Power Train. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

15 crash reports2 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

254 reports

41,440 miles · Oct 20, 2013

SteeringSuspension

WHILE DRIVING ALONG A CURVE IN THE ROAD WITH NO ROAD HAZARDS APPARENT, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AXLE CRACKED, CAUSING WARNINGS TO LIGHT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY. THE AXLE WAS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548600

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2013

Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

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2002 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABS RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER TOOK HIS DAUGHTERS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL. THE CONSUMER INFORMED THE SERVICE ADVISOR, THE ABS LIGHT HAD BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR A WHILE. UPON THE RETURN OF THE VEHICLE, THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE SERVICE DESK AND REPORTED THE ISSUE AND HE WAS INFORMED HE COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS, BUT THERE WOULD BE A FEE OF $ 130.00. THE CONSUMER REFUSED AND THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PROBLEM THEY WERE ENCOUNTERING WAS AN ABS CODE B1676 WHICH WAS A RESULT OF NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE ABS MODULE. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED, BECAUSE THE LIGHT WOULD NO LONGER GO OUT, THAT THE CURRENT SITUATION WAS CAUSED BY PERFORMING THE WORK ON THE RECALL. THEY ALSO EXPLAINED, THAT THE RECALL THAT WAS PERFORMED WAS TO ADD POWER TO THE JUNCTION BLOCK TO SUPPLY ELECTRICITY TO THE ABS MODULE IN SUCH A WAY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CATCH FIRE, AND THAT POWER WAS NOT BEING SUPPLIED TO TWO OF THE WIRES AT ALL. THE REPAIR SHOP DISCOVERED THERE WERE TWO INCORRECT SPLICES PERFORMED AT THE DEALER. APPARENTLY, THERE WERE TWO SPLICES THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AND THE MECHANIC ONLY PUT A HEAT-SHRINK TAPE ON THE CONNECTION AND DID NOT ELECTRICALLY CONNECT THE WIRES. AFTER THE REPAIR OF THE TWO SPLICES, THE SHOP FOUND THAT ONE OF THE TWO WIRES SUPPLYING POWER TO THE ABS MODULE STILL ONLY HAD THREE VOLTS AT ONE OF THE CONNECTORS. THE SHOP FOUND ADDITIONAL RECALLS AS WELL. AFTER INSPECTING THE HARNESS PER THE RECALL NOTICE, HE FOUND THE INSULATION ON SOME OF THE WIRES DAMAGED AND ONE OF THE WIRES WAS CORRODED INTERNALLY CAUSING THE LOW VOLTAGE PROBLEM. HE ALSO NOTED THAT THE INSPECTION COVER ON THE CONNECTOR HAD BEEN REMOVED FOR INSPECTION AND THE MASTER CYLINDER CAP LOOKED NEWER AND NOT THE ORIGINAL. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN HE REMOVED THE CONNECTOR FROM THE ABS UNIT, THERE WAS NO GREASE APPLIED IN THE CAVITY LIKE THE

NHTSA ODI #10545961

97,000 miles · Sep 16, 2013

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE COOLING PACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPR…

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NHTSA ODI #10543912

67,000 miles · Sep 4, 2013

Seat Belts

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WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WITH PASSENGERS PROPERLY BUCKLED IN SEAT BELTS IN OUR 2007 FORD ESCAPE WITH 67,000 MILES. SUDDEN STOP AND THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGERS SEAT HAD THE SEAT BELT PULL LOOSE FROM THE CONNECTOR. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE SEAT BELT STITCHING ON THAT PARTICULAR SEAT BELT HAD APPARENTLY NEVER BEEN PROPERLY STITCHED AND THERE WERE ONLY A FEW THREADS HOLDING THE SEAT BELT TOGETHER. CLOSE INSPECTION OF THE OTHER SEAT BELTS IN THE CAR SHOWED THE REST HAD A WHITE INSPECTION TAG WHILE THIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HAVE ONE AT THE "SUPPOSED" SEWED JOINT. LOOKS LIKE THE SEWING MACHINE NEEDLE DRILLED THE HOLES BUT DID NOT PUT THREADS THROUGH THE TWO PIECES. WE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNERS BUT CLOSE INSPECTION APPEARS TO BE AN ORIGINAL DEFECT AND THE SEAT BELT WAS APPARENTLY NEVER PROPERLY SEWN TO THE CLIP. CONTACTED (THROUGH CHAMPION FORD IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS OUR HOME) A LADY NAMED LISETTE WHO APPARENTLY IS THE TEXAS FORD CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE AND SHE STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WE WERE NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER THAT IT WAS NOT FORD'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. NO APPARENT RECALLS ON SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND NO ONE BUT FORD APPARENTLY KNOWS HOW MANY "REPLACEMENT" SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY FORD ESCAPE OWNERS. PICTURES OF THE SEAT BELT SEPARATED FROM THE CLIP IS AVAILABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541900

75,000 miles · Aug 27, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TRANSFER CASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ODI #10537531

26,000 miles · Aug 17, 2013

Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed Control

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THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE INSTANCES WHERE THE GAS PEDDLE CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. NO MATTER THE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED. IT HAS OCCURRED BOTH AT A STANDSTILL AND WHILE IN MOTION. I HAVE READ ITS A POSSIBLE THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM NOT SURE. FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS DURING COLD WEATHER HOWEVER IT HAS OCCURRED DURING WARM TEMPS IE 85DEGREE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE. IT HAPPENS AND THEN THERE IS NO PROBLEMS FOR A LONG TIME MAYBE MONTHS, HOWEVER IF IT WERE TO OCCUR DURING A MERGE THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY DEADLY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS THERE IS ALREADY MULTIPLE RECALLS ON FORDS ACCELERATION SYSTEMS IN THIS MODEL FROM PRIOR YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10535870

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2013

Electrical SystemPower Train

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JUST BOUGHT THE CAR...I WAS DRIVING FROM L.A. TO PALM SPRINGS ...AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR ON THE ROAD THE CAR JUST STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY....I PULLED OVER AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN IT WAS FINE FOR 10 MIN THEN DID IT AGAIN. STARTED AGAIN AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY AT 40- 50 MILES AN HOUR WITH HAZARDS ON. PROBLEM SEEMED TO STOP AS LONG AS I DROVE AT THIS SPEED AND WAS NOT ON AN INCLINE OF ANY TYPE. CAR PULLS AT TIMES BUT MOSTLY DRIVES FINE IF I'M NOT ON THE FREEWAY AND IF I DON'T DRIVE OVER AN HOUR AT 60MPH. OTHERWISE IT STALLS OUT AT UNEXPECTED MOMENTS ON FREEWAYS. A VERY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE AND VERY DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532774

80,750 miles · Jul 2, 2013

Engine

TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. INDICATOR COMES ON AND SAYS "STOP SAFELY NOW". THEN THE ENGINE CUTS OUT. YOU THEN HAVE TO HOPE YOU CAN GET TO THE SHOULDER. ONCE YOU TURN THE KEY OFF, YOU CAN START UP THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. HOW CAN A CAR COMPANY PROGRAM THIS KIND OF UNSAFE PROCEDURE INTO A CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522805

130,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control

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I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AND WAS DRIVING AT BETWEEN 55 AND 60 ON THE METER. I WAS IN AN AREA WHERE THE ROAD DIPS AND RISES. COMING UP A RISE IT ACCELERATED BUT THEN CONTINUED BEYOND THE SET SPEED. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID RESULT IN REGAINING CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS HAPPENS AFTER HAVING GONE UP A HILL. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS ISSUED FOR MY CAR AND IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS NOT ONE FOR THE 2007 MODEL, BUT RESEARCH HAS REVEALED SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521351

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2013

Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

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MANY OF THE CASES INCLUDE THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF FORD AND THEIR NEGLECT TO HANDLE ANY OF THE ISSUES. ONE OF THE CASES INCLUDED A TEENAGE GIRL HAVING THE SAME VEHICLE AS MYSELF. HER PARENTS HAD REPORTED THE ISSUES TO FORD AND THEY NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM(S) TO MAKE THIS ONE STORY OF MANY SHORT...THE GIRLS CAR BROKE DOWN WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING HOME AND FROM THE CASE HER PHONE DID NOT HAVE RECEPTION. A MAN WAS DRIVING BY AND SHE HAILED HIM TO PULL OVER AND HE ENDED UP RAPING THE GIRL AND MURDERING HER. THE FAMILY WAS BLAMED AND FORD WAS NOT PROPERLY CHARGED. THERE WERE OTHER CASES I STUDIED THAT INVOLVED FORD THAT INCLUDE MOSTLY THE TRANSMISSIONS LIGHTING ON FIRE AND KILLING THE INDIVIDUALS. THIS IS BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT THAT FORD NEEDS TO BE FACE JUDGMENT UNDER THE SUPREME COURT FOR THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE. THEY HAVE LET SEVERAL INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE WHILE THEY ARE POCKETING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. EVERY TIME I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP OR GONE TO THEM IN PERSON THEY TRY TO RAISE PRICES ON SIMPLISTIC PARTS THAT YOU CAN BUY CHEAPER ONLINE OR AT WALMART. THEY CHARGE FEES FOR EVERY SINGLE THING; EVEN IF YOUR FULLY COVERED WITH INSURANCE IT STILL IS NOT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. THEY HAVE HIDDEN IMPORTING PARTS FROM THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES AND IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THEY ARE EXPOSED FOR ALL THEIR MISCONDUCT; AS I DO NOT FIND IT IN ANY WAY FOR ANYONE NOR A COMPANY TO LET INNOCENT PEOPLE BE MURDERED. IT IS A FELONY UNDER THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE COURT CASES DATE BACK DECADES, IF THEIR WORKERS COULD NOT FIX THE "ISSUES" YEARS AGO AND THEY EVEN HAD ISSUES THE LAST YEAR WITH SEVERAL TEENAGERS GOING TO THEIR PROM THAT RESULTED IN DEATH AS WELL THEN I WOULD STATE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT FORD COMPANY SHOULD GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND MAKE SURE THEY PAY EVERY PENNY BACK TO ALL THE VICTIMS INCLUDING MYSELF AND OTHERS THAT PURCHASED THEIR TOY CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10512736

Official recalls

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 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

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)

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

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.

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

DP12006 · Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction

Opened Oct 2, 2012 · Closed Feb 21, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine

In a letter dated August 30, 2012, The North Carolina Consumers Council (NCCC) petitioned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to initiate a defect investigation of alleged electronic throttle body failures resulting in engine stall or surge while driving in model year (MY) 2005 through 2012 Ford Escape vehicles. On October 2, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Defect Petition DP12-006 to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition. The petition is hereby granted on certain model years. The NCCC letter cites two complaints of stall while driving in MY 2009 Ford Escape vehicles that were diagnosed as failed throttle bodies with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2111, Throttle Body Stuck Open, and P2112, Throttle Body Stuck Closed. The petitioner indicates that the owners of both vehicles reported experiencing repeated incidents of stalling and engine surging. According to Ford, Escape non-hybrid vehicles are equipped with Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) assemblies beginning with MY 2009. Vehicles manufactured between June 22, 2009 and October 15, 2009 may contain contaminated printed circuit boards (PCB) with plating variations. Plating variations could lead to a lack of continuity in the throttle position sensor circuit where P2111 and/or other DTCs would be generated and stored. Ford and its electronic throttle body supplier, Delphi, modified the PCB manufacturing process and issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) 09-23-5. Vehicles produced after October 15, 2009 incorporated ETBs manufactured with a PCB process that resolved this condition. ODI's analysis identified a total of 123 unique reports indicating allegations of reduced motive power or vehicle stall. Depending on the condition of throttle control system malfunction, a driver may experience varying levels of reduced engine performance associated with three limp home modes. In two limp modes, reduced engine performance may maintain vehicle speeds above 20mph while the third is a limited limp home mode with engine speeds limited to approximately 900 RPM. Allegations of stall appear to be related to the limited limp home mode. Vehicles are not likely to unexpectedly stall as a result of this condition, but drivers may characterize the reduced functionality as a stall, even though their vehicle may still has motive capability. Allegations of vehicle surge appear to be related to limp home mode operation. Complaints alleging surge are most likely related to engine RPM fluctuations at low vehicle speeds or idle as the control system engages to prevent engine stall. In limited limp mode, rough-idle conditions may exist while the control system attempts to modulate engine RPMs once the vehicle reaches a reduced speed to maintain approximately 900 RPM. Separately, ODI received 59 complaints alleging incidents of engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2010-2011 Ford Fusion vehicles. Approximately 60 percent (36) of the incidents occurred at speeds of 40 miles per hour or more. Eighty percent of complaints (47) were received beginning March 2012 and 14 complaints reported that the throttle body was replaced or DTCs associated with limp home modes. Additionally, Ford issued TSB 10-21-6 addressing DTCs associated with idle speed drops and limited limp home mode. The petition is granted on certain model years.Preliminary Evaluation PE13-003 has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect.See full copy of the closing resume for this defect petition for list of the VOQs associated with the defect petition analysis.

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

Go deeper into Ford Escape problems

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