Newport Beach Officer Experiences Malfunction with Ford Explorer

Several months ago, we reported on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation into malfunctions in Ford Explorers, a model of vehicle that sees extensive use among numerous police departments located throughout Florida.  At the time of our initial post, an officer with the Newport Beach Police Department was the only member of a law enforcement organization who experienced a malfunction with a Ford Explorer relating to the reasons that prompted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s efforts.  Additionally, at that time Ford had not issued any recall or addressed in any way the issue with their cars.

In an update on that original story, a recent statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office indicated that one of their officers experienced problems with their vehicle.  Although the spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office bowed out from extrapolating any further on the nature of the problems or the officer’s condition, it is believed that the problems referred to are the same as those described in our previous post: namely, an overwhelming presence of carbon monoxide that leaks into the main cabin of the vehicle and causes the individuals inside the car to become sick.  This is obviously a problem given, and carbon monoxide can effectively incapacitate the driver of the vehicle.

Captain Angelo Nieves, a member of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, stated that the vehicle in question was currently located at a nearby Ford dealership undergoing repairs.  It was further reported that numerous cars within the Marion County Police Department are also Ford Explorers.  Lauren Lettelier, a spokesperson with the Marion County Police Department, made clear in a statement that, even though none of their officers had reported suffering from carbon monoxide fumes within their vehicles, the department would nevertheless install carbon monoxide detectors in each of their Ford Explorers.

In a further development from our last report on this story, Has Thai-Tang, the executive vice president of product development and purchasing within the Ford company, indicated that all police vehicles of the affected model and years will undergo complimentary repair.  The statement went on to say that the repairs would be conducted on the cars without consideration to the age, mileage, or custom alterations that occurred aftermarket.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.