NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
497 reports94,000 miles · May 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN IT AT A GAS PUMP IT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND SPITTING FUEL BACK OUT OF THE FUEL NECK ALL OVER THE PLACE. I HAVE BEEN SEEING OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD TO BE HAVING GASOLINE SPRAY ALL OVER THE GROUND IN A CROWDED GAS STA…
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I HAVE A 2005 FORD EXPLORER THAT WHEN YOU PUT GAS IN IT AT A GAS PUMP IT KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND SPITTING FUEL BACK OUT OF THE FUEL NECK ALL OVER THE PLACE. I HAVE BEEN SEEING OTHERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VERY SAME THING. THIS IS MOST DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD TO BE HAVING GASOLINE SPRAY ALL OVER THE GROUND IN A CROWDED GAS STATION. NOT TO MENTION HAVE TO TAKE 15 - 20 MINUTES TO FILL YOUR VEHICLE UP. THANKS, JAMIE A. JONES *TR
NHTSA ODI #10268788
52,000 miles · May 13, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK THE FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY AND DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL YOU HAVE ABOUT HALF A TANK. FORD SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT IS A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF ABOUT $1,100.00. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL -…
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WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK THE FUEL GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY AND DOES NOT RETURN UNTIL YOU HAVE ABOUT HALF A TANK. FORD SAYS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT IS A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP TO BE REPLACED FOR A COST OF ABOUT $1,100.00. THIS PROBLEM IS ALL OVER THE INTERNET WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL - WHY WAS THERE NO RECALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10268636
43,000 miles · May 5, 2009
Power Train
TRANSMISSION LEVER DID NOT WANT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. EVENTUALLY, IT DID RELEASE, BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THE LEVER IS FULLY "SEATED" INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267732
90,659 miles · May 1, 2009
Power Train
2007 FORD EXPLORER WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. WE TESTED IT ON THE TOW TRUCK AND IT STILL WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER TOWING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP, IT FINALLY SHIFTED OUT OF PARK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267524
Mileage unknown · May 1, 2009
Tires
BULGE IN SIDEWALL OF TIRE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267523
60,000 miles · Mar 24, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT COMING ON, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THEN THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. IN DECEMBER 2008 THE CAR JUST STOPPED TAKING FUEL, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS FULL. IT WOULD TAKE ME A HALF HOUR TO FILL THE TANK. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, T…
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I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD SO MUCH TROUBLE WITH THE CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT COMING ON, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, THEN THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE WARNING LIGHT. IN DECEMBER 2008 THE CAR JUST STOPPED TAKING FUEL, IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS FULL. IT WOULD TAKE ME A HALF HOUR TO FILL THE TANK. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALER, THEY SAID THEY CLEANED ALL THE SENSORS IN AND AROUND THE FUEL TANK, I PAID A BILL OF $370. THE NEXT TIME I FILLED IT WITH GAS, IT DID THE SAME EXACT THING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY PUT A NEW FILLER NECK ON IT AND CHARGED ME $260. IT WORKED FOR A SHORT TIME, THEN IN FEBRUARY IT STARTED DOING IT AGAIN! I DID NOT WANT TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY IN IT, AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OF THAT, IT FIXED ITSELF. NOW, THE CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT IS ON AGAIN, AND ALSO THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN, WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, I PURCHASED IT NEW AND IT HAS BEEN TROUBLE FROM DAY ONE. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I WAS HAVING THIS TROUBLE PUTTING THE GAS IN IT BECAUSE I HAVE PUT A LOT OF GAS IN IT....EXCUSE ME, YOU CAN BET HE WOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT TO MY HUSBAND IF HE TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262968
47,000 miles · Mar 16, 2009
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
05 FORD EXPLORER HAS REPEATED (ENGINE THROTTLE CONTROL) LIGHT WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE, WHILE MOVING, LOSES POWER AND THEN STALLS. I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO RESET AND THE VEHICLE THEN RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON (2) OCCASIONS AND NOW FEEL THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE SAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10261973
Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2009
Equipment
I RECENTLY WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR TO GO TO WORK, AND WHEN I TRIED TO ENGAGE THE GEAR SHIFTER IS DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO REVERSE SO I TRIED AGAIN AND THE GEAR SHIFTER BROKE OFF OF THE CASING OF THE STEERING COLUMN AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE STEERING COLUMN IN ORDER TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259860
76,000 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT FILLS THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT OF THE TANK. THE FUEL NOZZLE STOPS EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS NOT FULL. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON, AND POSSIB…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHENEVER THE CONTACT FILLS THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT OF THE TANK. THE FUEL NOZZLE STOPS EVEN THOUGH THE TANK IS NOT FULL. THE FAILURE OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON, AND POSSIBLY RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM FILLER NECK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,500.
NHTSA ODI #10259780
120,000 miles · Feb 23, 2009
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO HEAR A ROARING NOISE COMING FROM HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE NECESSARY REPAIRS WERE MADE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TWO FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. ALL FOUR WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $600. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10259688
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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