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2008 Ford Taurus X

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

137 reports with mileage · 16 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 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports4 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

41 reports
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62,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

(MY WIFE) DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED (JUMPED) AND THEN DROPPED IN SPEED DRAMATICALLY. COASTED OFF INTERSTATE ONTO EXIT AND WAITED FOR WRENCH LIGHT TO GO OFF AND THEN MADE IT HOME (CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20MPH). WE CALLED ABOUT HAVING IT CHECKED BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE WRENCH LIG…

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(MY WIFE) DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY, CAR VIOLENTLY JERKED (JUMPED) AND THEN DROPPED IN SPEED DRAMATICALLY. COASTED OFF INTERSTATE ONTO EXIT AND WAITED FOR WRENCH LIGHT TO GO OFF AND THEN MADE IT HOME (CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20MPH). WE CALLED ABOUT HAVING IT CHECKED BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED TO HAVE THE WRENCH LIGHT ON IN ORDER TO READ ANYTHING ON IT. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW OTHER TIMES AND MOST RECENT AS TODAY (7/29/14) WITH THE CAR NOT WANTING TO ACCELERATE. PRIOR TO THIS, MY SON FELT THE JERK AND THOUGHT A TIRE BLEW. IT WILL NOT ACCELERATE SO YOU WANT TO HIT GAS PEDAL MORE AND IT WILL SUDDENLY JUMP (ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN). THIS IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS TAKEN CARE OF QUICKLY BEFORE A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT HAPPENS. GOD BLESS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10617142

33,500 miles · Jul 8, 2014
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED (OVER-REV'ED AND THEN WOULD NOT FUNCTION) AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. DUE TO BEING ON THE ROAD, HAD TO HAVE REPLACED BY A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS NOW EXHIBITING THE SAME SYSTEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT 45,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE $3,500 IN…

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TRANSMISSION FAILED (OVER-REV'ED AND THEN WOULD NOT FUNCTION) AND REQUIRED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT. DUE TO BEING ON THE ROAD, HAD TO HAVE REPLACED BY A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY. THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION IS NOW EXHIBITING THE SAME SYSTEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AT 45,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT HONOR OR REIMBURSE FOR THE $3,500 IN REPAIRS. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608856

78,000 miles · Nov 15, 2013
Power Train

LESS THAN 80K MILES, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE IT LOST FIRST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP NOW TELLS ME THAT THIS LESS THAN 5 YEAR OLD CAR NEEDS A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $5,000. I UNDERSTAND THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS FAIRLY COMMON. UNBELIEVABLE THAT FORD ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10552514

101,560 miles · Aug 8, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,560. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534201

48,147 miles · Jul 26, 2013
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY FORD STARTED TO "SLIP" AT 48,000 MILES. NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE TRANSMISSION JUST "STUCK" - STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH THESE TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD. THREE MORE TIMES AFTER THAT I HAD SIMILAR SITUATION. TRIED TO PULL…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY FORD STARTED TO "SLIP" AT 48,000 MILES. NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AS I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE TRANSMISSION JUST "STUCK" - STEPPED ON GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WITH THESE TRANSMISSION IN THE FORD. THREE MORE TIMES AFTER THAT I HAD SIMILAR SITUATION. TRIED TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND THERE WAS NO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. THIRD TIME THE TRANSMISSION JUST STOPPED OPERATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - NO ABILITY TO MOVE AT ALL. FORD, EVEN WHILE THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE. CONTINUED TO SAY IT WAS A "CODE ISSUE." UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED, THEN IT BECAME A TRANSMISSION ISSUE. VERY UNSAFE. VERY CONCERNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10531996

98,000 miles · May 18, 2013
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY- I NOTICED THAT STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED PRIOR TO INSERTING KEY. INSERTED KEY, TURNED TO START AND NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION. KEPT TURNING STEERING COLUMN AND DECIDED TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES. I RETURNED TO PARK-ING THE CAR AND REMOVED THE KEY. INITIALLY, STEERING COLU…

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BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY- I NOTICED THAT STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED PRIOR TO INSERTING KEY. INSERTED KEY, TURNED TO START AND NO RESPONSE FROM IGNITION. KEPT TURNING STEERING COLUMN AND DECIDED TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO DRIVE SEVERAL TIMES. I RETURNED TO PARK-ING THE CAR AND REMOVED THE KEY. INITIALLY, STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT LOCKED, THEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES AND THEN THE COLUMN LOCKED. TURNED THE KEY AND THE IGNITION HESITATED- THE DIALS WERE JUMPING. AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS THE ENGINE TURNED OVER AND DIALS WENT TO NORMAL. I COMMENCED TO BACK OUT OF DRIVEWAY- THE ENGINE RPM JUMPED, FAR MORE THEN WHAT I WAS APPLYING ACCELERATION FOR AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS HESITANT ( CLUNKING WAS AUDIBLE). THE VEHICLE REVERSED TOO RAPIDLY AND I APPLIED QUITE A BIT OF BRAKE TO STOP- I SHIFTED TO DRIVE AND AGAIN I COULD HEAR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HESITATED TO GO FORWARD ( TRANSMISSION WAS CLUNKING), JERKING FORWARD AND SLOWING DOWN AND THE ENGINE RPM WAS ERRATIC. I PULLED TO THE SIDE AND PLACED CAR IN NEUTRAL; WAITED A MINUTE WHICH DURING THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE RPM WENT TO NORMAL. OK, I PLACED GEAR IN DRIVE AND VEHICLE RESPONDED NORMALLY. HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF SOME OF THE ABOVE DESCRIBED EVENTS HAPPENING SINCE ORIGINAL OCCURRENCE. AT THIS MOMENT, STEERING COLUMN IS NOT LOCKED WITH THE KEY REMOVED AND WHEN TURNING CAR TO START THE IGNITION IS JUST TURNING OVER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512645

18,811 miles · Mar 9, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND LOSS OF POWER WITH HIGHER RPM AND A MAX SPEED OF ABOUT 20 MPH- REPLACED SPEED SENSORS TSS & OSS . SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN 11,518 MILES LATER REPLACING THE SAME PARTS WHICH FORD OR DEALER WOULD NOT COVER AT A COST OF $593.00. TSB 07-21-11 REPLACING WITH PARTS AA5Z-7H103 AND AA5Z-7M101 ON BOT…

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HARSH TRANSMISSION ENGAGEMENT AND LOSS OF POWER WITH HIGHER RPM AND A MAX SPEED OF ABOUT 20 MPH- REPLACED SPEED SENSORS TSS & OSS . SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN 11,518 MILES LATER REPLACING THE SAME PARTS WHICH FORD OR DEALER WOULD NOT COVER AT A COST OF $593.00. TSB 07-21-11 REPLACING WITH PARTS AA5Z-7H103 AND AA5Z-7M101 ON BOTH OCCASIONS OF FAILURE. HAD TO LIMP HOME BOTH TIMES FOR MANY MILES. WIFE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE FORD DOESN'T STAND BEHIND A PROBLEM LIKE THIS WHEN IT HAS A TSB AND A MULTITUDE OF THE SAME REPORTED PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10502961

38,475 miles · Feb 1, 2013
Power TrainSteeringSuspension

CAR HAS A TENDANCY TO DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE TRAVELING. MORE PRONUNCED DRIFT WHILE STOPPING. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. DEALER INSPECTION INDICATES GEARS IN GEAR BOX ARE LOOSE AND GEAR BOX NEEDS REPLACING AND VEHICLE NEEDS ALIGNMENT. SECOND SET OF FRONT TIRES ARE WORN DOWN TO WEAR BAR AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES. COST FOR GEAR BOX REPL…

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CAR HAS A TENDANCY TO DRIFT RIGHT OR LEFT WHILE TRAVELING. MORE PRONUNCED DRIFT WHILE STOPPING. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. DEALER INSPECTION INDICATES GEARS IN GEAR BOX ARE LOOSE AND GEAR BOX NEEDS REPLACING AND VEHICLE NEEDS ALIGNMENT. SECOND SET OF FRONT TIRES ARE WORN DOWN TO WEAR BAR AFTER ONLY 13,000 MILES. COST FOR GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT AND FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT IS $900. DEALER STATED NO RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS FOR STEERING/GEAR PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496078

12,197 miles · Dec 30, 2012
Power Train

FIRST OCCASION WAS WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE WAS PARKING AND THE CAR SURGED. IT HAPPENED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCASIONS AND ON 12/17/2010 FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND AIR INTAKE. THEN ON 2-03-2012 AND 12-10-2012 CAR SURGED AGAIN. FORD DEALER SHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. ON 12-10-2012THE CAR WAS COMING TO…

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FIRST OCCASION WAS WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE WAS PARKING AND THE CAR SURGED. IT HAPPENED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCASIONS AND ON 12/17/2010 FORD REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND AIR INTAKE. THEN ON 2-03-2012 AND 12-10-2012 CAR SURGED AGAIN. FORD DEALER SHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND CAUSE. ON 12-10-2012THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SURGE REACH AROUND 4000 RPM, I PUSHED THE BRAKE AND IT CONTINUED TO SURGE AND I HAD TO PUT IN IT IN NEUTRAL TO STOP IT FROM LUNGING INTO THE INTERSECTION. IT CONTINUED TO SURGE AS I PUT IT INTO GEAR AND MOVED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. IT THEN STOPPED SURGING AND BEHAVED NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. I HAS SINCE SURGED AGAIN WHILE STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10490486

54,000 miles · Jun 15, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM MILWAUKEE WI, TO OSHKOSH, WI. AFTER DRIVING AROUND AN HOUR AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND RPM WENT UP TOO. TOOK CAR OFF OF CRUISE CONTROL AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE CAR DID IT AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD 'THUNK' NOISE. IMMED…

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM MILWAUKEE WI, TO OSHKOSH, WI. AFTER DRIVING AROUND AN HOUR AT FREEWAY SPEED WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70, CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND RPM WENT UP TOO. TOOK CAR OFF OF CRUISE CONTROL AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE CAR DID IT AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, ACCOMPANIED BY A LOUD 'THUNK' NOISE. IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF FREEWAY, TURNED OFF CAR AND WAITED TILL DRIVING AGAIN. PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR THEN. BUT HAPPENED AGAIN NEXT DAY ON WAY HOME. SINCE THEN IT HAS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. GENERALLY ONLY HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AFTER DRIVING ABOUT AN HOUR TO HOUR AND A HALF. WE DO NOT USE CRUISE CONTROL ANY MORE, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS ON EVERY LONG TRIP. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND CONTACTED FORD. THEY DON'T SEE ANY SERVICE CODES SO NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10461856

Official recalls

1

16V247000 · Air Bags:frontal

Apr 26, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver's frontal air bag module, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on June 13, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16C06.

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