Ford Recalls

On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 4.6-liter engines, a coolant flow blockage exists at the intake manifold heater core nipple, resulting in no coolant flow to the heater and, therefore, no warm air flow from the heater or windshield defroster. Vehicles with this condition do not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems." Loss of visibility could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

On certain sport utility vehicles with steel hoods and certain pickup trucks equipped with sheet molding compound hoods, a wire-formed hood striker could be susceptible to fatigue fractures. If the hood striker fractures, the hood could fly open while the vehicle is being driven. A hood fly-up while the vehicle is being operated could result in reduced driver visibility and a crash.

Certain sport utility vehicles equipped with the 3.27 or 3.55 axle ration have a Powertrain Control Module that could allow the vehicle to exceed the design intent top speed. At these extreme speeds, the vehicle could be capable of exceeding the speed rating of the tire. Operating the vehicle above the maximum speed rating could lead to a tire failure, which could result in a crash.

Certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems." The affected Expedition/Navigator owner guides do not identify the locations of seating positions equipped with tether anchorages and do not provide instructions for securing child seats to these tether anchorages. The F150 Owner Guides do not provide the procedure for securing child seats to the tether anchorages. The Taurus/Sable owner guides do not identify the center rear seating position as having LATCH-compatible lower anchorages. In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached, increasing the risk of injury to the child.

On certain passenger vehicles, a decklid wire harness can fatigue and develop broken wires in the bend area of the wire harness. This could result in either a loss of individual lamp functions, an electrical short in the broken wires that causes a fuse to open, or in the loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function. Loss of stop lamp or tail lamp function could increase the risk of a crash.

On certain minivans and passenger vehicles, a restraint control module (RCM) or a side or front crash sensor may have been assembled with one or more of the screws that mount the circuit board in the housing missing. If some or all of the screws are missing, the performance of the occupant restraint could be affected, providing less than the intended level of protection in the event of a crash.

Certain station wagons and 3-door vehicles have a folding 60/40 second seat that becomes a load floor in the folded position. When the 60 percent portion of the seat is folded down and a load is applied to the front edge of the load floor, the outboard hinge pivot could disengage from the hinge. If the seat is then returned to the upright position without re-engaging the hinge pivot, the seat and seat belts may not provide the intended level of protection in the event of a crash.

On these medium duty trucks equipped with commercial truck tires that have steel cords in the tire sidewall, the valve stems may have been torn or damaged during assembly. They may leak air, causing sidewall damage and, if not maintained, result in a sidewall failure. A failure during inflation of a damaged tire could result in injury to someone near the tire.

On those passenger vehicles with factory or dealer-installed deck lid spoilers with LED center high-mounted stop lamps (CHMSL), with the ignition switch in the START or RUN positions and the hazard warning lights operating, the CHMSL can illuminate (at reduced intensity) even though the service brakes have not been applied. This does not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, ALamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.@ Also, in some cases the vehicle brake-shift interlock would not function properly allowing the shift lever to be moved from PARK without applying the brake. Vehicles produced with spoilers were manufactured from March 1 through Oct. 31, 2000; and vehicles with spoilers installed by dealers were manufactured from Jan. 1 through Dec. 30, 2000.

These minivans may have been built with incorrect urethane, resulting in an adhesive bond rather than the intended molecular bond for the front windshield and rear liftgate glass. If the bond deteriorates, it could provide less than the intended level of glass retention in the event of a crash.