The defect
ON CERTAIN VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION, THE POWER LIFTGATE MOTOR AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGES AFTER THE LIFTGATE IS POWERED OPEN.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A LIFTGATE STRUT MALFUNCTION, THE LIFTGATE CAN FALL FREELY WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. ANYONE STANDING BENEATH THE LIFTGATE MAY BE INJURED IF THE LIFTGATE FALLS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE POWER LIFTGATE MODULE TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE LIFTGATE COULD FALL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Freestar | 2005, 2006 |
| Mercury Monterey | 2005, 2006 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
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 Freestar | 2005 | 886 | 3 |
| Ford Freestar | 2006 | 356 | 2 |
| Mercury Monterey | 2005 | 119 | 3 |
| Mercury Monterey | 2006 | 44 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2006
25 of the 490 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2006 concerned the structure; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 06V489000 21 Dec 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 06V483000 15 Dec 2006 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 06V468000 4 Dec 2006 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 06V466000 4 Dec 2006 | THOR CALIFORNIA INC. |
| 06V433000 15 Nov 2006 | EARTHROAMER, LLC |
| 06V431000 15 Nov 2006 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 06V415000 27 Oct 2006 | ELGIN SWEEPER COMPANY |
| 06V406000 25 Oct 2006 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2006