IllustrationTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK ON THE REAR LIFTGATE NEAR THE MANUFACTURING EMBLEM. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.
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
Structure complaints
151 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. AS A RESULT, THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HATCH BACK PANEL WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN FLAW. AS A RESULT, THE PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 12/06/11*LJ UPDATED 12/12/11
VERY LARGE CRACK IN THE REAR LIFT GATE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM LIKE 1 FOOT LONG AND 3/16 WIDE CLOSE TO THE FORD LOGO. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW AND EXTENDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GATE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM. THE CRACK HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IF IT WAS REPAIRED, IT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LIFTGATE WAS CRACKED UNDERNEATH THE WINDOW AND EXTENDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE GATE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE EMBLEM. THE CRACK HAD BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND IF IT WAS REPAIRED, IT WOULD PROBABLY CRACK AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,992.
FRONT ALUMINUM HOOD BEGAN PAINT BLISTERING AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. TWO YEARS LATER, PAINT BLISTERS RETURN. TSB 6-25-15 ISSUED WITH PAINTING GUIDELINES BUT NO REPAIR AUTHORITY. AFTER SECOND OCCURRENCE, DEALER SAID NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AND ADVISED US TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND…
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FRONT ALUMINUM HOOD BEGAN PAINT BLISTERING AT ABOUT 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. TWO YEARS LATER, PAINT BLISTERS RETURN. TSB 6-25-15 ISSUED WITH PAINTING GUIDELINES BUT NO REPAIR AUTHORITY. AFTER SECOND OCCURRENCE, DEALER SAID NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AND ADVISED US TO PAY TO REPLACE THE HOOD AND PAINT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A $45K CAR (LIMITED VERSION WITH ALL OPTIONS) *TR
NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY REAR WINDOW DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE REAR LIFT GATE TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON MY 2005 EXPLORER. CRACK JUST APPEARED FOR NO REASON. DID NOT TAKE IT IN OR HAVE IT FIXED. FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THIS FLAW SO I WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WILL NOT BUY …
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NOTICED A CRACK RUNNING FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY REAR WINDOW DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE UPPER PORTION OF THE REAR LIFT GATE TO THE LEFT OF THE FORD EMBLEM ON MY 2005 EXPLORER. CRACK JUST APPEARED FOR NO REASON. DID NOT TAKE IT IN OR HAVE IT FIXED. FORD WILL NOT OWN UP TO THIS FLAW SO I WILL NOT PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD SINCE THEY DON'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I ONLY HAVE 41000 MILES ON IT AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. *KB
ON FRIDAY, 8/12/11, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM, I NOTED AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH PANEL, LOCATED JUST ABOVE AND BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. AS OF THIS PAST MONDAY, 8/15/11, THIS CRACK HAS NOW EXTENDED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PANEL. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF BODY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT…
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ON FRIDAY, 8/12/11, AT APPROXIMATELY 5:30 PM, I NOTED AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG CRACK ON THE REAR HATCH PANEL, LOCATED JUST ABOVE AND BESIDE THE FORD EMBLEM. AS OF THIS PAST MONDAY, 8/15/11, THIS CRACK HAS NOW EXTENDED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE PANEL. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF BODY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENTS. THIS IS NOT AN AREA WHERE ANOTHER VEHICLE WOULD HAVE HIT MINE. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS JUST APPEARED WITH NO REASON. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND NOTED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF FORD AND IS APPARENTLY BASED ON DEFECTIVE GLUE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD COMPANY AND WAS ADVISED THAT THIS IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.
THE PAINT ON OUR 2005 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2008, BUT NOW IS GETTING WORSE. WHEN AT THE FORD DEALER WHILE GETTING THE COMPUTER CHANGED WICH IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH FUEL EFFICIENCY, WE ASKED ABOUT THE PAINT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ISN'T ANY TYPE OF RECALL. WE ARE ALSO H…
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THE PAINT ON OUR 2005 EDDIE BAUER EXPLORER IS BUBBLING AND PEELING OFF AND HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE 2008, BUT NOW IS GETTING WORSE. WHEN AT THE FORD DEALER WHILE GETTING THE COMPUTER CHANGED WICH IS ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH FUEL EFFICIENCY, WE ASKED ABOUT THE PAINT AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE ISN'T ANY TYPE OF RECALL. WE ARE ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TO CHANGE TIRES EVERY 15000 MILES. THI TRUCK HAS MANY DEFECTS. *TR
MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS A LARGE VERTICAL CRACK IN THE REAR PANEL. I HAVE SEEN THIS IN DOZENS OF VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR BODY STYLES, FOR REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND GAVE ME A QUOTE OF $472. *TR
CRACK IN THE REAR HATCH PANEL CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE KNOWN BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY BUT NO RECALL ISSUED. *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.