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2008 Mercury Mariner

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Mariner years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mercury Mariner are substantially higher than the model-year median of 63.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

404 reports with mileage · 57 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.

  • Steering. Review the 297 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 66 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

31 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2021
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

2008 MERCURY MARINER THROTTLE CONTROL POWERTRAIN LIGHT COMES ON, TRANSMISSION CANNOT GO INTO GEAR PROPERLY, IT STOPS AT 4000 RPM, AND IT STRUGGLES TO GO AT HIGHER SPEEDS,

NHTSA ODI #11395005

198,000 miles · Jan 11, 2021
Vehicle Speed Control

I REALIZED SOMETIME LAST YEAR THAT MY THROTTLE WAS STICKING WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO TAKE OFF. IT WAS HERE AND THERE AND THEN I MUST HAVE GOTTEN USE TO IT BUT NOW IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT STICKS ALL THE TIME. NOW IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT AT THE RIGHT TIMES AND IT ACTS WEIRD A LOT, GOING UP HILLS, WHE…

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I REALIZED SOMETIME LAST YEAR THAT MY THROTTLE WAS STICKING WHEN I WOULD START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO TAKE OFF. IT WAS HERE AND THERE AND THEN I MUST HAVE GOTTEN USE TO IT BUT NOW IT DOES IT EVEN WHEN I'M DRIVING, IT STICKS ALL THE TIME. NOW IT DOESN'T WANT TO SHIFT AT THE RIGHT TIMES AND IT ACTS WEIRD A LOT, GOING UP HILLS, WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEARS AND SO ON.

NHTSA ODI #11387585

165,000 miles · May 24, 2019
Power TrainUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL WELL DRIVING MY VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION.WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS THE VEHICLE DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS THE RPM WENT UP.I WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT ON CITY STREET.AS I MADE THE STOP AT STOP-LIGHT AS THE LIGHT TURN GREEN I STEPPED ON THE HAS AND THE RPMS WENT UP BUT VEHICLE BARELY MOVED.

NHTSA ODI #11209625

101,851 miles · Jun 15, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

THE THROTTLE IS HELD OPEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS EMPLOYED BUT REMAINS OPEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED OFF BOTH BY USING THE OFF BUTTON AND BRAKE APPLICATION. THIS HAPPENS AT 75-80 MPH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS IN AZ AND UT. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS INEFFECTIVE WITH NO INTAKE VACUUM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10995351

44,000 miles · May 5, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 08/04/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10983706

135,000 miles · Apr 21, 2017
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL AS THE RPMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT UP TO 4000 RPMS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED AS WELL AS THE RPMS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AND WENT UP TO 4000 RPMS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ODI #10979760

72,300 miles · Jan 1, 2017
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. WE HAD JUST MERGED TO THE PASSING LANE TO ALLOW TRAFFIC MERGING FROM AN ON RAMP TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE A VEHICLE NEXT TO US WAS DOING THE EXACT SPEED AS WE WERE WHICH WAS 72 MPH SET CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM THE REAR AND SINCE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE DE…

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MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE. WE HAD JUST MERGED TO THE PASSING LANE TO ALLOW TRAFFIC MERGING FROM AN ON RAMP TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE A VEHICLE NEXT TO US WAS DOING THE EXACT SPEED AS WE WERE WHICH WAS 72 MPH SET CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD VEHICLES APPROACHING FROM THE REAR AND SINCE I WAS IN THE PASSING LANE DECIDED TO SPEED UP AND GET IN FRONT OF THE CAR BESIDE US I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR ON OUR 08 MERCURY MARINER WITH A 3.0L ENGINE TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR ACCELERATED IN FRONT OF THE OTHER CAR, WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE ONCE WITH NOTHING CHANGING THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I PROCEEDED TO PUMP THE BRAKE THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES IN ABOUT 1 SECOND INTERVALS. FINALLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL RELEASE AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. WE PRECEDED HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AND HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND DEATHS IN EARLIER MODEL YEARS OF FORD ESCAPE, MERCURY MARINER AND MAZDA TRIBUTE VEHICLES. I HAVE HAD FORD VEHICLES MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING ON VEHICLES FOR MORE THAN THIRTY FIVE YEARS. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND IS NOT THE ONLY TIME OR VEHICLE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO IN THIS YEAR THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THESE FORD AND MERCURY SUV'S ON THE INTERNET EX: CARCOMPLAINTS.COM TO NAME JUST ONE. THE INTERNET IS FILLED WITH THESE DANGEROUS COMPLAINTS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME AND PUT THE SAFETY ASPECT FIRST,WHEN DEALING WITH THESE TO RICH TO BE BOTHERED BY RECALLS AUTO MANUFACTURERS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10938967

80,000 miles · Jun 22, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY FRACTURED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECONNECTED THE ARM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10875775

77,000 miles · Apr 1, 2016
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SPEED SHIFT FORCED ON 2ND AND 4TH, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS BAD, CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ACTION TAKEN, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND OWNER NEEDED TO DO REPAIR AND IF THE CAMPAIGN STARTED ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL REIMBURSE THE REPAIR AMOUNT, …

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SPEED SHIFT FORCED ON 2ND AND 4TH, THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 77000 MILES AND TRANSMISSION IS BAD, CONTACTED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND NO ACTION TAKEN, THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT ON A RECALL CAMPAIGN AND OWNER NEEDED TO DO REPAIR AND IF THE CAMPAIGN STARTED ON THIS PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL REIMBURSE THE REPAIR AMOUNT, I NEED THE VEHICLE ON A DAILY BASIS AND NOW I'M STOCK WITH THE REPAIRS COST OF 1500 PLUS LABOR. I NEED TO ADD THIS VEHICLE TO THE RECALL AS SHOWN HERE: REPORT RECEIPT DATE: SEP 29, 2015 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V606000 COMPONENT(S): POWER TRAIN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT HAPPENED , SPEED WAS REDUCED AND WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD

NHTSA ODI #10852965

96,000 miles · Mar 17, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH AND THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TWICE THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MARINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH AND THE SERVICE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TWICE THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI #10850149

Official recalls

3

15V606000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl); Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 29, 2015

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.

14V526000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Sep 3, 2014

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.

14V284000 · Steering:electric Power Assist System

May 29, 2014

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