NHTSA Complaint #11186789 — 2018 FORD F-350

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A FEATURE THAT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND IGNITION OFF AFTER 30 MINUTES OF IDLE WITHOUT DRIVER INTERACTION. THESE VEHICLES HAVE "UP-FITTER SWITCHES" WHICH CAN BE TIED TO THINGS LIKE AUXILIARY WARNING LIGHTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS TURN OFF AS WELL AS POWER TO ANY AUXILIARY LOADS. I AM A FIREFIGHTER IN NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE THESE SWITCHES ATTACHED TO AUXILIARY SAE-W WARNING LIGHTS. THE OTHER NIGHT, I WAS ON THE SCENE OF A COLLISION AND AFTER 30 MINUTES, MY TRUCK SHUT ITSELF OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WENT COMPLETELY DARK. THE HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS THE WARNING LIGHTS INSTALLED ON THE PERIMETER OF THE BODY. THIS RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT TRAFFIC HAZARD AND PUT THE SAFETY OF MYSELF AND OTHERS IN THE ROADWAY IN JEOPARDY. THE FEATURE CAN BE DISABLED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, BUT REQUIRES THE VEHICLE TO BE STOPPED AND VARIOUS MENUS TO BE CYCLED THROUGH. I THOUGHT I'D KICKED IT OFF BUT APPARENTLY MISSED THE SETTING WHILE I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT AND RENDER AID AT THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT. I HAVE SPOKED WITH RONALD FULLER WITH FORD'S BODY BUILDER ADVISORY SERVICE WHO INFORMS ME THAT THIS FEATURE IS INCLUDED IN ALL RETAIL TRUCKS, AND CAN NOT BE DISABLED. THEIR LOGIC IS THAT THEY WANT TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM ACCIDENTALLY RUNNING THE VEHICLE IN THEIR GARAGE AND ASPHYXIATING THEMSELVES. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PURCHASE A POLICE PACKAGE VEHICLE WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE THIS SOFTWARE PACKAGE. MY CONCERN IS ANY VEHICLE USED FOR CONSTRUCITON, ROAD WORKS, OR FOR GENERAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATION IS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A SIMILAR SITUATION WHICH CAN RESULT IN THE VEHICLE BEING TOTALLY DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.