NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
497 reports80,000 miles · Feb 16, 2009
Power Train
DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK ALL OF THE SUDDEN TRANSMISSION OVER HEAT ALARM COMES ON, THEN WHITE SMOKE OUT THE BACK ON MY TRUCK. 2005 FORD EXPLODER XL MODEL I STOPPED WAITING A WHILE AND THEN WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND YES THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. AT 140000 K. NOT THE BAD PART IS THAT THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSI…
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DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK ALL OF THE SUDDEN TRANSMISSION OVER HEAT ALARM COMES ON, THEN WHITE SMOKE OUT THE BACK ON MY TRUCK. 2005 FORD EXPLODER XL MODEL I STOPPED WAITING A WHILE AND THEN WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE AND YES THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. AT 140000 K. NOT THE BAD PART IS THAT THIS IS THE 2ND TRANSMISSION I HAVE PUT IN THIS TRUCK. THE FIRST ONE WAS AT 75K JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, MY DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE FIRST ONE SAID POINT BLACK" TAKE IT TO A 3RD PARTY TRANSMISSION PLACE AS WE WOULD CHARGE YOU TOO MUCH, SO THERE YOU HAVE IT 2005 TRUCK AND I AM ON MY 3RD TRANNY. CAN NOT SELL AS WILL ONLY GET 60 % OF WHAT I OWE! NOW I ONLY DRIVE AROUND HOME NOT TO WORK SO MUCH FOR BUILT FORD TOUGH, DRIVING MY NEW KIA TO WORK JUST SAD! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258820
59,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Visibility
THE REAR WINDSHIELD IMPLODED ,AND NO FOREIGN OBJECTS WERE FOUND . IT WAS REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258010
85,000 miles · Feb 7, 2009
Electrical SystemVisibility
AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SWITCH THAT SELECTS HEAT AND COLD IS BROKEN AND ONLY MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, AND WILL NOT PULL IN HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WARM UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR COSTS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. THIS IS ALSO A SEVERE SA…
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AFTER HAVING THIS VEHICLE FOR ONLY 2 YEARS, THE HEATER/ DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THE SWITCH THAT SELECTS HEAT AND COLD IS BROKEN AND ONLY MAKES A CLICKING SOUND, AND WILL NOT PULL IN HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS AND WARM UP THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS REPAIR COSTS QUITE A BIT OF MONEY. THIS IS ALSO A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS AND THE NEED TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL OTHERS COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257816
48,000 miles · Feb 6, 2009
Power Train
WE PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN MAY '08 W/38000 MI. ON IT CARFAX, AT THAT TIME, INDICATED A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED ON 2/9/07 @ 27643 MI. LATELY THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING GOOD SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC, WHO TELLS US IT IS A "TICKING TIME BOMB" AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION ASAP. THE CAR CURRENTLY HA…
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WE PURCHASED A 2005 FORD EXPLORER IN MAY '08 W/38000 MI. ON IT CARFAX, AT THAT TIME, INDICATED A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED ON 2/9/07 @ 27643 MI. LATELY THE TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN RUNNING GOOD SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC, WHO TELLS US IT IS A "TICKING TIME BOMB" AND NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION ASAP. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 48953 MI ON IT. HE ENCOURAGES US TO INVESTIGATE RECALLS AND WARRANTY INFO. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHO INSTALLED THE TRANSMISSION IN 2/07, THEY SAID IT HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED, BUT OTHER PARTS (RELATING TO THE TRANS) WERE REPLACED. WE REQUESTED A COPY OF THE SERVICE ORDER FAXED TO US. ONCE REC'D, CODES AND WORDING ARE VERY CONFUSING BUT WE BELIEVE IT TO INDICATE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. ALSO THE SERVICE TECH WE SPOKE TO TOLD US THE WARRANTY WAS A 3 YR/36K MI SO A REPLACEMENT NOW WOULD NOT BE COVERED. WE BELIEVE THIS TRANSMISSION HAS A MAJOR DEFECT IF, IN FACT, IT WAS REPLACED @ 27643 AND THE NEW ONE NOW HAS ONLY 21000 MI ON IT. WE CALLED FORD MOTOR CO SERVICE DEPT. BASED ON THEIR RECORDS FROM THE VIN #, THEY TOLD US THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2/07. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WAS CHANGED ON THE '05 EXPLORER TRANSMISSION TO 3 YR/75K MI. (WHY WASN'T THE LENGTH OF TERM CHANGED ALSO?). THEY ALSO TOLD US THAT THE NEW TRANSMISSION DID NOT COME WITH A NEW WARRANTY OF ITS OWN ' IT FELL UNDER THE OLD WARRANTY. WE'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 8 MONTHS; WE'VE PUT 11K MILES ON IT AND IT NEEDS MAJOR REPAIRS THAT WERE EVIDENT PRIOR TO OUR PURCHASE. QUESTIONS REMAIN: DID THE DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN '07 OR NOT? IF NOT, WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND WAS FORD MOTOR CO. BILLED FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION? IF IT WAS REPLACED, WHY ARE THESE TRANSMISSIONS GOING BAD AFTER ONLY 20-25K MILES? AND WHY WON'T FORD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257716
70,000 miles · Feb 6, 2009
Equipment
ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE HEATER BEGAN TO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IT KEPT MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND, BEFORE PROVIDING HEAT. NOW THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT HEAT AT ALL. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE, AND REALIZED MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY ISN IT A RECALL THEN. THE AVERAGE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $600.00 . I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD WO…
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ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO THE HEATER BEGAN TO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IT KEPT MAKING A CLUNKING SOUND, BEFORE PROVIDING HEAT. NOW THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOT HEAT AT ALL. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE, AND REALIZED MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY ISN IT A RECALL THEN. THE AVERAGE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS $600.00 . I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD WONT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257667
52,000 miles · Jan 17, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
2005 FORD EXPLORER, GAS GAUGE QUIT WORKING. SITS BELOW EMPTY, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FOR A FEW DAYS IT WOULD GO UP AND DOWN THEN JUST WENT DOWN AND HAS NEVER MOVED AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS NOW. HAVE TO USE TRIPOMETER TO KNOW WHEN TO FILL UP. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC HOPING IT WAS A LOOSE CONN…
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2005 FORD EXPLORER, GAS GAUGE QUIT WORKING. SITS BELOW EMPTY, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. FOR A FEW DAYS IT WOULD GO UP AND DOWN THEN JUST WENT DOWN AND HAS NEVER MOVED AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS NOW. HAVE TO USE TRIPOMETER TO KNOW WHEN TO FILL UP. HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC HOPING IT WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION. HE SAID IT WAS IN THE FUEL TANK AND TO CHECK IF OTHERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. AMAZINGLY THERE ARE ALOT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255436
35,000 miles · Jan 14, 2009
Fuel System, Other
2005 FORD EXPLORER FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255000
78,000 miles · Dec 1, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (ABOUT 6 TIMES TOTAL) AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS LOST ALL POWER. ALL INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. EACH INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BELOW 45 MPH AND WHILE COASTING ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS (ABOUT 6 TIMES TOTAL) AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING, MY 2005 FORD EXPLORER HAS LOST ALL POWER. ALL INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED WITHIN THE PAST 6 MONTHS WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. EACH INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT SPEEDS BELOW 45 MPH AND WHILE COASTING ON A SLIGHT DOWNGRADE. MY CONCERN IS THAT I WILL LOSE POWER IN A CRUCIAL SITUATION AND NOT BE ABLE TO STEER OR STOP EFFECTIVELY SINCE THESE FEATURES FUNCTION MOST EFFECTIVELY WITH FULL POWER. IN ALL INSTANCES I MOVED THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY TROUBLE. I DID CATCH IT ONE TIME BEFORE IT LOST POWER, AGAIN WHILE COASTING I NOTICED THE TACHOMETER DROP TO ALMOST 0. AT SEEING THIS I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR, THE RPM WENT BACK TO A NORMAL RANGE AND I DROVE ON AS NORMAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250417
42,000 miles · Nov 25, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO EMPTY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON. HAPPENED IN JULY '08 AND CAME RIGHT BACK ON. THOUGHT IT WAS A "FLUKE" THING WITH MY FUEL FLOAT IN TANK. HAPPENED AGAIN LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK. DECIDED TO DO SOME "RESEARCHING" AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. …
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FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY DROPS TO EMPTY AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT COMES ON. HAPPENED IN JULY '08 AND CAME RIGHT BACK ON. THOUGHT IT WAS A "FLUKE" THING WITH MY FUEL FLOAT IN TANK. HAPPENED AGAIN LAST WEEK AND THIS WEEK. DECIDED TO DO SOME "RESEARCHING" AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THIS YEAR/MAKE/MODEL. NOT HAPPY! PURCHASED NEW AND ONLY HAS 42,000 MILES! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249875
100,000 miles · Oct 26, 2008
Tires
I WAS REMOVING CAPS ON VALVE STEMS TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE VALVE STEM BROKE OFF IN THE CAP. IT IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED THE TIRE COMPLETELY! I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT AND COMING OFF THE RIM. I HAD THE SPARE TIRE PUT ON. WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD ALOT OF VEHI…
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I WAS REMOVING CAPS ON VALVE STEMS TO CHECK TIRE PRESSURE WHEN THE VALVE STEM BROKE OFF IN THE CAP. IT IMMEDIATELY DEFLATED THE TIRE COMPLETELY! I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS NOT DRIVING. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT AND COMING OFF THE RIM. I HAD THE SPARE TIRE PUT ON. WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER SAID THAT THEY HAD ALOT OF VEHICLES IN THAT THE VALVE STEMS HAD BROKEN OFF. VERY DANGEROUS. I AM NOW AFRAID THAT THE VALVE STEMS ON THE OTHER TIRES COULD DO THE SAME THING. BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE TIRE SENSORS IN VALVE STEMS IT IS VERY COSTLY TO REPLACE AND ONLY A FORD DEALER CAN GET THE PART AND RECALIBRATE THE COMPUTER FOR THE SENSORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10246729
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.
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