The defect
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.
The risk
AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford E-150 | 2006 | 16 | 13 |
| Ford E-250 | 2006 | 11 | 28 |
| Ford E-350 | 2006 | 53 | 36 |
| Ford E-450 | 2006 | 20 | 11 |
| Ford Escape | 2006 | 464 | 3 |
| Ford Expedition | 2006 | 299 | 2 |
| Ford Explorer | 2006 | 630 | 1 |
| Ford F-150 | 2006 | 585 | 4 |
| Ford Ranger | 2006 | 272 | 12 |
| Ford Taurus | 2006 | 318 | 2 |
| Lincoln Mark LT | 2006 | 31 | 4 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 2006 | 60 | 3 |
| Mercury Mariner | 2006 | 63 | 3 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 2006 | 117 | 1 |
Other visibility recalls in 2005
10 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the visibility; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 05V550000 6 Dec 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 05V525000 17 Nov 2005 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 05V516000 7 Nov 2005 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 05V483000 18 Oct 2005 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 05V427000 22 Sept 2005 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 05V249000 2 Jun 2005 | FORETRAVEL, INC. |
| 05V257000 2 Jun 2005 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 05V140000 8 Apr 2005 | LES ENTERPRISES M.CORBEIL |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005