THE DRIVER'S SAFETY DEVICE (SEAT BELT) DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO CLICK/LOCK IT IN PLACE, EVEN WITH FORCEFUL PRESSURE. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT WILL COME UNLOCKED. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT IN MOTION. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE (NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATING IT IS…
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THE DRIVER'S SAFETY DEVICE (SEAT BELT) DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT IS SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO CLICK/LOCK IT IN PLACE, EVEN WITH FORCEFUL PRESSURE. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT WILL COME UNLOCKED. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING OR NOT IN MOTION. ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE SEAT BELT IS LOCKED IN PLACE (NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATING IT IS NOT) BUT THEN IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION. WHAT GOOD IS A SEAT BELT IF IT DOESN'T WORK? THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY HUSBAND AND ME.
NHTSA ODI #11010737
98,000 miles · Dec 11, 2016
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER SAFETY SEAT BELT DOES NOT EASILY LOCK IN PLACE EVEN WITH A HARD PUSH AND COMES OUT OF THE RETAINER UNDER PRESSURE ON THE BELT - ONLY REPEATED HARD PUSHES UNTIL A CLICK SOUNDS IS EFFECTIVE! THE LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE LOCKED WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THE DRIVER IN A FATALITY WOULD BE ACCUSED OF NOT FASTENING HI…
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THE DRIVER SAFETY SEAT BELT DOES NOT EASILY LOCK IN PLACE EVEN WITH A HARD PUSH AND COMES OUT OF THE RETAINER UNDER PRESSURE ON THE BELT - ONLY REPEATED HARD PUSHES UNTIL A CLICK SOUNDS IS EFFECTIVE! THE LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE LOCKED WHEN IN FACT IT IS NOT. THE DRIVER IN A FATALITY WOULD BE ACCUSED OF NOT FASTENING HIS SEAT BELT WHEN HE THOUGHT IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. THE WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATING THE SEAT BELT IS NOT FASTENED DOES NOT COME ON WHEN THE LOCKING MECHANISM IS NOT LOCKED IN PLACE MAKING THE DRIVER THINK THAT THE BELT IS SECURE WHEN IT IS NOT.
NHTSA ODI #10934573
70,000 miles · May 4, 2015
Air BagsExterior LightingSeat Belts
THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW MODULE IN ORDER FOR MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESULTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO. …
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THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ON AND STAYS ON. I TOOK IT TO MY FORD DEALER AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW MODULE IN ORDER FOR MY AIRBAG TO DEPLOY PROPERLY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE, I SEE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESULTS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD IS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND SOON. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ON MODELS FROM 1999-2014, AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CUSTOMERS ARE HAVING REPAIRS MADE THAT ARE NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE OFFICIAL FORD SITE TO REVIEW THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE BEEN SHOCKED THAT THIS ISSUE CONTINUES TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10714438
46,745 miles · May 7, 2012
Equipment Adaptive/mobilitySeat Belts
SEAT BELT TIGHTENS UP OVER CHEST AND WON'T RELEASE THIS WAS PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 EXPLORERS I BOUGHT 1991,1996,2003 AND NOW MY 2008 WHY CANT YOU GUYS GET A DIFFERENT COMPANY FOR YOUR SET BELTS THE ONE YOU USE SUCKS I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE DEFECTS BUT I GUESS THE OTHER PEOPLE AS LONG AS THE CAR RUNS THEY SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE B…
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SEAT BELT TIGHTENS UP OVER CHEST AND WON'T RELEASE THIS WAS PROBLEM WITH ALL 4 EXPLORERS I BOUGHT 1991,1996,2003 AND NOW MY 2008 WHY CANT YOU GUYS GET A DIFFERENT COMPANY FOR YOUR SET BELTS THE ONE YOU USE SUCKS I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY MORE DEFECTS BUT I GUESS THE OTHER PEOPLE AS LONG AS THE CAR RUNS THEY SAY NOTHING ABOUT THE BELT IF YOU NEED TO SEE CAR LET ME KNOW WHERE TO BRING IT AND YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF. *TR
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 4.6L ENGINE AND 6R TRANSMISSION, THE BOLT SECURING THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE FITTINGS AT THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TORQUED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT, THE BOLT MAY LOOSEN AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSING A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID CONTACTS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, IT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ATTACHMENT BOLT TIGHTENED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 30, 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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