Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
7425–50K
11450–75K
10275–100K
73100–150K
25150K+
430 reports with mileage · 67 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Structure. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
497 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ALL POWERWAS LOST. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ONLY IF I CAE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN VEHICLE RE-STARTED AND ACTED NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED SOMETIMES 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY OR NOT FOR A MONTH. I WAS …
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY GIVEN SPEED AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND ALL POWERWAS LOST. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE ONLY IF I CAE TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, THEN VEHICLE RE-STARTED AND ACTED NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENED SOMETIMES 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY OR NOT FOR A MONTH. I WAS TOLD BY MY FORD DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM DESPITE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME AND HOOKING UP THE COMPUTER TO IT. THE LAST ADVICE I RECEIVED FROM FORD WAS TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED IN WHEN STOPPAGE OCCURS. THATWAS NOT THAT EASY WHEN YOU NEED THE VEHICLE TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION OR YOU WERE STUCK IN A BAD AREA. THIS OCCURRED 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. ALSO, I HAVE A NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGESD WHEN THE BRAKEWA S APPLIED AS IF THE GAS HAD BEEN APPLIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10196753
65,000 miles · Jun 26, 2007
Air BagsCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. HE STATED THAT MOST OF THE VEHICLE'S DAMAGE WAS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10194223
23,000 miles · May 9, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATES AT RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING INTO THE SERVICE BAY AT 5 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE IS UNAV…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATES AT RANDOM AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING INTO THE SERVICE BAY AT 5 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE ENGINE SIZE IS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 23,000.
NHTSA ODI #10190330
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2007
Fuel System, Other
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS I HAVE NO GAS WHEN THERE IS A FULL TANK OR LESS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10189833
5,922 miles · Apr 23, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
FORD EXPLORER WITH A DEFECTIVE ACCELERATOR/BRAKE PEDAL CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL ACTS LIKE THE GAS PEDAL SOMETIMES**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THE SURGE ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. 4/23/07 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10189010
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL - THE VEHICLE OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HESTITATES AND THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTAT STATED THE VEHICLE WILL SLOW DOWN ON IT'S ON. THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2000.
NHTSA ODI #10186754
75,000 miles · Mar 21, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RATTLE IN HER ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE WAS LOUDEST WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, AND HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURS EVERY DA…
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TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE IS A RATTLE IN HER ENGINE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE RATTLING NOISE WAS LOUDEST WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH, AND HE STATED THAT THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NOISE OCCURS EVERY DAY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 75,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10185795
30,500 miles · Mar 20, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH 30500 FAILURE MILEAGE ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. …
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH 30500 FAILURE MILEAGE ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. UPDATED 04/05/07. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10185628
35,750 miles · Mar 16, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
OUR VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND COASTING WITH THE COAST BUTTON DOWN TO 30 MPH THE CAR SHUTS OFF. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT COURTESY FORD IN PORTLAND OREGON AND WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SERVICE WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE OUR CAR SHUTTING O…
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OUR VEHICLE IS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND COASTING WITH THE COAST BUTTON DOWN TO 30 MPH THE CAR SHUTS OFF. WE JUST HAD THE CAR CHECKED AT COURTESY FORD IN PORTLAND OREGON AND WERE TOLD THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. SERVICE WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE OUR CAR SHUTTING OFF WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN COASTING TO 30 MPH. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ALL SYSTEMS CHECKED OUT AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH OUR CAR. COURTESY FORD WAS NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM IN 3 OTHER NEWER MODEL EXPLORERS, BUT TODAY WERE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM IN 2 OTHER 2005 EXPLORERS.
NHTSA ODI #10185353
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 EXPLORER AND THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COASTING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. TO THIS POINT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALER DID NOT FEEL A ERROR CODE WAS PROBABLY L…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2005 EXPLORER AND THE ENGINE DIED WHILE COASTING. POWER STEERING WAS LOST. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD. TO THIS POINT THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. THE DEALER DID NOT FEEL A ERROR CODE WAS PROBABLY LOGGED AND TO THIS POINT WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10184074
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.
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