NHTSA found no evidence of safety issues in Ford Explorers

US auto safety regulators have closed a six-year investigation into 1.47 million Ford Explorers over reports of exhaust odors in vehicle compartments and carbon monoxide exposure without requesting a recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it conducted a comprehensive investigation first opened in July 2016 that included reviewing more than 6,500 consumer complaints regarding 2011-2017 model year vehicles, including police versions of the SUV, and found no evidence of a safety issue.

NHTSA said its investigation found “that 2011 through 2017 Ford Explorer vehicles, when accurately measured, produce levels in the occupant compartment (carbon monoxide) that fall below currently accepted health standards.”

The investigation found problems with dealers, government fleets and others who modified Police Interceptor vehicles.

The so-called “fitting out” (adding sirens, lights, cages, auxiliary power) is typically done by government fleet operations, independent repair facilities, or local dealers.

“Sealing problems caused by the improvements were responsible for the higher levels of carbon monoxide measured in the vehicles tested,” the NHTSA said, adding that the higher levels in consumer vehicles are typically due to sealing problems. caused by rear-end crash damage.

In 2017, Ford agreed to cover the costs of specific repairs on all Police Interceptor Explorer SUVs that may be linked to the installation of followingmarket police equipment.

The company said the modifications may have left holes in the underbody of the vehicles.

Ford, who did not immediately comment Monday, said in 2017 that “if the holes are not properly sealed, it creates an opening where exhaust might enter the cabin.”

Ford also issued a procedure in 2017 as part of a Field Service Action (FSA) that includes a heating and cooling reprogram operation as part of a field service action.

The tests showed a substantial reduction in carbon monoxide levels due to the reprogramming alone, the NHTSA said.

Even without the FSA repairs, “no vehicles were identified that were not affected by upgrade issues or previous crash damage with levels (of carbon monoxide) exceeding accepted occupational exposure levels.”

In 2017, the city of Austin, Texas temporarily withdrew the city’s 400 Ford Explorer SUVs from use. All were repaired and returned to service following receiving repairs from FSA, the NHTSA said.

Source: Archyde.com