RE: Ford Explorer - Safe or not?
Wednesday 6th February 2002
Ford Explorer - Safe or not?
Rollovers - built in defect or just the nature of the beast?
Discussion
Well, mine tried to kill me! I was lucky to escape when the throttle stuck open on the M3 leaving me accellerating into slow-moving traffic (flip into neutral, let the rev limiter take over and steer into the hard shoulder with engine going nuts). The faults didn't stop there, but suffice to say, it went back to Ford for a full refund.
I know how alarming that can be. I used to have a Lexus GS300 - on a couple of occasions the (genuine Lexus) footmats fouled the accelerator. Thought it was just me being an ar5ehole, and fitting the mats incorrectly until I read a letter (in a paper I think) from a Justice of the Peace who crossed Tower Bridge at full throttle!
Thing is with the Explorer - as I understand it - this is just one of the many ways it tries to kill you.
Thing is with the Explorer - as I understand it - this is just one of the many ways it tries to kill you.
The parentals had an explorer which they got on quite well with... I think it's worst sin was to drink vast quantities of petrol.
Thing is though, these things are bound to roll more easily, the centre of gravity's like six feet up or something. Accept it, I say. If you're going to drive like an idiot, that's your look out.
I did like the bit about being ruled "defective by design", so therefore, we the court will hold the... (pause for comic effect) dealer! responsible.
"Hello Sir, now that you're entering court, please deposit your brain in this box here and collect a ticket."
Thing is though, these things are bound to roll more easily, the centre of gravity's like six feet up or something. Accept it, I say. If you're going to drive like an idiot, that's your look out.
I did like the bit about being ruled "defective by design", so therefore, we the court will hold the... (pause for comic effect) dealer! responsible.
"Hello Sir, now that you're entering court, please deposit your brain in this box here and collect a ticket."
Re: statistics
Note the careful wording
"According to the DOT, in all accident types the Explorer is 27 percent safer than passenger cars"
Comparing it to an average of all other passenger cars in all other accidents. It will be better cos its higher up and weighs about 20 tonnes. I don't doubt that.
"and is 19 percent safer than other comparable SUVs in a rollover accident."
i.e. once it's rolled over, its safer than other SUVs. Again I don't doubt that, the statisic they carefully avoid but imply they've covered is:
"The Explorer is only 214% more likely to roll in the event of a lost wheel or cornering at excessive speeds (>5mph) than comparable SUVs"
Theprevious model (Bronco I think) had a bad roll reputation, when the first Explorers of this model came off the line they found that it rolled in 6 tests out of 6, compared to 2 out of 6 for the GMC comparable and 5 out of 6 for the Bronco. Ford paniced and explored ways to make it more stable. Widening the wheelbase was ruled out as it would have cost Ford 8 months in redesign and prduction, so they went for lowering the tyre pressure, which does make the vehicle more stable, but increases the chances of a blow out.
Hence the whole firestone/ford fu*kup
All I can say is keep on rolling. The less of them about the better...
Note the careful wording
"According to the DOT, in all accident types the Explorer is 27 percent safer than passenger cars"
Comparing it to an average of all other passenger cars in all other accidents. It will be better cos its higher up and weighs about 20 tonnes. I don't doubt that.
"and is 19 percent safer than other comparable SUVs in a rollover accident."
i.e. once it's rolled over, its safer than other SUVs. Again I don't doubt that, the statisic they carefully avoid but imply they've covered is:
"The Explorer is only 214% more likely to roll in the event of a lost wheel or cornering at excessive speeds (>5mph) than comparable SUVs"
Theprevious model (Bronco I think) had a bad roll reputation, when the first Explorers of this model came off the line they found that it rolled in 6 tests out of 6, compared to 2 out of 6 for the GMC comparable and 5 out of 6 for the Bronco. Ford paniced and explored ways to make it more stable. Widening the wheelbase was ruled out as it would have cost Ford 8 months in redesign and prduction, so they went for lowering the tyre pressure, which does make the vehicle more stable, but increases the chances of a blow out.
Hence the whole firestone/ford fu*kup
All I can say is keep on rolling. The less of them about the better...
Explorer may well be more prone to roll-over than certain other SUVs (anybody remember the early Suzuki SJs?) however the cause of the roll-over is more than likely to be the nut holding the wheel. How many times do you see these SUVs being driven as if they were 'sports' cars! As for the dealer being held responsible that is just plain ludicrous, only in the good old US of A (reminds me of the case where a women who killed her poodle by trying to dry its hair in the microwave. She won because there was no sticker saying do not do this).
I've been driving 4x4s for years - numerous makes & models from bog standard pick-ups to the great Landcruiser Amazon - and I have to say that generally they handle reasonably well, although one or two were markedly worse than the rest.
Certainly 4x4s corner far better than the generally percieved view, and it's usually collisions - either with other vehicles, or stuff beside the tarmac (e.g. kerbs) - which cause a lot of roll overs. The Explorer (never driven one) does seem to be one of the worst though - perhaps they should fit some stabilisers!
Certainly 4x4s corner far better than the generally percieved view, and it's usually collisions - either with other vehicles, or stuff beside the tarmac (e.g. kerbs) - which cause a lot of roll overs. The Explorer (never driven one) does seem to be one of the worst though - perhaps they should fit some stabilisers!
My tuppence, I've driven one in Canada, they're nicknamed exploder there (they apparently overheat, burst a fuel line and bingo!). Roadwork, slushy suspension, can't keep a straight line, wheel wobble standard, but all the junk electrics gizmos you can think of. In the bush relatively good, tends to feel as if it's going over long before that angle is reached probably due to the very poor seats (like the typical french armchairs)Give me a mark 1 landy anytime for X-country work. but for lazy 55mph American cruising OK but certainly not safe anywhere near its limits!
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Thursday 7th February 13:15
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Thursday 7th February 13:15
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