NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
360 reportsClear category filter80,000 miles · May 1, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STOPPED OR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING STOPPED OR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE, BUT WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #11205029
172,000 miles · Apr 17, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ONLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
NHTSA ODI #11197028
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train
TAKATA RECALL
NHTSA ODI #11145265
140,000 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Power Train
DRIVING DOWN STREET. MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS RESISTING MY GIVING IT GAS. @ WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. (THE ENGINE AND THE WRENCH) PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. FAULT CODES FOR CVT TRANSMISSION, RANGE PERFORMANCE, CONTROL SOLENOID, CONTROL SYS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR. NO WAY TO REBUILD TRANSM…
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DRIVING DOWN STREET. MY CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS RESISTING MY GIVING IT GAS. @ WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. (THE ENGINE AND THE WRENCH) PULLED OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. FAULT CODES FOR CVT TRANSMISSION, RANGE PERFORMANCE, CONTROL SOLENOID, CONTROL SYS. NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPAIR. NO WAY TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION OR PURCHASE REBUILT. MUST REPLACE WITH USED TRANSMISSION THAT WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA ODI #11124406
126,000 miles · May 14, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO OPERATE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, OR WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
NHTSA ODI #11093795
185,000 miles · Apr 30, 2018
Power Train
| PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IT WAS USED AT ABOUT 170,000 MILES. AFTER HAVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH AND IT BEGAN TO SURGE. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE AS WELL. I WAS TOLD T…
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| PURCHASED A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. IT WAS USED AT ABOUT 170,000 MILES. AFTER HAVING IT FOR A FEW MONTHS. I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE BODY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH AND IT BEGAN TO SURGE. THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I KNOW THAT OTHERS HAVE AS WELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PART HAD BEEN RECALLED. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS TRUE. I DECIDED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT AS OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS WHAT THEY SUGGESTED.
NHTSA ODI #11090937
109,000 miles · Apr 8, 2018
Power Train
I HAD BOUGHT A USED FORD FREESTYLE 2007 FOR A LITTLE OVER $6,000.00 WITH 102,000 MILES ON IT AND AFTER ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER, I WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN NEAR MY HOUSE AND WITHOUT EVEN REACHING 30 MILES PER HOUR THE SUV MADE A LOUD WINDING SOUND AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING…
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I HAD BOUGHT A USED FORD FREESTYLE 2007 FOR A LITTLE OVER $6,000.00 WITH 102,000 MILES ON IT AND AFTER ALMOST EXACTLY A YEAR LATER, I WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP SIGN NEAR MY HOUSE AND WITHOUT EVEN REACHING 30 MILES PER HOUR THE SUV MADE A LOUD WINDING SOUND AND THE CVT TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE TRANSMISSION ICON ON THE DASH POPPED ON. I TRIED TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT ENDED UP STUCK IN THE MIDDLE. I TRIED SHUTTING DOWN THE WHOLE CAR AND TURNING IT BACK ON WITH NO LUCK. LUCKILY FAMILY LIVED NEAR BY AND THEY HELPED ME BY PULLING IT WITH A ROPE HOME. WE HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD NOW TO GET IT FIXED WOULD COST $5,000+ PRETTY MUCH TOTALING THE SUV UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE NO INSURANCE AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A $6,000.00 LEMON IN OUR DRIVEWAY THANKS FORD. WHEN LOOKING UP TO SEE IF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THE PROBLEM WE DID WE WERE SHOCKED THAT THE 2005-2007 FORD FREESTYLES HAVE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING AND NO RECALL WHAT IS GOING ON THEY SHOULD EITHER RECALL THE CVT TRANSMISSION OR TAKE THE SUV OFF THE MARKET. FAMILY'S WITH MORE THAN THREE KIDS ARE GOING TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR THOSE CARS AND TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING IS VERY DANGEROUS. LUCKILY I WAS NEAR HOME IN THE SUMMER MONTHS BUT WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR. WHAT IF IT WAS THE DEAD OF WINTER I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND HAD ALL MY CHILDREN WITH AND IT WAS BAD TRAFFIC EVERYONE IN THE CAR WOULD MOST LIKELY DIE. PLEASE GET THE RECALL FOR THIS WORTHLESS CVT TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA ODI #11083885
148,000 miles · Feb 21, 2018
Power TrainService BrakesSuspension
FROM THE 1ST DAY I LEASED THE VEHICLE FROM PROGRESSIVE AUTO, I COULD HEAR IT RAVING HIGH, STEERING WHEEL REALLY HEAVY, BRAKES SEEMED STRANGE AND HEAVY TO MOVE. BUT THE SALES MAN KEPT TELLING AND SHOWING ME A REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINE, AND KEPT SAYING, ITS THE TYPE OF ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE (CVT) THAT'S WHY IT ALL SEEMS STRA…
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FROM THE 1ST DAY I LEASED THE VEHICLE FROM PROGRESSIVE AUTO, I COULD HEAR IT RAVING HIGH, STEERING WHEEL REALLY HEAVY, BRAKES SEEMED STRANGE AND HEAVY TO MOVE. BUT THE SALES MAN KEPT TELLING AND SHOWING ME A REPORT THAT THE VEHICLE IS FINE, AND KEPT SAYING, ITS THE TYPE OF ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE (CVT) THAT'S WHY IT ALL SEEMS STRANGE. I KEPT GOING BACK TO THEM ADVISING THEM THAT I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, BUT THEY KEPT SAYING THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. FINALLY I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, AND THEY ADVISED ME IT WAS A TRANSMISSION, BRAKES AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM. AND THIS WAS NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS VERY UPSET AND WANTED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE. SO THEY DECIDED TO CLAIM TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION BY INSTALLING A USED ONE. I HAD TO GET THE OTHER THINGS FIXED MYSELF. NOT EVEN A YEAR AND SOME LATER, I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN. BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY DIED, AS I WAS DRIVING IT STARTED TO STALL TO A POINT I ALMOST GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT WITH KIDS IN THE BACK, AS THE CAR KEPT JERKING AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.THIS WAS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED IN MY LIFE TIME. AND THE BEST PART, IS ONE ONE WANTS TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO BE VERY VERY COMMON. I WISH THE PROBLEMS WERE EASILY DIAGNOSED WHEN FIRST HAPPENING, AND IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME ALOT OF HEADACHES. I AM USUALLY A IMPORT VEHICLE INDIVIDUAL, BUT I CHOOSE FORD AS I HEARD GREAT THINGS ABOUT THEM. BUT NOW I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AS IT HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD. I NEED OVER $3000 TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH!
NHTSA ODI #11074067
98,897 miles · Jul 5, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED BELOW 30 MPH INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE POWERTRAIN WARNING SENOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD FREESTYLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED BELOW 30 MPH INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE POWERTRAIN WARNING SENOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL HERTRICH FORD-LINCOLN DEALER OF MILFORD LOCATED ON 1427 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE, 19963 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT MULTIPLE ERROR CODES INTERNALLY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD RECORD THE FAILURE, HOWEVER THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE BUT WERE AWARE OF THE HIGH VOLUME OF COMPLAINTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,897.
NHTSA ODI #11003017
94,000 miles · May 28, 2017
Power Train
ON MAY 27TH, 2017, WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN LURCHING BADLY AND THE RPM BEGAN SURGING. IN A A FEW MINUTES THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT. OUR SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH UN…
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ON MAY 27TH, 2017, WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50-55 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN OUR FORD FREESTYLE BEGAN LURCHING BADLY AND THE RPM BEGAN SURGING. IN A A FEW MINUTES THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT. OUR SPEEDOMETER BEGAN FLIPPING BACK AND FORTH UNCONTROLLABLY. AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 25-30 MPH EVEN AT FULL SPEED. WE COULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED! WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AT A GAS STATION TO CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND CHECK TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. WE STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK AND RETURNED HOME CAUTIOUSLY. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST LUBE PLACE AND GOT THE OIL CHANGED. WE RETURNED HOME AND RESEARCHED ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY HUSBAND (WHO IS VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED) DECIDED TO FOLLOW A MECHANIC'S ADVICE AND CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY THOROUGHLY WITH SEAFOAM AND A TOOTHBRUSH. IT WAS FILTHY AND HAD LOTS OF DEPOSITS BUILT UP ON IT. HE UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY TO RESET EVERYTHING AND REINSTALLED THE THROTTLE BODY. IT PROVED INEFFECTIVE SO WE PURCHASED A NEW THROTTLE BODY FOR $320 FROM ADVANCED AUTO PARTS. HE INSTALLED IT TODAY AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. WE ARE AT A LOSS AND ARE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. THIS ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. I AM A MOTHER OF 3 AND AM CURRENTLY PREGNANT WITH MY FOURTH CHILD AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE!
NHTSA ODI #10992023
NHTSA investigations
2PE11018 · Idle Instability
Opened May 11, 2011 · Closed Feb 7, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control
On November 29, 2012, Ford Motor Company (Ford) initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 12N03 to extend warranty coverage terms for repair of engine idle RPM surge caused by throttle body deposits in all model year (MY) 2005 through 2007 Ford Freestyle, Five Hundred and Mercury Montego vehicles.The program extends the coverage for up to 10 years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle (all vehicles are eligible for the program through May 31, 2013, regardless of mileage).Dealers will repair vehicles exhibiting the condition by removing and cleaning the throttle body and reprogramming the PCM with software containing an updated idle speed control strategy.According to Ford, some of the affected vehicles may experience momentary, intermittent engine idle RPM surge (idle flare) when stopped or during low speed driving maneuvers such as in a parking lot or driveway.Unstable idle speed control (dips and flares) around the target engine speed (700 rpm) can occur in vehicles with deposit build-up in the throttle body when the system adjusts engine speed in response to changes in engine load, typically from power steering application or air-conditioner compressor cycling.Idle speed control logic is only active at vehicle speeds below 3.5 mph and when the accelerator pedal is not applied.Ford testing of a vehicle with a worst case throttle body measured a maximum idle flare of 1360 RPM lasting approximately 1 second, which Ford indicated was consistent with system design to limit vehicle speed and acceleration in idle control mode.Ford indicated that the test vehicle was held in place with normal brake effort and that vehicle speed remained under 4 mph without the brake pedal applied.In addition to throttle body deposit accumulation, symptoms associated with the condition may include Check Engine lamp illumination and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0505, P0506 or P061B.Ford attributed the surge condition to changes in idle air flow resulting from the progressive buildup of deposits in the throttle body from normal Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system operation.This condition was not adequately compensated for in the original Powertrain Control Module (PCM) calibration.Ford issued a technical service bulletin on August 15, 2011 (TSB 11-8-5), releasing an updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with CVT transmissions.On October 19, 2011, Ford issued a second bulletin (TSB 11-10-21) superseding TSB 11-8-5 and including updated powertrain control calibration for vehicles with 6-speed transmissions.Prior to Ford issuing the TSB?s, owner?s experiencing the alleged defect either received no repairs, if dealers could not duplicate the condition, or had the throttle body cleaned or replaced, which only provided temporary correction until the throttle deposit build-up returned.Ford?s revised powertrain calibrations appear to be effective remedies for the idle instability caused by build-up of throttle body deposits.However, even after the TSB?s were released, many owners experiencing the condition continued to have difficulty with proper diagnosis and repair as dealers were often either unable to duplicate the condition or were unfamiliar with the new repair procedures.Ford's new program addresses those concerns.NHTSA's testing and complaint analysis indicate that the idle speed control issue in the subject vehicles can only occur at very low speeds, are very brief events, are easily controlled by moderate brake pedal forces and result in minor increases in vehicle speed even with no braking.This investigation is closed.The closing of this in
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