RoadVitals

2002 Th!nk Neighbor

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest Jan 28, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 11, 2002
InvestigationsNHTSA 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.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Th!nk Neighbor, most frequently naming the electrical and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 13 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical375.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
02V073000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Mar 11, 2002
735 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PUSHROD, WHICH CONNECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER, COULD FRACTURE.
The risk: FRACTURE OF THE PUSHROD WOULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER PUSHROD.
The remedy: DEALERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TO STOP SALE OF THESE VEHICLES UNTIL THE PUSHROD HAS BEEN REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYManufacturer number 02S35View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP22005ClosedDefect Petition

Pedestrian alert sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023
Closed Aug 7, 2023

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMLed to recall 22V063000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jan 28, 2009

THE MAIN DISPLAY CLUSTER ON THE VEHICLE SIZZLED AND POPPED UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON, MELTING SOME PLASTIC ALONG WITH IT. THE VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY INOPERABLE AFTER THIS HAPPENED. HAD I BEEN DRIVING WHILE THIS HAPPENED IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY PRESENTED A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS IF MY MOMENTUM ALONE WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256653
Incident
Jan 1, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 25, 2009
Fire reported

I JUST PURCHASED A 2002 FORD THINK ELECTRIC VEHICLE. THE CLUSTER IN THE DASH SIZZLED AND EMITTED SMOKE, I THINK A SMALL FIRE WAS STARTED AND WENT OUT ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND COULD NOT BE MOVED UNDER IT'S OWN POWER. WHEN I STARTED CHECKING ONLINE, I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THAT THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. I AM CERTAINLY NO SAFETY EXPERT, BUT IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT HAVING A COMPONENT BURN UP IN THE DASH, SIZZLING AND SMOKING THAT CAUSES A SUDDEN LOSS OF ELECTRICAL AND DRIVE POWER WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. AGAIN, THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR THE FORD THINK AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A NEW REVISED CLUSTER FROM FORD, BUT IT TOO HAS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10256297
Incident
Jan 24, 2009
Mileage
104 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS AN ELECTRIC FORD THINK 2002. ON SEPTEMBER 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE VEHICLE DID NOT CHARGE AS NORMAL, STILL UNDER WARRANTY IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE BATTERY WAS CHANGED. ON MARCH 2004 THE VEHICLE STOPPED CHARGING PROPERLY. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ,WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON JULY 2004, OCTOBER 2004, MARCH 2005, JUNE 2005, OCTOBER 2005, APRIL 2006, AND NOVEMBER 2006. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE NOVEMBER 2006, BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY WITHOUT A $1700.00 FEE. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT SINCE THIS PROBLEM WAS ONGOING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT WANTED THE BATTERY TO BE REPLACED OR FIXED AT NO CHARGE. THE NUMBER OF OCCURRENCES WAS 9. *AK

NHTSA ID
10181454
Incident
Sep 1, 2003
Mileage
100 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

05412

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE FOR TH!NK NEIGHBOR ON-BOARD BATTERY CHARGER. *TT

04249

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

LACK OF RANGE - BATTERY CHARGER REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT

17674

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SHORT VEHICLE DRIVING RANGE. *TT

0432

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THINK NEIGHBOR HIGH VOLTAGE HARNESS WIRE SPLICE KIT - SERVICE TIPS. *TT

17347

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SHORT VEHICLE DRIVING RANGE. *TT

03197

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

LOW RANGE OR A NO START CONDITION. BATTERY PACK REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.