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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE96033

Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
24
5 models
Opened
May 2, 1996
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Sep 30, 1996

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRES

IN DECEMBER 1995, FORD RECALLED 119,313 VEHICLES IN CANADA TO REMEDY THE SUBJECT CONDITION IN CERTAIN 1992-95 TAURUS, SABLE, TEMPO, TOPAZ AND CONTINENTAL VEHICLES.FORD IS AWARE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS OCCURRING IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES, BUT MAINTAINS THAT THE FREQUENCIES DO NOT WARRANT A FINDING OF AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
PE96033
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Opened
May 2, 1996
Closed
Sep 30, 1996
Associated recall campaign
97V019000

Vehicles named in this investigation

24 model years across 5 models

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.