NHTSA Request for Information:
2003 - 2005 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking information from law
enforcement agencies operating Model Year 2003 to Model Year 2005 Ford Crown
Victoria Police Interceptors (CVPI). The information is requested in support of
a defect investigation ODI is conducting (NHTSA Action Number: EA04034).
Additional information is available from ODI's website,
www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov,
under the Defects Investigations link. Search by the NHTSA Action Number:
EA04034.
ODI is investigating cracking or breaking of the steel wheel rim
at the weld which joins the rim and wheel disc; the weld is located in the area
where the outboard tire bead contacts the rim. The crack occurs at the
backside of the outboard flange and therefore is not visible without removing
the wheel from the vehicle. In many cases, the crack may not be visible to the
unaided eye and it is often detectable only if the tire is experiencing ongoing
or a sudden air pressure loss.
This steel wheel, a design type which was introduced at Model
Year 2003, has been the subject of prior investigations (PE03009), a safety
recall (03V279000), and manufacturer extended warranty programs. ODI is
seeking information related to any event involving a Model Year 2003 - 2005
CVPI where a rapid deflation of a tire (similar to a tire blow-out), a
de-beading of a tire from the rim, a loss/near loss of vehicle control, a
crash, or an injury to a person(s) occurred, and may have been caused by
cracking or breaking of the steel rim.
Please contact the ODI investigator (details below) if you have
information to provide; a prompt reply is requested.
Scott Yon - Defects Investigator
Email: scott.yon@nhtsa.dot.gov
U. S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigations
400 7th Street SW, Rm 5326
Washington, DC 20590
Phone: 202-366-0139
Fax: 202-366-1767