NHTSA Complaint #10090590 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

THE BRACKET HOLDING THE FOOT ACCELERATOR PEDAL ON MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHILE. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE ABILITY TO ADD FUEL TO THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATE OR HOLD SPEED. THE BRACKET APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN WELDED TO THE FIREWALL AS PART OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. ALL 3 WELDS BROKE. AT THE TIME I WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND HAD NOT PUT ANY ABNORMAL STRAIN OR PRESSURE ON THE FOOT FEED PEDAL OR THE BRACKET. THERE IS NO APPEARANCE OF CORROSION SO I SUSPECT THE WELDS FAILED FARILY RECENTLY. IF THIS FAILURE HAD OCCURED AS I WAS PULLING INTO OR ACCROSS TRAFFIC A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED. *AK