NHTSA Complaint #10052366 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE READ 24 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE 4.0 SOHC ENGINES AND SEEN 23 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF THIS OCCURS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE,NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT IT ALSO BLOWS THE ENGINE REQUIRING IT TO BE REPLACED AT A COST NEAR $5000. FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED REPLACEMENT WITH MILEAGE LIMITATIONS. IF THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD CAUSING THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS ,WHY IS THIS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO WARRANT AN INVESTIGATION? MY FORD IS 4000 MILES OVER THE LIMIT SET BY FORD TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN QUESTION. ALTHOUGH THIS DID NOT LESSEN THE DANGER WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED TO MY WIFE, 5 YEAR OLD AND 1 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS WHILE IN THE VEHICLE CAUSING HER TO LOSE CONTROL DUE TO THE ENGINE FAILURE AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WAS TOLD IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THE RECALL WAS VOLUNTARY BY FORD AND IT IS LEGAL FOR THEM TO SET THOSE LIMITATIONS. THIS IS UNCONCEIVABLE THAT THEY CAN PLACE INDIVIDUALS IN HARMS WAY KNOWINGLY AND IN AN EFFORT TO SAVE A BUCK, NOT A LIFE , SET LIMITS TO THE REMEDY OF THE SITUATION. WHY ARE THESE COMPLAINTS NOT BEING INVESTIGATED AND IF THEY HAVE WHAT WAS THE END RESULTS OF THIS INVESTIGATION? *LA DAVID KYDE 810 THIRD ST. #5 TRENTON, OHIO 45067 513-988-6516