NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88006

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORDDISCLOSED 8 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS OF 10 FIRES IN THE LEFT D-PILLAR AREAOF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.NO COLLISION ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED, BUT EACHINCIDENT INVOLVED PROPERTY DAMAGE DUE TO FIRE.IN ADDITION, FORD'S RECORDSINCLUDE AT LEAST 62 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR TRAILER LIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY SHORT/BURNED OUT.FORD ALSO PROVIDED AN UNSIGNED COPY OF AN INVESTIGATION DOCUMENT RELATEDTO SIX OF THE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED.THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES THE ANNOTATIONB&C E, 10/16/87, APPARENTLY REFERRING TO BODY AND CHASSIS ENGINEERING,AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS AND FINDINGS: -VEHICLE WATER TESTS AT ST LOUIS ASSEMBLY PLANT INDICATE WATERINTRUSION DOES OCCUR IN THE D-PILLAR AREA AROUND THE FIXED GLASS.BODY SEALING RELEASED BUTYL TAPE (7/86) AND D-PILLAR BAFFLE (8/86). -ROOT CAUSE-TBD -SHORT TERM RESOLUTION INVOLVES COVERING THE RELAY ASSEMBLY WITH APLASTIC, FIRE-RETARDANT BAG.TRW (SUPPLIER) WILL INSTALL THE BAG ANDSHIP THE PRODUCT TO THE ASSEMBLY PLANT.A PERMANENT RESOLUTION WASNOTED TO INVOLVE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLOSED HOUSING DESIGNED FOR WATERINSENSITIVITY.TRW IS REPORTEDLY PURSUING SUCH A DESIGN WITH ANESTIMATED 9-12 MONTH LEAD TIME.ANALYSIS:THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNER COMPLAINTS/SERVICE REPORTSIS OFFSET BY THE UNIQUE LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT APPARENTLY INVOLVED IN THEINCIDENTS.THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE VIA THE WARRANTY REPORT DATA THAT THENUMBER OF ACTUAL FIRE OCCURRENCES MAY BE APPROACHING 100.THERE IS ALSOEVIDENCE THAT FORD IS PURSUING A MODIFICATION OF THE TOW EQUIPMENTELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY AND/ OR PACKAGING.NONETHELESS, FORD STATED ...THEREWERE NO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS OR COMPONENT CHANGES.....THAT COULDRELATE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.IT APPEARS THAT SUCH A MODIFICATION MAY BECURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.===