NHTSA Rates Ford SUVs Poorly for Rollovers

This news was not taken lightly by Ford, of course, being that it realizes concerns still remain in consumers' minds since the Firestone tire rollover debacle in 2000

While Ford realizes the seriousness of rollovers, they are questioning the NHTSA's testing methods. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

claimed 271 lives and caused yet more injuries, followed by hundreds of related lawsuits and associated negative press. To appease consumers the domestic automaker stated that internal data it has accumulated shows the Explorer/Mountaineer models panned by the NHTSA to perform at the same as or better level than rival SUVs.

"We're trying to work through the data and see how NHTSA's applying these numbers. While we believe the NHTSA rating system has some value, we don't believe it's a good indicator of how a vehicle performs in the real world," commented Ford's Kristen Kinley.

While rollovers only represent 3 percent of accidents, they claim more lives than other MVAs. To be more specific, one third of all passenger vehicle deaths, which is more than 10,000 people, die each year in rollovers.

For this reason Ford will be installing a new anti-rollover system in many of its 2005 model SUVs including the 2005 Explorer,

Ford will equip 2005 Explorers, and three additional SUVs with standard anti-rollover technology. (Photo: Ford Motor Company of Canada)

dubbed Roll Stability Control (RSC), said to automatically react to tilting. Excessive body lean is a precursor to rollovers. The system works by automatically reducing engine speed while moderately activating the brakes.

The additional SUVs to get RSC will be 2005 versions of the Explorer-based Mercury Mountaineer and Lincoln Aviator, plus the Lincoln Navigator full-size SUV. Currently, RSC was only available as an option on the two Lincoln SUVs, having been introduced on 2004 models. The system, developed by Ford and supplier Continental Teves, will be available as optional equipment on the '05 Ford Expedition full-size sport utility.

The new NHTSA rollover ratings can be found by visiting www.safecar.gov.