1966 FORD MUSTANG — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1966 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER COBRA RADIAL G/T TIRES, SIZE P215/60R14. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE TREAD SEPARATION WAS DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT. THE TREAD WAS BEATING AGAINST THE FENDER AND DAMAGED AND FLATTENED THE TIRE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,316.

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WHEN STEERING WHEEL BECAME SHAKE BACK AND FORTH HARD TO CONTROL. STOPPED AUTO FOUND THAT BELTS HAD BROKEN IN THE TIRES AND THAT TREAD HAD SHIFTED TO WHERE IT WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT.*AK

THE MICHELIN TIRE (P195 75 R14) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, DAMAGING THE FENDER. *SLC

THE MICHELIN TIRE (P195 75 R14) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, DAMAGING THE FENDER. *SLC

VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A REAR IMPACT COLLISION. VEHICLE GAS TANK RUPTURED ON IMPACT, SPEWING FUEL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. OCCUPANT, MY 16 YEAR OLD SON, DIED OF "EXCESSIVE CHARRING." ON SCENE WITNESS (A FORMER FIREFIGHTER) REPORTED THAT THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. PREVIOUS NHTSA ODI CASE 098 OF DROP-IN-FUEL TANK AND VENT SYSTEM 1960-1970 FALCON, FAIRLANE, COMET, MONTEGO, MUSTANG AND COUGAR PASSENGER CARS APPLICABLE AS CRASH TEST INFORMATION WAS WITH-HELD BY THE MANUFACTURER DURING THE INVESTIGATION (CRASH TEST 301). RECENT 60 MINUTES 2 PROGRAM, TO BE RE-AIRED ON 17 AUGUST, ADDRESSED DETAILS OF THIS AND RELATED INCIDENTS (OVER 70 LAWSUITS FILED AS A RESULT OF POST REAR-IMPACT FIRE RELATED INJURIES/DEATHS IN LATE MODEL FORD MUSTANGS). FORMER HEAD OF NHTSA, MRS. JOAN CLAYBROOK, INTERVIEWED ON PROGRAM CONFIRMING THAT FMC WITH-HELD INFORMATION PERTINENT TO AND REQUESTED FOR THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION ON THE CRASHWORTHINESS OF THE EARLY MODEL FORD MUSTANG DROP IN FUEL TANK SYSTEMS. OVER 2 MILLION MUSTANGS PRODUCED WITH THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS BY THE FMC. THE GREAT POPULARITY OF THE EARLY PRODUCTION FORD MUSTANG MAKES THIS A CONTINUING AND GROWING PROBLEM IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER/HIGHWAY SAFETY. THE CONDUCT OF THE FMC IN THEIR CONTINUEING REFUSAL TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS DESIGN CONSIDERING THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS, NOT TO MENTION THEIR WILLFULL AND WANTON DISREGARD OF BOTH THE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN THEIR WITH-HOLDING OF INFORMATION ON THEIR OWN CRASH TESTS AFTER HAVING BEEN ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION BY NHTSA, IS EGGREGIOUS, NOT TO MENTION POSSIBLY CRIMINAL. WHAT IS BEING DONE? APPROXIMATELY 11 MILLION VIEWERS SAW THE 60 MINUTES 2 PROGRAM. WERE NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA?