NHTSA Complaint #10039208 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

ISSUE: FORD EXPLORER HAS FUEL CUT OFF SWITCH DIRECTLY BELOW THE GLOVE BOX AGAINST THE PASSENGER SIDE PILLAR (DIRECTLY ABOVE THE CARPET ON PASSENGER SIZE) APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT ABOVE FLOORBOARD. PASSENGER MAY BE ABLE TO KNOCK THE CONNECTOR OR SWITCH LOOSE, CAUSING FUEL SHUT DOWN AND LOSS OF POWER IN THE VEHICLE. CONNECTOR IS ON BOTTOM OF SWITCH; CABLE RUNS DIRECTLY BELOW CARPET AND CAN BE TUGGED LOOSE WITH ENOUGH FORCE (CONNECTOR IS STANDARD FORD LOCKING BLADE TYPE). INCIDENT OCCURRED ON INTERSTATE 10 W IN LOS ANGELES ON THE INTERSTATE 5 NORTH ON RAMP. HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSED WIFE TO STRAIGHTEN LEGS AND KICKED THE CONNECTOR LOOSE AT 60 MPH. VEHICLE LOST TOTAL ENGINE POWER AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP ONCE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. FORTUNATELY IT WAS IN A PARKING LOT. DEALER MENTIONED ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AFTER PLUGGING SWITCH BACK IN. RESOLVED ISSUE USING CABLE TIES, BUT A MORE SUITABLE RECALL SHOULD BE DONE TO ENSURE OTHER OWNERS DO NOT ENCOUNTER THE SAME SITUATION. RECOMMEND A PLATE OR FASTENER THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR PLUG TO COME LOOSE WHEN HIT WITH FOOT OR OTHER OBJECTS. ALSO RECOMMEND REPOSITIONING SWITCH TO REAR OF VEHICLE, OR UNDERNEATH REAR SEAT ON NEWER MODELS, IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY OCCURRED. DISCUSSED THIS WITH A FRIEND WHO RECOMMENDED I FILE A COMPLAINT, EVEN THOUGH IT OCCURRED ALMOST A YEAR AGO. *JB THANK YOU.*JB