NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
39 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Jan 30, 2013
Electrical SystemSeatsVehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DRIVERS SEAT WENT FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND SEAT WENT IN THE LAST MEMORY POSITION AS FAR FORWARD AS POSSIBLE POSITION JAMMING DRIVERS FOOT ON GAS PEDAL FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND DOME LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER COULD NOT GET FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL AND COULD ONLY GET THE SEAT TO GO BACK…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DRIVERS SEAT WENT FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING AND SEAT WENT IN THE LAST MEMORY POSITION AS FAR FORWARD AS POSSIBLE POSITION JAMMING DRIVERS FOOT ON GAS PEDAL FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND DOME LIGHT CAME ON. DRIVER COULD NOT GET FOOT OFF GAS PEDAL AND COULD ONLY GET THE SEAT TO GO BACK BY MANUALLY USING THE SEAT BUTTONS. DRIVERS SEAT WAS SO FAR FORWARD IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR DRIVER TO GET HAND BETWEEN DOOR AND SEAT TO GET TO BUTTON AND DRIVER WAS SO FRANTIC AND SCARED TRYING TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GET HAND BETWEEN SEAT AND DOOR TO REACH AND FIND CORRECT BUTTON TO MOVE SEAT BACK WHEN THERE ARE 3 DIFFERENT SEAT BUTTONS. DRIVER HAS DISABLED PERSON THAT SETS BEHIND DRIVERS SEAT SO DRIVERS SEAT UPON DISABLED PERSON ENTERING VEHICLE IS ALWAYS PUT IN THE FARTHEREST POSITION FORWARD TO ENABLE DISABLED PERSON SPACE TO GET IN VEHICLE. UPON FINALLY GETTING SEAT BACK DRIVER HAS NO RECOLLECTION OF ANY EVENTS OCCURRING AFTERWARD BECAUSE DRIVER WENT INTO SHOCK. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO FIND PROBLEM SHOP MANAGER GOT IN ATTEMPTING TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM INSTEAD THE SEAT WOULDN'T EVEN MOVE AS IT'S AUTOMATICALLY PROGRAMMED TO DO, THEN SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FORTH, THEN WENT ALL THE WAY FORWARD. DEALERSHIP MADE TWO NEW IGNITION KEYS TO REPLACE THE WORN KEY, REPLACED COMPUTER MEMORY CYLINDER IN STEERING WHEEL WHERE IT WAS FOUND IF WORN IGNITION KEY LOST CONTACT BECAUSE OF KEY BEING WORN, WITH CYLINDER, SEAT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. THIS RESULTED IN A SPEEDING TICKET. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10495270
73,000 miles · Dec 12, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats
PURCHASED A USED 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ALMOST A YEAR AGO, IN APPROX OCT 2012 THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE SEAT MOVED BACK IT WAS ALMOST SO FAR BACK I COULDN'T HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL OR KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MCCOY MILLS FORD AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OCCURRE…
Read full complaint
PURCHASED A USED 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER ALMOST A YEAR AGO, IN APPROX OCT 2012 THE DRIVER'S SEAT STARTED MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THE SEAT MOVED BACK IT WAS ALMOST SO FAR BACK I COULDN'T HOLD ONTO STEERING WHEEL OR KEEP FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO MCCOY MILLS FORD AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OCCURRENCE. SINCE THAT DATE THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND I FIGURED OUT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF THE CAR GETS ANY MINOR JOLT AS IN RIDING ON ROUGH STREET OR GOING OVER SPEED BUMP, IGNITION APPARENTLY SHIFT WHICH TRIGGERS SOMETHING IN THE SENSOR AND OFF YOU GO. MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS ON 12/11/2012 WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT; SLOWLY WENT OVER SPEED BUMP AND SEAT STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN. SINCE THE OCCURRENCES ARE BECOMING MORE FREQUENT DECIDED TO TAKE CARE BACK IN NOW THAT I KNOW IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND SPOKE TO A REP WHO STATED THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY RECALLS FOR SUCH A MATTER AND MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER HAD EXPIRED SO I WOULD HAVE TO INCUR COST TO REPAIR. WENT BACK TO MCCOY MILLS FORD WAS TOLD THAT THE KEYSENSE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AND COST WOULD BE $390 - $400+. THIS SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL ITEM, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING THE NUMBER OF POSTINGS ON THIS SITE FOR THE SAME THING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10488631
60,000 miles · Jul 9, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats
DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK TO THE "EASY EXIT" POSITION WHILE DRIVING! HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE THE SEAT UP WITH THE SIDE CONTROLS IN ORDER TO REACH THE PEDALS AGAIN. COULD NOT REACH THE BRAKE! DEALER REPLACED IGNITION KEY TUMBLER, SAME PROBLEM DEALER REPLACED IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, SOLUTION PENDING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL A…
Read full complaint
DRIVER SEAT MOVES BACK TO THE "EASY EXIT" POSITION WHILE DRIVING! HAD TO MANUALLY MOVE THE SEAT UP WITH THE SIDE CONTROLS IN ORDER TO REACH THE PEDALS AGAIN. COULD NOT REACH THE BRAKE! DEALER REPLACED IGNITION KEY TUMBLER, SAME PROBLEM DEALER REPLACED IGNITION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, SOLUTION PENDING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464737
24,323 miles · Jun 20, 2012
Electrical SystemSeatsCrash
WHILE DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP, WITHOUT WARNING, THE MEMORY SEATS CHANGE SEAT SETTING AND WENT BACK FULLY AS IF I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT WHEN I TOUCHED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THE SEAT WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SETTING. WHEN THIS O…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING ON A LONG TRIP, WITHOUT WARNING, THE MEMORY SEATS CHANGE SEAT SETTING AND WENT BACK FULLY AS IF I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT WHEN I TOUCHED THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION, THE SEAT WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL SETTING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED I WAS UNABLE TO REACH BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT TO OCCUR. IF THIS HAPPENED AT A TIME THAT I NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY FOR ME TO STOP. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION. ON 6/6/2012 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN (MILEAGE 60774), THIS TIME I STRUCK THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, IT WAS A GOOD THING IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC, AND NEITHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE SAME AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE IGNITION AGAIN. THANK GOD ALL REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TWICE. MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT AT 75000, WHAT IF IT HAPPENS A THIRD TIME, WHAT WILL MY COST THEN???? OR WHAT IF IT HAPPENS WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND I NEED TO STOP?? *JS
NHTSA ODI #10462355
51,000 miles · May 31, 2012
Electrical SystemSeats
OUR 2008 MOUNTAINEER IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS WITH SETTINGS MEMORY. NORMALLY, WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATICALLY GLIDES IN REVERSE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM TO EXIT THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT GLIDES BACKWARDS, THE STEP BAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AUTOMAT…
Read full complaint
OUR 2008 MOUNTAINEER IS EQUIPPED WITH POWER SEATS WITH SETTINGS MEMORY. NORMALLY, WHEN YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT AUTOMATICALLY GLIDES IN REVERSE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM TO EXIT THE CAR. WHEN THE SEAT GLIDES BACKWARDS, THE STEP BAR ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY DROPS DOWN AND OUTWARD. FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, THE DRIVER'S SEAT (RANDOMLY) AUTOMATICALLY GLIDES BACKWARDS TO FULLEST EXTENT AND THE STEP BAR AUTOMATICALLY DROPS DOWN AS THOUGH THE ENGINE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF AND ONE OF THE DOORS HAS BEEN OPENED. IT HAPPENS JUST ABOUT EVERYDAY AT LEAST ONCE. IT HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN A 4 MINUTE TIME PERIOD THE OTHER DAY. EACH TIME IT IMMEDIATELY WENT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED TO ME WAS WHEN I WAS STARTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I ENDED UP 2' OVER IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE. LUCKILY, NO CARS WERE NEAR. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10460109
45,000 miles · Mar 29, 2012
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD MOVE BACKWARD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT WOULD MOVE BACKWARD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000. UPDATED 04/23/12
NHTSA ODI #10453425
61,000 miles · Feb 4, 2011
Electrical SystemSeats
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK. NOW, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, THE SEAT WILL MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK AND HAS TO BE MANUALLY, WITH POWER BUTTON, PUT INTO A COMFORTABLE POSITION FOR DRIVING. THE SEAT CONTINUES TO MOVE BACK BY ITSELF AT RANDOM TIMES. MANY TIMES THE PROBLEM OCC…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY BACK. NOW, WHEN YOU START THE CAR, THE SEAT WILL MOVE ALL THE WAY BACK AND HAS TO BE MANUALLY, WITH POWER BUTTON, PUT INTO A COMFORTABLE POSITION FOR DRIVING. THE SEAT CONTINUES TO MOVE BACK BY ITSELF AT RANDOM TIMES. MANY TIMES THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN DRIVING, EVEN AT 30 MPH OR LESS, OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #10381944
16,000 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Electrical SystemCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S EASY-ACCESS SEAT RETR…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DOME LIGHT WOULD NOT DIM AUTOMATICALLY. WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE DOME LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S EASY-ACCESS SEAT RETRACTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE TO KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, IT WAS INSUFFICIENT. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CRASH, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE VEHICLE'S MALFUNCTIONS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500.
NHTSA ODI #10258041
17,000 miles · Dec 16, 2008
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT. I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I FINALLY GOT THE SUV TO STOP AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOME S…
Read full complaint
WHILE COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I TRIED TO STOP FOR THE RED LIGHT. I ALSO LOST POWER STEERING. LUCKILY, I FINALLY GOT THE SUV TO STOP AFTER I PUMPED THE BRAKES AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS CLOSE TO MY HOME SO I SLOWLY DROVE TO MY HOUSE USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IF NECESSARY. I CONTACTED MERCURY WHO TOWED THE SUV TO THEIR SHOP THE NEXT DAY ON THE 15TH OF DECEMBER. THEY HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE ALL DAY ON THE 15TH AND 16TH AND TOLD ME THAT I COULD PICK IT UP ON THE 17TH. THEY COULDN'T, HOWEVER. FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND SAID THE COMPUTERS SAY EVERYTHING IS FINE. THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND ARE GIVING ME THE VEHICLE BACK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252031
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