Even as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is continuing its two-year investigation of Ford Explorer SUVs, which spew lethal carbon monoxide gas into vehicle compartments poisoning occupants, complaints continue to pile up against the automaker over these defective vehicles. According to a CBS news report, the Center for Auto Safety is renewing its call for an immediate recall of the Ford Explorer SUVs demanding that Ford and the government take prompt action on complaints about the leaking carbon monoxide.
The number of complaints has now grown to thousands nationwide. At least 41 injuries have been reported, but NHTSA has not publicly offered any answers or explanations at the two-year mark of its investigation into the matter. Safety advocates say they are frustrated about the limited amount of federal auto safety agency information.
Vehicles Poisoning People
Ford is currently offering a free repair if a consumer requests it. However, the automaker has not issued a recall despite knowing they are defective. The automaker has been claiming that the repairs have been “effectively resolving” the problem. But consumers are saying that is not the case and that the problem continues despite Ford’s so-called repairs.
NHTSA has since received almost 200 complaints and CBS has found 60 complaints from drivers who say they had that fix and are still experiencing signs of carbon monoxide seeping into the cabin. CBS has found that the issue is also surfacing in the 2018 Explorer. A complaint from a 2016 Explorer owner in Redding, Calif., reports a “rotten egg smell” when the SUV accelerates at a high speed with the EcoBoost feature in use.
Need for Action
The owner said they have taken it to Ford to have the seals checked, but the smell doesn’t go away, and their toddler complains of headaches every time they are in the vehicle. The owner also reported experiencing nausea while in the vehicle. NHTSA has expanded its investigation but has not included the 2018 model, which is also reportedly having the same problem. Ford has insisted that its Explorers “are safe.”
As auto defect lawyers who are representing both police officers and civilians who have been injured by these dangerous and defective vehicles, we urge prompt action here. More people are going to fall sick, more people are going to get injured and potential fatalities are going to occur if NHTSA doesn’t act quickly. Ford is not going to recall these vehicles voluntarily. It is up to NHTSA to enforce federal auto safety laws and order Ford to issue a recall, something it should have done much sooner.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ford-explorer-safety-advocates-renew-recall-demand-carbon-monoxide-complaints/
