NEWS

NEWS: Ford Recalls 110,000 Police Vehicles to Fix Wheels

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

March 7, 2006 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., the largest maker of U.S. police vehicles, is recalling 109,664 high-performance Crown Victoria Police Interceptor sedans to fix wheels that may crack and cause flat tires.

The affected cars were from the 2003 to 2005 model years and were built in St. Thomas, Ontario, Ford said in a letter to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The recall is the second of its type since 2003 at Ford, which makes about 80 percent of police vehicles sold in the U.S. Police attributed two crashes to the wheels, which the company disputes, Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis said today in an interview.

``These are the cars that are jumping curbs, making sharp turns at high speed and making very fast pursuits where there's a lot of force produced on the wheels,'' Jarvis said. ``In most cases, the cars can continue driving even if cracks form.''

Jarvis declined to say how much the recall will cost Ford, which won't charge owners for replacement wheels. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is issuing the recall voluntarily and told NHTSA it will begin notifying owners March 12. The recall covers cars built from Oct. 10, 2001, to Dec. 8, 2004, Jarvis said.

Ford hasn't received any reports of injuries related to the latest wheel problem, said Jarvis, who provided no details of the crashes cited by police. Police-pursuit vehicles represent roughly 25 percent of annual production of Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis models.

Earlier Recall

The 2003 recall involved about 30,000 Crown Victorias for a similar wheel problem. The two recalls aren't related, Jarvis said.

Beginning in 2002, the Crown Victoria police vehicle was the subject of a series of lawsuits claiming that the gas tank's placement behind the rear axle made the car vulnerable to fuel- fed fires in high-speed rear-end crashes. Ford later provided police cruisers with fuel-tank shields for extra protection.

RECALL: 2007 Ford Crown Victoria

NHTSA Campaign Number:	06V440000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	NOV 14, 2006
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	422

Description

VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD

Summary

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 212, 'WINDSHIELD MOUNTING.' THE WINDSHIELD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED TO THE VEHICLE BODY.

Consequence

IF THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT PROPERLY RETAINED TO THE VEHICLE, WIND NOISE, SQUEAK/RATTLES AND/OR WATER LEAKS MAY OCCUR. ALSO, LOSS OF WINDSHIELD RETENTION MAY REDUCE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA Campaign Number:	05V518000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	NOV 07, 2005
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	98836

Description

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: BATTERY:CABLES

Summary

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BATTERY CABLE INCLUDES A FUSIBLE LINK THAT MAY CONTACT AND SUBSEQUENTLY CHAFE ON A #2 CROSS MEMBER ATTACHING BOLT.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN HEAT DAMAGE AND COULD LEAD TO A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUSIBLE LINK AND POSITION IT AWAY FROM THE CROSS MEMBER BOLT. IF THE FUSIBLE LINK HAS ALREADY CHAFED AND COPPER WIRES HAVE BEEN EXPOSED, THE FUSIBLE LINK WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673, OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

NHTSA Campaign Number:	05V206000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	05/09/2005
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	132,800

Description

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING: INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Summary

ON CERTAIN POLICE INTERCEPTORS (CVPI) AND COMMERCIAL HEAVY DUTY (TAXI) VEHICLES, AT EXTREMELY HIGH OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THE SOUND INSULATING PANEL, LOCATED UNDER THE VEHICLE POSITIONED BETWEEN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE UNDERBODY, COULD SAG AND POSSIBLY CONTACT THE SURFACE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS, THE INSULATOR MIGHT EXPERIENCE CHARRING OF THE OUTER LAYER, BURNING ODOR, OR SMOKE WHICH MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING DASH INSULATOR AND INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN INSULATOR PAD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA Campaign Number:	03V279000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	08/05/2003
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	29946

Description

WHEELS

Summary

ON CERTAIN POLICE AND TAXI VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, SOME OF THE WHEELS MAY DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE RIM NEAR THE WELD LINE THAT CONNECTS THE RIM TO THE DISK.

Consequence

THE CRACKS CAN ULTIMATELY RESULT IN RAPID AIR LOSS FROM THE TIRE AND COULD AFFECT VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FOUR ROAD WHEELS AND SPARE WHEEL WITH THE MANUFACTURING DATE CODES OF AUGUST 18, 2001 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22, 2002. IN ADDITION, FORD IS PROVIDING EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR WHEELS ON 2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR AND TAXIS BUILT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 29, 2003. THESE WHEELS ARE EXHIBITING CRACKS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER RATE THAN THOSE WHEELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA Campaign Number:	02I003000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	10/15/2002
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	350,000

Description

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY

Summary

IN ORDER TO ENHANCE POLICE OFFICE SAFETY, MODEL YEAR 1992-2003 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR (CVPI) VEHICLES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH SHIELDS DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT THE FUEL TANK IN HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES. FORD ALSO WILL BE OFFERING AN OPTIONAL TRUNK PACKAGE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE SAFE TRANSPORT OF SHARP-EDGED, HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN THESE VEHICLES.

Consequence

SOME HIGH-SPEED REAR-IMPACT CRASHES HAVE RESULTED IN FUEL TANK PUNCTURES AND FIRES IN CPVI VEHICLES.

Remedy

FORD HAS ADVISED US THAT SHIELD KITS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE LATE OCTOBER AND WILL BE INSTALLED ON POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES AT NO COST. THE OPTIONAL TANK PACKAGE WILL BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 2002. FORD HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW WEB SITE AT WWW.CVPI.COM TO ANSWER ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SAFE USE OF CPVI VEHICLES.

NHTSA Campaign Number:	03V472000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	11/06/2003
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	4218

Description

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY

Summary

ON CERTAIN NATURAL GAS VEHICLES, IF A FLAME FROM A VEHICLE INTERIOR FIRE BECOMES LOCALLY DIRECTED AT THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE REAR SEAT, THE FLAME COULD DAMAGE THE FIBERGLASS WRAP ON THE TANK WEAKENING THE TANK.

Consequence

IF THE STRENGTH OF THE TANK IS SIGNIFICANTLY COMPROMISED, IT COULD RUPTURE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN INSULATOR BEHIND THE CURRENT SEAT BACK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

RECALL: 2003 Ford Crown Victoria

NHTSA Campaign Number:	04V328000	www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Manufacturer	FORD MOTOR CO.
Recall Date:	07/07/2004
Potential Number Of Units Affected:	47,314

Description

SUSPENSION: REAR

Summary

CERTAIN POLICE, COMMERCIAL, AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SOLD TO FLEETS TYPICALLY INPUT HIGHER LOADS INTO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS OVERLOADING THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND AXLES.

Consequence

THIS COULD LEAD TO EARLY BEARING FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY TO AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE. IN THE EVENT OF AXLE SHAFT FRACTURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE DRIVE FUNCTION AND WOULD COAST TO A STOP. LOSS OF DRIVE FUNCTION COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS, SEALS, AND AXLE SHAFTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 15, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

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