NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
57 reportsClear category filter150,365 miles · Mar 3, 2010
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY FORD RANGER, (2001 XLT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN AN ATTEMPT TO WARM UP THE TRUCK AS THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN ACTING UP AS IT WAS NOT SHIFTING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD INTO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRUCK WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING …
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INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING MY FORD RANGER, (2001 XLT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN AN ATTEMPT TO WARM UP THE TRUCK AS THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN ACTING UP AS IT WAS NOT SHIFTING AS WELL AS IT SHOULD INTO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRUCK WAS HAVING TROUBLE GOING PAST 10-15 MPH BEFORE SHIFTING GEARS AND WAS GOING MUCH SLOWER THAN NORMAL. AS I DROVE AROUND THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK TO WARM UP THE TRUCK, IT WAS NOT GOING AS FAST AS NORMAL AND IT WARMED UP IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES. I CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND IT WAS AT A NORMAL LEVEL. I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK AND CHECKED THE OIL WHICH WAS IN THE NORMAL RANGE. I PROCEEDED TO GO TO QT AND GET SOME GAS AND ON MY WAY BACK TO WORK, I WENT TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS ALMOST STOPPED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED REVVING UP AND TOOK OFF AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHILE MY FOOT WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD. I THEN COULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN AT THE NEXT LIGHT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE RIGHT TURN SAFELY. I HAD TO MAKE A U TURN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES AND AFTER PUTTING THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, I HAD TO PUT THE TRUCK INTO NEUTRAL AND CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE I WORK. I THOUGHT MAYBE I HAD HIT THE ACCELERATOR BY ACCIDENT AND HAD A CO-WORKER WATCH AS I CRANKED UP THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE TIRES WERE SPINNING LIKE CRAZY AND THE RPMS WERE WAY UP. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF QUICKLY AS WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE TRUCK WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF AT ANY TIME. MY TRUCK IS PARKED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND I AM SCARED TO GET NEAR THE [XXX] THING. I HAVE A CALL INTO MY MECHANIC NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316276
130,000 miles · Jan 26, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VIOLENTLY AND ACT AS IF IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON BEHIND THE FAILURE. SEV…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VIOLENTLY AND ACT AS IF IT WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE REASON BEHIND THE FAILURE. SEVERAL REPAIRS, UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, TO DATE, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000. UPDATED 02/23/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. UPDATED 08/12/10
NHTSA ODI #10302334
34,554 miles · Aug 9, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control
2001 FORD RANGER SPEED CONTROL DID NOT WORK. BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THE SERVO WAS REPLACED FOR $316.90. SPEED CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH NEVER WORKED, BLINKING THEFT LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY, AND A WIRING ODOR IS NOTICEABLE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF SERVO, THE SPEED CONTROL STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE TRUCK HAS APPRO…
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2001 FORD RANGER SPEED CONTROL DID NOT WORK. BECAUSE MY TRUCK WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, THE SERVO WAS REPLACED FOR $316.90. SPEED CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH NEVER WORKED, BLINKING THEFT LIGHT BLINKS CONSTANTLY, AND A WIRING ODOR IS NOTICEABLE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF SERVO, THE SPEED CONTROL STILL DOES NOT WORK. THE TRUCK HAS APPROX. 34000+ MILES ON IT WHEN IT WENT INTO THE GARAGE FOR THIS WORK. MY QUESTION IS WHY, WITH SO MANY APPARENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THIS TRUCK WAS NOT PUT ON THE RECALL LIST? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279851
91,000 miles · May 4, 2009
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashFireInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT PASSED OUT AND THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS BODY. …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED WITH SMOKE. THE CONTACT PASSED OUT AND THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A HOUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED CUTS AND BRUISES ON HIS BODY. HE WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS A RECALL NOTICE IN 2007 FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, IN WHICH THE DEALER PERFORMED THE REPAIRS. THE FORD MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
NHTSA ODI #10267652
38,000 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES, WHILE DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL EXHILARATED. TRUCK CRASHED INTO TELEPHONE . I HAD THE FORD RANGER 2001 TOWED TO BODY SHOP, MANAGER SAYS IT IS A TOTAL LOSS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230256
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE A FLEET OF FORD RANGER VEHICLES AND 6 WERE RECALLED 05S28. I RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER AUGUST 2007. I WAS ABLE TO REPAIR/FIX 4 OF MY VEHICLES AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE OTHER TWO. LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THEY ARE WAITING FOR PARTS EVERYTIME I CALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10225851
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON HIS OWN AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. SINCE THAT TIME, EIGHT MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND THE PARTS RE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD RANGER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL IN AUGUST OF 2007. HE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL ON HIS OWN AND CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. SINCE THAT TIME, EIGHT MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND THE PARTS REMAIN UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA ODI #10224561
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST 2007 FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ON MY 2001 FORD RANGER PICK-UP TRUCK. THE DEALER DOES STILL NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT A REASONABLE TIME TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THESE PARTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224460
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
IN AUGUST 2007 FORD MOTOR COMPANY ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE 2001 RANGER ON THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I HAVE BEEN IN MONTHLY CONTACT WITH FORD DEALERS IN MY AREA AND THEY ALL CLAIM THEY DO NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN MY MIND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10224398
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2008
Vehicle Speed Control
FORD RECALL #05S28 (CRUISE CONTROL FIRE). I RECEIVED THIS RECALL LAST AUGUST. I'VE BEEN ON A ONGOING WAIT LIST FOR THE PARTS. THE RECALL IS SERIOUS AS EXPLAINED IN THEIR LETTER THAT MY RANGER CAN HAVE A UNDERHOOD FIRE AT ANYTIME AND THEY ADVISE NOT TO PARK IN OR UNDER ANY STRUCTURES. WHY AM I WAITING SO LONG FOR PARTS WHEN I …
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FORD RECALL #05S28 (CRUISE CONTROL FIRE). I RECEIVED THIS RECALL LAST AUGUST. I'VE BEEN ON A ONGOING WAIT LIST FOR THE PARTS. THE RECALL IS SERIOUS AS EXPLAINED IN THEIR LETTER THAT MY RANGER CAN HAVE A UNDERHOOD FIRE AT ANYTIME AND THEY ADVISE NOT TO PARK IN OR UNDER ANY STRUCTURES. WHY AM I WAITING SO LONG FOR PARTS WHEN I COULD GO UP INFLAMES (THEIR DESCRIPTION AS THE LETTER READS. THANK YOU; RTNYE *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222668
Official recalls
4Oct 13, 2009
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Aug 3, 2007
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Jul 16, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND MINIVANS. EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS SUPPLIED BY TRW. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE DRIVER'S AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER'S OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE MAY NOT FULLY LATCH. FORD CROWN VICTORIA BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/29/01 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS BUILT AT ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/29/01. LINCOLN TOWN CARS BUILT AT WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 3/27/00 - 5/30/01. LINCOLN NAVIGATORS BUILT AT MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 4/11/00 - 5/31/01. FORD WINDSTARS BUILT AT OAKVILLE ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM 3/23/00 - 5/30/01. FORD RANGERS BUILT AT TWIN CITIES PLANT FROM 3/28/00 - 5/30/01, AND ALSO AT THE EDISON PLANT FROM 3/13/00 - 5/25/01. FORD F-150 TRUCK BUILT AT NORFOLK PLANT FROM 4/18/00 - 5/25/00; AT ONTARIO PLANT FROM 5/10/00 - 5/28/01; AT KANSAS CITY PLANT FROM 9/11/99 - 5/25/01; AND AT CUAUTITLAN PLANT FROM 5/16/00 - 6/9/01. FORD SUPER DUTY F-250, F-350, F-450, AND F-550 TRUCKS BUILT AT KENTUCKY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 5/27/01; AND AT CUAUTITLAN PLANT FROM 5/16/00 - 6/19/01. FORD EXCURSIONS BUILT AT KENTUCKY PLANT FROM 4/17/00 - 10/2/00. FORD EXPEDITIONS BUILT AT MICHIGAN TRUCK PLANT FROM 4/11/00 - 5/31/01.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM MAY NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE OCCUPANT PROTECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLES AND IF THE BUCKLE FAILS THE INSPECTION PROCESS, IT WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 25, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Nov 28, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH STEEL HOODS AND CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SHEET MOLDING COMPOUND HOODS. A WIRE FORMED HOOD STRIKER COULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FATIGUE FRACTURES. IF THE HOOD STRIKER FRACTURES, THE HOOD COULD FLY OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A HOOD FLY-UP WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED COULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD STRIKER.
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
2EA05004 · Front Seat Belt Buckle Assembly
Opened Feb 17, 2005 · Closed Jul 6, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts; Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. 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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. 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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. 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 RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
RQ04011 · Front Seat Belt Buckle Assembly
Opened Oct 22, 2004 · Closed Feb 17, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN (01V227), FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE.APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION OWNERS RESPONDED BY TAKING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE BUCKLE USING A SPECIALIZED BUCKLE TEST TOOL.FORD REPORTED THAT 829,927 VEHICLES HAD BOTH BUCKLES PASS THE TOOL TEST AND ANOTHER 167,336 VEHICLES HAD ONE BUCKLE PASS.ODI AND FORD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ALLEGING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE ORIGINAL RECALL INSPECTION SERVICE.COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THAT THE BUCKLE FAILED BY EITHER NOT LATCHING OR FALSE-LATCHING (PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH TO THE LATCH PLATE).A FALSE-LATCHED BUCKLE MAY RELEASE WITH MINOR MOVEMENT OR IMPACT AGAINST THE BUCKLE HOUSING INCLUDING INADVERTENT RELEASE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS RECALL QUERY TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-004) TO FURTHER ANALYZE THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT FORD DEALERS PASSED (ONE OR BOTH BUCKLES) USING FORD'S INSPECTION TEST (997,263 VEHICLES).
Illustration