NHTSA Complaint #10229675 — 2008 FORD F-250

IN THE 2008 FORD SUPER DUTY PICKUP (ALL BODY STYLES) THE DRIVER AND ALL PASSENGERS EXCEPT THE CENTER SEAT ARE APPROXIMATELY 50% IN THE CRUSH ZONE IN THE CASE OF A SIDE CRASH. THIS RENDERS THESE CONSUMERS VERY LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE HEAD AND CHEST TRAUMA, OR MORE LIKELY DEATH IN THE CASE OF A SIDE CRASH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED NO LATER THAN 13 MONTHS BEFORE BEING RELEASED INTO THE PUBLIC, BUT THE PROGRAM LEVEL MANAGERS IN THE COMPANY CONTINUED AND EVENTUALLY LAUNCHED A VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN RISK OF FATALITIES. THE DESIGN IS BEING CHANGED IN 2010 TO PREVENT DETECTION BY NEW FMVSS TESTING ON LIGHT TRUCKS. (SIDE POLE) THE TREAD ACT WAS DESIGNED TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CONSUMERS BY REQUIRING AUTO COMPANIES TO IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY NHTSA AS SOON AS A DANGER IS DISCOVERED. IN THE CASE OF THE 2008 SUPER DUTY F SERIES, THE SIDE IMPACT DANGER WAS A KNOWN RISK LONG BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS INTRODUCED TO THE PUBLIC, AND THE COMPANY CONTROLS WERE USED TO PROTECT THE DESIGN FROM SCRUTINY, THUS ENDANGERING LIVES. GIVEN THE PLANNED VOLUME OF 400,000 PER YEAR, THIS DESIGN FLAW MERITS THE MAXIMUM $15,000,000 FINE FOR THIS VIOLATION. THE PHILOSOPHY OF MY SUPERIORS WAS THAT FORD'S ONLY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PASS GOVERNMENT TESTING, SIMILAR TO THE APPROACH REGARDING THE FIRESTONE/EXPLORERS RISK OF ROLLOVER. *TR UPDATED 9/24/13*CN