NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
29 reportsClear category filter196,997 miles · Jul 16, 2018
EngineVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER DRIVING 30 MIL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER DRIVING 30 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,997.
NHTSA ODI #11111689
Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
TAMARA RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11062497
192,000 miles · Sep 8, 2017
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A FIELD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 90 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND INTO A FIELD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND ALLOWED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000. *BF *TT
NHTSA ODI #11022322
140,000 miles · Sep 29, 2015
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE VEHICLE ENGINE SAFETY MODE WAS INITIATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE VEHICLE ENGINE SAFETY MODE WAS INITIATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10778348
92,000 miles · Mar 24, 2015
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25-30MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR ANYTHING. IT WAS TOTALLY OFF AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IF A CAR HAD BEEN COMING IT WOULD HAVE HIT US. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE KEY, PUT IT IN PARK AND START IT UP AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. I DECIDED TO CAREF…
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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25-30MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR ANYTHING. IT WAS TOTALLY OFF AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IF A CAR HAD BEEN COMING IT WOULD HAVE HIT US. I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE KEY, PUT IT IN PARK AND START IT UP AND PULL OFF THE ROAD. I DECIDED TO CAREFULLY TRY TO GET HOME. ON THE WAY HOME I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND IT SHUT OFF AGAIN, NO WARNING. I WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC. I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO TURN OFF THE KEY, PUT IT IN PARK, AND START IT UP. I MADE IT HOME A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED ON A HIGHWAY BY A CAR RANDOMLY SHUTTING OFF AND BECOMING UNSTEERABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10701287
54,000 miles · Oct 11, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control
ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO COAST TO EMERGENCY LANE THEN RESTART CAR. HAPPENED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES. TOOK TO SHOP WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. NO ISSUES SINCE THEN (~ 1 YEAR AGO). SOUNDS LIKE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10644023
79,000 miles · Aug 26, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 09/30/14*LJ UPDATED 2/27/2015 *JS
NHTSA ODI #10628480
163,000 miles · Aug 9, 2014
Air BagsFuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RUNNING OVER THE CONCRETE STOP AND THE CURVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND RAN HEAD ON INTO A TREE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPACE. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A RE…
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AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN AND MADE A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, RUNNING OVER THE CONCRETE STOP AND THE CURVE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND RAN HEAD ON INTO A TREE THAT WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE PARKING SPACE. THE DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10621042
115,000 miles · Jul 29, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR STALLED WHILE TURNING NO WARNING AT 25MPH START AND SHUT DOES IT 6 TIMES GOING HOME. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10617085
74,300 miles · Mar 27, 2014
EngineSteeringVehicle Speed Control
THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT: THE FIST WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET YESTERDAY WHEN THE "FAIL SAFE MODE" INDICATOR CAME ON AND SAID ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN. CAR TURNS OFF, CANNOT STEER. VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF. TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES A…
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THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT: THE FIST WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET YESTERDAY WHEN THE "FAIL SAFE MODE" INDICATOR CAME ON AND SAID ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN. CAR TURNS OFF, CANNOT STEER. VERY DANGEROUS. I WAS ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF. TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED AND I DROVE TO WORK, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE WHO RAN IT AND IT CAME UP AS THROTTLE BODY FORCES IMMEDIATE IDLE. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THE 10 PAGES ON COMPLAINTS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SAID IT WOULD SAY - HOWEVER INFORMATION ON THAT SITE ALSO SAID IT'S ACTUALLY THE FUEL PUMP MODULATOR, BUT THE COMPUTER DID NOT INDICATE THAT AT ALL. THERE WERE ALMOST 60 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME SITUATIONS - WHEN I PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC TODAY THE CAR 'HESITATED' AND DID NOT ACCELERATE CORRECTLY. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY - AND AGAIN I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE IN THE RIGHT LANE AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THIS DEFECT IS GOING TO CAUSE AN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH AND IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND CORRECTED. I WILL BE CONTACTING FORD CORPORATE; BUT WITH THE RECENT INCIDENTS WITH GM I WOULD HATE TO SEE AN ACCIDENT OR FATALITY OCCUR WHEN FORD AND OTHERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY I HAVE TO GET THIS FIXED, I'M HOPING MY FORD DEALER WILL WORK WITH ME, BUT I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD SO TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE AND I'M GUESSING MONEY WILL BE TOO. REGARDLESS OF FORD'S CORPORATE RESPONSE, I WILL BE CONTACTING THE MEDIA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT FORD IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575089
NHTSA investigations
1PE08070 · Steel Wheel Fracture
Opened Dec 9, 2008 · Closed Apr 15, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Wheels; Wheels:rim
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
Additional source detail variants (2)
Wheels
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
Wheels:rim
FORD SPECIAL SERVICE VEHICLE (SSV) EXPEDITIONS USE A STEEL FULL FACE WHEEL DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT INVESTIGATED IN PE03009, RQ04007, EA04034 (CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR) AND PE03026 (GM PICKUPS AND SUVS).A TOTAL OF 8,251 SSVS (2.2% OF TOTAL PRODUCTION) WERE PRODUCED WITHIN MODEL YEARS 2004-2006 AND SOLD PRIMARILY FOR USE BY STATE, FEDERAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (LE) AGENCIES.FORD STIPULATES THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR HIGH SPEED OR PURSUIT OPERATIONS AND ALSO IDENTIFIED A 2004 NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE VEHICLE EVALUATION REPORT WHICH ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THIS LIMITATION. THE FULL FACE WHEEL IS FABRICATED FROM TWO PIECES: A STAMPED OUTER WHEEL DISC AND A FORMED RIM.THE TWO PIECES, WHICH TOGETHER COMPRISE THE OUTER BEAD SEAT, ARE JOINED TOGETHER WITH A CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD.A CYCLIC BENDING MOMENT OCCURS IN THE OUTER BEAD SEAT AREA AS THE WHEEL ROTATES, RESULTING IN FATIGUE STRESSES IN THE WELD'S HEAT AFFECTED ZONE THAT CAN LEAD TO FRACTURING (CRACKING) OF THE RIM MATERIAL.BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURS UNDER THE OUTBOARD TIRE BEAD, AIR LEAKAGE MAY NOT READILY OCCUR WHEN THE RIM CRACKS, DEPENDENT ON HOW WELL THE BEAD SEALS ON THE RIM.IF MULTIPLE CRACKS GROW UNDETECTED AND SUDDENLY JOIN INTO A SINGLE LARGE CRACK, THE WHEEL'S STRUCTURE CAN BECOME COMPROMISED LEADING TO RAPID AIR LOSS.A RAPID AIR LOSS, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEED, MAY LEAD TO A CRASH. FORD RESPONDED TO ODI'S JANUARY 5, 2009 INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) ON FEBRUARY 24.FORD'S RESPONSE ACKNOWLEDGES A NUMBER OF WHEEL FRACTURES ON THE SSVS.HOWEVER, BASED ON ITS ASSESSMENT OF THE PERTINENT FACTORS, IT CONCLUDES THAT THE CONDITION DOES NOT REPRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO SAFETY.THE LACK OF REPORTS OF RAPID AIR LOSS, NO ALLEGED CRASHES, AND THEIR ASSESSMENT THAT A CRACKED WHEEL CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH SLOW, REPEATED AIR LOSS OR VIBRATION, WERE THE BASES FOR FORD'S CONCLUSION.FORD DISCUSSES THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IT PERFORMED ON WHEELS RETURNED FROM LE FIELD USE, DESIGN REVISIONS IT MADE TO THE SUBJECT WHEEL, AND THE OUTCOME OF DURABILITY TESTING IT CONDUCTED ON THE OLD AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS. THE COUNTS SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE A DUPLICATE ODI AND FORD REPORT; THE FORD COUNTS ARE UNIQUE VEHICLES ALLEGING WHEEL FRACTURE(S).SOME WARRANTY CLAIMS INVOLVED MORE THAN ONE WHEEL REPLACEMENT.ALTHOUGH THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME THAN VEHICLES INVESTIGATED IN THE PREVIOUS INVESTIGATIONS OF TWO-PIECE WHEEL FRACTURE, ODI DID NOT IDENTIFY ANY ALLEGATIONS OF CRASHES, RAPID AIR LOSS EVENTS DUE TO WHEEL FRACTURES OR ALLEGATIONS OF EFFECTS ON VEHICLE CONTROL OR STABILITY, AS WERE THE CASES IN PAST INVESTIGATIONS WHERE SAFETY RECALLS WERE CONDUCTED TO REPLACE AFFECTED WHEELS.THE AGENCY AGREES THAT THE SSV IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PURSUIT OR HIGH SPEED USAGE, REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS TO BE CAUSED BY THE ALLEGED DEFECT. FORD IMPLEMENTED A 'SHOT PEENING' PROCESS IN JUNE 2006 WHICH REDUCED THE WHEEL'S SURFACE STRESS AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED ITS DURABILITY, AND ODI IS UNAWARE OF ANY FAILURES OF SHOT PEENED WHEELS (SERVICE PART NUMBER 7L1Z-1015-B).FORD'S TESTING SHOWED A SLIGHTLY REDUCED DURABILITY FOR THE NON-SHOT PEENED WHEELS WHEN 'LT' INSTEAD OF FORD APPROVED 'P' METRIC TYPE TIRES ARE USED. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FURTHER C
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