NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
497 reports49,000 miles · Apr 27, 2012
Structure
LARGE CRACKS DEVELOPED ON TNE TAILGATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FORD SIGN IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO GET LARGER AND I AM CONCERNED THAT A PIECE OF THE PANEL COULD COME LOOSE AND CAUSE A FOLLOWING MOTORIST TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I AM AWARE THAT FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISS…
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LARGE CRACKS DEVELOPED ON TNE TAILGATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FORD SIGN IN THE PANEL BELOW THE REAR WINDOW. THE CRACKS CONTINUE TO GET LARGER AND I AM CONCERNED THAT A PIECE OF THE PANEL COULD COME LOOSE AND CAUSE A FOLLOWING MOTORIST TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. I AM AWARE THAT FORD HAS RECEIVED THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10456714
68,874 miles · Apr 18, 2012
SuspensionTires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH GOODRICH TOURING T/A TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS P235/75/R16 AND THE DOT NUMBER WAS AP70L2113710. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTREME AND CONSISTENT TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTUR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER, EQUIPPED WITH GOODRICH TOURING T/A TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS P235/75/R16 AND THE DOT NUMBER WAS AP70L2113710. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXTREME AND CONSISTENT TREAD WEAR ON THE TIRES. DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE VEHICLE WOULD HYDROPLANE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,575 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,874. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/21/12 *BF UPDATED 06/01/12
NHTSA ODI #10455649
111,000 miles · Apr 14, 2012
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE - DRIVING HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO DRIVE, NO REVERSE, DOES NOT GO. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. AFTER IT FAILED, I SEARCHED THE WEB FOR COMPLAINTS, I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE BUYING IT. NOT VE…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE - DRIVING HOME AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. NO DRIVE, NO REVERSE, DOES NOT GO. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND HAVE HAD ALL OF THE RECOMMENDED SERVICES PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL AUTHORIZED FORD DEALER. AFTER IT FAILED, I SEARCHED THE WEB FOR COMPLAINTS, I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE BUYING IT. NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE FACT THAT FORD IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR THIS VERY COMMON FAILURE!! I WILL WARN ALL POTENTIAL BUYERS OF ANY FORD PRODUCTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10455237
87,000 miles · Apr 10, 2012
Structure
WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IN A PARKED POSITION, THE UPPER TAILGATE PANEL, DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT AND RUNNING RIGHT NEXT TO THE OVAL FORD EMBLEM, A 1/4" WIDE CRACK THAT RUNS VERTICALLY ON THE BACK PANEL APPEARED. THIS UPPER PANEL OF THE TAILGATE ALSO OPENS UP JUST THE WINDOW PART OF THE TAILGATE. THE TAILGATE ON THIS EXPLORER…
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WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IN A PARKED POSITION, THE UPPER TAILGATE PANEL, DIRECTLY TO THE RIGHT AND RUNNING RIGHT NEXT TO THE OVAL FORD EMBLEM, A 1/4" WIDE CRACK THAT RUNS VERTICALLY ON THE BACK PANEL APPEARED. THIS UPPER PANEL OF THE TAILGATE ALSO OPENS UP JUST THE WINDOW PART OF THE TAILGATE. THE TAILGATE ON THIS EXPLORER CAN OPEN UP TWO WAYS. ONE WAY BEING THE ENTIRE TAILGATE IS LIFTED SO THAT IT IS OPEN LIKE FOR A DOG TO JUMP IN AND IS THEN LEVEL WITH THE INTERIOR BACK PART (WITH THE SEATS DOWN), AND IT ALSO OPENS UP WITH JUST THE WINDOW PART WHICH IS WHERE THE CRACK IS. THIS CRACK IS SO WIDE THAT IT ALLOWS MOISTURE, SNOW, WATER, RAIN, SALT, ETC. TO SEEP INTO THE COMPONENTS WHICH HOUSE THE ELECTRICAL AND TAIL LIGHT, STOP LAMPS AND TURN SIGNALS. IT ALSO COMPROMISES THE BODY STRUCTURE AND SAFETY FEATURES. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AS I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING AND/OR PARTS OR COMPONENTS AND BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL NOTICE. AT THE TIME OF THIS OCCURRENCE, MY BACK TAILGATE WAS FACING WEST WITH THE SUN SHINING ON IT. COULD IT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPONENTS SHRINKING AND EXPANDING? I HAVE PICTURES OF THIS ISSUE THAT I CAN E-MAIL TO YOU. UPDATED 9/13/12 *CN UPDATED 09/20/12
NHTSA ODI #10455188
80,000 miles · Mar 30, 2012
StructureVisibility
CRACK AT BACK GLASS RUNNING DOWN THE CAR LEFT OF FORD EMBLEM. GLASS COULD FALL OUT. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10453529
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2012
Latches/locks/linkages
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH CHILD SAFE LOCKS AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF HAVING THE SAFETY FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH CHILD SAFE LOCKS AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE LACK OF HAVING THE SAFETY FEATURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
NHTSA ODI #10453424
76,000 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Structure
NOTICED CRACK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF REAR BODY PANEL APPLIQUE ALONG SIDE OF FORD EMBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10450454
140,000 miles · Feb 21, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline
AFTER FILLING UP MY TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE SYSTEM THAT TELLS ME HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY ONLY SHOWS DASHED INSTEAD OF AN ACTUAL NUMBER. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND PRICEY PROBLEM. THE DAY AFTER I FILLED UP, IT JUMPED TO HALF A TANK AND T…
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AFTER FILLING UP MY TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE DROPPED TO EMPTY, AND THE CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO THE SYSTEM THAT TELLS ME HOW MANY MILES TO EMPTY ONLY SHOWS DASHED INSTEAD OF AN ACTUAL NUMBER. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND PRICEY PROBLEM. THE DAY AFTER I FILLED UP, IT JUMPED TO HALF A TANK AND THEN BACK TO EMPTY. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE TRUCK 3 MONTHS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448631
73,000 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE FUEL GAUGE QUITS WORKING WHEN I FILL THE TANK. IT STARTS WORKING SOMETIMES AFTER A FEW DAYS. THE INFO CENTER THINKS I'M OUT OF GAS AND SENDS A WARNING. VERY ANNOYING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448278
109,000 miles · Jan 31, 2012
Power TrainCrash
BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE TRANSMISSION LURCHING. MY WIFE WAS PARKING HER CAR AND WHEN SHE SHIFTED IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO HER PARKING SPOT, IT LUNGED BACKWARDS AND RAMMED THE EXHAUST INTO BUMPER, LITERALLY CRUMPLING THE EXHAUST, INTO A CONCRETE BARRICADE, WITH NO WARNING. THIS WAS AT 75000 MILES IN MARCH OF 2009. ANY…
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BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE TRANSMISSION LURCHING. MY WIFE WAS PARKING HER CAR AND WHEN SHE SHIFTED IN REVERSE TO BACK INTO HER PARKING SPOT, IT LUNGED BACKWARDS AND RAMMED THE EXHAUST INTO BUMPER, LITERALLY CRUMPLING THE EXHAUST, INTO A CONCRETE BARRICADE, WITH NO WARNING. THIS WAS AT 75000 MILES IN MARCH OF 2009. ANYTIME SHE PUT IT IN GEAR IT WOULD JUST JUMP, LIKE SOMETHING WOULD MAKE IT HESITATE, AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN FULL POWER ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLY. BROUGHT TO FORD DEALER AND INSTEAD OF REPLACING THEY HAD REBUILT IT. THE CASE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS CRACKED, THE FIRST SIGN IT NEEDED A NEW ONE. FAST FORWARD JANUARY 20TH 2012. NOW THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME, AND WITH NO WARNING WITH CARS COMING FROM BEHIND ME, IT NOW HAS 40000 ON THE REBUILD SO NOW THE CAR HAS 109000+ MILES ON IT. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALUMINUM FILINGS INSIDE OF IT FROM THE PARTS INSIDE COMING LOOSE AND SHREDDING THE CASE ON THE INSIDE. FOR WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT AND IT SHOULD STILL HAVE A WARRANTY. IT IS A DANGEROUS CAR, IF SHE WOULD HAVE DROVE TO WORK AND IT LOST POWER ON A BUSIER INTERSTATE SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR WRECK. I CAN'T REPLACE A LOVED ONE BECAUSE FORD WILL NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I AM GETTING RID OF IT SO THAT MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE SAFE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10446080
NHTSA investigations
2EA09013 · 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.
PE09020 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Apr 21, 2009 · Closed Aug 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; 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.
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.
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