In the late 1980s, Consumer Reports published an article
that was critical of the Bronco II's safety performance and advised consumer
to avoid purchasing the Bronco II. The Ford Explorer, the successor to
the Bronco II, was introduced to the U.S. market in 1990.
In personal injury lawsuits filed by Lieff Cabraser, plaintiffs charge
that Ford's internal testing revealed that the Explorer, like the Bronco
II, had significant handling and stability defects:
The testing showed the Explorer was prone to rollovers when equipped
with tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommended inflation pressure.
An internal Ford Test Report dated November 25, 1988, showed, for example,
that the Explorer lifted two wheels off the ground while cornering at
55 miles per hour due to a combination of the vehicle's high center of
gravity, its fully inflated tires, and the suspension system structure.
In so-called "J-turn testing," the Explorer rolled over in
5 of 12 tests, while the Chevrolet Blazer (the Explorer's main competitor)
and even the problematic Bronco II experienced no similar rollovers.
In a June 15, 1989, internal memo to Ford management, Ford engineers
recommended eight design changes to address the rollover problem and
improve the safety of the Explorer. Making these changes would have taken
ten months or more, which would have delayed the planned launch of the
Explorer. Ford management directed the engineers to make only those minor
changes that would not affect production deadlines. Ford understood that
such minor changes would not correct the stability and handling problems
identified during the Explorer's development. |
