ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. THE SIDE DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS MAY EXPERIENCE WATER INTRUSION ALLOWING THE LATCH MECHANISM TO FREEZE IN COLD WEATHER.
Safety risk
AS A RESULT, THE DOOR LATCH PAWL MAY NOT RETURN TO THE LATCH POSITION WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHIELD OVER THE FRONT LATCHES; SEAL A DRAIN HOLE IN THE REAR WINDOW TRIM MOLDING ON THE FREESTYLE REAR SIDE DOORS; AND APPLY GREASE TO ALL FRONT AND REAR SIDE-DOOR LATCH MECHANISMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 8, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
123,206
Reported to NHTSA
2005-11-09
Owners notified
2005-12-01
Defect description
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE STRAPS THAT SECURE THE FUEL TANK TO THE VEHICLE BODY MAY BREAK, CAUSING THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL TANK HEAT SHIELD TO DROP ON THE DRIVESHAFT (ALL WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES) OR EXHAUST SYSTEM (FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES).
Safety risk
IF THIS HAPPENS, DRIVERS MAY NOTICE A NOISE OR A FUEL LEAK. A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
25
80,000 mi
Power train
25
68,250 mi
Vehicle speed control
24
86,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
23
55,000 mi
Engine
10
104,000 mi
Structure: body
9
79,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
6
20,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads
6
22,649 mi
Unknown or other
6
58,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
5
53,018 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
5
95,242 mi
Air bags
4
89,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
4
79,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
3
5,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
3
24,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
2
89,000 mi
Exterior lighting
2
5 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
2
20,000 mi
Service brakes
2
90,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
2
21,000 mi
Wheels
2
46,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
1
19,000 mi
Electrical system: starter assembly
1
423 mi
Electrical system: wiring
1
54,956 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
46,000 mi
Equipment
1
90,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
1
423 mi
Fuel system, other: storage
1
2,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
1
147,500 mi
Power train: manual transmission
1
2,000 mi
Seat belts
1
97,448 mi
Seat belts: front
1
423 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
42,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
1
2,000 mi
Steering
1
—
Structure
1
60,000 mi
Structure: frame and members
1
70,000 mi
Suspension
1
46,000 mi
Tires: sidewall
1
23,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls
1
—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
1
—
The 2004 model has 48 times as many complaints as this one. The 2006 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.