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February 25, 2006
FORD EXPLORER ‘216 COMPLIANCE’ INVESTIGATION URGED
A California research group has petitioned NHTSA to open an investigation into possible non-compliance by Ford Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs with the agency’s roof crush standard, which influences injuries in rollovers.
According to Safety Analysis & Forensic Engineering (SAFE), “there are potentially hundreds or even thousands of Explorers and Mountaineers in the 1997-2001 vintages that fail FMVSS 216, and thus violate federal law.” Based on an analysis of internal Ford engineering communiqués, the group concluded that an early design change in the vehicles’ door structures may have accounted for the possible non-compliance. “Only with physical testing can it be confirmed or denied whether the Explorer meets the federal standard for roof crush resistance,” SAFE told NHTSA. Ford has urged NHTSA to deny the petition.
Posted by MVHAP at February 25, 2006 04:38 PM