NHTSA Complaint #10263843 — 2009 FORD E-350

MARCH 30, 2009 VPSI, INC. 165-U NEW BOSTON STREET SUITE 286 WOBURN, MA 01801 ATTENTION: MELISSA ZAMPITELLA, NEW ENGLAND AREA MANAGER THE PURPOSE OF THIS LETTER IS TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2009 E-350 FORD VANS WHICH VPSI PROVIDES TO MASSRIDES PARTICIPANTS. RECENTLY THE VAN POOL FOR WHICH I AM COORDINATOR WAS PROVIDED A 2009 FORD VAN IN EXCHANGE FOR OUR VAN THAT REQUIRED SERVICE. DURING THE RIDE TO CAPE COD I NOTICED A DISTINCT DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING FROM THE VAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE, A 2007 FORD. THE VAN SWAYED EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER! THIS IS PARTICULARLY NOTICEABLE WHEN OTHER VEHICLES PASS. I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ELIMINATE THE SWAYING!! THIS WAS ALSO NOTICED BY TWO OTHER DRIVERS OF THE VAN ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS; MARCY MAENPAA AND DAVID STANFORD. BOTH FOUND THE VAN TO BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND TOLD ME THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VAN SAFELY AND THEREFORE WOULD NOT DRIVE IT IN THE FUTURE. AN INTERESTING SIDEBAR IS THAT WHILE PARKED AT NORTH STATION AWAITING TWO RIDERS, THE DRIVER WAS APPROACHED BY THE DRIVER OF AN IDENTICAL VAN ASKING IF WE HAD HANDLING ISSUES WITH THE VAN. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE GOES BEYOND THE ONE VAN WE HAD BUT IMPLIES IT MAY BE A FACTORY DEFECT. SINCE THESE VANS TYPICALLY HAVE UPWARDS OF 14 PASSENGERS, AN ACCIDENT COULD BE LIFE THREATENING TO NOT ONLY THE MEMBERS OF THE VAN POOL BUT ALSO TO OTHERS ON THE ROADWAY. ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE VAN POOL FELT IT IMPERATIVE THAT WE PASSING OUR EXPERIENCE ALONG TO YOU CONSIDERING THE RISKS. *TR