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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Power Train complaints

99 reports
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94,000 miles · Dec 30, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO REVERSE AT A LOW SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO REVERSE AT A LOW SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD BEFORE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JERKED BACKWARDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR LEVER IN THE REVERSE POSITION FAILED TO OPERATE AFTER THREE MONTHS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ODI #10817132

93,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Power Train

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION BEGINING TO SLIP, SOON WILL AHVE NO 4TH GEAR OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE IS UP TO DATE WITH MATINANACE AND EVERYTHING MILEAGE IS STILL BELOW 95,000 MILES. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE THAT THE FORD COMPANY IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN REPORTED.

NHTSA ODI #10816557

124,956 miles · Oct 7, 2015
Power Train

TRANSMISSION GRINDS/SLIPS GOING FROM 2 TO 3 GEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10780691

Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2015
Power TrainWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH MAKING A TURN, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH MAKING A TURN, THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS SEIZED AND EMITTED AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10749800

124,000 miles · Aug 13, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS HAPPEND DURING HIGHWAY HIGH SPEED DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ON CARS BUILT 11/24/04 AND PRIOR. THE CODES ARE P2106 AND P2135. IT'S CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REQUIRES…

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THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND HAS HAPPEND DURING HIGHWAY HIGH SPEED DRIVING. IT HAPPENS ON CARS BUILT 11/24/04 AND PRIOR. THE CODES ARE P2106 AND P2135. IT'S CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND REQUIRES A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE RESET B36.11, B37.2 OR HIGHER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAR FORD READILY ACKOWLEDGES. THEY HAVE UGRADED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR TWICE WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10748493

Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2015
Power Train

2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING COLUMN GEAR SHIFTER PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON DECEMBER 10, 2010 THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE AGAIN FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10703669

110,000 miles · Mar 29, 2015
Power Train

IN NOV OF 2014 WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR 100K MILE SERVICE. WE TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE DRIVE TRAIN BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT HESITATION THEN A CLUNK THEN THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO MOVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THEY INSTALLED A COMPUTER UPGRADE TO IMPROVE THE SHIFTING.…

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IN NOV OF 2014 WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER FOR 100K MILE SERVICE. WE TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE DRIVE TRAIN BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THERE WOULD BE A SLIGHT HESITATION THEN A CLUNK THEN THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO MOVE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO ISSUE AND THEY INSTALLED A COMPUTER UPGRADE TO IMPROVE THE SHIFTING. THEY ALSO CHANGED THE TRANNY FLUID. THEN IN MARCH OF 2015 WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND GOT WORSE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AGAIN AND THEY TOOK 2 WEEKS TO FIGURE OUT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACED. THEY SAID $3500 FOR A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL OF IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10702437

150,000 miles · Nov 5, 2014
EnginePower Train

IM NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE WITH ENGINE SECTION BUT I DIDN'T SEE A TRANSMISSION PART. I WAS DRIVING MY SUV AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT IN THE MESSAGE CENTER CAME ON AND SAID , OVER DRIVE ON /OFF KEPT FLASHING . TOOK TO A BODY SHOP NEARBY THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION MECHANIC TOLD ME …

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IM NOT SURE IF THIS SHOULD BE WITH ENGINE SECTION BUT I DIDN'T SEE A TRANSMISSION PART. I WAS DRIVING MY SUV AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT IN THE MESSAGE CENTER CAME ON AND SAID , OVER DRIVE ON /OFF KEPT FLASHING . TOOK TO A BODY SHOP NEARBY THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE TRANSMISSION. WITH FURTHER INVESTIGATION MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT SECOND / THIRD GEAR WAS GONE . I ENDED UP SPENDING $4500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION TO BE INSTALLED. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2005 FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652756

59,752 miles · Mar 27, 2014
Power TrainStructureSuspension

2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR AXLE LEAKING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLES WERE REPLACED AT 59,752. A YEAR LATER AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE IN THE REAR END FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, THE REAR PANEL BENEATH THE WINDOW …

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2005 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE REAR AXLE LEAKING. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR AXLES WERE REPLACED AT 59,752. A YEAR LATER AFTER LISTENING TO THE NOISE IN THE REAR END FOR QUITE SOME TIME, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. SIX MONTHS LATER, THEY WERE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, THE REAR PANEL BENEATH THE WINDOW WAS RUSTED AND THE THROTTLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AS IT IS CAUSING VEHICLE HESITATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10572495

70,000 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Power Train

AS I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE PANEL SUDDENLY STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING LIGHTS AND MY CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INFORMATION CENTER INDICATED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL IT REACHES VERY HIGH RPM AND WHEN IT DOES SHIFT IT IS VER…

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AS I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE PANEL SUDDENLY STARTED BEEPING AND FLASHING LIGHTS AND MY CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. THE O/D LIGHT CAME ON AND THE INFORMATION CENTER INDICATED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY TRANSMISSION. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL IT REACHES VERY HIGH RPM AND WHEN IT DOES SHIFT IT IS VERY HARD. I DRIVE THE CAR TO AND FROM WORK A TOTAL OF 6 MILES A DAY AND ALMOST NEVER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT IS ALMOST 10 YEARS OLD AND IT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES. I'VE HEARD THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH FORD TRANSMISSIONS FOR OVER 10 YEARS BUT THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN BUYING FORD CARS SINCE 1995 BUT THIS WILL BE MY LAST. TOO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THEY REFUSE TO FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10568662

Official recalls

0

No 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

2

EA09013 · 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.

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