TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE INSERT PANEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE INSERT PANEL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
NHTSA ODI #10968419
89,250 miles · Mar 18, 2017
Steering
MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND MY STEERING WENT OUT I SEARCH IN THE WEB AND I FOUND A RECALL 14S05 ' ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ' 2008-2011 FORD ESCAPE & MERCURY MARINER BUT I PUT MY VIN # IN NHTSA NO INFORMATION ABOUT MY VEHICLE COMES UP. WHAT SHOULD I DO? THANKS.
NHTSA ODI #10966676
123,625 miles · Mar 8, 2017
Steering
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL BACK IN 2014. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT OUT, THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS REPROGRAM IT AND THAT WHEN IT DOES GO OUT THEY WILL REPLACE IT THEN. NOW 2 1/2 YRS LATER, ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND MY STEERING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND…
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TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE RECALL BACK IN 2014. I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT OUT, THAT ALL THEY COULD DO IS REPROGRAM IT AND THAT WHEN IT DOES GO OUT THEY WILL REPLACE IT THEN. NOW 2 1/2 YRS LATER, ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY DASHBOARD DISPLAYED "POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" AND MY STEERING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THROWING CODE # B2278, WHICH IS THE STEERING SHAFT TORQUE SENSOR, AND THAT I HAD TO CONTACT FORD ABOUT THE RECALL SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY OPEN RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE. THE LADY WITH FORD TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL WAS A ONE-N-DONE DEAL AND SINCE THEY REPROGRAMMED IT IN 2014, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I ASKED HER FOR THE # TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND SHE TOLD ME THAT ALL COMPLAINTS, EITHER BY PHONE OR E-MAIL, COMES THROUGH THEIR OFFICE AND I WILL GET THE SAME ANSWER FROM ANYBODY WHO RECEIVED IT. I CAN UNDERSTAND A ONE-N-DONE IF THEY REPLACE IT, BUT ALL THEY DID WAS PROLONG THE BREAKDOWN. THEY KNEW IT WAS BAD, SO WHY JUST REPROGRAM IT. THAT'S NOT FIXING ANYTHING. MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST HOURS BEFORE I GOT IN IT AND IT WENT OUT. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TO MY SON, WHO HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVING FOR 1 1/2 YRS.
NHTSA ODI #10959676
110,000 miles · Mar 6, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING COLUMN SEIZED AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING TORQUE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #10958849
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE UNTIL AFTER A REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BY A DEALER FOR A POWER STEERING RECALL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY PROVIDED THE REMEDY BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE STEERI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE UNTIL AFTER A REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BY A DEALER FOR A POWER STEERING RECALL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY PROVIDED THE REMEDY BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE DEALER'S REPAIR, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD A STRONG VIBRATION AND THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS STATIONARY WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION SO THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: DP15001 (STEERING). THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 05/04/17*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #10956354
204,000 miles · Feb 22, 2017
Steering
HAD MINOR STEERING ISSUES AND FOUND I HAD A RECALL ON IT FOR THE POWER STEERING. TOOK IT TO SEELYE WRIGHT OF KALAMAZOO AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THIS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN STOPPED AND WOULD PULSATE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. I CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME…
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HAD MINOR STEERING ISSUES AND FOUND I HAD A RECALL ON IT FOR THE POWER STEERING. TOOK IT TO SEELYE WRIGHT OF KALAMAZOO AND THEY REPROGRAMMED IT. WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF THIS THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JUMPING ALL OVER THE PLACE WHEN STOPPED AND WOULD PULSATE. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT THERE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. I CALLED THEM AND THEY TOLD ME THEY DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO SEE ME AND THAT THEY WERE ALL BOOKED UP UNTIL AFTER THE NEW YEAR, ETC. ESSENTIALLY SHOOING ME AWAY. I LATER DID MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AND THEY FOUND THAT I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY RECALL WAS CLOSED.? THIS DIDN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME SINCE I AM STILL HAVING ISSUES AND NOW I NEED A NEW STEERING COLUMN? I AM BEING FORCED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH BROKEN STEERING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE RECALL. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND TAKING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING. I FEEL LIKE FORD AND EVEN MORE SO SEELYE SHOULD MAKE THIS RIGHT. I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT IS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS NOT PROPERLY FIXED. SEELYE CLOSED THE RECALL EARLY AND NOW I AM BEING STUCK WITH FORDS MISTAKE. UPDATE: CALLED FORD AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER CA11743787, AND TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO GET FIXED. WHEN I SHOWED UP TO GET THE CAR FIXED I RAN INTO THE "CLOSED" RECALL PROBLEM AGAIN. NOW I AM ON THE PHONE WITH FORD WAITING AN ANSWER TO SEE IF THEY WILL ACTUALLY HONOR THE RECALL AND FIX IT. FORD IS NOT CHOOSING TO HONOR THE RECALL SINCE THE DEALERSHIP CLOSED IT WITHOUT IT BEING FIXED CORRECTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10956277
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE POWER STEERING SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WHE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE POWER STEERING SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THERE WAS A RECALL CODE INDICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SENSOR FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOT DUE TO A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE A RECALL CODE WAS STILL DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10955164
131,000 miles · Feb 13, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.
NHTSA ODI #10954228
185,000 miles · Feb 6, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND FORCED THE CONTACT TO MANUALLY CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE POWER STEERING, BUT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
NHTSA ODI #10949780
106,000 miles · Feb 1, 2017
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PSCM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PSCM WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V284000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE, A REPAIR WAS PERFORMED WHICH BYPASSED THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2001-2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured March 31, 2001, to September 1, 2009. The affected vehicles are equipped with either a 2.3L or 3.0L engine and have had their CD4E transmission replaced with remanufactured one that was rebuilt between June 11, 2015 through July 15, 2015. These service repair part transmissions have a shift lever bolt that may not be properly tightened. As a result, the shift control lever could disengage from the transmission without warning.
Consequence: If the shift lever disengages from the transmission, a driver may be unable to shift gear positions and the indicated shift position may not represent the gear position the vehicle is in. Should a disengagement occur while the vehicle is being driven, when the driver goes to stop and park the vehicle, the gear selection indicator may show that the transmission is in the "PARK" position, but the vehicle transmission may not actually be in the "PARK" gear position. If the vehicle is not in the "PARK" position there is a risk the vehicle will roll away as the driver and other occupants exit the vehicle or anytime thereafter. A vehicle rollaway increases the risk of injury to exiting occupants and bystanders.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmissions and either tighten the manual shift lever bolt or replace the manual shift lever assembly. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S28.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Ford Escape hybrid electric vehicles manufactured October 13, 2003, to June 20, 2008, and 2006-2008 Mercury Mariner hybrid electric vehicles manufactured June 10, 2005, to June 20, 2008. The coolant pump for the hybrid system may fail resulting in the hybrid electronics overheating.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the hybrid electronics system overheats, it may shut down the powertrain, resulting in a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the original Motor Electronics Coolant (MEC) Pump with an improved brushless pump, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 14S19.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner vehicles manufactured August 18, 2006, through September 11, 2010. The affected vehicles have a steering torque sensor that may not be able to properly detect driver steering input. As a result, the system could remove the Electric Power Steering (EPS) assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power steering control module (PSCM) and the instrument cluster module, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of the torque sensor signal or fault codes relating to the PSCM when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, the affected components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 18, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S05.
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
2
DP15001 · Loss Of Power Steering While Driving
Opened Apr 1, 2015 · Closed Jun 14, 2018
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:electric Power Assist System
On May 27, 2014, amended June 2, 2014, Ford Motor Company (Ford) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA describing a safety defect that may result in a sudden loss of power steering assist while driving in approximately 746,067 model year (MY) 2008 through 2011 Ford Escape vehicles equipped with electric power assisted steering (NHTSA 14V-284, Ford 14S05). Ford's DIR described the defect condition as a poor signal to noise ratio [SNR] in the torque sensor within the Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) system [which] does not allow the PSCM to determine the driver's steering input. When the system detects this fault condition, it transitions the EPAS system to the fail-safe/manual steering mode.Ford's DIR indicates that loss of power steering assist while driving would require higher steering effort at lower vehicle speeds, which may result in an increased risk of a crash.Ford's remedy instructs dealers to check the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) for Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) to determine the proper repair procedure. If no DTCs are present, dealers are to update the PSCM and instrument cluster module software. The updated PSCM software changes the torque sensor fault strategy so that the SNR condition does not result in a loss of power steering assist while driving.In addition, audible and visual warnings are provided for torque sensor faults.If DTCs indicating faults in the torque sensor, PSCM or Power Steering Motor (motor) are present in the initial recall inspection, the dealer performs the following repairs: 1) replaces the torque sensor for torque sensor faults (DTC B2278); or 2) replaces the steering column for faults related to the PSCM (DTC B1342) or motor (DTC B2277).Continued in attachment pages
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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