NHTSA Complaint #10463867 — 2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED

SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NEW I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND ONLINE, THAT THE OPTIONAL BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT ROCKER SWITCH IS WIRED IMPROPERLY. THAT IS, WIRED IN REVERSE. THE MOUNTED SWITCH CLEARLY DEPICTS A FOOT OVER A PEDAL IN THE CENTER WITH AN ARROW POINTING 'UP' AT THE TOP OF THE SWITCH AND AN ARROW POINTING 'DOWN' AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SWITCH. THIS CONTROLS THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF BOTH PEDALS FROM THE FLOOR AND IS DESIGNED TO PLACE THE PEDALS WITHIN REACH OF THE OPERATOR. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY HAVE DEPRESSED THIS SWITCH WHILE IN MOTION PUSHING THE TOP PORTION OF THE ROCKER SWITCH ASSUMING THE PEDALS WOULD RISE 'UP' AS INDICATED BY THE ARROWS ON THE SWITCH. WRONG!! PRESSING THE SWITCH IN THE UPWARD POSITION 'LOWERS' THE PEDALS TO THE FLOOR, WHILE PRESSING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SWITCH, WITH THE ARROW POINTING 'DOWN', ACTUALLY RAISES THE PEDALS UP, CLOSER TO THE OPERATOR. AFTER PRESSING THE SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES IN THE UP POSITION AND BELIEVING THE PEDALS WERE AT THEIR MAXIMUM HEIGHT, SEVERAL OF THE DRIVERS IN THE HOUSE WHOM HAVE SHORT LEGS, WERE IMMEDIATELY PANICKED AND DESPERATELY BEGAN TRYING TO COMPENSATE BY READJUSTING THE SEAT TO BE WITHIN REACH OF THE BRAKE! A SCARY AND DANGEROUS CONDITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION! IF FORD REFUSES TO SIMPLY REVERSE THE OPERATION OF THE SWITCH, MAYBE A SAFETY INTERLOCK COULD BE DEVISED TO PREVENT OPERATION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN GEAR. *TR