PE11039 · PE
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES Investigation
ODI has received 18 complaints on the subject vehicles from the salt belt states that allege severe corrosion at the rear wheel wells.Additionally, ODI identified 4 similar reports from Ford's response to the investigation.Ford submitted a total of 10 reports to ODI (6 of 10 Ford reports are duplicates of ODI reports).The complaints indicated difficulty or inability to latch the rear seat as some of the complaints reported the entire anchor plate completely detached from the vehicle (rear wheel well).The first report of this condition was received in March 2011 and subsequent reporting frequency indicates a potentially increasing trend over time.ODI seeks to evaluate the potential occupant safety risks resulting from structurally degraded seat anchorages.In addition to the subject vehicles, ODI also will collect and review information on MY 2005-2007 Freestar/Monterey vehicles that appear to have a seat design identical to the subject vehicles.To date, ODI is not aware of any similar complaints on the MY 2005-2007 vehicles.ODI also will collect and review information on Freestar/Monterey vehicles used outside of the salt belt states.This Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA12-003) to further assess whether a safety defect exists in the subject vehicles.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10454977, 10453826, 10452933, 10450587, 10450559, 10450295, 10446564, 10442809, 10441641, 10441489, 10440616, 10438529, 10436592, 10433928, 10424850, 10420028, 10410491 and 10399896.
DP09004 · DP
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) Investigation
On May 6, 2009, NHTSA received a request for a hearing through Title 49 of the United States Code, Chapter 301, Motor Vehicle Safety, Part 557. the request was in reference to vehicle owner complaint, 10266067, filed with NHTSA on April 20, 2009, which described a problem with engine stall in a model year (MY) 2004 Ford Freestar minivan due to water entering the PCM.Part 557 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations establishes procedures for holding a hearing to determine whether a manufacturer has reasonably met its obligation to notify owners of a safety related defect.Because a safety related defect has not been determined regarding the alleged defect in MY 2004 Ford Freestar vehicles, the Office of Defects Investigation interpreted the request as a defect petition under Part 552 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.In response to the Information Request letter sent by ODI for DP09-004, Ford indicated that a variety of symptoms could result from water intrusion into the PCM, including no start, rough idle, engine misfire, transmission performance degradation, lack of transmission engagement, illumination of the check engine light, and engine stall while driving or parked.Ford stated that it believes that the overall complaint rate for engine stalling is low and comparable to other similar stalling related investigations that the agency has recently closed.Ford stated that the water entry into the PCM is a customer satisfaction issue.ODI has granted DP09-004 and opened a Preliminary Evaluation, PE10-033, to further assess the scope, frequency and potential safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.