Notice2026-07144
Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP25-001
Primary source
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Published
April 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Abstract
This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a defect petition (DP25-001) submitted by Mr. Luis Armando Vega on August 14, 2025, requesting that the Agency initiate a safety defect investigation into premature degradation and detachment of the plastic underbody shields on Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. After conducting a technical review of the petition and other information, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has concluded that that the issues raised by the petition do not warrant a defect investigation at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied the petition.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19270-19271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07144]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. NHTSA-2026-0925]
Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP25-001
AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Denial of a petition for a defect investigation.
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SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the reasons for the denial of a defect
petition (DP25-001) submitted by Mr. Luis Armando Vega on August 14,
2025, requesting that the Agency initiate a safety defect investigation
into premature degradation and detachment of the plastic underbody
shields on Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured by
Ford Motor Company. After conducting a technical review of the petition
and other information, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has
concluded that that the issues raised by the petition do not warrant a
defect investigation at this time. Accordingly, the Agency has denied
the petition.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jayson Winick, Vehicle Defect Division
C, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE,
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: 202-699-6480. Email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1cbc0d8d2cecf8fd6c8cfc8c2cae1c5ced58fc6ced7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b313a22283435752c32353238301b3f342f753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
Interested persons may petition NHTSA requesting that the Agency
initiate an investigation to determine whether a motor vehicle or an
item of replacement equipment does not comply with an applicable motor
vehicle safety standard or contains a defect that relates to motor
vehicle safety. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.1. Upon receipt of a
properly filed petition, the Agency conducts a technical review of the
petition, material submitted with the petition and any additional
information. 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2); 49 CFR 552.6. The technical review
may consist solely of a review of information already in the possession
of the Agency or it may include the collection of information from a
motor vehicle manufacturer and/or other sources. After conducting the
technical review and considering appropriate factors, which may
include, but are not limited to, the nature of the complaint,
allocation of Agency resources, Agency priorities, the likelihood of
uncovering sufficient evidence to establish the existence of a defect
and the likelihood of success in any necessary enforcement litigation,
the Agency will grant or deny the petition. See 49 U.S.C. 30162(a)(2);
49 CFR 552.8.
Background Information
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated
August 14, 2025, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged
defect of the ``underbody shields'' on the following vehicle model
stated by the petitioner: MY 2020 Ford Explorer. The petition itself
can be reviewed at <a href="http://NHTSA.gov">NHTSA.gov</a> under ODI number 11682326.
Summary of Petition
The petition alleges premature degradation and sagging/loosening of
the underbody shields, even under normal usage conditions, potentially
resulting in road debris if they were to detach completely. The
Petitioner also alleged excessive noise and vibration while driving
that progressively worsened over time, along with visible sagging of
the shields underneath the vehicle.
Office of Defects Investigation Analysis
An analysis of the subject vehicle population was undertaken using
complaints submitted to ODI. No related complaints were found in
NHTSA's database for the subject vehicle population. Subsequently, ODI
conducted a broader search for related complaints and field reports
involving MY 2020-2025 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator models, as
these vehicles all utilize substantially similar underbody shields. No
complaints or reports were found citing any allegations pertaining to
any of the underbody shields.
Correspondingly, ODI reviewed manufacturer information and data and
did not identify a trend related to the Petitioner's allegations.
After a thorough review of the materials submitted by the
Petitioner and other relevant information available to the Agency,
NHTSA has not identified sufficient evidence of a vehicle-based defect
pertaining to the underbody shields of the subject vehicle. It is
noteworthy that the Petitioner alleged the presence of detectability
pertaining to this condition, including excessive noise and vibration
while driving that progressively worsened over time, and visible
sagging of the shields underneath the vehicle. ODI's findings are that
there is a low risk of a complete
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detachment or a projectile hazard related to this condition.
Consequently, this petition is denied. The Agency reserves the right to
take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d) and 49 CFR part 522; delegation of
authority at 49 CFR 1.95(a).\1\
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\1\ The authority to determine whether to approve or deny defect
petitions under 49 U.S.C. 30162(d) and 49 CFR part 552 has been
further delegated to the Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
Eileen Sullivan,
Associate Administrator for Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2026-07144 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
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