Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | ||||||||||||||||
| 07E104000 | SAFELITE FULFILLMENT, INC. | E (Equipment) | 1657 | 01/15/2008 | MFR | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 12/11/2007 | 12/11/2007 | 571 | 205 | ||||||
| Defect Summary | Certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass ltd and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., identified as dot-430, and sold for use on certain domestic and foreign vehicles may not break into small pieces as expected of tempered glass and fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 205, glazing materials. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant(s) may be seriously injured by shattered glass. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Safelite will notify its retail customers and replace the glass free of charge. retail customers can contact safelite toll free at 1-888-843-2906. safelite will notify its wholesale customers and reimburse wholesale customers for current inventory and at a specified rate for replacing their customer's glass. wholesale customers can contact safelite's wholesale division, service autoglass toll free at 1-888-246-6298. the recall began on january 15, 2008. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to certain curved tempered replacement glass manufactured by hangzhou safety glass, ltd. (dot-430) and supplied to safelite by auto temp inc., and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the vehicles listed above. customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - REAR WINDOW | |||||
| 04189 | 12/13/2004 | 04245 | 10014062 | Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair. *tt | 04/27/2005 |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - CONTROLS/WIRING | |||||
| 041514 | 08/09/2004 | 04189 | 10011159 | Rear window defroster grid/integral antenna diagnosis and repair - terminal tab repair. *tt | 01/04/2005 |
| 031501 | 07/12/2004 | 04137 | 10009321 | Inoperative electric rear window defroster (heated backlite) grid lines, integral antenna concerns. *tt | 09/23/2004 |
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||||
| 05136 | 01/01/2005 | 10016832 | Backglass difficult to close and an intermittent door ajar lamp. *tt | 10/12/2005 | |
| 16833 | 05/01/2003 | 10002758 | Backglass rattle/noise or high effort when closing. *tt | 09/16/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 04259 | 01/24/2005 | 0515 | 10013303 | Rear power window(s) inoperative. *tt | 04/14/2005 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY | |||
| 03/10/2011 | 60000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. while driving approximately 35 mph, the contact drove over a pothole and the rear passenger window, rear driver side window and the rear lift gate window began rattling abnormally. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000. | |||
| 05/23/2007 | 74494 | 3 | 12/30/2002 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. the contact stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing was replaced 3 times within 16 months. on october 1, 2008, while driving out of the driveway at an unknown speed, she heard a loud noise. the vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the rear driver's side wheel bearing failed. the contact stated that the vehicle was not driven on dirt roads, only in the city. she feels that either the wheel bearing is defective or the ford dealer did not properly correct the previous failures. the ford dealer stated that the vehicle is out of warranty and the wheel bearing is only good for 12,000 miles. the manufacturer took a report and stated that they will forward her information to the dealer. from there, the dealer will determine if the vehicle will be repaired. the failure mileage was 74,494 and current mileage was 104,000. updated 11/14/08 *cn the driver side visor was hanging down, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. the lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends were replaced. the rear hatch window cracked. the vehicle would crank, but it would not start. updated 11/18/08. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - GLASS, SIDE/REAR | |||
| 08/23/2004 | 1 | ||
| Dt*: the contact stated on 8/23/04, the rear liftgate window of my 2003 mercury mountaineer violently exploded while parked. the force of the explosion sent glass flying into the rear of my vehicle and into the parking lot. the dealer had my car for 9 days before ford sent a representative to view the damage. against several opinions, ford denied responsibility because there were dog crates in the back. these crates had been in my mountaineers for years & didn't even come close to the window. i found dozens of idiopathic exploding liftgate incidents on the nhtsa site for the ford explorer and mercury mountaineer - at the time, nhtsa advised that ford was about to issue a voluntary recall. i did get the recall weeks after the incident, but my attempts to obtain reimbursement from ford for repair of this defective liftgate glass for myself and my insurer were unsuccessful. my complaint made it to the executive offices of ford, but they would not even talk to me because my insurance company was not subrogating - the claim was just too small for my insurer to pursue. however, there is a principle involved, and i am completely disgusted with ford motor company. i had the car repaired by insurance after i paid the deductible, and then a couple months later, the recall work for the liftgate was done by my dealer. recently, i noticed that the new liftgate has an ever enlarging crack down the center of the liftgate glass frame - my dealer says it is not structural and not to worry, but due to the history of this vehicle, i fear that another explosion is imminent. i was in the car at the time of the first explosion, and it was scary. i have had a warning magnetic sign placed on the rear of my vehicle to warn people to stay away from the rear of my vehicle in case of another explosion, and my dog crates are now shielded with a sun blanket to protect from flying glass. ford has created such bad will with me that this likely will be the last ford product i own. updated. *jb | |||
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 1 | 11/13/2002 | |
| To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. the second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. the dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. the dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. suspension problems with vibration and pitching. vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration. *la | |||
| VISIBILITY - REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 03/10/2011 | 60000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 mercury mountaineer. while driving approximately 35 mph the contact drove over a pot hole and heard a rattling noise in the rear passenger side window, rear driver side window and the rear lift gate window. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. the vehicle was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 60,000. ds | |||
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||
| 02/21/2006 | 46000 | 1 | 10/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated the front seatbelts would not retract. the dealership installed a modified repair kit and there have been no further problems. also, the fuel gauge was not reading the correct amount of fuel. the dealership replaced the fuel gauge, but the low fuel warning light has become inoperable. additionally, while the moon roof was being opened, it buckled. the dealership and manufacturer determined this was how the vehicle was manufactured. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER - SWITCH/WIRING | |||
| 11/13/2002 | 1 | 11/13/2002 | |
| To this date the following problems are present: gas gauge sticks, air bag warning light comes on and off, driver's side door rattles and knocks, driver's side window taps, driver's side window grinds while moving up and down, clock and radio do not light up or work when start vehicle, sun roof rattles and knocks, wind gets caught between roof and headliner which creates a loud vibration, the passenger side window also rattles and knocks, there is a loud rhythmic chirp toward rear of vehicle, heating and cooling controls squeal when turning on or switching vent settings, driver's seat feels rough when moving on seat track, the 3rd steering wheel still has defect under the leather which protrudes, driver's side leather seat was damaged after being at the dealership, 2nd row middle seat is almost impossible to lock in folded position, front windshield wiper control does not stay within setting, the vehicle vibrates and the steering wheel shakes when turning the wheel at a slow speed, the third row cup holder on the driver's side does not stay down in the fitting, there is a strong exhaust smell in the cabin when engine is in hard acceleration, engine starts to stall while driving. steering wheel was defective by being malformed causing the airbag to be ineffective. the second steering wheel was also ill fitted causing sharp protruding parts on the steering wheel. the dealership has had to repair or replace the following: body work to defective paint on roof, front hood, and driver's side fender. the dealership damaged paint in two areas and only provided touch up paint. replaced noisy rear windshield wiper motor, rear hatch glass because defrost would not work, rear hatch hinges, driver's side seat track. suspension problems with vibration and pitching. vehicle lurches forward upon acceleration. *la | |||