2000 Ford E-450

ODI has received 1 complaint and reports from 4 transportation fleets alleging 182 switch failures.Each fleet operates mini buses built on a Ford E350 or E450 cutaway chassis.The OEM HVAC blower switches have melted, smoked, burned or experienced open flame and become inoperable on vehicles in each fleet.Some drivers have reported a burning smell or smoke coming from the dash.One fleet reported a vehicle fire.No injuries were sustained.However, the bus was carrying special needs children when the driver noticed smoke coming from the dash.The driver was able to evacuate the children prior to the vehicle becoming engulfed in flames.This PE has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to determine if the blower motor switch failures create a situation where a vehicle fire is possible and presents a safety risk to the driver and other passengers.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD E-450. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CRUISE CONTRL STILL FAILED TO SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER A FEW MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT A DIAGNOSIS WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

11244096

Incident

Jul 15, 2019

Mileage

116,000 mi

OUR RV HAS A V-10 ENGINE. WE DROVE 244 MILES TO THE BEACH ON THANKSGIVING WEEK. NO PROBLEMS UNTIL WE HAD TO STOP AND WAIT ON A PARKING SPACE. WE TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND WHEN WE RESTARTED IT A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE. IT BROKE THE PIECE ON TOP OF IT. WE WERE BROKE DOWN AT THE BEACH ON A HOLIDAY. A HELI CORD WAS USED TO REPAIR THE PLUG. IS THIS A TEMPORARY FIX OR WILL WE BE STRANDED AGAIN. WE ONLY HAVE 33,000 MILES ON THE RV. *TR

NHTSA ID

10928164

Incident

Nov 22, 2016

Mileage

33,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD E450. THE VEHICLE HAS NEXEN TIRES (NA), SIZE LT24574R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, BOTH THE REAR PASSENGER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRES BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT CHANGED ONE OF THE TIRES AND DROVE TO THE TIRE SHOP. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WAS FULL OF BUBBLES AND WOULD ALSO BLOW OUT. THE REMAINING TIRE APPEARED TO BE FINE; HOWEVER, ALL OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER SENT HIM A LETTER STATING THAT THEY WOULD CHECK FOR ANY MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

10251803

Incident

Oct 16, 2008

Mileage

166,500 mi

I HAVE A 2000 CHATEAU MOTOR HOME BUILT ON A FORD E450 CHASIS WHICH CAME WITH OEM TIRES - FIRESTONE STEELTEX 256/75 R16 TIRES. AS OF THE DATE OF THIS COMPLAINT, THE VEHICLE AND TIES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 5,500 MILES ON THEM. IN APPROXIMATELY 2004, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE STORE LOCATED AT 655 COURTHOUSE ROAD, GULFPORT, MS 39507 (228.897.1423) TO GET THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND TO LOOK AT UNUSUALLY CRACKING IN THE SIDE WALLS OF THE EQUIPMENT TIRES. I WAS GIVEN THE STATE SAFETY INSPECTION AND TOLD THAT THE CRACKING IN THE SIDE WALLS WAS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. AFTER NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE MUCH AS WE LIVED IN IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA FOR OVER A YEAR WHILE WE AWAITED OUR HOUSE TO BE REPAIRED, I DEPARTED IN IT FOR AN APPROXIMATELY 200 MILE TRIP IN RESPONSE TO EVACUATION FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV. UPON THE RETURN FROM OUR EVACUATION ON SEPT 2ND, 2008, AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE OUTER REAR PASSENGER SIDE DULLY EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION WHERE THE TREAD OUTER TREAD SIMPLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. AS I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY LOW SPEED, THE TREAD DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE BUT JUST RATHER SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND THUS CAUSED IT TO GO FLAT. THIS DID HOWEVER CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE TIRE HUB-CAP. I EMAIL FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE THE NEXT DAY VIA THEIR ON LINE CONTACT FORM AND WAS CONTACTED THE NEXT DAY. I WAS ASKED TO TAKE THE TIRE TO THE LOCAL FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE (REFERENCED ABOVE) TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. I TOOK THE TIRE THEIR THE NEXT DAY AND THE STORE MANAGER STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THE FAILURE OF THIS TIRE AT IT LOOKED AS IT WAS A RE-TREAD. I REMINDED HIM THAT ALL TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR CRACKING ON THE SIDE WALLS WHERE THE TREAD ATTACHES TO THE TIRE. THE STORE MANAGER THEN SAID HE WOULD REPLACE ALL 7 TIRES BUT AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO HIS SHOP, HE HAS NOW DECLINED TO DO SO BASED ON ADVICE FROM FIRESTONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243333

Incident

Sep 2, 2008

Mileage

5,500 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD WINNEBAGO MINI WINNIE (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD PUSH BACK AGAINST HER FOOT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10232265

Incident

Dec 24, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

2000 FORD E450 CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND PARKED ON THE BERM AND VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *NJ THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 19-0415-91. *JB UPDATED 04/15/10 *BF

NHTSA ID

10231769

Incident

May 12, 2008

ON OCCASION, WHEN USING THE RIGHT DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL, THERE IS INTERMITTENT SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH A STRONG "BURNING" SMELL. RETURNING THE DIRECTIONAL TO IT'S NEUTRAL POSITION STOPS THE SMOKING. A FORD DEALER HAS REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228242

Incident

Mar 21, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

FOUR GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT LT235 65R 16E TIRES REPLACED ORIGINAL RV FIRESTONE TIRES AT GOOD YEAR DEALERSHIP, 5375 PROGRESS BLVD, BETHEL PARK PA 15102 [412-831-1810] ON 11/21/2007 AT RECOMMENDATION OF GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP AT COST OF $744.44. RETURNED TO HOME AND FOUND REAR DRIVER OUTER TIRE TO HAVE BLOWOUT IN INNER SIDEWALL. BROUGHT TIRE TO NEAREST GOODYEAR DEALERSHIP ON 12/21/2007 AT 800 FORT DUQUESNE BLVD, PITTSBURGH, PA AND WARRANTY COVERAGE DENIED. REPLACEMENT COST $180.71. TIRE HAD BEEN BARELY DRIVEN ON AND NO LIKELIHOOD OR APPARENT ROAD HAZARD PRESENT. APPEARS TO BE FLAW IN NEW TIRE DESIGN OR INSTALLATION. NO MARKINGS ON TIRE OR OTHER EVIDENCE OF INJURY TO RIM APPARENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10212537

Incident

Nov 21, 2007

CRACKS IN THE LEFT OR RIGHT SPRING TOWER FLANGE. *TT SPRING TOWER WELD REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT

FLUID LEAKING FROM THE VENT ON THE TRANSMISSION MOUNTED PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY. *TT

VIBRATION/HARSHNESS ABOVE 45 MPH (72 KM/H) AFTER TIRE BALANCE. *TT

INTERMITTENT CLUNK ON 3-2 DOWNSHIFT DURING COASTDOWN/TIP-IN. OASIS. TO INCLUDE 2005 F-150, E-SERIES AND EXPEDITION. *TT

CLUNK FROM FRONT SUSPENSION. *TT

ROUGH IDLE AND/OR HESITATION WHEN ACCLERATING ON CERTAIN SUPER DUTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINE. *TT