The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Wednesday upgraded its investigation into rusting engine cradles causing steering problems on about 550,000 Ford Windstars from the 1999-2003 model years.
That brings the troubled minivan a step closer to a second recall. After a government investigation this year, the automaker recalled about 621,000 Windstars from the 1998-2003 model years in the United States and Canada because the rear axle could corrode and break.
In July, the agency began investigating rusting on the front subframe, which is sometimes called an engine cradle. N.H.T.S.A. labeled this a Preliminary Evaluation.
But in a document filed Wednesday on its Web site, the agency said it had more than 300 complaints “alleging fracture, cracking and/or excessive corrosion.” That warranted intensifying the investigation to an Engineering Analysis.
The agency said it had three reports of accidents, with one resulting in injury. It added that most of the complaints had arisen in the so-called salt belt states. The rear-axle recall also emerged from the salt belt.
The opening of an Engineering Analysis is sometimes the trigger for a recall, as the automaker learns that the agency has enough proof of a problem to warrant the action.
“We are fully cooperating with the government on this investigation as we always do,” said Wesley Sherwood, a Ford spokesman, in an e-mail. Asked if Ford planned a recall, he wrote, “We cannot comment further during the investigation.”
Mary Ellen Heyde, who directed Ford’s minivan program before retiring about eight years ago, said in a telephone interview that she was not sure what caused the Windstar problems and was not familiar with what investigators had found.
“We have had cases in the past where there can be a supplier issue, but I am not aware of it,” she said.
Here are some other recent safety-related actions:
? Honda says it is recalling about 10,800 2011 Pilot sport utility vehicles and 2010–11 V-6 Accords because the front suspension could collapse. The automaker said a “programming error of the computer controlled machine” resulted in some bolts on Pilots not being properly tightened. In addition, on some Accord V-6 models and Pilots, the spindle nuts may not be tight enough. Honda told the agency it learned of a problem after receiving a complaint that the front suspension on a Pilot collapsed.
? After being told by N.H.T.S.A. to investigate, General Motors is recalling almost 96,000 2005–7 Cadillac CTS models because the passenger-side air bag might not deploy in a crash. The automaker said “the repeated flexing of the passenger sensing system mat in the front passenger seat may cause the mat to kink, bend or fold.” That could break the electrical connections and disable the bag. The agency asked G.M. to provide more information after the Office of Defect Investigations spotted a possible problem in an early warning report that automakers are required to file.
? General Motors is recalling 1,262 of its 2011 full-size pickups because the rear axle could lock and “the driver may not be able to maintain directional control of the vehicle and a crash could occur without prior warning,” the automaker told the agency.
The vehicles are the 2011 Cadillac Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado and GMC Sierra. The automaker said a rear axle cross pin was improperly heat treated and could break and “become displaced within the rear axle.”? That could cause the axle to lock. The automaker said the problem was discovered at an assembly plant.
? Triumph Motorcycles Limited is recalling 216 of its 2010 Sprint ST and Sprint GT models. The manufacturer said the oil filter plug/dipstick was not the correct length. That could lead the owner to put less oil than needed in the engine causing engine damage and a possible loss of control by the rider.
? About 1,143 school buses were being recalled by the Blue Bird Corporation for two different problems, the company told the safety agency. About 1,000 are 2010-11 Vision models on which the parking brake, when applied, might not prevent the vehicle from rolling. The company, in Fort Valley, Ga., told N.H.T.S.A. that “the hydraulic brake pedal may deform upon application, which may prevent the parking brake from fully applying.”
The remaining 143 buses are the 2011 All American D-3 models. Blue Bird said those models did not meet the government’s standard for “body joint strength.” Blue Bird said it had learned that the proper adhesive was not used to secure steel body panels on the outside of the vehicles.
? The Hankook Tire Company is also recalling about 17,700 passenger car tires because its testing has shown “less than expected sidewall performance when placed under extreme conditions.” The company told the agency that the affected model was the Dynapro AS in a P265/70R17 size.
For more information or to report a safety problem, visit safercar.gov.
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