Tires. Review the 217 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 133 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 113 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

101 crash reports64 fire reports73 injury reports

Tires complaints

217 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000

Tires

A BUBBLE APPEARED ON THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT W2HL AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 700 MILES AT 70-75 MPH, CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS VIBRATION, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT BY THE NEXT MORNING THE BUBBLE WENT AWAY, HOWEVER THE VIBRATION IS STILL IN VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #867903

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000

Tires

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WE WERE ON A DRIVE, WHICH IS 90 MILES ONE WAY, TO MY PARENTS FOR DINNER. IT WAS 1PM ON THE 6TH OF MARCH AND THE WEATHER WAS BETWEEN 95 DEGREES OR HIGHER. 10 MILES INTO THE DRIVE, I NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NOT HANDLING AS CRISP WHEN CHANGING FROM LANE TO LANE AND ASKED MY WIFE IF THE RIDE FELT DIFFERENT, ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE DRIVES IT DURING THE WEEK. SHE DID NOTICE ALSO THAT IT SEEMED TO BE SWAYING WHEN I CHANGED FROM LANE TO LANE BUT SHE THOUGHT THAT I WAS DOING IT. I, FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, THOUGHT I SHOULD STOP AND CHECK THE TIRES AND JUST IN TIME BECAUSE WHEN I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE AIR RUSHED OUT OF THE TIRE. I EXAMINED THE TIRE AND NOTICED THAT IT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD SEPARATED INSIDE THE TIRE BUT DID NOT THINK ANYTHING OF IT. I PUT ON THE SPARE AND CONTINUED ON THE TRIP. I LET MY FATHER TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND HE IMMEDIATELY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE. I ASKED HIM IF HE THOUGHT SOMETHING MIGHT HAVE PUNCTURED THE TIRE BUT HE, LIKE I DID, DID NOT THINK SO,,,,, ESPECIALLY SINCE I STOPPED AS SOON AS I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. MY FATHER HAS 2 18 WHEELERS AND CHANGES THE TIRES ON THEM HIMSELF AND IF PRETTY KNOWLEDGABLE ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DEAL WITH A VEHICLE. I HAD MY WIFE THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE THE TIRE TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER. I CALLED AND SPOKE WITH SOMEONE WHO TOLD ME THEY LOOKED AT THE TIRE AND THAT SOMETHING PUNCTURED IT. I ASKED THE GUY THAT I WAS DRIVING AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD. I AM POSITIVE. NEVERTHELESS, IT DID NOT MATTER BECAUSE I NEEDED A NEW TIRE AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER SAID THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY. ALTHOUGH THE GUY RUNNING THE DESK SAID THAT THE HAD A HOLE IN IT AND PUNCTURE INSIDE, THE MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE TIRE WROTE ON THE WORK ORDER "RAN FLAT-INSIDE CHEWED UP" INDICATING THAT THIS WAS NOT JUST A HOLE PUNCTURE BUT SOMETHING REALLY DID HAPPEN TO THIS TIRE. CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED MORE

NHTSA ODI #728183

Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2000

Tires

I NOTICED ONE OF MY TIRES HAS A DEEP TEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE A PIECE OF THE RUBBER JUST TORE OFF LEAVING A GASH.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 INCHES )

NHTSA ODI #728106

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000

Tires

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT 8XHL 1PY WAS MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE, THEN WENT FLAT, INSPECTED TIRES AND FOUND RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A HOLE WHERE IT MEETS THE SIDEWALL. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #867869

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2000

Tires

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS P255/70R16 ON THIS 2000 TRUCK. SIDEWALL SEPARATED AFTER 40 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND PARKING. FIRESTONE WAS CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867681

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2000

TiresCrashInjury

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SUV BEGAN TO WEAVE AND COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED, IT WAS RAINING AND INTIALLY I FELT THAT IT WAS HYDROPLANING BUT THE RT FRONT TIRE WOULD NOT GRAB THE PAVEMENT. THE SUV ROLLED DOWN A 25FT EMBANKMENT IN A DENSELY VEGETATED AREA, FELLED SEVERAL TREES, AND FLIPPED. THE DRIVER NOR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE SUV WAS TOTALLED. DUE TO THE MEDIA COVERAGE REGARDING THE FIRESTONE/EXPLORER TIRE I LEARNED THAT ONE OF THE FIRST PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED IS THAT THE TIRE WILL LOSE AIR. I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS LOSS OF AIR ON THE RT FRONT TIRE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AND HAD ASKED ABOUT IT WHEN THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AND WAS TOLD BY CROSSROAD FORD, "THAT THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS". SO, I THEN WENT TO THE SALVAGE YARD WHERE THE CAR WAS BEING STORED TO VIEW THE TIRE AND THE CRACKS AND PEELING RUBBER OF THE RT FRONT TIRE WAS OBVIOUS.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727787

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2000

Tires

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AFTER ISSUE OF RECALL ALERT, I CHECKED MY TIRES FOR PROBLEMS, I PUT THE RECOMENDED AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IN THE TIRES (THAT WAS REASSIGNED TO 30 PSI BY FIRESTONE) AND NOTICED HALF INCH SLITS ON THE SIDE WALLS JUST OUT SIDE THE WRITING ON THE TIRE, ON 2 OF MY TIRES. AFTER SEEING THE SLITS I THOUGHT THAT I SHOULD REFILL THE TIRES UP TO THE THEIR NORMAL CAPACITY, AND DROVE 3.5 MILES TO A GAS STATION TO DO SO. WHILE FILLING THE TIRES BACK UP TO NORMAL CAPACITY, I NOTICED THAT THE OTHER 2 TIRES WERE STARTING TO SHOWS SIGNS OF THE SAME SPLITTING. IN A CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND WHO ALSO HAS AN EXPLORER THAT WAS AT THE SAME GAS STATION, I FOUND OUT THAT SHE HAS THE RECALLED TIRES WITH THE VD CODE AND THAT HER TIRES ARE DOING THE SAME AS MINE, BUT THAT MINE DO NOT HAVE THE VD CODE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY SWITCHED VEHICLES WITH MY ROOMMATE BECAUSE HE ONLY HAS A 6 MILE ROUND TRIP DRIVE TO WORK, AND I HAVE A 70 MILE ROUND TRIP TO WORK DAILY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE LONG DISTANCES, SINCE I LIVE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AND IT IS A WARM CLIMATE. BUT AS OF YET, I CAN GET NO RESPONSES BACK ABOUT MY TIRES, OTHER THAN TO TAKE THEM TO A CORPORATE-OWNED FIRESTONE DEALER, BUT TO DO SO WOULD MEAN A DRIVE OF 110 MILES ONE WAY. WHICH I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DOING SO. I HAVE SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO FORD VIA EMAIL AND HAVE CALLED FIRESTONE'S TOLL FREE NUMBER, BUT TO ONLY BE TOLD THAT MY TIRES ARE DO NOT HAVE THE CORRECT DOT CODE FOR THE RECALL. MEANWHILE, MY TIRES DO SHOW SIGNS OF MALFUNCTION THAT APPEAR SIMILAR TO TIRES WITH THE "VD" DOT CODE. BECAUSE OF MY SITUATION, THIS HAS PROMPTED ME TO CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION. I HAVE ALSO LEFT A MESSAGE AT YOUR TOLL FREE NUMBER, TO THE SAME AFFECT, BUT DECIDED TO ALSO EMAIL, SO THAT I COULD GIVE A MORE INDEPTH SUMMARY OF MY SITUATION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY299 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NHTSA ODI #727764

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000

Tires

I'VE NOT HAD A FAILURE BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE 16" TIRE HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURES AS THE RECALLED 15" TIRE AND FORD VOLUNTARILY REPLACED ALL SUCH TIRES IN TEH MIDDLE EAST. IT SEEMS IMPERATIVE THAT THE NHTSA REQUIRE A RECALL OF THE 16" FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE AS WELL AS THE 15" TIRE. MY 16" TIRE, APPARENTLY, WAS PRODUCED …

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NHTSA ODI #727687

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000

Tires

TIRE BLEW OUT AFTER GETTING UNDERWAY AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT( DOT NUMBER: VD3705 TIRE SIZE: LT255/7516 )

NHTSA ODI #727680

Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2000

Tires

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR I NOTICED A LARGE BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE L/R TIRE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO GO TO FIRESTONE. I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE STORE IN NEWARK CALIFORNIA AND THE MECHANIC PULLED OFF THE BULGE AND REVEALED A WHITE ELEMENT OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, BUT IT WAS OBVIOUS THEN TH…

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NHTSA ODI #727660

Official recalls

09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Oct 13, 2009

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 3, 2007

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

03V280000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Aug 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL AND 4.0L SOHC ENGINES, IF THE STRAND COVER ON THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE BECOMES FLARED AT THE END, THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE MAY BIND WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS ACTIVATED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING FORCE MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME THE BINDING CONDITION WHEN THE SPEED CONTROL IS DISENGAGED. BRAKING FUNCTION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THOUGH STOPPING DISTANCES MAY BE INCREASED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

03V281000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

Aug 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS, THE UPPER BOLT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HIGH BACK SEAT, THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME, COULD FRACTURE. IF THE BOLT FRACTURES AND DOES NOT JAM IN THE SEAT BACK FRAME, THE SEAT BACK MAY RECLINE UNTIL IT MAKES CONTACT WITH AN OBJECT BEHIND THE SEAT, SUCH AS THE SECOND ROW SEAT CUSHION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER COULD POTENTIALLY LOSE CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL OR FOOT PEDALS DURING SUCH AN EVENT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER SEAT UPPER BOLT WITH A METAL SPACER AND BOLT. IN ADDITION, SEATS WITH TUBULAR BACK FRAMES WILL HAVE THE FULLY THREADED LOWER RECLINER BOLT REPLACED WITH A PARTIALLY THREADED BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 29, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

03V094000 · Structure

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

00V395000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Nov 28, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.27 OR 3.55 AXLE RATION. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO EXCEED THE DESIGN INTENT TOP SPEED. AT THESE EXTREME SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE COULD BE CAPABLE OF EXCEEDING THE SPEED RATING OF THE TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: OPERATING THE VEHICLE ABOVE THE MAXIMUM SPEED RATING COULD LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE WHICH AT THESE SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

00V228001 · Seat Belts

Aug 18, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V179000 · Air Bags:side/window

Jul 5, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A REVISED LEVEL SIDE CRASH SENSOR THAT COULD DEPLOY THE SIDE AIR BAG IF THE IGNITION KEY IS IN THE "RUN" POSITION AND THE SEATBELT WEBBING IS FORCIBLY EXTRACTED FROM A LOCKED RETRACTOR WITH A JERKING MOTION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE CRASH SENSORS WITH A REVISED DESIGN THAT WILL REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF AN UNEXPECTED SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT.

00V072000 · Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Mar 7, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L ENGINES AND ALL-TIME 4-WHEEL DRIVE (A4WD) POWERTRAINS. THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM) COULD EXPERIENCE A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "LOCK-UP" IN WHICH THE GEM CONTROLLED ELECTRONIC FUNCTIONS (E.G., FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, 4X4 SYSTEM, ETC.) COULD NOT BE TURNED ON OR, IN SOME CASES IF THE FUNCTION IS ON, COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM COULD AFFECT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR IN THE GEM CIRCUIT.

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

DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head

Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Engine And Engine Cooling

PE03020 · Front Seat Back Recliner Attachment

Opened May 21, 2003 · Closed Sep 5, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner

BY LETTER DATED AUGUST 4, 2003, FORD NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V281) INVOLVING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2001 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 4-DOOR, MY 1998-2000 FORD EXPLORER 2-DOOR AND MY 2001-2002 FORD EXPLORER SPORT AND SPORT TRAC VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HIGH BACK SEATS.COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK RECLINED WITHOUT WARNING.A BOLT BETWEEN THE UPPER SEAT RECLINER ATTACHMENT AND THE SEAT BACK FRAME MAY FRACTURE.FORD WILL REPLACE THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM TO THE SEAT BACK FRAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT.BASED ON FORD'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

EA01008 · Seat Belt Webbing

Opened Feb 26, 2001 · Closed Apr 25, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing

ODI OPENED PE00-044INVESTIGATION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2000, BASED ON A REPORT REGARDING THE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IN A 2000 MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORER XLS INVOLVED IN A ROLL-OVER CRASH.IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE WEBBING OF THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING THE CRASH.THE OCCUPANT WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEREBY SUSTAINING FATAL INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN OPENED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

PE00044 · Seat Belt Webbing

Opened Nov 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 26, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing

ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2000, BASED ON A REPORT REGARDING THE DEATH OF THE OCCUPANT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT IN A 2000 MODEL YEAR FORD EXPLORER XLS INVOLVED IN A ROLL-OVER CRASH.IT IS ALLEGED THAT THE WEBBING OF THE BUCKLE PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED DURING THE CRASH.THE OCCUPANT WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, THEREBY SUSTAINING FATAL INJURIES.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED FOR FURTHER STUDY.

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