NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
81 reportsClear category filter111,657 miles · Jul 22, 2016
Suspension
WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A REAR HUMMING NOISE, I ALSO NOTICED LOW GAS MILEAGE. WHILE MAKING A VISUAL INSPECTION, I SMELLED GEAR OIL, OBSERVED GEAR OIL AROUND OUTER RIM , INSIDE ROTOR/ BRAKE CALIPER AREA. (RIGHT REAR WHEEL) SINCE I TRAVEL 40 MILES ROUND TRIP TO WORK ON I-10. AN ACCIDENT COULD OF OCCURRED, HURTING …
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WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A REAR HUMMING NOISE, I ALSO NOTICED LOW GAS MILEAGE. WHILE MAKING A VISUAL INSPECTION, I SMELLED GEAR OIL, OBSERVED GEAR OIL AROUND OUTER RIM , INSIDE ROTOR/ BRAKE CALIPER AREA. (RIGHT REAR WHEEL) SINCE I TRAVEL 40 MILES ROUND TRIP TO WORK ON I-10. AN ACCIDENT COULD OF OCCURRED, HURTING MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE.
NHTSA ODI #10887897
200,000 miles · Jul 19, 2016
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN, ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED GREASE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING AND THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE NEED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN, ADDITION, THE CONTACT NOTICED GREASE ON THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING AND THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, SIX MONTHS AFTER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, TWO YEARS LATER, THE REAR PASSENGER AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #10885862
100,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED A SECOND TIME, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10781071
112,000 miles · Sep 10, 2015
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA ODI #10762853
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2015
Air BagsSuspensionCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AXLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AXLE FRACTURED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE DIVIDER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10726108
67,000 miles · May 23, 2015
SuspensionWheels
I STARTED HEARING A METAL RUBBING NOISE REALIZED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE L-REAR WHEEL I REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING & SEAL FIGURING IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS SINCE THIS DOESN'T TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN TODAY'S LATER MODEL VEHICLES.ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED SO I RESEARCHED IT AND DISCOVERED A RECALL NOT NOTICIN…
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I STARTED HEARING A METAL RUBBING NOISE REALIZED THAT IT WAS COMING FROM THE L-REAR WHEEL I REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING & SEAL FIGURING IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS SINCE THIS DOESN'T TYPICALLY HAPPEN IN TODAY'S LATER MODEL VEHICLES.ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE NOISE RETURNED SO I RESEARCHED IT AND DISCOVERED A RECALL NOT NOTICING IT WAS JUST FOR FLEET MODELS. I CALLED FORD AND WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T INCLUDE MY VIN # I DID SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT THESE AXLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A DEFECT CAUSING THE METAL TO BECOME SOFT THEREBY CAUSING THE WHEEL BEARING TO WEAR AN INDENTATION INTO THE METAL RESULTING IN THE WHEEL BEARING HAVING TO MUCH PLAY ON THE AXLE (TO MUCH MOVEMENT). THE END RESULT IS THE BEARING DESTROYS ITSELF AND HOPEFULLY YOU REPLACE IT BEFORE IT BREAKS APART CAUSING THE WHEEL TO POSSIBLY FALL OFF AND DEFINITE DESTRUCTION OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL! IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT YOU REPLACE THE BEARING WITH WHATS CALLED A REPAIRING WHICH IS WIDER AND HEAVIER DUTY THAN THE OEM BEARING THEREBY IT COVERS A WIDER PORTION OF THE AXLE AND DOES NOT SIT IN THE SPACE WHERE THE OEM BEARING WORE DOWN THE METAL.AFTER REPLACING IT A SECOND TIME IT LASTED ABOUT 3 YEARS 2011) AND THEN THE SEAL BLEW OUT ON THIS WHEEL WHICH IS THE SAME PROCEDURE AS REPLACING THE BEARING. IN 2013 THE R-REAR BEARING HAD TO BE REPLACED. AS OF FEBRUARY 2015 DUE TO THE L-REAR BEARING MAKING NOISE & LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL FLUID ( I CAN HEAR THE BEARING DESTROYING ITSELF) AND THE R-REAR AXLE LEAKING DIFFERENTIAL FLUID I GOT FED UP PARKED THE CAR AND BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR. IRONICALLY I BOUGHT ANOTHER 2003 TOWN CAR WITH 65,000 MILES IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 5/2003 UNLIKE THE SUBJECT CAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 10/2003 I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED.FORDS BEEN MAKING CARS FOR 100 YEARS I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH AXLES.THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST A FLEET VEHICLE PROBLEM, I WANT MY AXLES REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10721144
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2015
Suspension
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN MURPHY ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR PRIVATELY OWNED WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SUSPENSION RECALL ONLY PERTAINED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10692462
104,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Suspension
MY 2003 TOWNCAR WAS MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE IN THE REAR AND I BROUGHT IT TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC SUSPECTED REAR BRAKES BUT UPON INSPECTION FOUND BAD BEARINGS AND AXEL SHAFTS AND TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO TOLD ME HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IN ANY PAST VEHICLES. AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN A…
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MY 2003 TOWNCAR WAS MAKING A SCRAPING NOISE IN THE REAR AND I BROUGHT IT TO REPAIR SHOP. MECHANIC SUSPECTED REAR BRAKES BUT UPON INSPECTION FOUND BAD BEARINGS AND AXEL SHAFTS AND TOLD ME THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HE ALSO TOLD ME HE HAD NOT SEEN THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE IN ANY PAST VEHICLES. AND CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT 104,000 MILES. DURING ONLINE RESEARCH I FOUND A SAFETY RECALL IN 2004 FOR 2003 TOWNCARS DUE TO REAR AXLES. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, BUT WAS FOR VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS. FURTHER RESEARCH FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME DEFECT ON 2003 TOWNCARS THAT WERE ALSO NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I FEEL THAT FORD TOOK CARE OF THEIR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS AND LEFT PRIVATE OWNERS EXPOSED TO UNSAFE VEHICLES WITH NO RECOURSE. DUE TO THE NUMBER OF LINCOLN CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME UNLIKELY PROBLEM FORD SHOULD ADMIT THAT THE RECALL SHOULD AFFECT ALL 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CARS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10638502
135,000 miles · Sep 2, 2014
Suspension
NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 FORD RECALL NUMBER IS 04S16 MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR AND WHEN CHECKED THERE WAS SOME OIL LEAKAGE ON THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM IN 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH A RECALL AND WAS ASKED TO CHECK THE MANUFACTURER O…
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NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 FORD RECALL NUMBER IS 04S16 MY CAR STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR AND WHEN CHECKED THERE WAS SOME OIL LEAKAGE ON THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS KNOWN PROBLEM IN 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR WITH A RECALL AND WAS ASKED TO CHECK THE MANUFACTURER OR DEALER IF MY CAR IS PART OF SAFETY RECALL. FORD REPRESENTATIVE KEPT SAYING THAT MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAS EXACT ISSUE AS REPORTED VIA NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 / FORD RECALL NUMBER IS 04S16. ALSO, MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN 10/02, IN THE SAME TIME FRAME MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. FOR KNOWN ISSUES DURING MANUFACTURING, I AM EXPOSED TO LIFE THREATENING RISK. WHY IS FORD NOT RECALLING ALL CARS DURING THE TIME FRAME AND ALSO NHTSA IS NOT MAKING FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS MISTAKE ? I KINDLY REQUEST NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS RECALL AND INCLUDE PERSONAL OWNED VEHICLES TOO IN IT - TO MAKE IT A JUSTIFIED RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10630232
106,000 miles · Jun 11, 2014
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WORSENED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS, AND REAR AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LINCOLN TOWN CAR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WORSENED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS, AND REAR AXLE SHAFTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V328000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. UPDATED 8/31/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10597655
NHTSA investigations
4DP05005 · Spark Plug Ejection From Cylinder Head
Opened Sep 22, 2005 · Closed Jan 4, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VERY FEW INCIDENTS, VEHICLE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE ENGINE.IN ONE INCIDENT, THE COMPLAINT REPORTED THAT THE FUEL RAIL WAS DAMAGED AND REPLACED AFTER ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT THE DAMAGE DID NOT RESULT IN ANY TYPE OF FUEL LEAK OR FIRE.IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, THE ONLY INCIDENT WHERE A FIRE WAS ALLEGED, THE COMPLAINANT REPORTED THAT NO FLUID LEAK WAS OBSERVED, BUT THAT A FIRE RESULTED AFTER THE SPARK PLUG HAD EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE AND HE HAD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DRIVEN TO ANOTHER LOCATION.NONE OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HOOD.(6) ONLY TWO COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THEY OBSERVED WHAT APPEARED TO BE SOME DROPS OF FUEL COMING FROM THE CYLINDER WHERE THE SPARK PLUG HAD FAILED OR ON THE SPARK PLUG ITSELF; HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO SMOKE OR FLAMES AS A RESULT OF HIS INCIDENT.AS THE PETITIONER NOTED, AND ODI?S ANALYSIS SHOWED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A SPARK PLUG TO DETACH FROM THE ENGINE CYLINDER THREADS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.HOWEVER, ODI?S ANALYSIS OF 474 COMPLAINTS DESCRIBING SUCH INCIDENTS FOUND ONLY A VERY FEW ALLEGED ANY SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES.NONE OF THESE SHOWED ANY EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.GIVEN THE LARGE POPULATION AND RELATIVELY LONG EXPOSURE TIME OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THE COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS VERY LOW.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.THEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY?S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
PE04010 · Rear Axle Fracture
Opened Jan 22, 2004 · Closed Jul 8, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft
THIS PE WAS OPENED AFTER ODI BECAME AWARE OF TWO ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING REAR AXLE FRACTURE AND PARTIAL WHEEL SEPARATION INVOLVING MY 2003 FORD CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI).INITIALLY, THE PE'S SCOPE INVOLVED ALL MY 2003 GRAND MARQUIS, CROWN VICTORIA, AND LINCOLN TOWN CARS (I.E., PANTHER PLATFORM) PRODUCED THROUGH JANUARY 2003.WHILE GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE FAILURES WERE CONFINED TO LONG-WHEELBASE LINCOLN TOWN CARS AND THE CVPI'S DUE TO THEIR UNIQUE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION AND USAGE PROFILES.FORD'S RECALL ADDRESSES THESE VEHICLES.BOTH THE COMPANY AND ODI ARE CONTINUING TO MONITOR THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THE AXLES AND WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS REQUIRED.
EA03014 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Aug 22, 2003 · Closed Aug 12, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 182 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.THE DATA EXAMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION SUGGEST THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG CRASH SENSING SYSTEM'S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH INCIDENTS AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.ODI HAS NOT, HOWEVER, IDENTIFIED ANY FAILED COMPONENT THAT RELATES TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALSO, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY TREND IN THE MANUFACTURE DATES OF COMPLAINT VEHICLES THAT MAY INDICATE A COMPONENT OR VEHICLE-MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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 TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT.
PE03011 · Inadvertent Side Air Bag Deployment
Opened Mar 14, 2003 · Closed Aug 22, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 173 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT OR NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 1999-2003 LINCOLN TOWN CARS.MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT ONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY IMPACT.ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT MY 2001 THROUGH EARLY MY 2003 TOWN CARS HAVE MUCH HIGHER COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM RATES (138 COMPLAINTS AND 120 WARRANTY CLAIMS) THAN THE REMAINING VEHICLES (35 COMPLAINTS AND 32 WARRANTY CLAIMS).FORD CHANGED ITS SUPPLIER OF THE SIDE CRASH SENSORS FOR THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS.FORD STATES THAT THE ALGORITHM IN THE MY 2001 TOWN CARS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR'S DESIGN, AND THAT IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE IMPROVED OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN MODERATE SPEED SIDE POLE IMPACTS.IN DECEMBER 2002 (I.E., EARLY MY 2003 VEHICLE PRODUCTION), THE CRASH SENSORS WERE MOVED FROM THE FLOOR OF VEHICLE TO NEAR THE BASE OF B-PILLARS IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF INADVERTENT SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-014) FOR MY 2001-2003 TOWN CARS BUILT BEFORE DECEMBER 2002.
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