Ford fights suits over cruiser safety
| • | HPD cites safety, cost in phasing out 3-wheeled vehicles |
Advertiser Staff and News Services
DETROIT — The safety of Ford Crown Victoria police cruisers has come into question in several lawsuits filed by police departments around the country that allege the vehicle is unsafe and prone to catch fire during high-speed rear-end collisions.
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The Honolulu Police Department uses Crown Victorias, but Honolulu Police Assistant Chief Karl Godsey said the department has had no problems.
The Ford Crown Victoria, a police mainstay in Boca Raton, Fla., will replace three-wheel scooters used by Honolulu beat officers.
The latest legal action, filed Thursday by the New Brunswick Police Department in New Jersey, claims that Ford Motor Co. violated the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act by withholding internal findings from crash tests showing hazards in mounting a fuel tank in the so-called crush zone behind the rear axle of the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.
The lawsuit also charges that the automaker hid information about the hazards, discovered during Ford's own crash tests of vehicles exceeding 50 mph.
Ford officials denied the charges, calling them inaccurate.
"These are all unfounded allegations," said Kathleen Vokes, spokeswoman for Ford. "The Crown Victoria has received a five-star crash rating — the highest given by the government — and we either meet or exceed all of the fuel integrity standards that are required by law."
Godsey said HPD has more than 100 Crown Victorias, including a couple of 1996 models but mostly 1997 models and a few 1999 and 2000 models.
He said HPD's maintenance section was aware of the allegations of problems with high-speed rear-end collisions, but he said HPD police cars haven't been rear-ended and the department "never received any information about a recall" from Ford.
Asked if HPD still plans to purchase Crown Victorias, Godsey said the city and HPD would never buy a car that is unsafe. He also said HPD's car purchases are tied to the city's bid process.
Crown Victorias have been the subject of at least three lawsuits across the nation — all filed by police departments, according to Ford.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an informal inquiry last Nov. 27 to study the safety of Crown Victoria models including the Police Interceptor, Mercury Grand Marquis and Lincoln Town Car.
The federal agency said that since 1991 it has received eight complaints that included 10 crashes, 15 injuries, eight fatalities and 10 fires involving the Crown Victoria.
Ford issued its own Technical Service Bulletin in October for 2001 Crown Victorias, recommending ways for dealers to reduce the potential for fuel tank punctures during extremely high-speed rear impacts.
