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2007 Ford Freestyle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Freestyle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 893.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

809 reports with mileage · 84 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 428 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 360 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

27 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

428 reports
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247,000 miles · Oct 14, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 3 DAYS AND IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON CITY STREETS DRIVING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH. TWO DIFFERENT TOWNS TWO DIFFERENT HILLS. THE FIRST WAS A FREEWAY OVERPASS AND THE SECOND WAS JUST A STREET ON A HILL. TODAY …

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WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. I HAVE HAD THE CAR 3 DAYS AND IT HAS DONE THIS TWICE. BOTH TIMES I WAS ON CITY STREETS DRIVING UP A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH. TWO DIFFERENT TOWNS TWO DIFFERENT HILLS. THE FIRST WAS A FREEWAY OVERPASS AND THE SECOND WAS JUST A STREET ON A HILL. TODAY I HAD JUST PULLED OUT FROM A STOP SIGN AND WAS ACCELERATING UP THE HILL BETWEEN 20-30 MPH IT LURCHED/SURGED AGAIN!

NHTSA ODI #11364372

139,000 miles · Aug 14, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control

MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS LUNGING WHEN I AM STOPPED AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THIS COULD EASILY CAUSED OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OR EVEN BODILY INJURY SHOULD SOMEONE BE WALKING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. THE LUNGING SEEM…

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MY 2007 FORD FREESTYLE IS LUNGING WHEN I AM STOPPED AND TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE PEDAL. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THIS COULD EASILY CAUSED OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE OR EVEN BODILY INJURY SHOULD SOMEONE BE WALKING IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I SEE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. THE LUNGING SEEMS WORSE WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND CAR AC IS ON. IF VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO IDLE IN HOT WEATHER FOR MORE THAN 5-10 MINUTES THE WRENCH LIGHT WILL GENERALLY COME OUT AND ENGINE WILL DIE. AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR WHICH WOULD NOT BE THE FAULT OF THE DRIVER.

NHTSA ODI #11349302

134,000 miles · Jul 29, 2020
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WELL I NOTICED THIS ISSUE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN JULY OF 2019 WITH 123,000 MILES. WHENEVER I GO TO PARK OR REVERSE WITH THE A/C ON OR ANYTHING MY CAR LUNGES WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE ACCELERATION AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES NOT TO HIT ANYTHING. AND TODAY I REVERSED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND IT LUNG…

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WELL I NOTICED THIS ISSUE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK IN JULY OF 2019 WITH 123,000 MILES. WHENEVER I GO TO PARK OR REVERSE WITH THE A/C ON OR ANYTHING MY CAR LUNGES WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE ACCELERATION AND I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES NOT TO HIT ANYTHING. AND TODAY I REVERSED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AND IT LUNGES AS USUAL AND WHEN I STARTED DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD A WRENCH LIGHT FLASHED ON AND I WASN'T GETTING AS MUCH ACCELERATION AS USUAL. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR. IT JUST SCARES ME WITH IT LUNGING AND SPEEDING UP ON ITS OWN IN DRIVE THRUS, PARKING LOTS/SPOTS, AND SIMPLY WHEN I'M SITTING AND TURN MY WHEEL JUST A LITTLE BIT IT DECIDES IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS ON! ALL THIS HAPPENED MOSTLY WHEN I JUST START DRIVING, OR PULLING IN SOMEWHERE OR REVERSING, AND SOMETIMES WHEN I'M STATIONARY AT A DRIVE THRU.

NHTSA ODI #11341970

161,000 miles · Dec 10, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE POWER TRAIN AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPUTE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND THE POWER TRAIN AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY AND BODY CONTROL MODULE WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: PE11018 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 161,000.

NHTSA ODI #11288262

126,000 miles · May 14, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE R…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ODI #11093795

60,000 miles · Sep 7, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

MY CAR RANDOMLY SURGES. THIS USUALY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE CAR IS AT OR CLOSE TO IDLE. THE CAR WILL SUGRE LIKE THE GASS IS BEING PRESSED BUT IT IS DEFINETLY NOT. IT ALSO SURGES RANDOMLY WHEN SHIFTED INTO DIFFERENT GEARS PARK,REVERSE,NEUTRAL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS INPREDICTABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11022224

160,000 miles · Aug 26, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

MY FREESTYLE ACCELERATORS/ LUNGES FORWARD FOR "NO REASON" WHEN I'M PUSHING ON BRAKE TO PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT GROCERY STORE, WAL-MARY ETC. LAST TUESDAY WAS THE SCARIEST. I WAS WITH MY MOM DRIVING TO THE BANK AND AS I WAS PARKING IT ACCELERATED MUCH MORE THAN IT NORMALLY DOES. WE HOPPED THE CURB AND ALMOST CRAS…

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MY FREESTYLE ACCELERATORS/ LUNGES FORWARD FOR "NO REASON" WHEN I'M PUSHING ON BRAKE TO PARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES AT GROCERY STORE, WAL-MARY ETC. LAST TUESDAY WAS THE SCARIEST. I WAS WITH MY MOM DRIVING TO THE BANK AND AS I WAS PARKING IT ACCELERATED MUCH MORE THAN IT NORMALLY DOES. WE HOPPED THE CURB AND ALMOST CRASHED INTO THE BANK WALL. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE! I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL MECHANICS WHO HAVE NO CLUE AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WENT IMMEDIATELY TO SEEN ANOTHER RECOMMEND SEASONED MECHANIC WHO SAID HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE AND SAW NOTHING WRONG. I'M SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAT OR EVEN PARK IT. I ONLY PARK AWAY FROM OTHER CARS NOW. IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN FRONT OF MY CAT AT THE BANK, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND SAW OTHER PEOPLE HAD REPORTED THE SAME THING AND I'M HOPING THAT YOU GUYS CAN TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUE WAS SINCE THERE WERE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11019887

134,000 miles · Aug 5, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR IS SELF ACCELERATING!! IT IS VERY SCARY. IT DOES IT WHEN I AM ON DRIVE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP OR WHEN I HAVE BEEN PARKED AND TRY TO BACKUP SLOWLY TO MOVE IN REVERSE. IT THEREFORE, HAPPENS MOSTLY AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, AND IN PARKING LOTS. I AM TERRIFIED THE CAR WILL RUN OVER A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET OR …

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THE CAR IS SELF ACCELERATING!! IT IS VERY SCARY. IT DOES IT WHEN I AM ON DRIVE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP OR WHEN I HAVE BEEN PARKED AND TRY TO BACKUP SLOWLY TO MOVE IN REVERSE. IT THEREFORE, HAPPENS MOSTLY AT RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, AND IN PARKING LOTS. I AM TERRIFIED THE CAR WILL RUN OVER A PERSON CROSSING THE STREET OR WALKING BEHIND MY CAR IN A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE CAR SELF ACCELERATES, IT DOES IT SUDDENLY AND FORCEFULLY. IN THAT SPLIT SECOND I SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID RUNNING OVER A CROSSING PEDESTRIAN OR WINDING UP AT CROSSROADS AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR SHAKES AND DIES. I HAVE TO QUICKLY RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. THIS CONSTANT DYING AND RESTARTING OF THE CAR AT RED LIGHTS AND PARKING LOTS HAD DRAINED MY BATTERY. THIS EXACT SELF ACCELERATING PROBLEM HAPPENED IN 2011. IT WAS "FIXED" AT THE MAXWELL FORD DEALERSHIP IN 5000 SOUTH I-35 78745. THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE. I HAD A NEW AC COMPRESSOR PUT IN RECENTLY AND SUDDENLY THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. THE LAST FOUR YEARS THE AC HAS NOT WORKED WELL. I WONDER IF THERE IS A A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE PROPER FUNCTIONALITY OF BOTH PARTS - THE THROTTLE AND THE AC. I AM DESPERATE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN, AND OF COURSE AT NO EXPENSE OF MINE SINCE IT HAS BEEN OBVIOUSLY A CONTINUOUS FACTORY/DESIGN DEFECT. PLEASE HELP, I HAVE LESS THAN $200 IN MY ACCOUNT AND I DEPEND ON MY CAR FOR MY LIVELIHOOD.

NHTSA ODI #11013029

98,897 miles · Jul 5, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED BELOW 30 MPH INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE POWERTRAIN WARNING SENOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED BELOW 30 MPH INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE POWERTRAIN WARNING SENOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HERTRICH FORD-LINCOLN DEALER OF MILFORD LOCATED ON 1427 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE, 19963 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT MULTIPLE ERROR CODES INTERNALLY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD RECORD THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT WERE AWARE OF THE HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,897.

NHTSA ODI #11003017

169,000 miles · May 2, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD REA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE SURGED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD REACHED THE 10 YEAR WARRANTY AND NO ASSISTANCE WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 169,000.

NHTSA ODI #10983054

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

PE11018 · Idle Instability

Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control

On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in

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