NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Tires complaints
17 reportsClear category filter148,245 miles · Sep 3, 2009
Tires
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE RIDE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WAS NOT THERE ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. IT FELT LIKE AN UNRESPONSIVE STEERING AND A VIBRATION. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION 50 MILES FROM WHERE I STARTED AND LOOKED AT ALL OF MY TIRES. VISUALLY THERE WAS NO APPARENT DEFORMITIES OR ANYT…
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED A DIFFERENCE IN THE RIDE AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS WHICH WAS NOT THERE ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. IT FELT LIKE AN UNRESPONSIVE STEERING AND A VIBRATION. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION 50 MILES FROM WHERE I STARTED AND LOOKED AT ALL OF MY TIRES. VISUALLY THERE WAS NO APPARENT DEFORMITIES OR ANYTHING OUT OF NORMAL CHARACTER. LATER WHEN I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS DRIVING HOME THE SAME EFFECTS WERE PRESENT. ABOUT 10 MILES LATER IT SUDDENLY GOT WORSE JUST BEFORE A BANG AND A SUDDEN PULL TO THE LEFT AS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A TIRE BLOWS OUT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING ENOUGH TO PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET OUT OF THE TRAVELED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I OBSERVED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE, IT WAS FLAT AND SECTIONS OF THE TREAD LAYER WERE MISSING AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND VACUUM HOSE FOR THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE CONTROL.THE VACUUM LINE WAS RIPPED FROM BOTH ENDS OF ITS CONNECTORS. FORTUNATELY THE BRAKE LINE WAS STILL CONNECTED AS IT IS DRESSED TO THE VACUUM LINE. AFTER CHANGING THE TIRE, I LOOKED AT IT AND OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING; LARGE SECTIONS OF THE TREAD LAYER MISSING WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE TIRE, STEEL BELTS DAMAGED AND BROKEN APART AND PULLED AWAY FROM THE INNER LAYER, 2 SLITS GOING FROM NEAR THE BEAD ON ONE SIDE ACROSS THE AREA WHERE TREAD AND BELTS HAD EXISTED TO THE OTHER BEAD AREA. THE TIRE AND RIM WERE THE REMOVED AND THE SPARE PUT ON TO CONTINUE BACK HOME. AFTER THE SPARE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM NOTICED PREVIOUSLY WHILE DRIVING DID NOT EXIST ANYMORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10282781
Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2002
Tires
BOTH TIMES IT WAS A TREAD SEPARATION. ONE COMPLETELY BLEW, THE OTHER JUST LOST THE TREAD. WE WERE TRAVELING, AND CHECKED WITH THE DEALER THERE FOR ANY RECALLS, WHICH THERE WERE NONE. WE DID NOT BRING THE 2 TIRES HOME WITH US, BUT LEFT THEM AT THE DEALER. WE HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THESE TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES. THIS WILL SHOW THE A…
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BOTH TIMES IT WAS A TREAD SEPARATION. ONE COMPLETELY BLEW, THE OTHER JUST LOST THE TREAD. WE WERE TRAVELING, AND CHECKED WITH THE DEALER THERE FOR ANY RECALLS, WHICH THERE WERE NONE. WE DID NOT BRING THE 2 TIRES HOME WITH US, BUT LEFT THEM AT THE DEALER. WE HAVE RECEIPTS FOR THESE TWO REPLACEMENT TIRES. THIS WILL SHOW THE ACTUAL DATES OF INCIDENT. WE ALSO HAVE A PICTURE OF THE TIRE AND DAMAGE DONE FROM THE LAST ONE. THE EMERGENCY REPAIR SERVICE WHO REPLACED OUR TIRE WILL REMEMBER THE INCIDENT. IF NEEDED, I CAN CONTACT THEM FOR VERIFICATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #767223
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2001
Tires
I WAS DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE THEN BLEW. VERY SCARY. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE. THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS AN IMPACT BREAK SOMETIME IN THE LIFE OF THE TIRE. VERY RUDE. AFTER $1000 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, I COULD NOT IN GOOD FAITH TRUST THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELAN'S. I NEVER IN OVER 35…
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I WAS DRIVING, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND THE TIRE THEN BLEW. VERY SCARY. I CONTACTED FIRESTONE. THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS AN IMPACT BREAK SOMETIME IN THE LIFE OF THE TIRE. VERY RUDE. AFTER $1000 DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE, I COULD NOT IN GOOD FAITH TRUST THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. I REPLACED THEM WITH MICHELAN'S. I NEVER IN OVER 35 YEARS OF DRIVING EVER HAD A TIRE TREAD SEPARATE AND THEN BLOW OUT. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT FIRESTONE WILL NOT ADMIT. THE COST AND DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE TO REPLACE AND REPAIR IS OVER $2000. FIRESTONE COULD CARE LESS. (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XD178 TIRESIZE: 225/75R16)
NHTSA ODI #752446
Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 2001
Tires
TIRE HAS A 2 INCH DIAMETER, 1 INCH HIGH BULGE PROTRUDING FROM THE SIDEWALL. ALL FOUR TIRES SHOW SIDEWALL IRREGULARITIES. THIS MAJOR BULGE DEFECT WAS NOTED DURING ROUTINE TIRE PRESSURE CHECK. NO BLOWOUTS, CRASHES, INJURIES, OR DEATHS TO REPORT YET. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW81XM178 TIRESIZE: LT265/75R1)
NHTSA ODI #749601
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2001
Tires
CHUNCKS FALLING OFF SIDEWALL AND CRACKING WHERE TREAD MEETS SIDEWALL. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT26575R16)
NHTSA ODI #747993
Mileage unknown · May 30, 2001
TiresCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE FELT A LITTLE SHAKE AND IT WENT AWAY WITH IN A FEW SECONDS THE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND WAS BEATING THE WHEEL WELL OF MY TRUCK AND THEN IT BLEW AFTER THE TREAD SEPARATION AND LOCKED THE FRONT TIRE UP AND PULLED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I SIDE SWIPED A VAN COMING AT ME HEAD ON C…
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I WAS DRIVING EAST BOUND ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE FELT A LITTLE SHAKE AND IT WENT AWAY WITH IN A FEW SECONDS THE TIRE TREAD CAME OFF AND WAS BEATING THE WHEEL WELL OF MY TRUCK AND THEN IT BLEW AFTER THE TREAD SEPARATION AND LOCKED THE FRONT TIRE UP AND PULLED ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I SIDE SWIPED A VAN COMING AT ME HEAD ON CAUSING THE VAN TO ROLL OVER.I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55 OR 60 MPHS WHEN ALL THIS OCCURRED.THERE WAS ONE PERSON TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND LATER RELEASED. THE TIRE HAD NO REASON TO SEPARATE THE WAY IT DID .IT CAME APART LIKE A RETREADED TIRE WOULD SEPARATE. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT265/75)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT265/75 )
NHTSA ODI #746110
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 24570R19.5)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 24570R19.5 )
NHTSA ODI #745263
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2001
Tires
ON APRIL 17 I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON I 75 IN MICHIGAN WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT EXPLODED . I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 8 HOURS AND IT WAS ABOUT 35 DEGREES . THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SENT ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER . I WAS TOLD THE FIRESTONE DID NOT MAKE BAD TIRES AND TOLD ME IT WAS FORD PROBLEM. CALLED FORD BACK T…
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ON APRIL 17 I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON I 75 IN MICHIGAN WHEN THE RIGHT FRONT EXPLODED . I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR 8 HOURS AND IT WAS ABOUT 35 DEGREES . THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE DEALER SHIP AND THEY SENT ME TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER . I WAS TOLD THE FIRESTONE DID NOT MAKE BAD TIRES AND TOLD ME IT WAS FORD PROBLEM. CALLED FORD BACK TOLD SERVICE MANGER WHAT I WAS TOLD . HE SAID HE WOULD CHECK IN TO IT . SEVERAL DAY LATER FORD CALLED BACK AND SAID ALL THEY WOULD COVER WAS ONE TIRE . I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THESE TIRES AND WOULD LIKE FORD REPLACE THESE TIRES WITTH A DIFERENT BRAND . I PULL A 8000 LBS BOAT AND AM GLAD I WAS NOT TOWING IT AT THE TIME THE TIRE BLEW OUT . I HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE ON THE TRUCK AS WELL AS OFF THE TK. THIS TK WAS ASSEMBLED IN CANADA. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW8 1XL TIRESIZE: LT265/75R1)
NHTSA ODI #744993
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2001
Tires
PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH OM HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD BANGING NOISE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDERS, AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE THREE TIRE TREAD SEPARATIONS. FIRESTONE , P225 75 16 MF, VD1L1XD267, FIRESTONE WERE NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #884589
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Tires
THE TIRE SEPARATED AND COMPLETLY CAME APART WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY,OUR EXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING A ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, SIDE OF TRUCK AND EVEN TOPPER OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, OUR EMPLOYEES FELT THE VEHICLES WER…
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THE TIRE SEPARATED AND COMPLETLY CAME APART WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. LUCKILY,OUR EXPERIENCED DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CAUSING A ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FENDER, SIDE OF TRUCK AND EVEN TOPPER OF THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, OUR EMPLOYEES FELT THE VEHICLES WERE UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THESE TIRES ON THEM. AS A RESULT WE HAVE REPLACED THE EXISTING FIRESTONE STEELTEX TIRES ON OUR WORK VEHICLES, 20 TIRES. WE DID NOTIFY MATTHEWS CURRIE FORD(OUR DEALER) REGARDING THE PROBLEM IMMEDIALTY. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE TIRES AT NO COST TO US, WE PAID FOR ALL OF THEM. WE ALSO HAVE RECORDS OF THE REPAIR AND HAVE WHAT IS LEFT OF THE DAMAGED TIRE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. WE CAN EMAIL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED TRUCK AND TIRE TO YOU. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW81XM TIRESIZE: 265/75R1)
NHTSA ODI #743186
NHTSA investigations
5EA06012 · Engine Stalling
Opened Jun 22, 2006 · Closed Dec 7, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO CRASH RISK DUE TO LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER OR VEHICLE DISABLEMENT, ENGINE STALLING ALSO EFFECTS THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING. THROUGH CONSUMER INTERVIEWS, ODI DETERMINED THAT CPS FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY FORM OF WARNING, AT ANY VEHICLE SPEED (50% AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), AND UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITION, SUCH AS ACCELERATING.CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE VEHICLES FAILED TO RESTART, WITH ANOTHER THIRD REPORTING DELAYED RESTARTING.HALF THE VEHICLES THAT DID RESTART EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STALL ON THE SAME OR A SUBSEQUENT DRIVE CYCLE (BEFORE CPS REPLACEMENT) RE-EXPOSING THOSE CONSUMERS TO THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLING EVENT.IN THEIR VOQ REPORTS, HALF OF THE ODI COMPLAINANTS DESCRIBED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSE OF POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE TOWING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ONE ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A SUBJECT VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC.ALTHOUGH UNSUBSTANTIATED, THE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED AN INJURY TO A CHILD OCCUPANT DURING ODI'S INTERVIEW.THE OTHER CRASH ALLEGATIONS MOSTLY INVOLVED LOW SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS OFTEN CAUSED BY LACK OF POWER ASSIST; NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, IF ANY, WAS MINIMAL.CONSUMERS ALSO REPORTED OTHER INCIDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS, SUCH AS DISABLEMENT IN A LANE OR ON A SHOULDER OF A HIGH-SPEED ROADWAY OR INTERSTATE, OR EXTENDED DISABLEMENT IN REMOTE AREAS DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE POPULATION ABOVE IS FORD'S ESTIMATE OF THE 1.4 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED THAT ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED.THE FORD COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS NOTED ABOVE ARE CURRENT AS OF FORD'S LAST SUBMISSION DATED JUNE 21, 2007; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE F-450, F-550, OR ECONOLINE COUNTS AS THESE PRODUCTS WERE NOT FORMALLY WITHIN SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION WHEN FAILURE INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED.WARRANTY DATA ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT ABOUT HALF THE CLAIMS INVOLVED A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT ( FORD'S ASSESSMENT) AND THAT POOR CPS DURABILITY WAS A LONGSTANDING CONCERN.FORD REPORTED THAT THE NEW CPS DESIGN SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED THEIR 10 YEAR, 150K MILE LIFE EXPECTANCY DESIGN REQUIREMENT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO CRASH RISK DUE TO LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER OR VEHICLE DISABLEMENT, ENGINE STALLING ALSO EFFECTS THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING. THROUGH CONSUMER INTERVIEWS, ODI DETERMINED THAT CPS FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY FORM OF WARNING, AT ANY VEHICLE SPEED (50% AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), AND UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITION, SUCH AS ACCELERATING.CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE VEHICLES FAILED TO RESTART, WITH ANOTHER THIRD REPORTING DELAYED RESTARTING.HALF THE VEHICLES THAT DID RESTART EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STALL ON THE SAME OR A SUBSEQUENT DRIVE CYCLE (BEFORE CPS REPLACEMENT) RE-EXPOSING THOSE CONSUMERS TO THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLING EVENT.IN THEIR VOQ REPORTS, HALF OF THE ODI COMPLAINANTS DESCRIBED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSE OF POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE TOWING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ONE ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A SUBJECT VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC.ALTHOUGH UNSUBSTANTIATED, THE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED AN INJURY TO A CHILD OCCUPANT DURING ODI'S INTERVIEW.THE OTHER CRASH ALLEGATIONS MOSTLY INVOLVED LOW SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS OFTEN CAUSED BY LACK OF POWER ASSIST; NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, IF ANY, WAS MINIMAL.CONSUMERS ALSO REPORTED OTHER INCIDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS, SUCH AS DISABLEMENT IN A LANE OR ON A SHOULDER OF A HIGH-SPEED ROADWAY OR INTERSTATE, OR EXTENDED DISABLEMENT IN REMOTE AREAS DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE POPULATION ABOVE IS FORD'S ESTIMATE OF THE 1.4 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED THAT ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED.THE FORD COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS NOTED ABOVE ARE CURRENT AS OF FORD'S LAST SUBMISSION DATED JUNE 21, 2007; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE F-450, F-550, OR ECONOLINE COUNTS AS THESE PRODUCTS WERE NOT FORMALLY WITHIN SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION WHEN FAILURE INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED.WARRANTY DATA ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT ABOUT HALF THE CLAIMS INVOLVED A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT ( FORD'S ASSESSMENT) AND THAT POOR CPS DURABILITY WAS A LONGSTANDING CONCERN.FORD REPORTED THAT THE NEW CPS DESIGN SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED THEIR 10 YEAR, 150K MILE LIFE EXPECTANCY DESIGN REQUIREMENT.
Engine And Engine Cooling
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO CRASH RISK DUE TO LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER OR VEHICLE DISABLEMENT, ENGINE STALLING ALSO EFFECTS THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING. THROUGH CONSUMER INTERVIEWS, ODI DETERMINED THAT CPS FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY FORM OF WARNING, AT ANY VEHICLE SPEED (50% AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), AND UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITION, SUCH AS ACCELERATING.CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE VEHICLES FAILED TO RESTART, WITH ANOTHER THIRD REPORTING DELAYED RESTARTING.HALF THE VEHICLES THAT DID RESTART EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STALL ON THE SAME OR A SUBSEQUENT DRIVE CYCLE (BEFORE CPS REPLACEMENT) RE-EXPOSING THOSE CONSUMERS TO THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLING EVENT.IN THEIR VOQ REPORTS, HALF OF THE ODI COMPLAINANTS DESCRIBED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSE OF POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE TOWING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ONE ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A SUBJECT VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC.ALTHOUGH UNSUBSTANTIATED, THE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED AN INJURY TO A CHILD OCCUPANT DURING ODI'S INTERVIEW.THE OTHER CRASH ALLEGATIONS MOSTLY INVOLVED LOW SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS OFTEN CAUSED BY LACK OF POWER ASSIST; NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, IF ANY, WAS MINIMAL.CONSUMERS ALSO REPORTED OTHER INCIDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS, SUCH AS DISABLEMENT IN A LANE OR ON A SHOULDER OF A HIGH-SPEED ROADWAY OR INTERSTATE, OR EXTENDED DISABLEMENT IN REMOTE AREAS DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE POPULATION ABOVE IS FORD'S ESTIMATE OF THE 1.4 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED THAT ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED.THE FORD COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS NOTED ABOVE ARE CURRENT AS OF FORD'S LAST SUBMISSION DATED JUNE 21, 2007; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE F-450, F-550, OR ECONOLINE COUNTS AS THESE PRODUCTS WERE NOT FORMALLY WITHIN SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION WHEN FAILURE INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED.WARRANTY DATA ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT ABOUT HALF THE CLAIMS INVOLVED A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT ( FORD'S ASSESSMENT) AND THAT POOR CPS DURABILITY WAS A LONGSTANDING CONCERN.FORD REPORTED THAT THE NEW CPS DESIGN SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED THEIR 10 YEAR, 150K MILE LIFE EXPECTANCY DESIGN REQUIREMENT.
PE06011 · Engine Stalling
Opened Feb 27, 2006 · Closed Jun 23, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:diesel
THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) PROVIDES A CRITICAL SIGNAL TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLE (SV) ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE LOSS OF WHICH RESULTS IN AN ENGINE STALL.DURING PE06-011, FORD STATED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI THAT IT IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CPS RELATED ENGINE STALL AND FURTHER ADVISED THAT AN UPDATE WILL BE PROVIDED UPON COMPLETION OF THE INVESTIGATION.FORD DATA SHOWS THAT 20% OF THE 716,000 SVS ARE EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF BACK-DRIVING THE ENGINE WHEN A STALL OCCURS; POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING ARE NOT LOST DURING ENGINE BACK-DRIVE.FORD DATA ALSO INDICATES THAT BACK-DRIVE OCCURS IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES ABOVE CERTAIN ROAD SPEEDS.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS NOTED REFERENCE 755 UNIQUE VEHICLES; 2 ARE DUPLICATIVE OF ODI REPORTS.IN ITS REVIEW OF CUSTOMER AND FIELD REPORTS, FORD IDENTIFIED SOME 800 REPORTS ALLEGING ONE OR MORE ENGINE STALLS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO A CPS FAILURE IN THESE 755 VEHICLES (FORD?S ?A? CATEGORY REPORTS).ODI HAS NOT COMPLETED ITS REVIEW OF THESE OR OTHER FORD REPORTS, NOR HAS IT CONFIRMED THIS COUNT.ALL BUT ONE OF THE 9 CRASH ALLEGATIONS APPEAR TO BE MINOR IN NATURE ALTHOUGH ODI IS STILL INVESTIGATING THESE CRASH/INJURY ALLEGATIONS AND WHETHER OR NOT THEY INVOLVE A CPS FAILURE.BASED ON EARLY ASSESSMENT OF THE APPROXIMATELY 166,000 SUBJECT VEHICLE WARRANTY CLAIMS FORD PAID, THERE APPEARS TO BE VARIABILITY IN CLAIM RATES BETWEEN CERTAIN SV PRODUCTION PERIODS; AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED.FORD REVIEWED A SAMPLE OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS AND INDICATED THAT ABOUT HALF MAY INVOLVE A STALL DUE TO CPS FAILURE; ODI HAS YET TO CONFIRM THIS ASSESSMENT.THE INVESTIGATION IS THEREFORE UPGRADED TO ENGINEERING ANALYSIS EA06-012 SO THAT ODI CAN CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND CONSEQUENCES OF CPS RELATED ENGINE STALLING.
DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head
Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
SQ00018 · Steering Sector Shaft Fracture
Opened Nov 14, 2000 · Closed Mar 2, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
SQ00005 · Power Assist For Steering And Braking
Opened Feb 9, 2000 · Closed Jun 20, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available