[Federal Register: September 4, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 172)] [Notices] [Page 47344-47345] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr04se98-139] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP98-005 AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a petition submitted to NHTSA under 49 U.S.C. 30162, requesting that the agency commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect related to motor vehicle safety. The petition is hereinafter identified as DP98-005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George Chiang, Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-5206. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mr. Jeff Glick of Seattle, Washington, submitted a petition dated May 14, 1998, requesting that an investigation be initiated to determine whether Model Year (MY) 1994 Ford Probe vehicles contain a defect related to motor vehicle safety within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301. The petition alleges that MY 1994 Ford Probes have a defective oil pump that can fail, and that such a failure can pose a safety hazard. In addition, the petitioner alleges that the oil pump contains a safety-related defect as described in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) No. 96-21-3 issued by Ford Motor Company (Ford). TSB No. 96-21-3 concerns the oil pump in MY 1993 through 1996 Ford Probe vehicles with a 2.0 liter engine (the subject vehicles). An uneven wear pattern on the oil pump control plunger can cause the plunger to stick and fail to properly regulate the oil pressure in the engine. If the oil pressure is too low, it may cause the hydraulic lash adjuster to bleed down. This will produce a metallic ``ticking'' noise at idle. If the oil pressure is too high, the hydraulic lash adjusters may pump up, causing the cylinder head valves to stay open. This may be accompanied by rough running, missing, reduced power, and at times stalling. Ford modified the oil pump with an improved oil pump plunger to reduce the possibility of sticking. The new oil pump is used in MY 1997 and later MY Probes and as well as the replacement part for the subject vehicles. The new oil pump has part number F72Z-6600-AA. A review of agency data files, including information reported to the Auto Safety Hotline by consumers, indicated that aside from the petition, there was a complaint report submitted by the petitioner in February of this year concerning loss of power and stalling, possibly due to failure or malfunction of the oil pump. The agency has received no other complaints regarding oil pump problems in the subject vehicles. Ford provided information to ODI on July 30, 1998, stating that it has received 1,552 complaint reports concerning ``ticking/clicking'' or other engine noise concerns in the subject vehicles. (A total of 192,563 subject vehicles were produced in MY 1993-1996.) Ford reported only 48 alleged vehicle ``stalling'' or engine ``dies'' complaints that may be associated with the defective oil pump, and none report injuries or crashes. The petitioner alleged that failure of the oil pump can cause a safety hazard because it can cause loss of engine power and stalling. Based on the TSB, the problem may be noticed as an engine ``ticking'' noise. The petitioner affirms this symptom as well as the oil pressure gauge showing a high pressure reading. The noise and or high oil pressure gauge reading may alert the owner to bring the vehicle in for repair. The high ratio of reported engine noise ``ticking/clicking'' complaints (1,552) compared to those of ``stalling'' or ``dies'' (48) suggests that the problem often produces significant symptoms noticed by drivers, but only rarely leads to stalling. The agency has analyzed the available information concerning the problem alleged in the petition, including the information obtained from the evaluation of the ODI and Ford complaints and an analysis of potential failure mode. While stalling may have a significant adverse effect on safety, particularly where the incidence rate is high or there is no warning, here the malfunctioning of the Ford oil pump plunger has not been shown to result in a substantial rate of stalling incidents [[Page 47345]] and is unlikely to have a significant adverse effect on safety. In view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that NHTSA would issue an order for the notification and remedy of a safety-related defect in the subject vehicles at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8. Kenneth N. Weinstein, Associate Administrator for Safety Assurance. [FR Doc. 98-23860 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P