IllustrationMANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE RADIATOR FOR A TWO YEAR OLD F-250 SUPER DUTY. THE DEFECT IS ON THE SEAM OF THE RADIATOR. *TR
2008 Ford F-250 Sd
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-250 Sd do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 89.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F-250 Sd years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
390–25K
3325–50K
2050–75K
775–100K
18100–150K
10150K+
127 reports with mileage · 14 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.
- Steering. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
141 reportsI ORDERED A 2008 F-250 SUPER DUTY LARIAT CREW CAB IN MARCH 2008 AND TOOK DELIVERY IN LATE APRIL 2008. WHEN TRYING TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT IN THE INBOARD REAR SEAT. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE' FOR THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AS THE …
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I ORDERED A 2008 F-250 SUPER DUTY LARIAT CREW CAB IN MARCH 2008 AND TOOK DELIVERY IN LATE APRIL 2008. WHEN TRYING TO INSTALL A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, I REALIZED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEATBELT IN THE INBOARD REAR SEAT. IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE' FOR THE CORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT AS THE TWO OUTBOARD REAR SEATS AND THE OUTBOARD PASSENGER SEAT DID. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE INBOARD REAR SEATBELT ONLY TO FIND THAT ONE DIDN'T WORK EITHER. UPON CLOSE EXAMINATION OF MY OWNER'S MANUAL I FOUND THAT IT SAID THAT ONLY THE OUTBOARD REAR SEATS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HAD SEATBELTS WITH AN 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE.' THE TECH SERVICE LINE TOLD MY DEALER THAT THE REAR INBOARD SEAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE AN 'AUTOMATIC LOCKING MODE' AND LEO FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THE SAME. FORD WAS FORCED TO CHANGE FROM A 'TYPE 1 LAP BELT' IN THE REAR INBOARD SEAT TO A 'TYPE 2 INTEGRAL LAP/SHOULDER BELT' BECAUSE OF 'ANTON'S LAW,' WHICH WAS SIGNED DECEMBER 4, 2002. ONE OF THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR THIS LAW WAS THE 'INCREASED PROTECTION THAT CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF FOUR AND EIGHT GAIN BY HAVING A LAP/SHOULDER BELT MADE AVAILABLE IN REAR INBOARD SEATING POSITIONS. WHEN THESE TYPE 2 BELTS ARE INSTALLED IN THE REAR INBOARD SEATING POSITION, THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL, AND POTENTIALLY SAFER, SEATING POSITION AVAILABLE FOR A CHILD IN A BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTER SEAT.' *TR
MY DAUGHTER AND HER FIANCE WERE INVOLVED IN A WRECK. HIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK FLIPPED END OVER END. THEY WERE VERY BADLY INJURED. THE DRIVER AIR BAG NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS NECK WAS BROKEN BY THE STEERING WHEEL OR DASH AND SHE RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND HAD TO GET STITCHES, ALONG WITH …
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MY DAUGHTER AND HER FIANCE WERE INVOLVED IN A WRECK. HIS 2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK FLIPPED END OVER END. THEY WERE VERY BADLY INJURED. THE DRIVER AIR BAG NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. HIS NECK WAS BROKEN BY THE STEERING WHEEL OR DASH AND SHE RECEIVED INJURIES TO HER FACE AND HAD TO GET STITCHES, ALONG WITH OTHER INJURIES. WE SAW A FORD F-150 A FEW DAYS LATER WITH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS A DEFECT IN HIS PICKUP AND WHAT CAN WE DO. *TR
DETAILS: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, . ALL OF THE GAUGES DISPLAYED ZERO. THE VEHICLE WOULD OPERATE, BUT NOTHING WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *TR
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2008 FORD F250, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN BRAKING AS THEY SHOULD BUT WOULD NOT RELEASE WITHOUT REMOVING THE BUCKLE TO RESET THEM. BUMPS OFTEN SET OFF THE LOCKING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD OFFERED NO FIX. WHEN THE S…
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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2008 FORD F250, I NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WOULD LOCK INTO PLACE WHEN BRAKING AS THEY SHOULD BUT WOULD NOT RELEASE WITHOUT REMOVING THE BUCKLE TO RESET THEM. BUMPS OFTEN SET OFF THE LOCKING. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD OFFERED NO FIX. WHEN THE SEAT BELT LOCKS, I AM UNABLE TO REACH FORWARD TO ACCESS CONTROLS OR TURN WELL ENOUGH TO SEE WHEN CHANGING LANES UNTIL I UNLATCH AND RESNAP THE BUCKLE. *TR
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE APPLYING FOOT BRAKE PEDAL, FOOT ALSO DEPRESSES GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN HAVING TO STOP QUICKLY. CONDITION INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. CONDITION IS BAD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND MUCH MORE SO WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SELLING DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER IN TEXAS SAID THERE IS NO A…
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE APPLYING FOOT BRAKE PEDAL, FOOT ALSO DEPRESSES GAS PEDAL. THIS OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN HAVING TO STOP QUICKLY. CONDITION INCREASES STOPPING DISTANCE. CONDITION IS BAD WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AND MUCH MORE SO WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SELLING DEALER AND ANOTHER DEALER IN TEXAS SAID THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT. IN MY OPINION THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN FALL 2007- WITH ZERO MILES. APPX. 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TRUCKS CAB RUBBED THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS INTO..CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND DAMAGES. TRUCK WAS UN-ABLE TO BE DRIVEN OR USED FOR APPX. 2 WEEKS, DUE TO REPAIRS. PROBLEM WITH WIRING HARNESS FIXED UNT…
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2008 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN FALL 2007- WITH ZERO MILES. APPX. 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE, TRUCKS CAB RUBBED THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESS INTO..CAUSING THE TRUCK TO HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND DAMAGES. TRUCK WAS UN-ABLE TO BE DRIVEN OR USED FOR APPX. 2 WEEKS, DUE TO REPAIRS. PROBLEM WITH WIRING HARNESS FIXED UNTIL APPX. 4 MONTHS AGO, WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, TRUCK SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULD NOT START BACK. HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TIME TRUCK IS DRIVEN.... VERY DANGEROUS! STILL CONTINUING TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING....ALONG WITH OTHER PROBLEMS THESE ARE JUST TWO MAJOR ONES TO MENTION.... *TR
IN HOT TEMPERATURE THE TRUCK STARTS BLOWING OUT WHITE/GRAY SMOKE THEN QUITS RUNNING. SET FOR 1 TO 1.5 HRS IT WILL START AND GO ABOUT 30 TO 40 MILES THEN QUIT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT SAYS THAT IT IS AN OVER TEMPERTURE MODULE BUT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME …
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IN HOT TEMPERATURE THE TRUCK STARTS BLOWING OUT WHITE/GRAY SMOKE THEN QUITS RUNNING. SET FOR 1 TO 1.5 HRS IT WILL START AND GO ABOUT 30 TO 40 MILES THEN QUIT AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 2 TIMES NOW AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. IT SAYS THAT IT IS AN OVER TEMPERTURE MODULE BUT IT HAS BEEN CHANGED AND IT STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE RPM' S HAD INCREASED TO 4,000. HE SHUT OFF…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE ON THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. HE DROVE APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER AND APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED THAT THE RPM' S HAD INCREASED TO 4,000. HE SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT, BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. HE SHUT THE VEHICLE BACK OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. HE DROVE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH A NEW ONE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED THE VERY NEXT DAY AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AGAIN ON MAY 30, 2008. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION AND GET BACK TO HIM WITH THE RESULTS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6.
I HAVE HAD MANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY 6.4 DIESEL FROM LOSS OF ENGINE POWER , TO LACK OF POWER , WHITE /GRAYISH SMOKE, HESITATION , ENGINE ALMOST DYING TO ACCELERATION AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I EVEN HAD AN OCCASIONAL ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, GURGLING SOUNDS , WHOOPING SOUNDS AND GRINDING ,METALLIC SOUNDS COMING FROM MY ENG…
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I HAVE HAD MANY ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH MY 6.4 DIESEL FROM LOSS OF ENGINE POWER , TO LACK OF POWER , WHITE /GRAYISH SMOKE, HESITATION , ENGINE ALMOST DYING TO ACCELERATION AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, I EVEN HAD AN OCCASIONAL ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, GURGLING SOUNDS , WHOOPING SOUNDS AND GRINDING ,METALLIC SOUNDS COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS THAT IF THERE IS NO ENGINE LIGHT THERE IS NO CODE IF THERE IS NO CODE THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRUCK WAS PROBABLY GOING THROUGH IT'S REGEN PROCESS AND THAT THE TRUCK WILL PERFORM POORLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I NOW HAVE 9000 MILES ON MY TRUCK THIS STARTED AROUND 1000 MILES AND I'M STILL HAVING ISSUES. I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIPS , ALONG WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY WHO NOW KNOW I HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE13014 · Alleged Loss Of Steering
Opened May 7, 2013 · Closed Jan 31, 2014
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.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 monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.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 monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww
Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
The Office of DefectsInvestigation (ODI) opened PE13-014 after identifying five complaints alleging steering gear failure in model year (MY) 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pick-up trucks and to evaluate the relationship between the design history of the steering gear assembly and the alleged defect.As background, ODI investigated steering gear sector shaft fractures in approximately 1.3 million MY 1999 - 2001 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks and MY 2000 - 2001 Ford Excursion sport utility vehicles in Engineering Analysis EA01-009.The investigation determined that the sector shaft failures were the result of extraordinary, possibly multiple, impacts and not the result of fatigue.No defect in design, manufacturing or materials was identified in the sector shaft.EA01-009 was closed August 19, 2003 with 169 complaints, resulting in a rate of 12.9 incidents per 100,000 vehicles after approximately one year of service.Ford increased the diameter of the sector shaft from 1.375 inches to 1.625 inches at the start of MY 2005 production, increasing the resistance of the steering gear assembly to torsional overload by approximately 48% and changing the failure mode from sector shaft fracture to cracked or broken sector shaft gear teeth.The redesigned steering gear assembly was used in approximately 1.1 million MY 2005 through 2009 Ford Super Duty pick-up trucks, including the subject vehicles.Figure 1 shows the basic steering system design used in Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009 and PE13-014. Figure 2 shows the locations of failures resulting from impact related torsional overloading of the sector shaft for the subject vehicles and the prior generation Ford Super Duty trucks investigated in EA01-009.Figure 3 shows an example of a failed sector shaft investigated in EA01-009 and comparisons of fracture surfaces of sector shafts failing from fatigue loading and from torsional overload.Ford provided field return part analysis of failed steering gears from MY 2005 through 2009 Super Duty trucks found evidence of broken sector shaft gear teeth and piston damage consistent with incidents of single event overload (Figure 4).Laboratory analysis found no evidence of fatigue or material property defects in any of the fractures.Analysis of complaint rates by vehicle build month showed no patterns indicating potential manufacturing quality issues and no difference before and after Ford introduced design changes to the input shaft and sector shaft seals in July 2007 to address potential leak concerns (Figure 5).Analysis of failures by time in service indicates a random failure pattern/distribution, consistent with incidents of impact induced overload (Figure 6). The complaint rate for the subject vehicles after approximately 5 to 6 years, 7.1 incidents per 100,000 vehicles, is lower than the rate observed in EA01-009. Furthermore, similar to the condition investigated in EA01-009, a number of incident records include evidence of impact loads (e.g., curb strikes) and several alleged crashes include incidents in which information suggests that the steering gear failure was most likely a result of crash forces, rather than the cause of the crash.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.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 monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at ww