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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)said
it had conducted an in-depth investigation first opened in July
2016 that included review of over 6,500 consumer complaints over
2011-2017 model year vehicles, including police versions of the
SUV, and found no evidence of a safety issue.
NHTSA said its investigation found "that the 2011-2017 Ford
Explorer vehicles when accurately measured produce occupant
compartment (carbon monoxide) levels which fall below current
accepted health standards."
The investigation did find issues with dealers, government
fleets and others modifying the Police Interceptor vehicles.
So-called "upfitting" -- adding sirens, lights, cages, auxiliary
power -- is typically performed by governmental fleet
operations, independent repair facilities, or local dealers.
"Sealing issues caused by upfitting were responsible for the
highest measured carbon monoxide levels in tested vehicles,"
NHTSA said while adding the highest levels in consumer vehicles
were usually traced to sealing issues caused by rear crash
damage.
In 2017, Ford agreed to cover the costs of specific repairs in
every Police Interceptor Explorer SUVs that may be tied to
after-market installation of police equipment. The company said
the modifications may have left holes in the underbody of the
vehicles.
Ford, which did not immediately comment Monday, said in 2017 "if
the holes are not properly sealed, it creates an opening where
exhaust could enter the cabin."
Ford also issued a procedure in 2017 as part of a Field Service
Action (FSA) that includes a heating and cooling reprogramming
operation as part of a field service action. Tests demonstrated
a substantial reduction of carbon monoxide levels due solely to
reprogramming, NHTSA said.
Even without FSA repairs, "no vehicles unaffected by upfitter
issues or prior crash damage were identified with (carbon
monoxide) levels that exceed accepted occupational exposure
levels."
The city of Austin, Texas in 2017 temporarily removed all 400 of
the city’s Ford Explorer SUVs from use. All were repaired and
returned to service after getting FSA repairs, NHTSA said.
(Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Louise Heavens and
Chizu Nomiyama)
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