1996 Ford Explorer

ON OCTOBER 21, 1998 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBLE ACCIDENT. A FORD TAURUS PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT (FROM A COMPLETE STOP) DIRECTLY INTO MY PATH. I WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I SLID DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVERS DOOR. RAIN HAD BEEN FALLING ALL DAY(THE FIRST RAIN OF THE YEAR). THEREFORE, I DO NOT FEEL THAT MY EXPLORER SLOWED AT ALL, MY TOTAL SKID WAS BETWEEN FIVE AND TEN FEET IN LENGTH. MY QUESTION/COMPLAINT IS WHY DID MY AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY? I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, BUT I STILL HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THE SPEED A VEHICLE HAS TO BE TRAVELING IN ORDER FOR THE AIRBAG TO ACTIVATE. THE NATIONAL INSURANCE INSTITUTE WEB PAGE SAID THE AVERAGE SPEED SHOULD BE BETWEEN 12-16 MPH. MY EXPLORER HAS MANY PROBLEMS (IT'S A LEMON). THIS, HOWEVER, WORRIES ME. WOULD MY AIRBAG ACTIVATE AT A HIGHER SPEED? SHOULD I BE AFRAID TO PUT MY FAMILY INSIDE AND GO FOR A RIDE? THIS ALL MAY BE IN VANE, THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE MY INSURANCE COMPANY MAY CONSIDER IT TOTALED. MY OTHER MAIN CONCERN WAS THE SEVERITY OF DAMAGE TO THE TAURUS. THE DRIVER WAS NOT HURT OTHER THAN GLASS IN HIS FACE, BUT ALL I COULD SEE WAS MY GRILL AND HOOD GOING DIRECTLY INTO HIS WINDOW. I HAVE READ YOUR

THE ABS HAS EXPERIENCED TWO DIFFERANT TYPES OF FAILURE. THE MOST FREQUENT (HAVING OCCURRED IN EXCESS OF 24 TIMES) HAPPENS ON DRY/CLEAR PAVEMENT UNDER MODERATELY HEAVY BRAKING. WITH OUT NEEDING TO THE ABS "KICKS" IN, WHICH GREATLY INCREASES THE BRAKING NEEDED TO STOP. THE FIRST FEW TIMES, ACCIDENTS WERE ONLY AVOIDED BY THE DEFENSIVE DRIVING ABILITY OF THE DRIVER. AFTER THE DEFECT CONTINUED AND FORD COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT WHEN THE ABS "KICKS IN" IN AN UNNEEDED SITUATION, IF I GREATLY INCREASE THE BRAKING PRESSURE, NORMAL BRAKING IS REGAINED. THE SECOND FAULTY OPERATION OF THE ABS HAS ONLY BEEN EXPERIENCED TWICE. BOTH TIMES WERE ON DRY/CLEAR PAVEMENT WHEN EXTREMELY HEAVY BRAKING WAS REQUIRED ON A DOWNSLOPE TO AVOID COLLISION. BOTH TIMES ALL FOUR WHEELS "LOCKED" UP, SENDING THE VEHICLE INTO A SKID. THANKS TO MY DADDY HAVING TAUGHT ME HOW TO HANDLE A SKIDDING VEHICLE, BOTH ACCIDENTS WERE AVOIDED. I HAVE CONTACTED BOTH FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP, ALL TO NO AVAIL. THIS INTERMITTANT FAILURE OF THE ABS STILL SURFACES NOW AND THEN. THE LAST CONTACT I HAVE HAD WITH FORD WAS MY RESPONSE TO A LETTER FROM DAVE ROACH - SERVICE MANAGER FOR TOM WOOD. THE PAST TWO TIMES I HAD MY VEHICLE AT TOM WOOD, THEFT OF PERSONAL BELONGINGS HAD OCCURRED. THEREFORE I HAD REFUSED TO BRING MY VEHICLE BACK TO THEM. IN MY RESPONSE TO MR. ROACH, I HAD ASKED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE (SUCH AS AN AREA SERVICE REP) OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONTACT ME BY PHONE EITHER AT HOME OR WORK. WE ARE NOW APPROACHING THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MR. ROACH'S LETTER (2/6/98), AND I HAVE YET TO BE CONTACTED BY ANYONE FROM FORD THAT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGEROUS OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE CONTACTED YOU BEFORE ON THIS REGARD, BUT I FOUND YOUR SITE, SO I THOUGHT I'D SEND THIS IN. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE TYPED THIS, AS THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO CONFIRM THE INFORMATION, IT SHOWED THAT I HAD THE AIRBAG LISTED AS HAVING DEPLOYED, AND THEY HAVE NOT.

WHEN VEHICLE FRONT TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF CUPPING, IT WAS TAKEN TO NTW FOR SERVICE AND WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS REQUIRE A CAMBER KIT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. WHEN I CONTACTED OUR FORD DEALER, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. SO THIS COST US 129.00 FOR A PROBLEM FORD KNOWS ABOUT DESIGNS INTO THE VEHICLES AND THEN WILL NOT FIX. I BELEIVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL VEHICLES, OR MAYBE THIS IS ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE MONEY