DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING VISOR TO DROP AND HANG BY ELECTRICAL WIRE SUPPLYING POWER TO LIGHTED MIRROR. ENTIRE VISOR ASSEMBLY WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL PART (SMALL PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET) WAS NOT SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. VISOR RARELY IF EVER USED. REPLACEMENT WAS AT OWNER'S EXP…
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DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET FAILED (CRACKED) CAUSING VISOR TO DROP AND HANG BY ELECTRICAL WIRE SUPPLYING POWER TO LIGHTED MIRROR. ENTIRE VISOR ASSEMBLY WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE INDIVIDUAL PART (SMALL PLASTIC MOUNTING BRACKET) WAS NOT SOLD INDIVIDUALLY. VISOR RARELY IF EVER USED. REPLACEMENT WAS AT OWNER'S EXPENSE AND NOT COVERED UNDER PREMIUM EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10359963
31,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SUN VISOR FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VISOR WAS EXHIBITING DISINTEGRATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SUN VISOR FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VISOR WAS EXHIBITING DISINTEGRATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31,000.
NHTSA ODI #10343227
43,000 miles · May 25, 2010
Visibility
2005 FORD EXPLORER----REAR WINDOW JUST EXPLODED,WHEN I WENT TO SHUT IT----43,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332164
36,500 miles · Mar 31, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS EXHIBITED A FILM AND DIRT BUILD UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS EXHIBITED A FILM AND DIRT BUILD UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,100.
NHTSA ODI #10323012
66,000 miles · Jan 20, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. ON JANUARY 12, 2010 HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH GLASS WAS SPLIT IN HALF. HE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. ON JANUARY 12, 2010 HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR HATCH GLASS WAS SPLIT IN HALF. HE FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUFACTURER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #10300401
53,168 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE NEXT DAY THE VENTS WOULD ONLY RELEASE COLD AIR FROM THE VENTS. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE COULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEATER BOX FAILED AND WOULD COST $800.00 TO REP…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE NEXT DAY THE VENTS WOULD ONLY RELEASE COLD AIR FROM THE VENTS. AS A CONSEQUENCE SHE COULD NOT DEFROST THE WINDOWS. HER MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEATER BOX FAILED AND WOULD COST $800.00 TO REPAIR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 53168. UPDATED12/10/09. *LJ THE REPAIR COST WAS $438.00. THE PROBLEM WAS THE BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR, WHICH WAS INDIDE THE HEATER BOX. UPDATED 12/10/09
NHTSA ODI #10291150
30,000 miles · Aug 12, 2009
Visibility
THE SUN VISOR SUPPORT OF THE FORD EXPLORER 2005 IS DEFECTIVE AND BREAKS EASILY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME AND AS PER RESEARCH IN THE WEB, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IN THIS MODEL. ONE TIME IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, AND THE SUN VISOR WAS HANGING AND BLOCKING THE VIEW. I WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIA…
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THE SUN VISOR SUPPORT OF THE FORD EXPLORER 2005 IS DEFECTIVE AND BREAKS EASILY. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TO ME AND AS PER RESEARCH IN THE WEB, IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN IN THIS MODEL. ONE TIME IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, AND THE SUN VISOR WAS HANGING AND BLOCKING THE VIEW. I WAS ABLE TO STOP, BUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS, ALL FOR A SMALL DEFECTIVE PLASTIC PIECE. THE HINGE BASE IS MADE OF POOR RESISTANCE PLASTIC AND HAS A TERRIBLE DESIGN, THIS IS INCREDIBLE TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE VISOR ARM IS METALLIC AND IT TRANSFERS A CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO THIS PLASTIC BASE EACH TIME YOU FOLD OR USE THE SUN VISOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280284
59,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Visibility
THE REAR WINDSHIELD IMPLODED ,AND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS WERE FOUND . IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258010
85,000 miles · Feb 7, 2009
Electrical SystemVisibility
AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SWITCH THAT SELECTS HEAT AND COLD IS BROKEN AND ONLY MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, AND WILL NOT PULL IN HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WARM UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR COSTS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. THIS IS ALSO A SEVERE SA…
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AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SWITCH THAT SELECTS HEAT AND COLD IS BROKEN AND ONLY MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, AND WILL NOT PULL IN HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WARM UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR COSTS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. THIS IS ALSO A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE NEED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257816
43,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Visibility
BOTH SUN VISORS IN MY 2005 EXPLORER BROKE WITHIN A DAY OF EACH OTHER. THE SMALL PLASTIC HOLDER ON EACH OF THEM SHATTER INTO MICROSCOPIC PIECES WITH NOTHING ON THE VISORS. NO CD HOLDERS OR SUNGLASSES EITHER. THEY JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY WERE BOTH FOLDED UP AND NOT BEING USED. IT WAS VERY STRANGE. IT HAPPENED …
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BOTH SUN VISORS IN MY 2005 EXPLORER BROKE WITHIN A DAY OF EACH OTHER. THE SMALL PLASTIC HOLDER ON EACH OF THEM SHATTER INTO MICROSCOPIC PIECES WITH NOTHING ON THE VISORS. NO CD HOLDERS OR SUNGLASSES EITHER. THEY JUST BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THEY WERE BOTH FOLDED UP AND NOT BEING USED. IT WAS VERY STRANGE. IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND I FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT DANGLED BY A WIRE THAT COULD NOT BE CUT DUE TO WHAT IT WAS CONNECTED TO. I TRIED ELECTRICAL TAPE AND ANYTHING I COULD THINK OF BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY UP. I COULD NOT GET AN APPT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND HAD TO DRIVE WITH THIS OBSTRUCTION FOR 2 DAYS. NOT ONLY WAS IT ANNOYING BUT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. IT COST ME $205.00 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AND I FEEL LIKE THIS COULD BE A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN MORE COMPLAINTS ONLINE BY SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231385
Official recalls
0
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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.