Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
260–25K
3925–50K
4650–75K
3375–100K
50100–150K
17150K+
211 reports with mileage · 43 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.
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
42,644 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Power Train
2007 FORD ESCAPE - AT 42,644 MILES THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND NOT PICK UP SPEED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE REGULATOR VALVE..... AT 47,819 MILES THE CAR DID THE SAME THING , THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED…
Read full complaint
2007 FORD ESCAPE - AT 42,644 MILES THE CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND NOT PICK UP SPEED, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE REGULATOR VALVE..... AT 47,819 MILES THE CAR DID THE SAME THING , THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT CAME ON, HAD TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND AGAIN HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER , SEAL & PUMP , THEY CALL ME TO PICK UP THE CAR, WHEN I GOT THERE IT WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION.... AT 52,338 MILES THE CAR AGAIN DID THE SAME THING WITH THE FORWARD GEARS AND AGAIN THE OD LIGHT WAS BLINKING, AGAIN TOWED IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER - STICKING G VALE WHICH THEY REPLACED..... AT 53,175 MILES I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT WOULD MAKE A BANG AND WHEN MOVING WOULD SHAKE,, THEY TOLD ME THAT AWD FORDS DO THAT AND THAT I JUST NEVER NOTICED BEFORE.... AT 91,678 MILE REVERSE WENT OUT AND AGAIN THE FORWARD GEARS SHIFTS WHEN EVER.... THEY NOW TELL ME THAT THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
NHTSA ODI #11156893
114,000 miles · Nov 28, 2018
Service Brakes
BRAKE SYSTEM QUIT WORKING ON MY FORD ESCAPE HYBRID. IT IS A KNOWN BROBLEM. DEALER WANTS 7000.00 TO FIX IT. HYDRAULIC PUMPS BURN OUT IN THEM. YOU LOOSE THE COMPLETE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #11154627
141,000 miles · Nov 14, 2018
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXCITER RING WAS FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO GL…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXCITER RING WAS FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO GLUE THE PIECE BACK TOGETHER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.
NHTSA ODI #11151551
156,000 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE LIFTGATE ACTUATOR AND LIFTGATE MECHANISM DID NOT WORK (NOT EVEN MANUALLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DETERMINED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE LIFTGATE WINDOW S…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT THE LIFTGATE ACTUATOR AND LIFTGATE MECHANISM DID NOT WORK (NOT EVEN MANUALLY). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DETERMINED THAT WATER WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE LIFTGATE WINDOW SEAL. THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
NHTSA ODI #11150054
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2018
Engine
2007 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE, OVERHEATED THEN BLEW OUT. *AS *JS *TR
NHTSA ODI #11131293
104,000 miles · Sep 27, 2018
Engine
I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY JUST SOUTH OF GRANBY COLORADO WHEN ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. THEN STEAM STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WERE YELLOW SPOTS ALL OVER AND THE COOLANT CONTAINER HAD STARTED TO ME…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY JUST SOUTH OF GRANBY COLORADO WHEN ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND ENGINE STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. TRIED TO RESTART ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. THEN STEAM STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WERE YELLOW SPOTS ALL OVER AND THE COOLANT CONTAINER HAD STARTED TO MELT AND DEFORM FROM THE HEAT. I CALLED MY AAA ROAD SERVICE AND WAS TOWED INTO GRANBY TO MOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTO AND TRUCK REPAIR. HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE READINGS FROM THE COMPUTER AND HAS THOSE. HE SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN AN ENGINE GET SO HOT BEFORE AND NO WARNING. MY SON HAS A MECHANIC FRIEND WHO CALLED SOMEONE AT FORD AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE THAT THE FORD ESCAPE HAD AN ISSUE WITH OVERHEATING JUST AS MY VEHICLE DID WITH NO WARNING WHILE IN MOUNTAIN DRIVING. AFTER THE EVENT, MY SON CALLED THE FORD DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. WE HAD TO SELL THE CAR FOR JUNK. YOU CAN OBTAIN COMPUTER READINGS FROM MOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTO & TRUCK REPAIR, GRANBY COLORADO.
NHTSA ODI #11132012
171,485 miles · Aug 28, 2018
Power Train
POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION: WHEN I CRANK MY VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK WILL REMAIN RUNNING. WHEN I SHIFT GEARS INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSISTENT HESITATION WHEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP OR AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BEGINS' TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, ONLY IF I SHIFT GEARS QUICKLY…
Read full complaint
POWER TRAIN TRANSMISSION: WHEN I CRANK MY VEHICLE WHILE IN PARK WILL REMAIN RUNNING. WHEN I SHIFT GEARS INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD WITH CONSISTENT HESITATION WHEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO A STOP OR AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE BEGINS' TO SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WILL REMAIN RUNNING, ONLY IF I SHIFT GEARS QUICKLY INTO 2ND GEAR OR PARK AND KEEP ONE FOOT ON THE GAS AND ONE ON THE BRAKES CONSTANTLY. THESE VEHICLE SAFETY ISSUES ARE CONSISTENT WITH THE RECALL ON MY FORD ESCAPE 2007 AT FORDMOTOR.COM WHERE THEIR IS WEB PAGE TO SUBMIT MY VIN NUMBER - SAYS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR MY VIN NUMBER. ADAMSON FORD BIRMINGHAM, AL., HAVE CONCLUDED THE TRANSMISSION IN MY VEHICLE HAS GONE OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FORMS ATTACHED. *JS
NHTSA ODI #11127788
98,000 miles · Jul 13, 2018
Service Brakes
THE BRAKES FAILED AT A STOP SIGN AND SENT MY DAUGHTER INTO TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING 50 MPH. FORTUNATELY SHE PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GOT OUT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST OVER $4000 TO FIX. AFTER RESEARCH WE SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HYDRAULIC CO…
Read full complaint
THE BRAKES FAILED AT A STOP SIGN AND SENT MY DAUGHTER INTO TRAFFIC THAT WAS GOING 50 MPH. FORTUNATELY SHE PUT IT IN REVERSE AND GOT OUT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND MECHANIC SAYS IT WILL COST OVER $4000 TO FIX. AFTER RESEARCH WE SEE THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS EXACT PROBLEM. HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT IS FAULTY AND A BAD DESIGN THAT RECURS.
NHTSA ODI #11111244
109,216 miles · Jun 29, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MAC HAIK'S SOUTHWAY FORD (7979…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MAC HAIK'S SOUTHWAY FORD (7979 INTERSTATE 35 ACCESS RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78224, (210) 922-2222) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT DECLINED DUE TO THE COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,216.
NHTSA ODI #11104664
187 miles · Jun 24, 2018
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesWheels
BRAKE FAILED THE REGEN SYSTEM FAILURE AND ABS BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED AN ALMOST SERIOUS ACCIDENT $7000 FOR REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM 1000S OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IT IS A 2007 FORD ESCAPE 2 WHEEL DRIVE HYBRID
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.
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
2
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
Illustration