1999 Ford Econoline

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONO RV S-DUTY EQUIPPED WITH A SAMSUNG MICROWAVE, MODEL MR5493G. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO OVEN CIRCUIT RECALL NUMBER: 03E044400. A NEIGHBOR ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RV WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE MICROWAVE CAUSED THE FIRE AND SHE EXTINGUISHED IT WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN EXTENSIVE BURN ON HER LEG, BUT DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. SAMSUNG ADVISED HER THAT THEY HAD NO PARTS TO REPAIR THE MICROWAVE ALTHOUGH IT WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO AUTHORIZED RV DEALERS IN HER AREA TO REPLACE THE MICROWAVE. THE MICROWAVE WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT IN THE RV AND IT WAS MOUNTED ON THE CEILING OF THE RV. THE FIRE BURNED A HOLE IN THE CEILING AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE CABINETS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT DRIVEN THE RV SINCE THE FIRE OCCURRED DUE TO THE SAFETY RISK AND THE HOLE IN THE CEILING. THE SERIAL AND PART NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. *TT

NHTSA ID

11075263

Incident

May 17, 2017

VAN IS LEAKING FUEL WHEN I ATTEMPT TO FILL THE TANK.

NHTSA ID

10865511

Incident

May 17, 2016

Mileage

130,800 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS PROPANE LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN PROPANE TANK NEEDED TO BE LIFTED OFF THE SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000. UPDATED 4/7/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER PUT PROPANE/LIPI GAS LINES AROUND THE BACK TIRES. THE GAS LINES HAVE NO STRONG PROTECTIVE SHIELDS AROUND THEM. THE LIPI GAS LINE WAS SITTING ON TOP OF THE REAR LEAF SPRING. UPDATED 11/4/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10650324

Incident

Oct 10, 2014

Mileage

83,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE 350 EQUIPPED WITH KELLY TIRES, TIRE LINE: SAFARI LT, TIRE SIZE LT23585R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE AND THE SOUND OF METAL BEING DRAGGED ON THE GROUND WAS HEARD FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED.THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10630972

Incident

Sep 4, 2014

Mileage

300,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR HAD BEEN PRESENT SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE AND THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE SOURCE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FRACTURED AND LEAKING FUEL. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 218,000.

NHTSA ID

10542625

Incident

Apr 1, 2000

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE RV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A METAL STRAP CUTTING INTO THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,916. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537319

Incident

Aug 26, 2013

Mileage

78,916 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE E250 VAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING TO CAPACITY, THE FUEL FILLER SHUT OFF FAILED, CAUSING GASOLINE FUEL TO SPILL BACK OUT ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

NHTSA ID

10489083

Incident

Dec 17, 2012

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD ECONOLINE E150. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER REFUELING, THE FUEL LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY); HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ UPON INSPECTION, THE RUBBER GAS FILLER HOSE TO THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK WHEN FILLING THE TANK. THE REPAIR COST WAS $ 300. UPDATED 01.09.13

NHTSA ID

10484521

Incident

Nov 3, 2012

Mileage

135,000 mi

This SKU is a front upper ball joint. The Customer communication requested return of unsold inventory to inspect for ball studs with excessive rotational friction in the ball joint assembly. Excessive friction in the ball joint assembly may cause a perceptible increase in steering effort.

ENGINE OR FUEL SYSTEM CONCERNS WHEN USING FUEL WITH GREATER THAN 5% BIODIESEL CONCENTRATION. *TT

LOW POWER, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, FUEL GELLING COLD, EXCESSIVE WHITE SMOKE COLD, OR HARD START. *MJ THIS OASIS UPDATES PREVIOUS OASIS DATED 12/01/03. *TT

EMISSION RECALL 04E10: COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES - FITTING CONNECTOR REPLACEMENT. *MJ

AIR BAG LAMP ILLUMINATED. *TT

THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) MAY ILLUMINATE WITH A FALSE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P1298 (INJECTOR DRIVE MODULE (IDM) FAILURE). *TT