Ford Motor Company: Safety Recalls in 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE INTEGRATED AIR BAG MONITOR (IABM) CAN BE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER OR OTHER LIQUIDS AND COULD EXPERIENCE INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORTING.

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE SHIFT CABLE BRACKET.

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ZETEC ENGINES, LOOSE OR BROKEN ATTACHMENTS AND MISROUTED BATTERY CABLES COULD LEAD TO CABLE INSULATION DAMAGE.

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOOSE PINCH BOLTS THAT SECURE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

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.

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADJUSTABLE PADELS ARE BEING RECALLED IN ORDER TO ADJUST THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS TO A MINIMUM OF 50 MM OF LATERAL SEPARATION. SIMULTANEOUS APPLICATION OF BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS COULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPM.

CERTAIN 4X2 SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE REAR TIRE PRESSURE IS INCORRECTLY LISTED ON THE LABEL FOR 4.2 VEHICLES.

ON CERTAIN NATURAL GAS MODEL VEHICLES, A T-FITTING THAT CONNECTS FUEL TANKS #3 AND #4 CAN DEVELOP A LEAK WHEN THE SOLENOID VALVES ARE ENERGIZED, SUCH AS WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE ON POSITION OR DURING REFUELING.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CONTACTED THE SEAT RECLINER DURING A 35 MPH NCAP FULL-FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH MANUAL TRANSAXLES, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SPEED CONTROL CABLE TO HANG UP AT THE THROTTLE BODY BRACKET DURING HIGH, WIDE OPEN THROTTLE OPERATION, PREVENTING THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING ASSEMBLY, SOME BRAKE LINES WERE INSTALLED IN A TWISTED POSITION, CAUSING CONTACT WITH THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR ABOVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS CONTACT COULD ABRADE THE BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROTECTION, CONSEQUENTLY, SALT OR WATER ABSORBED IN THE DASH PANEL INSULATOR WOULD PROMOTE CORROSION. THIS CORROSION COULD ULTIMATELY LEAD TO A LEAK IN THE BRAKE LINE.

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, FAILURE OF THE FRONT PARKING BRAKE CABLE INPUT BUTTON COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM TO HOLD THE VEHICLE STATIONARY.

IN SOME MINIVANS, WATER AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS (DIRT, SALT, ETC.) CAN ENTER INTO THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DUE TO A MISSING BODY SEALER.

ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PUSHROD, WHICH CONNECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER, COULD FRACTURE.

ON SOME MANUAL TRANSMISSION TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE FX4 PACKAGE, THE REAR AXLE DIFFERENTIAL CASE COULD FRACTURE UNDER A HIGH TORQUE EVENT SUCH AS WHEN CUSTOMERS ACCELERATE RAPIDLY FROM A STOP OR WHEN A SPINNING TIRE SUDDENLY GAINS TRACTION.

CERTAIN MEDIUM DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AIR BRAKES THAT INCLUDE THE OPTIONAL TRAILER PACKAGE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE AIR BRAKE LINES CONNECTED TO THE TRACTOR PROTECTION VALVE ARE MISROUTED.

CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A HEAVY DUTY SERVICE PACKAGE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR OCCURRED RESULTING IN AN INCORRECT TIRE SIZE AND PRESSURE ON THE SAFETY CERTIFICATION LABEL FOR THESE VEHICLES.