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2008 Ford F-150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-150 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 676.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

320 reports with mileage · 49 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.

  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports12 fire reports28 injury reports

What owners actually said

369 reports
8,500 miles · Nov 2, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE IS A FORD F150 XLT 2008. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM JACK MADDEN FORD IN NORWOOD MASSACHUSETTS. VEHICLE PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY IN APRIL OF 2008. PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE IS WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE ACCELERATES AND I HAVE HAD TO RELEASE FOOT BRAKE AND REAPPLY. OR I HAVE HAD TO PUT IT IN …

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VEHICLE IS A FORD F150 XLT 2008. VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM JACK MADDEN FORD IN NORWOOD MASSACHUSETTS. VEHICLE PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY IN APRIL OF 2008. PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE IS WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND COMING TO A STOP THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE ACCELERATES AND I HAVE HAD TO RELEASE FOOT BRAKE AND REAPPLY. OR I HAVE HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP VEHICLE. ONE TIME I WENT THROUGH A STOP SIGN BECAUSE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND LUNGED FORWARD. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ABOUT 4 TO 5 TIMES AND THEY HAVE FOUND NOTHING. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE HERE IN MASSACHSUETTS AND SHE HAS CONTACTED THE FORD REPRESENTATIVE BUT FORD COULD NOT SPEAK TO HER WITHOUT A LETTER BEING SENT TO THEM. AT PRESENT WE ARE AT A STANDSTILL . PROBLEM OCCURS OCCASIONALLY AND HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TO 10 TIMES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I AM TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THAT OF MY WIFE'S., NOT TO MENTION OTHER PEOPLE BEING INJURED EITHER WALKING IN A CROSSWALK OR IN ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10290607

28,752 miles · Oct 21, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

2008 FORD F150 LARIAT TRUCK SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN THE ENTIRE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. DESPITE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS, THE TRUCK BURNED TO THE GROUND. THIS TRUCK WAS UNDER A YEAR OLD, AND HAD NEVER NEEDED REPAIRS OF ANY KIND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289227

13,500 miles · Aug 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

SMELLED ODOR OF GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND WHEN EXITED VEHICLE, STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WALKED TO REAR OF VEHICLE AND SAW A TRAIL OF GASOLINE SPLATTERS BEHIND 2008 FORD F150. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW A POOL OF GASOLINE WITH GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM ALL AROUND FUEL TANK AND SURROUNDING AREA. IMM…

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SMELLED ODOR OF GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND WHEN EXITED VEHICLE, STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WALKED TO REAR OF VEHICLE AND SAW A TRAIL OF GASOLINE SPLATTERS BEHIND 2008 FORD F150. LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE AND SAW A POOL OF GASOLINE WITH GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM ALL AROUND FUEL TANK AND SURROUNDING AREA. IMMEDIATELY GOT ASSISTANCE AND DETERMINED THAT GASOLINE WAS COMING FROM AREA AT TOP OF FUEL TANK-AREA OF FUEL PUMP (BY TURNING KEY ON A 1-2 SECONDS WHILE ASSISTANT WATCHED UNDER PICKUP). WE REMOVED THE FUSE TO FUEL PUMP RELAY AND TOWED VEHICLE (100 FT) TO AREA WHERE WE COULD WASH GASOLINE OFF WITH WATER HOSE AND PUSHED VEHICLE INTO SHOP AND REMOVED PICKUP BED TO GET A VISUAL AT LEAK AREA. VENT HOSE TO FILLER CAP WAS BROKEN AT TOP OF TANK (THIS IS NOT A HOSE THAT NORMALLY HAS GASOLINE OR PRESSURE. REINSTALLED FUSE AND RAPIDLY TURNED KEY ON AND OFF WITH 2 PERSONS WATCHING. A HUGE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE WAS SPRAYED OUT WHEN THE PUMP WAS ENERGIZED. WHEN ASSISTANT TOUCHED THE HOSE AT SOURCE OF LEAKAGE TO PULL HOSE OFF, THE PLASTIC CONNECTION ON THE PUMP BROKE OFF (NO FORCE WAS APPLIED). CALLED FORD DEALER AND WERE INFORMED IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY--INFORMED THEM OF OBSERVATIONS AND ACTION WE TOOK. WHEN FORD GOT THE VEHICLE THEY BASICALLY SAID THIS WAS AN OWNER ABUSE AND WAS NOT A DEFECT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SUBJECT TO ANY ROUGH TREATMENT. IF I HAD DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE ENOUGH TO GET EXHAUST HOT OR HAD ANY SOURCE OF IGNITION THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BASICALLY EXPLODED AND BURNED, IT PROBABLY LOST 5-6 GALLON OF GAS IN 3 MILES(5 MINUTES). THERE WAS A SPLIT IN PLASTIC CONNECTION THAT BROKE OFF AND APPEARANCE OF OTHER CRACKS IN AREA. IN MOST CASES THE FIRST EVIDENCE OF A PROBLEM WOULD BE WHEN THE VEHICLE IGNITED. ENOUGH GASOLINE DRIPPED OFF TANK AREA ON ASPHALT TO MAR AREA. FORD DEALER HAS VEHICLE AND PARTS, INDICATED IT WOULD BE 4-10 DAYS TO GET REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS HAS SERIOUS FIRE POTENTIAL AND I HAVE NO EXPLANATION FOR BREAK EXCEPT DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280407

5,000 miles · Jul 31, 2009
Power Train

2008 BRAND NEW F150 TRUCK - 5,000 MILES AND THE STARTER WOULDN'T ENGAGE THE FLYWHEEL.. STARTER GEAR SHAFT SHEARED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE MECHANICS AT VISTA FORD/WOODLAND HILLS WERE BAFFLED BY THIS. THE STARTER GEAR SHAFT SHEARED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT SEIZED SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. TH…

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2008 BRAND NEW F150 TRUCK - 5,000 MILES AND THE STARTER WOULDN'T ENGAGE THE FLYWHEEL.. STARTER GEAR SHAFT SHEARED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE MECHANICS AT VISTA FORD/WOODLAND HILLS WERE BAFFLED BY THIS. THE STARTER GEAR SHAFT SHEARED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT SEIZED SO THERE IS NO REASON FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AS THE MECHANICS CHECKED THE TEETH IN THE FLYWHEEL AND TURNED IT BY HAND THEY WERE ABLE TO INSPECT THE FLYWHEEL AND FOUND EVERY TOOTH TO BE PERFECTLY IN TACT AND THE TEETH ON THE STARTER GEAR ITSELF WERE ALSO PERFECTLY IN TACT. THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE STARTING GEAR SHAFT BUT NOW I AM VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY AND WHAT CAUSED IT? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278844

4,177 miles · Jul 16, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I DROVE MY NEW 2008 FORD F-150 (4177 MILES) TO MY SON'S HOUSE, WHEN I GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO LEAVE I STARTED THE ENGINE AND SUDDENLY REALIZED I HAD A RUNAWAY ENGINE, THE SEQUENCE IN WHICH IT HAPPENED: I SAT DOWN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, TURNED THE KEY TO THE START POSITION THE…

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I DROVE MY NEW 2008 FORD F-150 (4177 MILES) TO MY SON'S HOUSE, WHEN I GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO LEAVE I STARTED THE ENGINE AND SUDDENLY REALIZED I HAD A RUNAWAY ENGINE, THE SEQUENCE IN WHICH IT HAPPENED: I SAT DOWN IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, TURNED THE KEY TO THE START POSITION THEN THE MOMENT THE ENGINE STARTED THE MOTOR RAN AWAY. LUCKILY I HAD KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND HAD THE PRESCIENCE OF MIND TO GO FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. THE RESTART WAS ABOUT THE SAME, THE NEXT START IT TURNED OVER OK. I THINK THIS MAY HAVE HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO BUT BY THE TIME I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING NORMAL . NOT ONLY WAS IT EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING TO ME IT ALSO COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATAL SITUATION. STATIONARY SKID MARKS WERE LEFT ON THE PAVEMENT FROM THE REAR TIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277029

5,700 miles · Jul 2, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

OWNER OF 2008 FORD F-150 EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 4800 MILES AND THEN REPEATED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5700 MILES. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHILE IN DRIVE AND TWICE WHILE IN REVERSE. EVEN WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO FULL THR…

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OWNER OF 2008 FORD F-150 EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 4800 MILES AND THEN REPEATED 3 TIMES IN ONE DAY AT APPROXIMATELY 5700 MILES. IT HAPPENED TWICE WHILE IN DRIVE AND TWICE WHILE IN REVERSE. EVEN WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO FULL THROTTLE EACH TIME. WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY, MY HUSBAND FORCED THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PARK, AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RETURNED TO A NORMAL RPM. HE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON. WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. OUR TRUCK WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER OVERNIGHT FOR A CHECK OVER. THE SERVICE AGENT STATED THAT THE COMPUTER DID NOT RECORD ANY ISSUES AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OUR CONCERN. THE SERVICE AGENT STATED THAT THERE WAS "NOTHING" ON FORD'S SITE ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS WITH THE F-150'S SUDDENLY ACCELERATING AND THEY COULD NOT FIX WHAT WASN'T "BROKEN." IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, NOTHING IS! ESPECIALLY SINCE SO MANY TRUCKS ARE USED FOR HAULING HEAVY LOADS. THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE OF WHERE THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE LOCATED. AFTER THIS HAPPENS ONCE, YOU KNOW WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL IS!!! IT IS OBVIOUS THAT FORD IS NOT GOING TO OWN UP TO THIS "CONCERN" UNTIL ENOUGH INJURIES OR DEATHS ARE REPORTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275680

10 miles · Jun 25, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT EXTENDED FURTHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT EXTENDED FURTHER THAN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HE BELIEVES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE BACKING UP IN A PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE COMPONENTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 10 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED 7/23/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED OVER20 TIMES. UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10274960

7,209 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVehicle Speed Control

I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY 2008 F-150 FORD SUPERCREW. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS SO MUCH TRAVEL THAT IT GOES PAST THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN A SUDDEN PANIC TYPE STOP. AS THE FOOT PRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE FOOT AND PEDAL PASSES THE GAS PEDAL AND SOMETIMES, IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT POSITIONED PERFECTLY IT CAUSES THE GAS PEDAL TO …

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I HAVE A SAFETY CONCERN WITH MY 2008 F-150 FORD SUPERCREW. THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS SO MUCH TRAVEL THAT IT GOES PAST THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN A SUDDEN PANIC TYPE STOP. AS THE FOOT PRESSES THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN, THE FOOT AND PEDAL PASSES THE GAS PEDAL AND SOMETIMES, IF YOUR FOOT IS NOT POSITIONED PERFECTLY IT CAUSES THE GAS PEDAL TO BE PRESSED DOWN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THUS THE VEHICLE IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO STOP IT. THIS CAUSES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND WILL LEAD TO ACCIDENTS. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TWO ALREADY. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT MY COMPLAINT APPARENTLY WASN'T WELL UNDERSTOOD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273205

10,000 miles · Apr 30, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS FORD F 150 PICKUP TRUCK HAS THE WIDEST GAS (ACCELERATOR) PEDAL I HAVE EVER SEEN AND AS A RESULT, MY RIGHT FOOT CONTINUES TO PRESS DOWN ON IT EVEN AFTER I HAVE STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE SAME FOOT. I HAVE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH MY WORKING PARTNER AND A BOAT TRAILER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH AS WE WERE TRYING…

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THIS FORD F 150 PICKUP TRUCK HAS THE WIDEST GAS (ACCELERATOR) PEDAL I HAVE EVER SEEN AND AS A RESULT, MY RIGHT FOOT CONTINUES TO PRESS DOWN ON IT EVEN AFTER I HAVE STARTED APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH THE SAME FOOT. I HAVE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH MY WORKING PARTNER AND A BOAT TRAILER THREE TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH AS WE WERE TRYING TO HOOK UP THE TRAILER TO THE TRUCK. AS I BACKED UP, AND MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL OVER TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE RIGHT EDGE OF MY FOOT WAS STILL PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL WHILE THE LEFT PART OF MY FOOT WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SO BOTH PEDALS WERE BEING PRESSED DOWN AT THE SAME TIME, BUT THE GAS PEDAL DOMINATED AND INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN, THE TRUCK ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. TO AVOID THIS SITUATION, I HAVE TO CONSCIOUSLY MOVE MY FOOT OVER ONTO THE MIDDLE OR LEFT SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH IS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE WITH ANY VEHICLE I HAVE DRIVEN, AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 43 YEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY FORD PICKUP TRUCKS, F-150, F-250, AND F-350, AND THE OLD F-100 AS WELL, PLUS DODGE AND CHEVROLET AND NISSAN AND TOYOTA PICKUP TRUCKS, FULL SIZE AND MID-SIZE AND MINI PICKUPS. I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE, AND MY CO-WORKER HAS NOT EITHER. WE FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THIS SITUATION ONLY OCCURS WHEN BACKING UP TO HITCH UP A BOAT TRAILER, NOT WHEN COMING TO A NORMAL TRAFFIC STOP, SO THE DIFFERENCE LIES IN THE FACT THAT MY FOOT IS MOVING FASTER FROM GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE PEDAL WHEN BACKING UP TO HOOK UP A TRAILER, THAN IT IS WHEN MAKING A NORMAL STOP IN TRAFFIC. BUT I HAVE BACKED UP MANY OTHER PICKUP TRUCKS IN THE PAST TO HOOK UP BOAT TRAILERS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. WE MEASURED THE FORD F-150'S GAS PEDAL WIDTH AND COMPARED IT WITH OTHER PICKUP GAS PEDAL WIDTHS AND THE FORD'S WAS WIDER THAN THE OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267392

2,000 miles · Apr 3, 2009
Power TrainSteering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVESHAFT AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AND FOUR NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR NINE WEEKS, BUT THE FAILURES PERSIST. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIR. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

NHTSA ODI #10264054

Official recalls

1

08V523000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 8, 2008

ROUSH IS RECALLING 213 MY 2007-2008 FORD F-150 TRUCKS ALTERED TO OPERATE USING LIQUID PROPANE INJECTION. THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER AFFIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBOX LID WITH ADHESIVE MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FAILURE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND, IN EXTREME CASES, A STALLING OF THE VEHICLE DURING OPERATION WITHOUT NOTICE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIRBOX LID WITH A NEW ONE THAT INCLUDES THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER WHICH HAS BEEN AFFIXED USING AN ADHESIVE PROMOTER AND GREATER PRESSURE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROUSH AT 1-866-307-6788.

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

1

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.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.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO