Probe Prompts Ford To Revise Clutch Plate Bolts
FEATURE
2011 Ford Mustang
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to close a preliminary investigation into 29,807 2011-2012 Ford Mustangs without requiring a recall.
NHTSA said there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving, but said the issue doesn’t pose a risk to safety, according to the Detroit News.
A number of reports alleged increasing difficulty selecting gears along with gear clash or grinding, which may be caused by gradual loosening of clutch plate fasteners.
NHTSA’s analysis identified only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.
Ford has a revised fastener currently in production.
The U.S. automobile manufacturer identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmissions.
“NHTSA said the largest percentage of complaints indicated higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures; the complaints were related to transmission fluid viscosity; higher shift efforts resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming,” the Detroit News reported.
Ford has published a technical service bulletin advising the use of a lower viscosity fluid to address the cold shift issues.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration decided to close a preliminary investigation into 29,807 2011-2012 Ford Mustangs without requiring a recall.
NHTSA said there were 364 unique reports indicating various shift quality issues while driving, but said the issue doesn’t pose a risk to safety, according to the Detroit News.
A number of reports alleged increasing difficulty selecting gears along with gear clash or grinding, which may be caused by gradual loosening of clutch plate fasteners.
NHTSA’s analysis identified only five complaints alleging an inability to shift into gear due to loose clutch plate bolts.
In response, Ford reportedly implemented a new design to the clutch plate fastener bolts on newer models. For older models the company issued a special service statement that should fix the problem.
The U.S. automobile manufacturer identified several factors that may contribute to shift quality concerns in the subject vehicles, including cold transmissions.
“NHTSA said the largest percentage of complaints indicated higher than expected shift efforts in cold ambient temperatures; the complaints were related to transmission fluid viscosity; higher shift efforts resolved themselves with the drivetrain warming,” the Detroit News reported.
Ford published a technical service bulletin advising the use of a lower viscosity fluid to address the cold shift issues. ©2011 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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