NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
66 reportsClear category filter95,525 miles · Apr 19, 2017
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING WENT TO PULL OUT FROM RED LIGHT AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. FINALLY PUMPED GAS PEDAL AND MANAGED TO GET CAR TO GO FORWARD. CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO EMPTY PARKING LOT SO ROLL BACK COULD PICK ME UP. HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING WENT TO PULL OUT FROM RED LIGHT AND CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. FINALLY PUMPED GAS PEDAL AND MANAGED TO GET CAR TO GO FORWARD. CONTINUED TO DO THIS UNTIL WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. WAS ABLE TO GET TO EMPTY PARKING LOT SO ROLL BACK COULD PICK ME UP. HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE. TRUCK ONLY HAS 95,724 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT USED. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANY RECALLS HAD BEEN ISSUED ON THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #10979300
133,500 miles · Mar 29, 2017
Electrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT CHIMES AND DISPLAYS TO "SAFELY STOP VEHICLE". THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES AND SLOWS TO A STOP EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF TO. I NORMALLY JUST HIT MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULL TO A STOP, WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH AND …
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A HIGHWAY, THE WARNING LIGHT CHIMES AND DISPLAYS TO "SAFELY STOP VEHICLE". THE CAR NO LONGER ACCELERATES AND SLOWS TO A STOP EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SHOULDER TO PULL OFF TO. I NORMALLY JUST HIT MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULL TO A STOP, WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPEN ONCE A MONTH AND SOMETIMES TWICE OR THREE TIMES IN A ROW. IF THE HYBRID ELECTRONICS SYSTEM OVERHEATS, IT MAY SHUT DOWN THE POWERTRAIN, RESULTING IN A STALL-LIKE CONDITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM #14S19. CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE ISN'T A PART OF IT EVEN THOUGH IT CLEARLY WAS BUILT IN THE SAME TIME AND HAS THE EXACT ISSUE. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10969279
262,000 miles · Feb 15, 2017
Power Train
WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON MY WAY TO MEIJER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A STOP LIGHT WHERE I PUT IT INTO PARK. WHEN I TOOK OFF FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT EVERYTHING WAS OK, WENT TO MEIJER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WENT SHOPPING & WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN EVEYTHING SE…
Read full complaint
WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC ON MY WAY TO MEIJER THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A STOP LIGHT WHERE I PUT IT INTO PARK. WHEN I TOOK OFF FROM THE TRAFFIC LIGHT EVERYTHING WAS OK, WENT TO MEIJER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. WENT SHOPPING & WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN EVEYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. WITHIN A MILE OF LEAVING MEIJER THE VEHICLE BEGAN THE SAME SYMPTOMS "ACTING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO STALL." WHEN I TRIED TO INCREASE THE SPEED TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 15 MPH. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT GEAR IT WAS IN. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE DID NOTHING. I TURNED IT OFF AND RESTARTED IT THEN PUT IT IN DRIVE AND PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE.
NHTSA ODI #10954637
235,508 miles · Dec 21, 2016
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering
STEERING WHEEL WILL FREEZE UP WHILE DRIVING. STEEL ON STEEL HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN DRIVING. SHIFTER GETS STUCK HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO START IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10936786
173,000 miles · Aug 31, 2016
Power Train
WHILE MY COLLEGE AGE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO CAMPUS ON SUNDAY 8/28/16, CAME TO STOP AND WHEN SHE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, RPM BEGAN TO RACE ERRATICALLY AND CAR WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE. WRENCH LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD IS NOW ILLUMINATED.
NHTSA ODI #10899743
77,000 miles · Apr 1, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
SPEED SHIFT FORCED ON 2ND AND 4TH, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS BAD, CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ACTION TAKEN, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND OWNER NEEDED TO DO REPAIR AND IF THE CAMPAIGN STARTED ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL REIMBURSE THE REPAIR AMOUNT, …
Read full complaint
SPEED SHIFT FORCED ON 2ND AND 4TH, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS BAD, CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ACTION TAKEN, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND OWNER NEEDED TO DO REPAIR AND IF THE CAMPAIGN STARTED ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL REIMBURSE THE REPAIR AMOUNT, I NEED THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS AND NOW I'M STOCK WITH THE REPAIRS COST OF 1500 PLUS LABOR. I NEED TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL AS SHOWN HERE: REPORT RECEIPT DATE: SEP 29, 2015 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENED , SPEED WAS REDUCED AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD
NHTSA ODI #10852965
60,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Power Train
WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND LOSS OF POWER, INFORMS DRIVER TO SAFELY PULL OVER. TO ROAD. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT ALLOW TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY REPLACE WITH NEW. VEHICLE HAS 60K MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER TRANSMISSION MEC…
Read full complaint
WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND LOSS OF POWER, INFORMS DRIVER TO SAFELY PULL OVER. TO ROAD. TOWED VEHICLE TO FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD ONLY OPTION WAS TO REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT ALLOW TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY REPLACE WITH NEW. VEHICLE HAS 60K MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER TRANSMISSION MECHANICS HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT FORD WILL NOT SELL THEM PARTS TO REPAIR THE CVTS AND ONLY A FORD DEALER IS AUTHORIZED AND CAN GET THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CVT AND FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP THIS PROBLEM. A $9,200 REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE BORNE BY THE CONSUMER. I CAN SEE OVER THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS.
NHTSA ODI #10823421
60,000 miles · Feb 1, 2016
Power Train
WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DRIVING TELLING DRIVER TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO ROAD. TOWED TO FORD DEALER, WAS TOLD TO REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 60K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER MECHANICS WERE TOLD FORD WOULD NOT SELL THEM PARTS FOR REPAIR AND ONLY FORD COULD WORK ON THEM. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, THERE IS SOMETHIN…
Read full complaint
WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DRIVING TELLING DRIVER TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO ROAD. TOWED TO FORD DEALER, WAS TOLD TO REPLACE WITH NEW TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 60K MILES AND WELL MAINTAINED. OTHER MECHANICS WERE TOLD FORD WOULD NOT SELL THEM PARTS FOR REPAIR AND ONLY FORD COULD WORK ON THEM. THIS IS NOT RIGHT, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CVT AND FORD NEEDS TO OWN UP. A $9,200 REPAIR SHOULD NOT BE BORNE BY THE CONSUMER.
NHTSA ODI #10823410
60,000 miles · Jan 14, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL PACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER W…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL PACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA ODI #10820206
95,000 miles · Nov 21, 2015
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MILES AN HOUR, STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, AS I PROCEEDED ON THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THEN JOLTED. SUDDENLY, THE WRENCH ICON APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. FROM THAT POINT THE CAR SEEMED TO IDLE, THE CAR WOULD REV RPM'S AND WOULD NOT SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAD TO START IN 2N…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 40 MILES AN HOUR, STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, AS I PROCEEDED ON THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND THEN JOLTED. SUDDENLY, THE WRENCH ICON APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. FROM THAT POINT THE CAR SEEMED TO IDLE, THE CAR WOULD REV RPM'S AND WOULD NOT SHIFT AUTOMATICALLY TO THE NEXT GEAR. I HAD TO START IN 2ND AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE. HAVE HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED, TRANNY FLUID FLUSHED AND REPLACED AND GASKET SEAL AND PAN REPLACED. STILL NOT REPAIRED.
NHTSA ODI #10795224
Official recalls
3Sep 29, 2015
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Sep 3, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
May 29, 2014
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
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
2DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving
Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages
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
Illustration