Air Bags. Review the 330 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 193 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports22 fire reports13 injury reports

Power Train complaints

193 reports

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35,000 miles · Jun 6, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS DRIVING IN NEUTRAL. WHILE SHIFTING GEARS, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FOR UNDER THE HOOD. IN ADDITION, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #10460848

66,000 miles · May 16, 2012

Power Train

THE VEHICLE STARTED PERFORMING BADLY AND HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING, WHICH AFFECTED ACCELERATION AND DECERATION IN TRAFFIC. DROVE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO FORD DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO HAVE THE PTU SEAL REPLACED. I WAS ORIGINALLY TOLD THIS ITEM WAS BACKORDERED 2 WEEKS, BUT THEY CAN NO LONGER GIVE ME AN ES…

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NHTSA ODI #10458724

85,000 miles · May 8, 2012

Power Train

2007 FORD EDGE. CONSUMER STATES PTU UNIT BROKE AT 85, 0000 MILES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT BARELY MADE IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT FORD DIDN'T HAVE A SUPPLIER TO MAKE THE PART. ON APRIL 25, 2012, THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A CALL STATING THE PART WOUL…

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NHTSA ODI #10458354

62,000 miles · May 7, 2012

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SPOTS ON THE GROUND UNDER THE VEHICLE DUE TO FLUID LEAKING FROM AN UNKNOWN SOURCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS FRACTURED FROM OVERHEATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE TRANSFER CASE WAS NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10457695

66,800 miles · Apr 18, 2012

Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EDGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER DIAGNOSED A LEAK AT THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE TRANSFER CASE WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AN…

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NHTSA ODI #10455670

42,500 miles · Feb 17, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THERE ARE THREE MAIN ISSUES WITH MY 2007 FORD EDGE. FIRST THE BRAKES MAKE NOISES AND SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DON'T. THE TIRES KEPT GOING FLAT. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 FOUR TIRES AND ONE FRONT AND ONE BACK TIRE TWICE NOW. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS FREQUENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10448320

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2012

Power Train

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OK, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I HAVE A 2007 FORD EDGE AND IT IS HAVING HARD ENGAGEMENT ISSUES WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. ALSO, A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAVE BEEN READY TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND IT'S AS IF MY CAR IS SITTING IN NEUTRAL. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURN IT OFF, START AND PUT BACK INTO DRIVE FOR IT TO START GOING AGAIN. VERY UNSAFE AND WORRIES ME DRIVING MY KIDS AROUND IN THE CAR WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WITH THESE PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT "THROWING A CODE" SO BASICALLY THERE IS NOT A FIX. THEY DO HOWEVER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE COMPLAINTS AND A DEFINITE ISSUE BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING UNLESS A RECALL WAS DONE. IT'S GETTING WORSE AND THE OTHER DAY I TOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE AND WAS TOLD FORD HAS AN UPDATE NOW TO HELP SOME OF THE ISSUES PCM UPDATE TO THE COMPUTER. GUESS WHAT...IT DIDN'T HELP MINE AND THEY SAID I FOR SURE NOW HAVE SOME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DUE TO THE HARD SHIFTING PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. WELL, NO KIDDING! OK, WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR DEALERSHIPS TELLING YOU THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THAT'S JUST CRAZY. WE NEED FOR THERE TO BE SOME AWARENESS AND ACTION TO THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10447523

51,748 miles · Jan 22, 2012

Power Train

OWN A 2007 EDGE SE , PURCHASED NEW ON AUGUST 2008. LAST YEAR I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND THEY RECOMMEND TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS A REGULAR MAINTENANCE, BUT JUST RECENTLY NOTICED THAT THE 4TH GEAR HAVE STRONG ENGAGE ISSUE."SHEEHY FORD" DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD VA IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO …

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NHTSA ODI #10444787

25,000 miles · Jan 17, 2012

Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAVE A 2007 FORD EDGE. I HAVE HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT. BY BRAKE PROBLEMS, I MEAN THEY SOMETIMES GRIND AND SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE I CAN'T STOP AS WELL AS I SHOULD BE ABLE TO. I HAD THEM CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE. I FINALLY HAD THEM REPLACED BUT THEY STILL GRIND AT TIMES. I'VE LEARNED TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO EXPERIENCED A LOUD ROARING NOISE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THIS IS BUT I'VE ALSO LEARNED TO DEAL WITH IT AS WELL. EVERYTIME SOMEONE RIDES WITH ME THEY ASK WHAT THE NOISE IS AND TELL ME IT SOUNDS LIKE MY CAR HAS NOT SHIFTED INTO THE RIGHT GEAR. THE MAJOR PROBLEM I HAVE DEALT WITH IS THE JERKING TRANSMISSION. IT STARTED THIS ABOUT A YEAR AFTER BUYING IT. IT STARTED DOING IT A FEW TIMES HERE AND THERE UNTIL IT GOT TO WHERE IT DID IT ALL THE TIME. I HAD MENTIONED IT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO GET THE OIL CHANGED BUT THEY ALWAYS TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I FINALLY TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING. THEY KEPT IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND FINALLY CALLED AND SAID THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REPLACED IT AND IT WAS FINE UP UNTIL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. IT STARTED THE JERKING ALL OVER AGAIN. IT STARTED OUT SLOW BUT NOW DOES IT ALL THE TIME. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AGAIN AS IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER. IT'S STILL ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I AM REALLY SURPRISED THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS AS I'VE READ OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY UPSET AS I STILL OWE ON THIS VEHICLE BUT REALLY WISH I COULD GET RID OF IT. I HAVE NEVER HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH A VEHICLE....EVEN A CAR I BOUGHT THAT WAS FOUR YEARS OLD.....IT WAS A TOYOTA....GUESS I SHOULD HAVE NEVER WENT TO A FORD! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10444085

72,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011

Power Train

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2007 FORD EDGE WILL ROLL BACKWARD WHEN ON THE SLIGHTEST INCLINE WHILE VEHICLE IS IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP ROLLING UNTIL THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED OR IT SETTLES ON FLAT GROUND. IT ALSO DOES THIS IN REVERSE AND YOU ARE POINTED DOWNHILL. I RECENTLY WAS PARKED IN A DOWNHILL POSITION, RELEASED THE PARK BRAKE, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE EDGE FROM SLAMMING INTO A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE EDGE STARTED TO QUICKLY GO DOWNHILL AND I HAD TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO GO IN REVERSE AND MISS THE OTHER VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEMS SEEMS TO GETTING WORSE AS THE MILEAGE BUILDS. I CURRENTLY HAVE 72,000 MILES ON THE EDGE. I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO GREENWOOD FORD IN BOWLING GREEN, KY AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEIR SERVICE MANAGER TOOK ME FOR A DRIVE IN A 2010 EDGE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD NEVER HEARD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405625

Official recalls

21V158000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Mar 10, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Ranger, 2006-2012 Fusion, Lincoln Zephyr, Lincoln MKZ, 2006-2011 Mercury Milan, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, and Lincoln MKX vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side airbag inflator or module with an alternate one, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 9, 2021 for the passenger side, and November 14, 2022 for the driver side. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S12.

21V081000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 16, 2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2005-2014 Mustang, 2004-2011 Ranger, 2009-2011 Mercury Milan, 2006 Ford GT, 2008-2012 Fusion, 2007-2010 Edge and Lincoln MKX, and 2009-2010 Lincoln MKZ vehicles. These vehicles may be equipped with a driver or passenger frontal air bag inflator used as a replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the frontal air bag, an inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the driver and passenger air bag module, and replace either the module or the inflator, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S05.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Air Bags:frontal

17V024000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jan 10, 2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 Ford Fusion and Mustang and Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain 2009 Ford Ranger, Edge, Fusion and Mustang, Lincoln MKX, MKZ and Zephyr and Mercury Milan vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Ford is recalling certain 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Lincoln Zephyr and MKZ, 2005-2008 Ford Mustang and 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Interim letters informing owners of the recall and that parts are not yet available began mailing March 1, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

16V384000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

May 31, 2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Ford Ranger vehicles, 2006-2011 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2007-2010 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles, and 2005-2011 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Ford is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Ford Ranger, Edge and Lincoln MKX vehicles, 2006-2008 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ vehicles, 2005-2006 Ford GT vehicles and 2005-2008 Ford Mustang vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Any vehicle not included in "Zone A", or "Zone B" is not included in the safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. Ford mailed interim letters informing owners that parts are not yet available on July 15, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S01.

14V682000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 29, 2014

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Lincoln MKX, and Ford Edge vehicles, manufactured June 15, 2006, to September 22, 2008, and originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. Due to corrosion from salt water exposure such as from road salt use, the affected vehicles may leak fuel from the fuel tank seam weld under the tank mounting reinforcement brackets.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Interim notices were mailed to owners on December 12, 2014. The recall began on October 6, 2015. Dealers will inspect the vehicles and either clean and treat the fuel tank with a corrosion preventative or replace the tank, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S22.

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

PE09031 · Front Suspension Lower Ball Joint

Opened Jul 13, 2009 · Closed Nov 19, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

ON JULY 13, 2009, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE09-031 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 AND 2008 FORD EDGE AND LINCOLN MKX VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON THREE OWNER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE WHILE DRIVING.ODI ALSO IDENTIFIED INFORMATION RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN EARLY WARNING DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD.PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS INDICATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE PINCH BOLT USED TO SECURE THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT STUD TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE.ONE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT A CRASH OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN A MINOR INJURY.HOWEVER, NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COULD BE OBTAINED TO SUPPORT THIS CLAIM.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORD IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER FOR PE09-031 INDICATE THAT IN EARLY MY 2007 PRODUCTION THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY PROCESS.THE PINCH BOLTS USED WERE HAND STARTED AND HAD THE POTENTIAL TO CROSS THREAD AND NOT ACHIEVE PROPER CLAMP LOAD, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A LOOSE JOINT.IN NOVEMBER 2007, CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO CHASE AND CLEAN THE FIRST SIX THREADS OF THE BOLT TO PROVIDE EASIER HAND STARTING OF THE NUT AND ENSURE GOOD THREAD ENGAGEMENT BEFORE TIGHTENING. FORD ALSO IDENTIFIED ONGOING CONCERNS WITH THE POWER TRANSMISSION UNIT (PTU) SEALS AND FRONT SUSPENSION HYDRO-BUSHINGS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WHICH BOTH REQUIRE DISASSEMBLY OF THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT TO REPAIR.IF THE BALL JOINT IS NOT PROPERLY REASSEMBLED FOLLOWING SUCH SERVICE, THE JOINT MAY SEPARATE IN LATER SERVICE.FORD HAS PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AND NEW PINCH BOLTS TO THE PTU REPAIR KIT TO IMPROVE THE JOINT REASSEMBLY PROCESS. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF FAILURE DATA IDENTIFIED 31 INCIDENTS OF JOINT SEPARATION (WITH 12 SPECIFICALLY STATING THAT THEY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING).REPAIR RECORDS FOR THESE 31 VEHICLES SHOWS THAT 28 INVOLVE SEPARATION OF THE JOINT ON THE PASSENGER (RIGHT) SIDE, WHICH IS THE SIDE THAT MUST BE DISASSEMBLED FOR PTU SERVICE.TWENTY-THREE OF THESE WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY DISASSEMBLED FOR CONTROL ARM BUSHING SERVICE, PTU SERVICE OR OTHER TRANSMISSION REPAIR. THE EIGHT CLAIMS THAT DID NOT INVOLVE PRIOR SERVICE REPAIRS REQUIRING JOINT DISASSEMBLY ALL OCCURRED VERY EARLY IN VEHICLE LIFE, INDICATING THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ANY JOINTS MANUFACTURED WITH LOOSE PINCH BOLTS ARE STILL IN SERVICE.ALL OF THESE JOINTS FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS IN SERVICE AND 10,000 MILES (THE MAXIMUM FAILURE MILEAGE IS 8,097 MILES).THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY SUCH FAILURES (I.E., NOT INVOLVING PRIOR SERVICE/DISASSEMBLY) SINCE DECEMBER 2008.THE RATE FOR INCIDENTS THAT DID NOT OCCUR FOLLOWING SERVICE AND, THUS, MAY BE RELATED TO THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY FORD IS VERY LOW (2.5 PER 100,000 VEHICLES) AND THESE INCIDENTS OCCURRED VERY EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLES AND ARE NOT SHOWING A CONTINUING FAILURE TREND.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN 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 MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.

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