NHTSA Complaint #704524 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

IN EARLY MARCH OF 1997 THE FORD ASSEMBLY PLANT IN LOUISVILLE, KY FLOODED. THIS PLANT PRODUCES FORD EXPLORERS, MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS, AND FORD RANGER PICKUP TRUCKS. FORD ESTIMATED THAT "APPROXIMATELY 2000 VEHICLES WERE AFFECTED." FORD ALSO STATED THAT "NONE OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLES WILL BE SHIPPED TO DEALERSHIPS." NOT TRUE. I BOUGHT ONE OF THE DAMAGED VEHICLES AT DON REID FORD IN MAITLAND, FLORIDA. DON REID FORD FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE MATERIAL FACT THAT MY TRUCK HAD BEEN FLOODED AND CLEANED AS A RESULT OF THE FLOOD. MY GUESS IS THAT FORD SOLD ALL OR MOST OF THE 2000 DAMAGED VEHICLES. MY TRUCK IS RUSTING, ON THE BUMPER AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. I ALSO HAVE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON OF THEIR OWN VOLITION. I ASSUME THAT THE OTHER OWNERS OF THESE DAMAGED VEHICLES MIGHT BE HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, OR OTHER UNEXPLAINED PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE FLOOD, WHICH COULD POSE SAFETY PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE OWNERS DON'T KNOW THAT THEIR VEHICLES HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE FLOODWATERS OF KENTUCKY. MY GUESS IS THAT FORD HAS SECRET WARRANTIES FOR THESE CARS.