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2007 Ford Explorer

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

184 reports with mileage · 24 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

208 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WELL I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SUV THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF HIS CHILDREN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO NOT WANT TO RUN AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING BACK ON US. THEN A BAD SMELL CAME IN THE TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK INSIDE THE HOOD. AS HE OPENED…

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WELL I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SUV THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF. MY HUSBAND AND I HAD JUST DROPPED OFF HIS CHILDREN WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO NOT WANT TO RUN AS IF THE TRUCK WAS PULLING BACK ON US. THEN A BAD SMELL CAME IN THE TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND PARKED THE CAR TO CHECK INSIDE THE HOOD. AS HE OPENED THE HOOD A FLAME SHOT OUT AT HIM. I JUMPED OUT THE TRUCK AND INSTANTLY THAT SUV WAS ON FIRE. DOES ANYONE KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TRUCKS CATCHING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON? PLEASE LET ME KNOW SO THAT I CAN INFORM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THANK YOU , NATALIE C. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225233

500 miles · Mar 18, 2008
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND LUNGES FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THEY PERFORMED TSB WORK AND RESET THE TCM SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATES AND LUNGES FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES AND THEY PERFORMED TSB WORK AND RESET THE TCM SYSTEM. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10221615

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WANTS TO SURGE IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN SLAMS ITSELF INTO SECOND. ALSO AT LOW SPEEDS IT WANTS TO SURGE UP AND DOWN BY NOT PUSHING ON THE GAS. NOW THE SEAT BELT IS STUCK WHERE I CAN HARDLY GET IT LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT ON. I HAVE REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT FIXED I…

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TRANSMISSION WANTS TO SURGE IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN SLAMS ITSELF INTO SECOND. ALSO AT LOW SPEEDS IT WANTS TO SURGE UP AND DOWN BY NOT PUSHING ON THE GAS. NOW THE SEAT BELT IS STUCK WHERE I CAN HARDLY GET IT LONG ENOUGH TO GET IT ON. I HAVE REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BEFORE. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION AND IT FIXED IT FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK .THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. SURE WISH I HAD NEVER HAVE BOUGHT IT. I GOT SO DISGUSTED I BOUGHT A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY AND LOVE IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217700

5,600 miles · Jan 24, 2008
Power Train

I BOUGHT A 2007 IRONMAN FORD EXPLORER IN APRIL. AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. JERKING INTO GEAR AND SURGING FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN DEC.2007 AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOUR DAYS LATER IT WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY DROVE …

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I BOUGHT A 2007 IRONMAN FORD EXPLORER IN APRIL. AT ABOUT 5,000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. JERKING INTO GEAR AND SURGING FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN DEC.2007 AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOUR DAYS LATER IT WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER THEY DROVE IT FOR A WHILE THEY FINALLY NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THEY RE- PROGRAMMED IT AND IT DROVE FINE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. ON JAN. 18TH IT WAS BACK IN AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM NOW THE HAVE HAD IT FOR SEVEN DAYS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215840

16,000 miles · Jan 18, 2008
SuspensionCrash

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BALL JOINT FAILED AND CAUSED THE WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WANTS FURTHER INSPECTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,000. UPDATED 02/12/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE WHEEL FELL OFF PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, CAUSING IT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT AND CRASH INTO PARK CARS. STATE OF MICHIGAN TRAFFIC REPORT UPDATED 02/12/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10215326

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2008
Power TrainStructure

I PURCHASED MY NEW 2007 EXPLORER V8 EDDIE BAUER ON 06-07-07. I TRADED IN A 2002 SAME THING. THE MINUTE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT I KNEW THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH IT. IT WANTS TO SURGE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AND WHEN IT FINALLY GOES IN IT JUST SLAMS ITSELF IN. ALSO IF YOU ARE IDLING ALONG AT A SLOW SPEED IT ACTS L…

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I PURCHASED MY NEW 2007 EXPLORER V8 EDDIE BAUER ON 06-07-07. I TRADED IN A 2002 SAME THING. THE MINUTE I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT I KNEW THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH IT. IT WANTS TO SURGE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AND WHEN IT FINALLY GOES IN IT JUST SLAMS ITSELF IN. ALSO IF YOU ARE IDLING ALONG AT A SLOW SPEED IT ACTS LIKE YOU ARE GENTLY GIVING IT GAS AS IT SPEEDS UP AND SLOWS DOWN. THE BACK LOCK ON THE WINDOW WANTS TO POP OPEN A LOT ALSO. THE DEALER HAS REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION ONCE AND FOR ABOUT A WEEK I THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. THEN IT STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE EXPLORER NOW SITS IN MY GARAGE FOR 99.9% OF THE TIME. IT HAS 5808.8 MILES ON IT. I GOT SO DISGUSTED WITH THE THING I BOUGHT A 2008 TOYOTA CAMRY AND JUST LOVE IT. I HAVE BEEN A UNION MEMBER ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE ALWAYS BOUGHT AMERICAN PRODUCTS BUT IT SEEMS THE AMERICAN MANUFACTURES NO LONGER CARE OR THERE DESIGNERS NO LONGER CARE AS SOME OF THE FOREIGN MANUFACTURES ARE PUTTING OUR PRODUCTS TO SHAME. THIS USED TO BE A PROUD COUNTRY BUT NOW IT IS JUST GREED. I BELIEVE I HAVE BOUGHT MY LAST AMERICAN CAR OR UNTIL THEY GET THERE ACT BACK TOGETHER. FORD MOTOR YOU ARE PUTTING OUT JUNK. GET BACK IN THE BALL GAME. A VERY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214821

14,600 miles · Jan 6, 2008
Electrical System

ON 11/23/2007 MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER WITH 14,600 MILES ON IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CHANGED THE MAIN COMPUTER AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR THIS PART OF THE REPAIR. THEY THEN SAID IT NEEDED A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH THEY ORDERED. THE NEW PART WILL NOT BE HERE UNTIL THE MIDDL…

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ON 11/23/2007 MY 2007 FORD EXPLORER WITH 14,600 MILES ON IT WOULD NOT START. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY CHANGED THE MAIN COMPUTER AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT TOOK 2 WEEKS FOR THIS PART OF THE REPAIR. THEY THEN SAID IT NEEDED A NEW INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH THEY ORDERED. THE NEW PART WILL NOT BE HERE UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF JAN. 2008. SO I WILL BE WITHOUT MY EXPLORER FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS. AFTER THE FIRST 2 WEEKS THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A CAR TO DRIVE. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE WAY WAY TO LONG TO HAVE A NEW CAR (RELATIVELY) TO BE REPAIRED. DO YOU HAVE INFO OF THIS PART FAILING ON MORE FORD EXPLORERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213984

60,000 miles · Dec 6, 2007
Power Train

THE LATEST COMPLAINT/ISSUE IS THAT I AM GETTING A BLINKING "O/D OFF" LIGHT AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IN MY EXPLORER. I HAD JUST HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR SOME EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT, FOLLOWING A LITANY OF BACK-TO-BACK ELECTRICAL ISSUES (FULL BATTERY FAILURE, FAILURE OF THE 4WD COMPONENT, BROKEN OR DETACHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR, …

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THE LATEST COMPLAINT/ISSUE IS THAT I AM GETTING A BLINKING "O/D OFF" LIGHT AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IN MY EXPLORER. I HAD JUST HAD MY TRUCK IN FOR SOME EXTENSIVE ASSESSMENT, FOLLOWING A LITANY OF BACK-TO-BACK ELECTRICAL ISSUES (FULL BATTERY FAILURE, FAILURE OF THE 4WD COMPONENT, BROKEN OR DETACHED WIRE IN DRIVER'S DOOR, RESULTING IN INABILITY TO LOCK/ALARM THAT DOOR WITH REMOTE) AS WELL AS, LONG AS IT WAS IN THERE, THE 60K MAINTENANCE CYCLE (WHICH INCLUDED ELECTRICAL, TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AND AXLE CHECKUP). THEN, PROBLEMS AGAIN - I NOTED A BLINKING "O/D OFF" LIGHT AND "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT ON THE CONSOLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE WEEKEND. I WAS FORCED TO TAKE IT BACK IN FOR MAINTENANCE, ABOUT 3-4 WEEKS AFTER THE LAST SERVICE. JUST TALKING THROUGH THIS ON THE PHONE WITH THE SERVICE DEPT, THE INDICATED IT WAS PROBABLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM - QUICK SEARCH ON THE WEB FOR OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH SIMILAR INDICATIONS/WARNING LIGHTS SEEMED TO BACK THAT UP - SO I ANTICIPATED I WAS LOOKING AT A FULL TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THE FORD DEALER WHERE I GET SERVICE DONE WAS IN A 2-WEEK BACKLOG ON TRANSMISSION WORK (SEEMS FORD HAS A LOT OF THESE ISSUES...)...SO I ENDED UP DROPPING OFF MY TRUCK AND DID NOT SEE IT FOR 2 WEEKS WHILE THE WORK WAS DONE - THEN, WHEN I ASKED IF THEY HAD REBUILT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION (SO THAT I COULD EXPECT, AT LEAST, ANOTHER 50-60K W/O THE NEXT ISSUE), THEY NOTED THAT THEY HAD NOT REBUILT IT ALL - HERE AT AM A FEW WEEKS LATER AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE ACTING UP AGAIN...VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE QUALITY OF THIS FORD WITH THE REPEATED, BACK-TO-BACK ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES THAT ALL SEEM TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME - RIGHT AROUND 50-60K FOR THE 2003 MODEL XLT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210990

2,400 miles · Nov 28, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO RE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. AS OF NOVEMBER 28, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,588.

NHTSA ODI #10210158

5,899 miles · Nov 3, 2007
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WE HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2007 FORD EXPLORER, HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING IT FOR THREE WEEKS, WE'D HADN'T EVEN MADE OUR FIRST PAYMENT YET. WE WERE AT A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, WHEN THE EXPLORER TOOK OFF BY ITSELF. BY THIS, I MEAN BOTH OF MY HUSBAND'S FEET WERE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EXPLORER…

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WE HAD JUST PURCHASED A NEW 2007 FORD EXPLORER, HAD ONLY BEEN DRIVING IT FOR THREE WEEKS, WE'D HADN'T EVEN MADE OUR FIRST PAYMENT YET. WE WERE AT A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, WHEN THE EXPLORER TOOK OFF BY ITSELF. BY THIS, I MEAN BOTH OF MY HUSBAND'S FEET WERE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EXPLORER STARTED SURGING FORWARD BY ITSELF. TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF US, HE TURNED THE VEHICLE TO GO DOWN BETWEEN THE TWO LANES, AND SCRAPED DOWN THE SIDES OF OTHER CARS. THE VEHICLE ONLY FINALLY STOPPED WHEN MY HUSBAND THREW THE VEHICLE IN THE PARK. THERE WAS VEHICLE DAMAGE TO TWO VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PERFORMED COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS AND TESTING. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. WE HAD SUPPLIED THEM WITH COPIES OF 30-100 OTHER FORMAL COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS WHO HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR SURGING IN THEIR EXPLORERS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRING ANYTHING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT! WE WERE LUCKY NO ONE WAS INJURED AND WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT IN CASE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. WITH THE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS, MANY SERVICE BULLETINS TO FORD, YOU WOULD THINK THERE WOULD BE A RECALL OR AT LEAST SOME OTHER RECOURSE BESIDES "SORRY, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, HAVE A NICE DAY." *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207851

Official recalls

1

07V181000 · Steering

Apr 25, 2007

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TWO BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME MAY HAVE BEEN OVER-TIGHTENED. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ONE OR BOTH OF THE BOLTS FRACTURING, CAUSING THE STEERING GEAR TO BECOME LOOSE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN STEERING AS WELL AS DECREASED STEERING EFFECTIVENESS POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH THE STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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

1

PE08060 · Tire Valve Cracking

Opened Oct 14, 2008 · Closed Apr 9, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Tires:valve

ON OCTOBER 14, 2008, ODI OPENED PE08-060 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRACKED AND LEAKING SNAP-IN TIRE VALVES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY.THE VALVES WERE SUPPLIED TO FORD BY TOPSEAL AUTO-PARTS, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHANGHAI BAOLONG AUTOMOTIVE CORPORATION IN CHINA.VALVES MADE BY TOPSEAL FOR AFTERMARKET SALE WERE THE SUBJECT OF TWO RECENT SAFETY RECALLS BY TECH INTERNATIONAL (08T-018) AND DILL AIR CONTROLS (08T-028), THE LATTER OF WHICH WAS INVESTIGATED BY ODI IN PE08-036 AND EA08-022.THE DEFECT CONDITIONS ADDRESSED BY THE AFTERMARKET TIRE VALVE RECALLS BOTH INVOLVED INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE SUPPLY OF ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS TO TOPSEAL FOR A PERIOD FROM JULY TO MID-NOVEMBER 2006.THE AFTERMARKET VALVES WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A BLEND OF EPDM AND NATURAL RUBBER, USING A RELATIVELY LOW PERCENTAGE OF EPDM (EPDM PROVIDES INHERENT RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING).HENCE, THE NEED FOR ANTI-OZONANT CHEMICALS AND THE PROBLEMS WITH CRACKING WHEN THOSE CHEMICALS WERE MISSING OR OUT OF SPECIFICATION IN SOME LOTS OF VALVES.BOTH RECALL CAMPAIGNS INVOLVED INSPECTION PROGRAMS TO IDENTIFY AND REPLACE VALVES WITH VISIBLE SURFACE CRACKING.ALTHOUGH THE TOPSEAL VALVES SUPPLIED TO FORD ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE ANTI-OZONANT SUPPLY ISSUES IN MID TO LATE-2006, FORD INDICATED THAT ITS VALVES WERE MADE AT A DIFFERENT TOPSEAL PRODUCTION LINE AND WERE COMPOUNDED WITH A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF EPDM RUBBER TO MEET MORE STRINGENT SPECIFICATIONS FROM FORD.ODI'S ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED BY FORD SHOWED THAT PROBLEMS WITH CRACKED TIRE VALVES WERE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR MY 2007 VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007.FORD RESPONDED BY IMPLEMENTING CHANGES IN ITS MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SNAP-IN RUBBER TIRE VALVES AND ALSO INCREASING THE QUALITY AND ACCEPTANCE STANDARDS FOR VALVES IMPORTED FOR USE IN ITS VEHICLES.WHILE THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES ARE ELEVATED FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 2006 THROUGH MARCH 2007, THE RATES OF LEAKING VALVES ARE WELL BELOW ONE PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR EACH OF THE PEAK MONTHS FOR ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS.A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS (TPMS) WHICH WARN THE DRIVER WHEN ANY TIRE PRESSURES DROPS BELOW 25 PERCENT OF RECOMMENDED INFLATION PRESSURE. AS OUTLINED IN A LETTER TO ODI DATED APRIL 6, 2009, FORD HAS AGREED TO SEND LETTERS TO OWNERS OF CERTAIN MY 2007 AND 2008 FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CRACKING CONCERN. LETTERS WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES BUILT FROM NOVEMBER 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007.OWNERS CAN OPT FOR A FREE DEALER INSPECTION.VALVES EXHIBITING SURFACE CRACKS OR AIR LEAKAGE RELATED TO OZONE ATTACK WILL BE REPLACED BY FORD UNDER ITS NORMAL WARRANTY TERMS.FORD EXPECTS TO SEND THE LETTER BY APPROXIMATELY MID-MAY 2009. BASED ON THE USE OF TPMS IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECT VEHICLES AND THE RELATIVELY LOW RATES OF REPAIRS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAKING VALVES AND RESULTANT TIRE DAMAGE, ODI BELIEVES THAT THE ACTIONS FORD HAS AGREED TO TAKE WILL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION FOR VEHICLES THAT WERE BUILT DURING THE PERIOD WHEN VALVES WITH INADEQUATE RESISTANCE TO OZONE CRACKING WERE MOST LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN USED IN VEHICLE PRODUCTION.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.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.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO

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