IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK FUEL CAP LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL CAP BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD THE DEALER REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
2005 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2005 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
420–25K
7425–50K
11450–75K
10275–100K
73100–150K
25150K+
430 reports with mileage · 67 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.
- Structure. Review the 151 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
22 crash reports6 fire reports13 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
40 reports"CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN '00-'05 FORD EXPLORERS. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING, AND IT IS THE RESULT OF EMISSION FAILURE PARTS IN THESE VEHICLES. EACH INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS IS COSTING OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND IS CLEARLY A DEFAULT OF THE COMPANY. …
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"CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN '00-'05 FORD EXPLORERS. THERE HAVE BEEN HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING, AND IT IS THE RESULT OF EMISSION FAILURE PARTS IN THESE VEHICLES. EACH INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THESE PARTS IS COSTING OWNERS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, AND IS CLEARLY A DEFAULT OF THE COMPANY. ALMOST EVERY REPORT HAS SHOWN TROUBLE CODES OF P0455 OR P0457, OR BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY. YOU CAN FOLLOW THIS THREAD AND OTHERS AT HTTP://EXPLORERFORUM.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=244624 TO SEE NUMEROUS OCCURRENCES OF THIS SAME ISSUE IN MULTIPLE FORD EXPLORERS. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED RIGHT AWAY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AS WELL. AFTER FORD REPLACED MY FUEL CAP AND SAID THIS WOULD SOLVE THE ISSUE, MY "CHECK FUEL CAP" LIGHT ILLUMINATED A WEEK LATER AGAIN. FORD THEN INSPECTED MY VEHICLE AGAIN AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. IT CAME ON YET AGAIN, AND NOW THEY ARE CHARGING ME OVER $1,000 IN REPAIRS INCLUDING A $108 DIAGNOSTIC CHECK ON MY VEHICLE FOR CODES P1000 AND P0457. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO CONTINUOUSLY BRING MY VEHICLE TO FORD FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THEM, AND THEY STILL CANNOT GUARANTEE ME THIS IS THE PROBLEM. FORD EXPLORER OWNERS ARE ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO BE LAUNCHED, AND FOR FORD TO RECALL THEIR EXPLORERS AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE WATERTOWN FORD IN WATERTOWN, MA. *TR
I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE 76,306 MILES ON MY EXPLORER. I NOTICED A GAS SMELL. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. DEALER FOUND A GAS LEAK WHERE THE FILLER HOSE ATTACHES TO THE GAS TANK. THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS PART OF THE GAS TANK HAD MANY CRACKS/FRACTURES THAT ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THE ONLY REPAIR OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE …
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I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE 76,306 MILES ON MY EXPLORER. I NOTICED A GAS SMELL. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. DEALER FOUND A GAS LEAK WHERE THE FILLER HOSE ATTACHES TO THE GAS TANK. THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS PART OF THE GAS TANK HAD MANY CRACKS/FRACTURES THAT ALLOWED FUEL TO LEAK OUT. THE ONLY REPAIR OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE GAS TANK AT A COST TO ME OF $2,009.00. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GAS TANK HOLDS 22.5 GALLONS OF FUEL THAT COULD FLOW ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE IF THE PLASTIC FILLER PIECE FAILED COMPLETELY. *TR
GAS HAND DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, SOMETIMES YOU MAY FILL THE VEHICLE UP AND THE GAS HAND WILL SHOW EMPTY. SINCE THE GAS HAND STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYS ON. NO WAY OF KNOWING IF I'M ALMOST OUT OF GAS..SO I HAVE TO KEEP FILLING IT UP SO I WON'T BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER AND EVERY TIME WE FILL THE TANK WITH GAS THE GAUGE STOPS WORKING UNTIL IT REACHES HALF A TANK THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT IT DROPS TO ALMOST EMPTY. SO WE NEVER KNOW WHAT THE AMOUNT OF GAS WE HAVE IT. BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE IT REPLACED. BUT THE PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK AND 20 MILES LATER MY GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN READ E AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, THE REPAIR SHOP STATES THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS BAD AND THE REPAIR IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS…
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I PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER XLT 4X4. THE DAY AFTER I PURCHASED IT, I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK AND 20 MILES LATER MY GAS GAUGE ALL OF A SUDDEN READ E AND MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON, THE REPAIR SHOP STATES THE FUEL SENDING UNIT IS BAD AND THE REPAIR IS GOING TO BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS? I SURE HOPE I AM NOT LEFT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
REFUELING PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WILL ACCEPT ONLY A VERY SMALL QUANTITY OF FUEL AT A TIME, CAUSING AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF ON FUEL NOZZLE TO ACTIVATE. IT TAKES 15-20 MINUTES TO FILL THE TANK.
HAVE OWNED 2005 FORD EXPLORER SINCE NEW. AFTER 35,000 MILES THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO BOTTOM OUT ON EMPTY FOLLOWED BY A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYING ON. THE GAUGE WILL START WORKING AGAIN OFF AND ON BUT IT'S NOT RELIABLE. TRIED RUNNING A FUEL CLEANER THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND DID NOTHING FOR IT. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE…
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HAVE OWNED 2005 FORD EXPLORER SINCE NEW. AFTER 35,000 MILES THE GAS GAUGE STARTED TO BOTTOM OUT ON EMPTY FOLLOWED BY A SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT STAYING ON. THE GAUGE WILL START WORKING AGAIN OFF AND ON BUT IT'S NOT RELIABLE. TRIED RUNNING A FUEL CLEANER THROUGH IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND DID NOTHING FOR IT. ALSO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SAYS IT'S READING A BAD SENSOR IN ONE OF THE WHEELS. THIS VEHICLE IS WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND BABIED BY MY WIFE. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF CONSUMERS HAVING THE EXACT SAME TROUBLES WITH THE SAME VEHICLES. WHY IS FORD NOT HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS? THIS WAS NOT A BUDGET LOW COST CAR. WE PAID OVER $36,000.00 FOR THIS SUV. PLEASE HELP US IN ANY WAY YOU CAN. *TR
THE GAS GAUGE INTERMITTENTLY WILL DROP TO E AND IS NOT SHOWING CORRECT FUEL LEVEL OR CORRECT CONSUMPTION. THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE FIRST TIME OF FILLING THE RIG WITH GAS IN ADDITION TO THE GAUGE NOT WORKING RIGHT. CALLED FORD THEMSELVES AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE OF THIS CALIBER AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO "P…
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THE GAS GAUGE INTERMITTENTLY WILL DROP TO E AND IS NOT SHOWING CORRECT FUEL LEVEL OR CORRECT CONSUMPTION. THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER THE FIRST TIME OF FILLING THE RIG WITH GAS IN ADDITION TO THE GAUGE NOT WORKING RIGHT. CALLED FORD THEMSELVES AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NO KNOWN ISSUE OF THIS CALIBER AND WAS ENCOURAGED TO "PRINT OUT THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND ON LINE" AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED YESTERDAY WITH 84K MILES ON IT. HOW IS IT I CAN FIND COMPLAINTS OF THE EXACT CALIBER I AM HAVING BUT FORD SAYS THERE IS NO KNOWN PROBLEM? *TR
2005 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCEPTING FUEL AT ALL CA GAS STATIONS ....MUST HOLD PUMP NOZZLE AT VERY LOW VOLUME FOR EXTREMELY LONG PERIODS OF TIME TO FILL TANK COMPLETELY AND THEN BACKWASH SPILLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. STILL ONGOING PROBLEM ...THANK YOU *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2EA09013 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Aug 18, 2009 · Closed Feb 12, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift; Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Additional source detail variants (5)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:column Shift
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
Steering
This investigation is being closed based on several considerations.By the most inclusive counting of all alleged rollaway incidents (i.e., counting all alleged rollaway incidents and assuming a singular failure mechanism), the incident rate is low, however during EA09-013, ODI identified a number of different failure mechanisms in 180 incidents related to the alleged defect.The highest rate for any particular failure mechanism, the failure of the Automatic Transmission Parking System, was 4.4/100K.The next-highest failure rate was for the BSI System, at 3.4/100K.For all identified failure mechanisms there has been a drastically declining trend including very few incidents occurring in recent years.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.For additional information regarding this investigation, see the complete closing resume in the document file for EA09-013. The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10168454, 10279630, 10280078.
PE09020 · Vehicle Rollaway Allegations
Opened Apr 21, 2009 · Closed Aug 19, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:column; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Steering:column
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Steering
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED CONSUMER REPORTS OF HIGHER THAN EXPECTED EFFORTS WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF PARK COULD BE A RESULT OF A GROOVE BEING WORN INTO THE SWING ARM RAMP OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SWING ARM IS A COMPONENT BOLTED TO THE STEERING COLUMN THAT ASSISTS IN SHIFTING THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION GEARS.AN ENGINEERING EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY FORD OF RETURNED STEERING COLUMNS FOUND THE GROOVE COULD BE CREATED OVER TIME IF CONSUMER SHIFT MORE QUICKLY FROM THE DRIVE OR REVERSE TO PARK THAN THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK (BSI) SOLENOID PIN RETRACTS AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS APPLIED. IN NOVEMBER OF 2004, FORD RELEASED A REDESIGNED BSI SOLENOID WITH A SHORTER PIN RETRACTING TIME AS A SERVICEABLE COMPONENT. FORD HAS NOTED THE SHORTER RETRACTION TIME SIGNIFICANTLY LESSENS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BSI SOLENOID PIN TO SWING ARM CONTACT EVEN WITH RAPID CONSUMER SHIFTS.FORD ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, TSB 04-22-12, TO INSTRUCT SERVICE TECHNICIANS ON THE PROPER DIAGNOSIS AND VEHICLE REPAIR. REVIEWING COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND DATA SUBMITTED BY FORD, ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVE THEY HAVE SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES.IN ADDITION TO THE REPORTS OF ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, ODI HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED 883 REPORTS OF CONSUMERS ALLEGING DIFFICULTY OR THE INABILITY TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-013) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.