DANA CORPORATION DRIVESHAFTS

DANA CORPORATION HAS IDENTIFIED CERTAIN REMANUFACTURED DRIVESHAFTS AS BEING DEFECTIVE. REAR PROPELLER SHAFTS SENT TO A 3RD PARTY FOR REWORKING HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED CAUSING IMPAIRED OPERATIONAL STRENGTH OF THE YOKE ALUMINIUM SHAFT. IF THIS REAR PROPELLER SHAFT SEPERATES AND COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE ROAD, THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN OCCUR. IF THE REAR PROPELLER SHAFT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH FUEL TANK, A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR WHICH CAN LEAD TO A FIRE. AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER WAS MAILED TO FORD ON 1/22/08 REQUESTING FORD'S REASONING IN DETERMINING NO SAFETY DEFECT IS PRESENT IN SAID DANA DRIVESHAFTS. FORD RESPONDED TO RMD'S LETTER ON 2/18/2008 STATING THESE DRIVESHAFTS WERE UTLIZED IN THE 2007 RANGER 4X4 AND THE 2007 EXPLOER 4X2 VEHICLES. FORD STATED THAT EVALUATIONS WERE CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THE STRENGTH OF THE DRIVESHAFTS AND IT WAS FOUND THEY RETAINED AN ULTIMATE STRENGTH GREATER THAN THAT NEEDED ON THESE PARTICULAR FORD APPLICATIONS. FORD STATED THAT THE DODGE AND TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT UTILIZED THESE DRIVESHAFTS OPERATE AT A HIGHER YOKE SHAFT INPUT TORQUE THAN THE RANGER OR EXPLORER. FORD STATED NO OWNER REPORTS, FIELD REPORTS, OR WARRANTY CLAIMS COULD BE FOUND RELATED TO THESE DRIVESHAFTS. FORD DID NOTE THAT SEPERATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT FROM TRANSMISSION END IS POSSIBLE WITH CONTINUED DRIVER ABUSE FOUND IN ACTIONS LIKE "DUMPING THE CLUTCH". HOWEVER, VEHICLE VIBRATION WOULD BE EVIDENT ALERTING THE NEED FOR SERVICE TO THE DRIVER. FORD CONCLUDED THAT THIS DOES NOT PRESENT AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO VEHICLE SAFETY AND WILL NOT BE FILING A DEFECT REPORT. THIS REPORT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE DEFECTS ASSESMENT DIVISION FOR FURTHER REVIEW. THIS EQ IS CLOSED.