TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, AS IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE BOD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER, SHUT OFF AND THEN RESTARTED, AS IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,300. UPDATED 1/17/13 *CN
NHTSA ODI #10488792
64,000 miles · Jul 27, 2010
EquipmentVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD SIMILAR TO A WRENCH. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWAR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD SIMILAR TO A WRENCH. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO HESITATE AND JERK EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE PERSISTED WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 64,000.
NHTSA ODI #10345609
88,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXHIBITED AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE AT AN IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS TWO LANES WITH CAUTION ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXHIBITED AN EXTREMELY SLOW RESPONSE AT AN IDLE SPEED. THERE WAS A NINETY PERCENT LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT DROVE ACROSS TWO LANES WITH CAUTION ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES WITHIN THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
NHTSA ODI #10344260
66,400 miles · Jun 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-65 MPH), WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE HAS TWICE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, THOUGH IT REMAINED RUNNING AT IDLE SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR SEEMED AS IF IT HAD TURNED OFF, THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER PULLING OVER, WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, …
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60-65 MPH), WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE HAS TWICE LOST ALL ENGINE POWER, THOUGH IT REMAINED RUNNING AT IDLE SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR SEEMED AS IF IT HAD TURNED OFF, THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED. AFTER PULLING OVER, WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOTHING...IT REMAINED AT IDLE SPEED. A DASH LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING A THROTTLE SENSOR FAULT. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE WORKING FINE. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS, THOUGH THIS TIME WAS IN HEAVIER TRAFFIC ON A MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY. IT WAS DIFFICULT, NOT TO MENTION DANGEROUS, TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO PULL OVER. *TR
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ASSEMBLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG FROM PROPERLY DEPLOYING AND REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE YOUR DRIVER AIR BAG MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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
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