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2008 Ford F-150

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Ford F-150 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 676.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

320 reports with mileage · 49 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.

  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

39 crash reports12 fire reports28 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

29 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

I experienced a loss in power while driving and not driving, as well as locking my keys in the vehicle once It would not unlock. The gear shifting knob stopped due to what seemed like resistance an the damaged caused by sales man to the top plunger cap just after i paid. Recently the battery and the alternator are not working a…

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I experienced a loss in power while driving and not driving, as well as locking my keys in the vehicle once It would not unlock. The gear shifting knob stopped due to what seemed like resistance an the damaged caused by sales man to the top plunger cap just after i paid. Recently the battery and the alternator are not working and when power is ran through the vehicle, an obvious sound of a live cable buzzing in the rear cab exterior light and seemed to be spliced in a n unsafe way.

NHTSA ODI #11598503

Mileage unknown · Jun 11, 2024
Electrical SystemEngineFire

Vehicle caught on fire from the engine compartment while driving. Total loss, Fire Department responded to the scene. Two persons on board of the vehicle had to escape the fire, pulled over and jumped out.

NHTSA ODI #11593685

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2022
Electrical SystemService BrakesUnknown Or Other

The three rear brake lights stay on all the time, even after the truck is turned off and key removed. The malfunction is definitely available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others are put at risk, because vehicles behind me don't know when I'm actually applying the brake. This safety defect has been an iss…

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The three rear brake lights stay on all the time, even after the truck is turned off and key removed. The malfunction is definitely available for inspection upon request. The safety of myself and others are put at risk, because vehicles behind me don't know when I'm actually applying the brake. This safety defect has been an issue (off and on} for the last 2 years. I'm apprehensive about taking my truck to a Ford Dealership, due to an expense that I shouldn't be responsible for. I have not been able to drive my truck for the last 3 months, due to this safety defect. My truck hasn't been inspected by police or insurance representatives, because I haven't been in a fatal accident yet. I'm the original owner.

NHTSA ODI #11461705

127,940 miles · Dec 26, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

MY MOTOR HAD STARTED TICKING A BIT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I ADDED SOME OIL AND IT WENT AWAY. THEN, IN JANUARY 2019 I HAD ENGINE CODES. PLUGGED MY SCAN TOOL IN AND SAID I NEEDED BOTH CAMSHAFT SENSORS, MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 1, 3, & 7. REPLACED ALL 8 PLUGS AND COILS, MOTOR HAD 123XXX MILES. DROVE ANOTHER 4000 MILES AND THE SAME PROB…

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MY MOTOR HAD STARTED TICKING A BIT BACK IN SEPTEMBER 2018 I ADDED SOME OIL AND IT WENT AWAY. THEN, IN JANUARY 2019 I HAD ENGINE CODES. PLUGGED MY SCAN TOOL IN AND SAID I NEEDED BOTH CAMSHAFT SENSORS, MISFIRE ON CYLINDERS 1, 3, & 7. REPLACED ALL 8 PLUGS AND COILS, MOTOR HAD 123XXX MILES. DROVE ANOTHER 4000 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEMS PERSISTED AND GOT WORSE. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSIS ON THE MISFIRES AND ENGINE TICK, COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A 'LIFTER TAP', SHAVINGS OF ALUMINUM IN MY OIL AND PLUGGING UP THE LIFTERS. MECHANIC SAID TO GET A NEW MOTOR, DON'T BOTH TRYING TO FIX IT. I BOUGHT IT USED WITH 119XXX AND TRUCK RAN FINE IN AUGUST OF 2018.

NHTSA ODI #11291351

82,350 miles · Jun 15, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MINE IS STARTING TO FAIL, THE GAUGES AREN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR IS GOOD ALREADY CHECKED IT, AND THE FLUID LEVEL IS FULL AND THE SENSOR IN THE MASTER CYLINDER IS GOOD. DUE TO THE CLUSTER MA…

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THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON MINE IS STARTING TO FAIL, THE GAUGES AREN'T ALWAYS ACCURATE, THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM THE PARKING BRAKE SENSOR IS GOOD ALREADY CHECKED IT, AND THE FLUID LEVEL IS FULL AND THE SENSOR IN THE MASTER CYLINDER IS GOOD. DUE TO THE CLUSTER MALFUNCTION ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON AND STAY ON WHILE DRIVING LEADING TO A GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS WITCH MAKES SEEING WHERE YOUR GOING VERY DIFFICULT, AND ABOVE THE CLUSTER ON THE DASHBOARD IT BEGINS TO GET HOT WHILE DRIVING SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE THE TRUCK IS PARKED THE INTERIOR LIGHT WILL COME ON FOR NO REASON. I CHECKED THE SWITCH ITS NOT THAT AND FROM WHAT IVE GATHERED ITS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE CONNECTION ON IT, THE CLUSTERS SEEM TO BE A WEAK SPOT ON THESE TRUCKS IVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS WITH THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11220301

86,000 miles · Mar 21, 2019
Electrical System

RECENTLY DRIVING ALONG A COUNTY ROAD; VEHICLE WARNING TONE SOUNDS AND I SEE THE FOLLOWING. BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES, ABS AND TPMS LIGHTS ON. SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWED TITLES, I.E. TRIP A, MILEAGE ETC., BUT THERE WERE NO VALUES. OIL PRESSU…

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RECENTLY DRIVING ALONG A COUNTY ROAD; VEHICLE WARNING TONE SOUNDS AND I SEE THE FOLLOWING. BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, BRAKES, ABS AND TPMS LIGHTS ON. SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER INOPERATIVE, ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INOPERATIVE. VEHICLE INFORMATION DISPLAY SHOWED TITLES, I.E. TRIP A, MILEAGE ETC., BUT THERE WERE NO VALUES. OIL PRESSURE AND CHARGING SYSTEM AND FUEL GAUGES WORKING NORMALLY. ENGINE PERFORMANCE UNAFFECTED. DROVE 15+ MILES TO HOMETOWN AND MY MECHANIC. AFTER A DAY OF DIAGNOSIS, HE STATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS THE PROBLEM, AND ALSO THAT IT WAS A KNOWN BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ISSUE BY FORD. NEW CLUSTERS ARE $700 TO $900 WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS. AFTER A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE, THERE AND A LOT; AND I MEAN A LOT OF PEOPLE SELLING 2008 F-150 LARIAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTERS. SURE I COULD PICK ONE UP FOR A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS, BUT AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM IS THE MILEAGE; WHICH IS STORED IN THE CLUSTER ROM. MY TRUCK ONLY HAD 86K MILES, WHEREAS IF I INSTALL A USED ONE I INHERIT WHATEVER MILEAGE IS ON THERE. CONSIDERING THE POPULARITY OF THE F-150, YOU WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT FORD WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING; BUT I SUPPOSE I'M BEING NAIVE WITH THAT WISH.

NHTSA ODI #11190417

137,000 miles · Oct 11, 2018
Electrical System

MY CIGG LIGHTER WENT OUT NO POWER SWAPPED OUT THE UNIT NO POWER. CHECK THE 110 CIGG LIGHTER FUSE WORKS IF FUSE BLOWN TRUCK WONT START. CHECKED OTHER FUSES ALL WORK. THE UTILITY SOCKET WORKS EVERYTHING WORKS BUT LIGHTER. VERY STRANGE.DEALER WANTS 160.00 TO LOOK AT IT .. YEAH THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. GOING PIGGY BACK FUSE. BE CARE…

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MY CIGG LIGHTER WENT OUT NO POWER SWAPPED OUT THE UNIT NO POWER. CHECK THE 110 CIGG LIGHTER FUSE WORKS IF FUSE BLOWN TRUCK WONT START. CHECKED OTHER FUSES ALL WORK. THE UTILITY SOCKET WORKS EVERYTHING WORKS BUT LIGHTER. VERY STRANGE.DEALER WANTS 160.00 TO LOOK AT IT .. YEAH THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. GOING PIGGY BACK FUSE. BE CAREFUL FORDS ARE VERY POPULAR HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. JUST GOT IN ONE MORNING AND FOUND CIGG LIGHTER NOT WORKING .. CHECKED WITH MULTI METER AND FUSE BOX NO LUCK

NHTSA ODI #11139591

125,000 miles · Sep 3, 2018
Electrical System

MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND THEN TURNED ON CONSTANTLY. I'VE CHECKED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THERE. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND HAS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. …

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MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF, AND THEN TURNED ON CONSTANTLY. I'VE CHECKED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS, AND THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS THERE. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS SHOWED THAT IT'S A PROBLEM WITH THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND HAS OCCURRED IN SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. BESIDES THE IRRITATION OF HAVING THE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME, I NOW HAVE NO RELIABLE WAY TO KNOW IF THERE REALLY IS A BRAKE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11124174

75,000 miles · Nov 4, 2016
Electrical System

FAULTY CIRCUITRY IN THE REAR OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSES RED EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE ONLY FIX FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF 900 DOLLARS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK EXCEPT A LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS LIGHT WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO FAIL IN…

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FAULTY CIRCUITRY IN THE REAR OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAUSES RED EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE ONLY FIX FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AT A COST OF 900 DOLLARS. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK EXCEPT A LIGHT THAT WILL NOT GO OFF. THIS LIGHT WILL CAUSE MY TRUCK TO FAIL INSPECTION. MULTIPLE FORD MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH STATE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, ONE STATED HE HAS REPLACED 12 CLUSTERS IN JUST THIS PAST YEAR. TO SPEND 900 DOLLARS TO TURN OFF A LIGHT BULB IS INSANE FORD DEALER AND FORD CORPORATE WERE ASKED AND THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THIS COST TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10924190

114,376 miles · Apr 10, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine

ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF…

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ON TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016, WHILE DRIVING 45 MILES PER HOUR, ON A 2 LANE, BACK COUNTRY, ROAD MY FORD F150, THAT HAD 114,376 MILES BEGAN TO CLANK AND RUMBLE UP UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE MADE THE VEHICLE VIBRATE AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER SO I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SMOKE, CLICKING AND CLANKING ON TOP OF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE SO I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND ASKED TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALERSHIP 5 MILES AWAY. THE TRUCK WAS STILL DRIVE-ABLE BUT SMOKING AND CLANKING. THE NEXT MORNING I LEARNED #2 SPARK PLUG HAD LOOSE STRIPPING THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND THE COIL CRACKED FROM THE PLUG BLOWING OUT. THE PLUG AND BOOTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. REPLACED THE #2 COIL AND THE DEALER HAD TO EXTRACT THE BROKEN SPARK PLUG CYLINDER #2. THE PARTS, SUPPLY, AND LABOR COST WAS $1292.24. I HAVE HAD LARGE V8 ENGINE, VEHICLES ALL OF MY LIFE WITH 200,000 MILES OR MORE ON THE ENGINE BUT NEVER ANY SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH HIGH MILEAGE ON BOTH SPARK PLUG AND OTHER VEHICLE ENGINE PARTS. IF I HAD CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY TRUCK IT SURELY WOULD HAVE IGNITED CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR INJURY. THE SPARK PLUG ISSUES WITH FORD NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN DECEMBER 2013 WITH 81,160 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS FOR 2 YEARS, 4 MONTHS. AT NO TIME SHOULD SPARK PLUGS BLOW UP OR OUT UNLESS THEY ARE DEFECTIVE PARTS OR PLUGS NOT SUITABLE TO BE TRANSFIXED INTO THE CYLINDER OR ENGINE. DRIVER SAFETY IS AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI #10854637

Official recalls

1

08V523000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 8, 2008

ROUSH IS RECALLING 213 MY 2007-2008 FORD F-150 TRUCKS ALTERED TO OPERATE USING LIQUID PROPANE INJECTION. THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER AFFIXED TO THE INSIDE OF THE AIRBOX LID WITH ADHESIVE MAY BECOME DISLODGED DURING OPERATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FAILURE MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF PERFORMANCE, ILLUMINATION OF THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND, IN EXTREME CASES, A STALLING OF THE VEHICLE DURING OPERATION WITHOUT NOTICE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIRBOX LID WITH A NEW ONE THAT INCLUDES THE HYDRO-CARBON PAPER WHICH HAS BEEN AFFIXED USING AN ADHESIVE PROMOTER AND GREATER PRESSURE AS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 21, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ROUSH AT 1-866-307-6788.

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