NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA05005

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES: Electrical System**

RECALL »

Recall #08V025000

** This defect investigation is filed under 21 related vehicle components.
2000 FORD F350 -- EA05-005 is closed with Ford¿S actions in recalls 05V-017, 05V-388, and 06V-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with Texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of 1998 Explorers.Ford has informed ODI that testing to determine the cause of failures in the 1998 Explorers will continue after this investigation is closed.ODI believes that the vehicles exhibiting the factors causing scds failure described in this report correlate well with the observed failure rates on these vehicles by model and model year.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in the non-recalled vehicles manufactured with scds that are not included in Ford¿S recalls.ODI will continue to monitor the non-recalled population for incidence of engine compartment fires.the Agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for details. Investigation was initiated on March 22 2005. Closed on August 02 2006. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA05005 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #DP05005

SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD: Engine And Engine Cooling**

CLOSED

no recall issued

** This defect investigation is filed under 3 related vehicle components.
2000 FORD F350 -- 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. Investigation was initiated on September 22 2005. Closed on January 04 2006. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #DP05005 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ00010

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE: Parking Brake:Conventional:Air

RECALL »

Recall #98V101000

2000 FORD F350 -- On May 11, 1998, Ford motor company filed a defect information report concerning parking brake failure on certain MY 1999 F-350 Super Duty vehicles built at the Kentucky truck plant from January 26, 1998 through April 24, 1998; recall 98V-101.the reduction in parking brake effectiveness may occur on some of these vehicles, and is caused by the rust preventative coating on the surface of the parking lining material which reduces the frictional characteristics at the lining and rotor interface.ODI has received two reports on MY 1999 F-350's and two reports on MY 2000 F-350's alleging the parking brake did not hold the vehicle stationary, including two crashes.on of the MY 1999 trucks was built after the recall scope and the other build date was unknown.there were no determinable causes for these parking brake failures.also, ODI has received one report on a MY 1999 F-450, and one report on a MY 1999 F-250, both Super Duty vehicles, alleging parking brake failure with no determinable causes.both of these vehicles were built within the recall build scope.all of the ODI reports concern vehicles built at the Kentucky assembly plant.ODI has one report alleging parking brake failure on MY 1997 F-350's and no reports on MY 1998 F-350's. Investigation was initiated on March 13 2000. Closed on January 12 2001. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ00010 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA02018

RAPID TIRE DEFLATION: Tires:Valve**

CLOSED

no recall issued

** This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
2000 FORD F350 -- This investigation was opened on certain Ford pickup trucks and vans to evaluate the effects of a valve stem ejection (with rapid air loss) and a slow leaking valve stem on vehicle handing.during the investigation, ODI evaluated over 1,100 complaints and warranty claims, conducted vehicle dynamic testing on a subject vehicle with the failure mode replicated, interviewed owners, and examined complaint vehicles in the field.the results of the test program indicates the effect of a valve stem ejection on these vehicles is easily controlled. Further, with a population of almost 900,000 vehicles, having two to four years of exposure, ODI is aware of only 3 minor crashes and is unaware of any injuries.the small number of crashes relative to the large population of vehicles is consistent with the testing which was performed. Therefore, this investigation is closed.see the attached report for full technical details. Investigation was initiated on August 19 2002. Closed on August 22 2003. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA02018 »