[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 9294]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4626]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration


Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation.

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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a 
petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the 
agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect 
related to motor vehicle safety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. George Chiang, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-5206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mr. Walter E. Bull of Prescott, Arizona, 
submitted a petition dated December 31, 1997, requesting that an 
investigation be initiated to determine whether early model Ford 
Explorer sport utility vehicles contain a defect related to motor 
vehicle safety within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. The 
petition alleges that early model Ford Explorer sport utility vehicles 
develop heavy lateral vibrations at speeds above 55 mph and when 
encountering bumps at low speeds. The petition further alleges that 
these vibrations could possibly cause loss of vehicle control.
    A review of agency data files, including information reported to 
the Auto Safety Hotline by consumers, indicates that, in addition to 
the petition, there were 22 complaints concerning vehicle vibration, 
shaking, and shimmy at certain high speeds in model year (MY) 1991-1994 
Ford Explorer vehicles, allegedly caused by defective engine mounts. No 
loss of vehicle control, and no crashes or injuries were reported. Of 
the 22 complaints, five are MY1994, five are MY1993, ten are MY1992, 
and two are MY1991 vehicles. Ford Motor Company (Ford) has manufactured 
approximately 1,137,000 MY1991-1994 Explorers.
    The agency interviewed four recent complainants who filed reports 
about the subject vehicles and confirmed that the drivers felt 
vibration/shake in the seat and floor at certain speeds but little or 
no vibration in the steering wheel. They described the severity of 
vibration as one which would tip over a full cup of coffee when the cup 
is placed on the floor. One complainant had not fixed the engine mounts 
as of January 14, 1998, and the other three had sold or traded their 
Explorers without getting the vibration problems fixed. One sold her 
vehicle with over 72,000 miles, one sold at about 10,000 miles, one 
traded at about 8,000 miles, and one still has his vehicle which has 
about 50,000 miles now.
    Ford has issued three Technical Service Bulletins to address the 
vibration/shake issue on MY1991-1994 Ford Explorers. One bulletin 
issued on September 1, 1994, BC1431940902, informs dealers of the 
availability of a new engine mount with revised insulator stiffening to 
correct a lateral shake problem on the subject vehicles. The other two 
bulletins, issued on February 12, 1996, Article Nos. 96-4-15 and 96-4-
17, address vibration/shake in the seat and/or floor at speeds above 50 
mph and peaking near 65 mph on certain MY1991-1994 Explorer vehicles. 
An ``aftershake'' condition may also exist when driving over a bump at 
speeds less than 45 mph. To reduce or eliminate the vibration/shake 
problem, these latter bulletins advise dealers to install revised LH 
and RH engine mounts as addressed in the 1994 bulletins and also to 
install a rear axle-to-frame lateral shock absorber kit.
    The vibration/shake in the MY1991-1994 Explorers is apparently 
caused by inadequately designed engine mounts which allow the engine to 
move laterally at certain driving speeds. The vibration/shake is 
primarily limited to the seat and floor. When this occurs, the driver 
is able to control the vehicle and to either increase or decrease the 
vehicle's speed to eliminate the vibration. This is evidenced by no 
reports of loss of vehicle control, crashes, or injuries reported to 
NHTSA.
    For the reasons presented above, it is unlikely that NHTSA would 
issue an order for the notification and remedy of a safety-related 
defect in the subject vehicles 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.

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 
1.50 and 501.8.

    Issued on: February 9, 1998.
Kenneth N. Weinstein,
Associate Administrator for Safety Assurance.
[FR Doc. 98-4626 Filed 2-23-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M