TO THE FORD SYMBOL. I CONTACTED FORD AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT ON RECALL NOR IS IT UNDER WARRANTY, I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AS THIS WAS A USED VEHICLE, MY PARENTS OWN A 2003 EXPLORER AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, MY NEIGHBOR OWNS A 2004 AND ALSO THE SAME THING HAPPENED, I HAVE ALSO SEEN NUMEROUS EXPLORERS ON THE ROAD WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I WANT TO KNOW WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL, WITH THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR EXPLORERS RANGING FROM 2002-2005, IF THIS CRACK CONTINUES TO SPREAD MY GLASS WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10364226
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2010
Structure
REAR TAILGATE WINDOW PORTION WITH FORD LOGO CRACKED VERTICALLY. I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS IS FROM REGULAR USE SINCE NOTHING HIT THE CAR. I ONLY USE THE UPPER PORTION OR THE TAILGATE AS IF YOU USE THE LARGER PORTION OF THE TAILGATE, ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FALLS OUT. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUS…
Read full complaint
REAR TAILGATE WINDOW PORTION WITH FORD LOGO CRACKED VERTICALLY. I AM ASSUMING THAT THIS IS FROM REGULAR USE SINCE NOTHING HIT THE CAR. I ONLY USE THE UPPER PORTION OR THE TAILGATE AS IF YOU USE THE LARGER PORTION OF THE TAILGATE, ANYTHING THAT YOU HAVE IN THE REAR OF THE CAR FALLS OUT. I WOULD THINK THAT THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE THE REAR WINDOW TO BE LESS THAN SECURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10362361
60,000 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Structure
HATCH PANEL BETWEEN WINDOW AND LATCH SPLIT (CRACKED) WHEN I CLOSED WINDOW AFTER PUTTING IN GROCERIES. CAR HAS 60,000 MILES, CALLED DEALER IN JULY TO SEE IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I KNOW OF 7 OTHER 2005 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACK, HAPPENED THE EXACT SAME WAY. TOLD ME NO BUT SOUNDS LIKE A…
Read full complaint
HATCH PANEL BETWEEN WINDOW AND LATCH SPLIT (CRACKED) WHEN I CLOSED WINDOW AFTER PUTTING IN GROCERIES. CAR HAS 60,000 MILES, CALLED DEALER IN JULY TO SEE IF A RECALL HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I KNOW OF 7 OTHER 2005 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE EXACT SAME CRACK, HAPPENED THE EXACT SAME WAY. TOLD ME NO BUT SOUNDS LIKE A DEFECT. DIDN'T OFFER TO TAKE CARE OF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10361789
69,000 miles · Oct 18, 2010
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE REAR LIFTGATE THAT EXTENDED TO THE EMBLEM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
NHTSA ODI #10360990
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2010
Structure
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS BUBBLING OF PAINT AND RUST IN THE GROVES ON TOP OF MY ROOF. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECT I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO HAS ALSO ADVISED THIS IS A PAINT DEFECT AND CONTACTED FORD DIRECT THEMSELVES TO HAVE THIS DEFECT REPAIRED AND FORD STATES THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE IF T…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT HAS BUBBLING OF PAINT AND RUST IN THE GROVES ON TOP OF MY ROOF. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD DIRECT I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER WHO HAS ALSO ADVISED THIS IS A PAINT DEFECT AND CONTACTED FORD DIRECT THEMSELVES TO HAVE THIS DEFECT REPAIRED AND FORD STATES THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IT WOULD BE IF THE ROOF HAS RUST HOLES THRU THE TOP OR IF I WAS THE 1ST OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY APPARENT THAT IT IS A PAINT DEFECT AND NOTHING MORE. I HAVE DONE AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM IS A VERY REGULAR PROBLEM FOR MOST VEHICLES BETWEEN 200-2005. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359009
50,000 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Structure
THE REAR PANEL UNDER MY BACK WINDOW IS CRACKED ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FALLS OFF AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAS A CRASH TRYING TO AVOID IT? WILL FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING? DOUBT IT. THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT IS RAMPANT ON THE INTERNET. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE GUY BEHIND ME CAN B…
Read full complaint
THE REAR PANEL UNDER MY BACK WINDOW IS CRACKED ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FALLS OFF AND THE PERSON BEHIND ME HAS A CRASH TRYING TO AVOID IT? WILL FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR POOR ENGINEERING? DOUBT IT. THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT IS RAMPANT ON THE INTERNET. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THE GUY BEHIND ME CAN BE ASSURED HE WON'T HAVE TO PLAY DODGE THE PLASTIC WHEN IT FALLS OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358551
75,000 miles · Sep 23, 2010
Structure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH THE SIZE OF THE CRACK INCREASED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFT GATE DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE REAR WINDOW BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. OVER THE COURSE OF A MONTH THE SIZE OF THE CRACK INCREASED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE AMONG THESE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA ODI #10357122
25,000 miles · Sep 15, 2010
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF AND THE ROOF IS STARTING TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE CONTACT IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS OF THE RUSTING. THE VIN…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT IS PEELING FROM THE ROOF AND THE ROOF IS STARTING TO RUST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY. THE CONTACT IS WORRIED ABOUT THE LONG TERM AFFECTS OF THE RUSTING. THE VIN WAS REJECTED FROM THE SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58000.
NHTSA ODI #10355768
40,000 miles · Sep 10, 2010
Structure
REAR WINDOW TRIM CRACKED. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT THE PIECES WILL FALL OFF AND CAUSE PROBLEMS ON THE ROAD TO OTHER DRIVERS, BUT FORD SAYS THIS IN NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10354944
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
2
EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Steering:column
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Steering
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Illustration