NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
29 reportsClear category filter35,000 miles · Dec 7, 2010
Electrical System
ENGINE CRANKS EASILY BUT ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO FUEL OR SPARK. GAUGES IN THE DASH START TO JUMP AND TICK. GENERALLY CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AT STARTING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING WEEKLY, …
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ENGINE CRANKS EASILY BUT ACTS AS THOUGH THERE IS NO FUEL OR SPARK. GAUGES IN THE DASH START TO JUMP AND TICK. GENERALLY CAR STARTS AND RUNS FINE AFTER A FEW ATTEMPTS AT STARTING. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT ALTERNATOR WAS BAD AND REPLACED ALTERNATOR AT FORD DEALERSHIP AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING WEEKLY, ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10369567
74,600 miles · Aug 2, 2010
Electrical System
WE HAVE AN 07 FORD TAURUS THAT WE PURCHASED IN 09. LAST MONTH THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OFF WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. THE RADIO AND A/C WOULD CUT OUT AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WOULD COME BACK ON. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, IT RESTARTS. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE A…
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WE HAVE AN 07 FORD TAURUS THAT WE PURCHASED IN 09. LAST MONTH THE ENGINE STARTED CUTTING OFF WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. THE RADIO AND A/C WOULD CUT OUT AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS WOULD COME BACK ON. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK OR NEUTRAL, IT RESTARTS. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED WHILE I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE AUTO SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. IMAGINE THE FEAR I HAD WHEN MY CAR SHUTS OFF, POWER STEERING IS OUT WHILE A DUMP TRUCK IS HEADED TOWARD ME. LUCKILY I MADE IT OFF THE ROAD IN TIME. THE AUTO SHOP KEPT THE CAR ALL DAY AND FOUND A MISFIRE CODE BUT NOTHING ELSE. THEY COULD NOT TELL WHERE THE MISFIRE WAS HAPPENING AND CLEARED THE CODE. THE PROBLEM NEVER HAPPENED FOR THEM. MY HUSBAND PERFORMED A TUNE UP ON THE CAR. IT SEEMED FINE UNTIL 3 DAYS AGO WHEN MY HUSBAND GOT OFF A FREEWAY EXIT AND WAS TAKING THE RAMP THAT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT. THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON HIM AND HE HAD A VERY NARROW PLACE TO STOP TO RESTART IT. IT DIED ON US TWO TIMES TODAY AS WE WERE SLOWING DOWN ON THE FREEWAY. THE A/C WAS ON DURING THIS TIME. NO INSTRUMENT LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WE WILL TAKE IT BACK TO THE SHOP TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIGURE IT OUT. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP FIGURE THIS OUT. THIS CAN BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10346934
Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2009
Electrical System
2007 FORD TAURUS 10/25/2006: WITH 23,774 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO WEBSTER FORD FOR A KNOCKING NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THEY FOUND PARTS WERE MISSING IN THE MOTOR DURING PRODUCTION WHICH RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR.(INVOICE #32124) 04/18/2007: AT 30,308 MILES I RETURNED TO DEALER FOR NOISE CO…
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2007 FORD TAURUS 10/25/2006: WITH 23,774 MILES I TOOK THE CAR TO WEBSTER FORD FOR A KNOCKING NOISE I HEARD COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THEY FOUND PARTS WERE MISSING IN THE MOTOR DURING PRODUCTION WHICH RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF THE MOTOR.(INVOICE #32124) 04/18/2007: AT 30,308 MILES I RETURNED TO DEALER FOR NOISE COMING FROM AROUND THE ALTERNATOR. THEY REPLACED THE TENSION CONTROL ARM (WHICH THEY DAMAGED DURING THE MOTOR REPLACEMENT IN APRIL 2006) AND ALSO A NEW SERPENTINE V-BELT (INVOICE #38704) THERE SERVICE BILLS STATE ALL PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY ARE 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES FIRST; GOOD FROM THE ORIGINAL DATE OF SERVICE. 2/24/09: AT 39,448 MILES I EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, THE BATTERY LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. 2/25/09: MIDAS CHECKED ENGINE FOUND BATTERY FAILURE NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. REPLACED BATTERY $118.79. 3/9/09: AT 39,455 MILES THE INDICATOR LIGHT "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" COMES ON. MIDAS REPLACED THE ORIGINAL 2006 ALTERNATOR. A 2007 ALTERNATOR WAS ORDERED BUT WOULD NOT FIT/WORK BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LARGE. AFTER REPLACEMENT OF ALTERNATOR THE INDICATOR LIGHT" CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" CAME BACK ON, $382.32. 3/10/09: AT MILEAGE 39,348 TOOK CAR BACK TO WEBSTER FORD FOUND TO FIND THE ALTERNATOR GROUND WIRE, IN AN ENCLOSED WIRING HARNESS ASSEMBLY, THAT HAD 3 SEPARATE SHORTS. ALL 3 WERE SPLIT OPEN (I HAVE TWO OF THE PIECES). THE WIRE WAS TWISTED TOO TIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE SPLITS, INVOICE #50848 $242.46 THE SHORTS HAPPENED EITHER DURING PRODUCTION IN 2006 OR DURING THE SERVICE AT WEBSTER FORD IN APRIL, 2008. TOTAL COST $743.57. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10279659
52,348 miles · Apr 26, 2009
Electrical System
THE DIGITAL READOUT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL (PROVIDES CAR MILEAGE, AVG MILEAGE, TRIP METER, MILES TO EMPTY AND TIME) WOULD DIME AT FIRST UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. WHEN IT WOULD DIME IF I HIT THE DASHBOARD, IT WOULD RETURN TO FULL BRIGHT FOR A WHILE. IT WOULD FINALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND I COULD HIT THE DASHBOARD TO …
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THE DIGITAL READOUT ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL (PROVIDES CAR MILEAGE, AVG MILEAGE, TRIP METER, MILES TO EMPTY AND TIME) WOULD DIME AT FIRST UNTIL IT FINALLY WENT COMPLETELY OUT. WHEN IT WOULD DIME IF I HIT THE DASHBOARD, IT WOULD RETURN TO FULL BRIGHT FOR A WHILE. IT WOULD FINALLY GO OUT COMPLETELY AND I COULD HIT THE DASHBOARD TO GET IT TO COME BACK ON. FINALLY, IT WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY JUST KEPT TELLING ME THAT THE WHOLE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AND, ALL I HEARD WAS THEM TELLING ME THAT THEY WANTED MONEY, MONEY AND MORE MONEY. I TOOK THE INSTRUMENT PANEL APART MYSELF AND DISCOVERED THAT A PIECE HAD COME LOOSE. I RESOLDERED THE PIECE TO THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND CUT AWAY A PIECE OF THE CASING THAT WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE PART THAT CAME LOOSE. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS SINCE THIS INCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266758
33,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Electrical System
IN MAY 2008, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD TAURUS SES USED WITH 33K MILES FROM THE FORD DEALER. BY DEC 2008, THE CAR WITH 40K MILES WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER STATED THEY RE-TOOLED THE KEYS AND RETURNED THE CA…
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IN MAY 2008, MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2007 FORD TAURUS SES USED WITH 33K MILES FROM THE FORD DEALER. BY DEC 2008, THE CAR WITH 40K MILES WOULD MYSTERIOUSLY CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE DEALER STATED THEY RE-TOOLED THE KEYS AND RETURNED THE CAR TO US. LAST WEEK, THE CAR AGAIN CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND SEE THAT THIS OCCURRENCE IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH FORD CARS. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A VEHICLE ON THE ROAD THAT NO ONE KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALER TO FIX THE "RELAY" SYSTEM. I NEITHER DESIRE SPENDING GOOD MONEY AFTER BAD, NOR DO I WANT TO BE IN A "DEATH TRAP" CAUSING A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. IF FORD DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE CARS, THEY NEED TO RECALL THEM ALL AND GET THEM OFF THE ROADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256130
37,000 miles · Jun 17, 2008
Electrical System
AC COMPRESSOR FAILS, BLOWS ECM FUSE, CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS CHRONIC TO THE 2007 FORD TAURUS - WE OWN RENTAL FLEET - HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST 3 OTHER VEHICLES - SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10231315
34,000 miles · Apr 1, 2008
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ELEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON DECEMBER 10, 2007, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON JANUARY 21, 2008, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ELEVEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON DECEMBER 10, 2007, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. ON JANUARY 21, 2008, THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON MARCH 5, 2008, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVEN ADDITIONAL TIMES SINCE THE LAST VISIT TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAS EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE AVAILABLE BETWEEN HIM AND THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 4/21/08 *CN
NHTSA ODI #10223052
25,000 miles · Oct 16, 2007
Electrical System
PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. LONG CRANK TIME, IF NOT CRANKED LONGER THAN 2 SECONDS, WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. ONLY WHEN VEHICLE`S BEEN SITTING FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I'VE TAKEN TO THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT 4 TIMES, BUT THEY KEEP SAYING NOTHINGS WRONG. I DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS CAR. STARTER, …
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PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. LONG CRANK TIME, IF NOT CRANKED LONGER THAN 2 SECONDS, WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. ONLY WHEN VEHICLE`S BEEN SITTING FOR 6 OR MORE HOURS. I'VE TAKEN TO THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT 4 TIMES, BUT THEY KEEP SAYING NOTHINGS WRONG. I DIDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THIS CAR. STARTER, ALTERNATOR, SPARK PLUGS, AND WIRES, AND ALL FUSES STILL GOOD. WILL MY CAR BE OK? WITH WINTER COMING, I DON`T WANT TO BE STRANDED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10205803
4,000 miles · Dec 12, 2006
Electrical System
I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION A 2007 FORD TAURUS ISSUED TO ME AS A FLEET VEHICLE FROM MY EMPLOYER. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH LESS THAN 6 MILES ON IT. OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 8 TIMES. THE MAJORITY OF TIMES IT WAS IN TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE…
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I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION A 2007 FORD TAURUS ISSUED TO ME AS A FLEET VEHICLE FROM MY EMPLOYER. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP WITH LESS THAN 6 MILES ON IT. OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS THE VEHICLE HAS STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ABOUT 8 TIMES. THE MAJORITY OF TIMES IT WAS IN TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL AS I WOULD INITIATE THE TURN. SEVERAL TIMES THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH THROUGH A PARKING LOT GOING STRAIGHT. AFTER SEVERAL STALLS, I TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE OVER 200 MILES AND SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY CONTACTED MY FLEET COMPANY AND FORD HEAD QUARTERS. NOTHING WAS REGISTERING ON THE COMPUTER AS TO WHY IT WOULD STALL.THE VEHICLE WOULD LITERALLY TURN OFF WHILE MOVING OR TURNING AND YOU WOULD LOOSE ALL POWER STEERING AND HAVE TO GLIDE TO A STOP AND THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM RESTARTING. IT HAS HAPPENED AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, BUT MOSTLY AFTER A LONG DAY OF DRIVING. I WAS CALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL THERE AND AS TOLD THEY HAD A 2007 TAURUS IN THEIR FLEET THAT WAS DOING THE SAME THING AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP THE CAR LONGER TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIGURE ANYTHING OUT.I WAS THEN INFORMED THAT CAR WAS STALLING FOR OTHER REASONS. MY FLEET COMPANY INFORMED ME TO PICK UP THE CAR. I HAD THE VEHICLE I MY POSSESSION FOR 24 HOURS AND WHILE TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I ROLLED TO THE CURB AND HAD TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS MY 2 SMALL CHILDREN WHERE IN THE CAR AND I HAD VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME. I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY AND TOLD THEM IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I WAS TOLD I COULD BRING IT IN. I WAS INFORMED BY MY COMPANY TO KEEP THE CAR. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SINCE THAT DAY AND IT HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE THE LAS TIME IT OCCURRED.*NM
NHTSA ODI #10176000
NHTSA investigations
1PE08060 · 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