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
What owners actually said
497 reports
59,989 miles · May 8, 2010
Power Train
THE MESSAGE SCREEN ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER STARTED DISPLAYING "CHECK TRANSMISSION" WHILE DRIVING. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND SPECIFICALLY THE 2005 MODEL. THE APPARENTLY ARE SO BA…
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THE MESSAGE SCREEN ON MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER STARTED DISPLAYING "CHECK TRANSMISSION" WHILE DRIVING. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH EXPLORERS AND SPECIFICALLY THE 2005 MODEL. THE APPARENTLY ARE SO BACKED UP THAT IT WOULD TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR MY CAR TO BE FIXED. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, IT SEEMS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS FLAWED. I'M NO EXPERT BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN AROUND 60K MILES TO EVERY ONE. TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE. I BARELY MADE IT HOME. IT TOOK LESS THAN 3 HRS FOR THE CAR TO STOP GOING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10329413
47,000 miles · Apr 30, 2010
SteeringVehicle Speed ControlFire
I WAS DRIVING ON 77 NORTH IN FANCY GAP, VA, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM CAR AND IN FACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SAID HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY IN FLAMES. I EXITED THROUGH DRIVER SIDE DOOR.…
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I WAS DRIVING ON 77 NORTH IN FANCY GAP, VA, WHEN SUDDENLY I LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM CAR AND IN FACT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SAID HE NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY IN FLAMES. I EXITED THROUGH DRIVER SIDE DOOR. MY PASSENGER HAD TO EXIT THROUGH DRIVER DOOR AS WELL BECAUSE FLAMES WERE SPREADING ACROSS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. WE DISTANCED OURSELVES FROM THE VEHICLE AS THE ENTIRE THING BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. CARROLL COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT AND VA STATE POLICE ARRIVED. IT TOOK OVER 45 MINUTES FOR THE FIRE TO BE EXTINGUISHED; THE CAR KEPT RE-IGNITING, EVEN AFTER SEVERAL APPLICATIONS OF WATER AND ANTI-FLAME CHEMICALS. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE MELTED, INCLUDING TIRES. NOTHING WAS SALVAGEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER WITH ONLY 47,000 MILES. IT WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND RECENTLY SERVICED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328216
62,000 miles · Apr 27, 2010
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH IN SLIGHTLY ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID OVER BLACK ICE AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARM, SHOULDERS AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 30 MPH IN SLIGHTLY ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID OVER BLACK ICE AND CRASHED INTO A NEARBY WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARM, SHOULDERS AND NECK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DEALER ADVISED CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RETURN CALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 62,000. UPDATED 07/13/2010.*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10327729
39,304 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Power Train
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY. ENGINE WOULD REV BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A MASSIVE FLUID LEAK INSIDE THE CONVERTER HOUSING AND FLUID WAS DRIPPING ON THE HOT EXHAUST. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE…
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THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY. ENGINE WOULD REV BUT VEHICLE WOULDN'T GO. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A MASSIVE FLUID LEAK INSIDE THE CONVERTER HOUSING AND FLUID WAS DRIPPING ON THE HOT EXHAUST. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PUMP SEAL IN THE TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 39,200 MILES. THE REPAIR COST $1100.00. LAST YEAR I SPENT $800.00 TO REPLACE THE FAILED SOLENOIDS IN THE TRANSMISSION BODY THAT WERE POSTED IN A FORD TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. HOWEVER, FORD DID NOT WISH TO COVER THE COST SINCE I WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY BY ONE YEAR ALTHOUGH I ONLY HAD 35,900 MILES AT THE TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10326535
59,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS CRACKING; IT WAS ENCASED WITH PLASTIC AND WATER GOT INTO IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT A…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE INTO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC INFORMED HIM THAT THE REAR COIL SPRING WAS CRACKING; IT WAS ENCASED WITH PLASTIC AND WATER GOT INTO IT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 59,000. UPDATED 09/15/10. *LJUPDATED 09/16/10
NHTSA ODI #10325458
49,000 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Power Train
COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 49,000 MILES CAR 3 YEARS OLD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325441
36,500 miles · Mar 31, 2010
Visibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS EXHIBITED A FILM AND DIRT BUILD UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD GLASS EXHIBITED A FILM AND DIRT BUILD UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,100.
NHTSA ODI #10323012
107,000 miles · Mar 29, 2010
Power Train
FORD EXPLORER 2005 TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CAR WOULD NOT LEAVE FIRST GEAR. HAD I BEEN ON A HIGHWAY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO RAMPANT WITH ALL FORD EXPLORERS--FORD SHOULD HAVE HAD A RECALL ON THEM!!
NHTSA ODI #10322681
100,600 miles · Mar 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN A RESIDENTIAL ZONE (35 MPH) WHEN I BLEW A SPARK PLUG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP 1.5 MILES AWAY, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND FORD HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. THERE REALLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10320619
50,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Structure
I HAVE A CRACK ON THE TAILGATE OF MY 2005 FOR EXPLORER. I SAW ON OUR LOCAL NEWS THAT MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10320023
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.
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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