TSB 12-8-1 — Ford and Lincoln Service bulletin
12-8-1 is a service bulletin on file with NHTSA for 6 Ford and Lincoln models, 2004–2008 model years. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
What the bulletin says. FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: MAY HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY LEADING TO LESS AIRFLOW OR ENGINE IDLING RPM FLUCTUATION AND HARD STARTS OR BATTERY DISCONNECT OR DEAD BATTERY AFTER KEEP ALIVE MEMORY (KAM) CLEAR. MODELS 2003-05 THUNDERBIRD, 05-06 MUSTANG, 06-08 FUSION, 04-05…
NHTSA's own summary of the document, quoted from the public manufacturer-communications file.
Vehicles and model years 12-8-1 names
| Vehicle | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Expedition | 2005, 2006 |
| Ford Explorer | 2004, 2005 |
| Ford F-150 | 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Ford Fusion | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Ford Mustang | 2005, 2006 |
| Lincoln Navigator | 2005, 2006 |
Every document filed under 12-8-1
| Document ID | Filed | Type |
|---|---|---|
| TSB-12-8-1 | August 1, 2012 | Service bulletin |
What 12-8-1 covers
Engine, Electrical — the component vocabulary NHTSA files this communication under.
Questions buyers ask
What is TSB 12-8-1?
12-8-1 is a service bulletin filed with NHTSA by Ford and Lincoln, covering 6 Ford and Lincoln models across the 2004–2008 model years. NHTSA's summary reads: FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: MAY HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY LEADING TO LESS AIRFLOW OR ENGINE IDLING RPM FLUCTUATION AND HARD STARTS OR BATTERY DISCONNECT OR DEAD BATTERY AFTER KEEP ALIVE MEMORY (KAM) CLEAR. MODELS 2003-05 THUNDERBIRD, 05-06 MUSTANG, 06-08 FUSION, 04-05…
Which vehicles does 12-8-1 cover?
NHTSA's file names Ford Expedition (2005–2006); Ford Explorer (2004–2005); Ford F-150 (2005–2007); Ford Fusion (2006–2008); Ford Mustang (2005–2006); Lincoln Navigator (2005–2006). A bulletin number can be re-issued against more vehicles later, so check the model-year list on this page against your own.
Is TSB 12-8-1 a recall, and is the repair free?
No. 12-8-1 is repair guidance the manufacturer sent its dealers, not a safety defect finding. You pay for the work unless the vehicle is still under warranty. Recall repairs, by contrast, are always free.
How do I get the full text of 12-8-1?
Take the document ID to a dealer's service desk, or search NHTSA's manufacturer-communications records. This page carries every document ID filed under 12-8-1, its date, and NHTSA's own summary from the public file.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. This page lists only what NHTSA's manufacturer-communications file records under 12-8-1. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.