Government opens probe of Ford Expeditions

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced Tuesday it has launched an investigation to determine whether an estimated 437,000 Ford Expeditions have a defective part -- one designed to keep the sport utility vehicle from rolling over.

NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation in July looking into possible problems with the front stabilizer bar links of 1997-98 Ford Expeditions.

A preliminary evaluation is the fact-finding part of a government investigation, where the agency collects data from the manufacturer.

If there is sufficient evidence of a problem, the agency will then move into an engineering analysis. That is the phase where the agency tests for a possible defect.

The agency has received 14 complaints where one or both of the front stabilizer bar links failed. In five of the 14 complaints, vehicle instability was reported. No injuries or crashes have been reported.

Stabilizer bars keep a vehicle from rolling over in a turns.

A Ford spokesman said the automaker is cooperating with NHTSA.

Last year, NHTSA investigated problems with the front stabilizer bar links in the Ford Explorer, the smaller SUV companion to the Expedition. Ford initiated a recall to replace those bar links in 876,000 1995-97 Explorers and 1997 Mercury Mountaineers.