NHTSA Complaint #10231311 — 2008 FORD RANGER

FIRST, WITH THE NON-TILTING STEERING WHEEL LOCATED WHERE IT IS, WITH A TALLER PERSON IT IS DIFFICULT-TO- IMPOSSIBLE TO LIFT THE FOOT OFF OF THE GAS AND TRANSFER IT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AS THE DRIVER'S KNEES ENDS UP IMPACTING THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS MAKES IT NECESSARY TO JUST DO A SORT OF HEEL-ON-THE-FLOOR-FOOT-TILT-OR-SLIDE TO GO FROM THE GAS TO THE BRAKE WITHOUT STEERING WHEEL/KNEE INTERFERENCE. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THE FORD'S WE HAVE WHICH HAVE TILT STEERING WHEELS SECOND, A VISUAL CHECK SHOWS THAT THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER AT NEARLY THE SAME HEIGHT. FROM A 'STEP OVER' POINT OF VIEW THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD THING, BUT IT RESULTS IN LITTLE 'FEEL' FOR WHERE YOUR FOOT IS ACTUALLY PLACED WHEN ONE GOES TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY USING THE HEEL-TO-THE-FLOOR-FOOT-TILT-OR-SLIDE METHOD NECESSITATED BY THE LOW STEERING WHEEL POSITION. THIS CAN AND DOES RESULT IN PRESSING BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY. IN ONE DAY OF DRIVING I MANAGED TO DO THE 'BOTH PEDAL PRESS' THREE TIMES, ANY ONE OF WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCELERATION INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE OBJECT. *TR