Gov't Investigates 1 Million Ford Vehicles

[OhioChick]

Source: AP

NHTSA Receives Complaints Of Faulty Valve Stems

POSTED: 7:20 pm EDT October 21, 2008
UPDATED: 7:55 pm EDT October 21, 2008

The government is investigating more than 1 million Ford Motor Co. vehicles after receiving reports of tires leaking air from faulty valve stems made by a Chinese company.

Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood said Tuesday the investigation involves vehicles with the tire valves, including 12 vehicles from the 2007 model year cited by the government. Ford has received some complaints but no reports of crashes or injuries.

The valves are used on most new Ford vehicles except for certain types of F-Series Super Duty Trucks and Econoline vans, Sherwood said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it has received 37 complaints of faulty valve stems but no crashes or injuries have been reported. In 23 of the complaints, the vehicle had more than one valve that was "severely cracked or cracked and leaking" and needed replacement.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/automotive/17774247/detail.html

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What is it with all this Chinese shit coming into this country? Is anyone inspecting it?

[unpossibles]

1. See how great things could be in an unregulated free market?

We could be endangered by all of our foods and products instead of just a few.

Or as a friend of mine pointed out - try making something of yourself in Somalia: they have no burdensome taxes and laws, and are a totally free market, but good luck making something of yourself or keeping your assets from being stolen if you do.

[aquart]

3. The free market regulates by death.

[formercia]

16. To them it's an acceptable risk

they weigh profit over liability. The amoral corporate culture strikes again.

[pokercat999]

18. There was just a huge recall of valve stems in the

aftermarket. If you have purchased new tires in the last few months it would be a good idea to check with the retailer that installed them, they should know all about the recall.

[zeemike]

2. It is just the price we pay for globalization.

It is amazing to me that we can get stuff cheaper by having is shipped half way around the world rather than make it right where it is needed.

[cabluedem]

6. The chinese probably loaded them with toxic crap too.

[zeemike]

7. Well sure, you don't think they will feed it to their own people

So you?
And welcome to DU

[uppityperson]

12. Melamine risk spreads, so to speak... ("willy spread" alert)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081020/od_nm/us_melamine_sex_odd_1
Chocolate-flavored body spreads sold in British sex shops have been found to be tainted with melamine, the chemical that made thousands of babies ill in China, food safety authorities said Monday.

The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) said melamine had been found in Chinese-made "I Love You" sets, sold at Ann Summers sex shops, containing chocolate and strawberry body pens and chocolate-flavored penis and nipple spreads.

"This is a first. We've never had to put out an alert before on 'willy spread' -- chocolate-flavored or otherwise," the FSA said on its Web site, www.foodstandards.gov.uk .

It said the health risk from the affected products was low.

[cabluedem]

17. Thanks for welcoming me to DU!

[high density]

4. Ford doesn't seem to have much luck with tires

First the Firestone problems on the Explorer, now this.

[cabluedem]

5. Ford specs the tires out, not the OEM. That was the problem with the Firestones.

[DainBramaged]

9. Good call, thanks

[high density]

11. I'd say both were at fault

Ford built a vehicle that was too prone to rolling over, and then recommended a tire pressure that was too low to mitigate the rollover problem.

Firestone built defective tires where the tread separated, which of course caused people to lose control of the vehicle.

The Firestone defense of "we were just following orders" is only half the story.

[DainBramaged]

8. Up to 30,000,000 THIRTY MILLION overall throughout the industry could be involved

This so-called 'supplier', did not put enough ozone protectant in the rubber. We are seeing it when tires are changed on rims or even checked for air. Valves crack/cracking from less than normal use. It isn't the cost of the valve that is significant (around 60 cents) it's the safety factor and the cost of changing out these valves.

Cheap fucking shortcutting corrupt profit over safety Chinese shit strikes again. Want to ask me how I feel about the shit manufactured in China.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[Lance_Boyle]

10. wholly agreed

Why doesn't Ford buy American? This just doesn't fit with the image they promote.

[DainBramaged]

13. It's the bean counters, it's ALWAYS the bean counters

Products recalls, it's the bean counter's faults for demanding cheaper prices and of course, lower quality.

[pokercat999]

19. To be fair, it could be that ALL valve stems are made in

China and India. Of course BMW, Mercedes, Audi and VW probably use EU made valve stems but they would cost more.

[OhioChick]

14. I feel the same about the shit manufactured in China. n/t

[Texano78704]

15. I Wonder if...

This is related to the recall notice I received to replace the valve stems on my car when I purchased new tires from Discount Tire store.