NHTSA Complaint #10606873 — 2010 FORD EXPLORER

BOUGHT CAR FROM BATES FORD IN LEBANON, TN NEW. WITHIN THE FIRST 1500 MILE I EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT WHERE I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 36000 MILES NOW AND BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF THIS THE LAST RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN PLANO, TEXAS. THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED.THE PLANO, TEXAS POLICE OFFICER WHO DROVE THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. EARLY IN MY CAREER I WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHOSE SPECIALTY WAS TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION. I HEARD SIMILAR EXPLAINATIONS FOR ACCIDENT AND IN PERHAPS ONE FATAL ACCIDENT FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE RUPUTURED CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT CAUSE. THIS ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING IN A SUDDEN STOP HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY WIFE AND I NUMEROUSE TIMES IN 36,000 MILES AND I HAVE CHECKED THE BRAKES MORE THAN ONCE FINDING NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I LEARNED FROM A BODY SHOP EMPLOYEE AT SAM PACK WHO RELATED THAT HE HAD HEARD THIS SAME COMPLAINT BEFORE INCLUDINING FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IS THAT DRIVERS WITH THIS FEATURE STEP ON BOTH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE . IN A PANIC SITUATION I BELIEVE THAT DRIVERS ARE STEPPING ON BOTH PEDALS DUE TO SETTINGS THAT ALLOW THE GAS PEDAL TO OVERIDE THE BRAKE OR DIMINISH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STOPPING DISTANCE. I CAN DUPLICATE THIS EFFECT AND THINK THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT OCCURS THOUSANDS OF TIMES EACH DAY, HAS SURELY RESULTED IN MANY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY DEATHS.I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DISMISS THE COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR