NHTSA complaint: 2011 FORD MUSTANG — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER SEVERAL MILES UPHILL, THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO TRAVEL DOWNHILL. AFTER LESS THAN ONE MILE, THE STEERING WAS UNRESPONSIVE; DRIVER'S INPUT ASSUMED HYDRAULIC RESPONSE. THERE WAS NONE. THE VEHICLE HIT THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN; VERY NARROW SHOULDER DIDN'T ALLOW FOR ERROR. THE CAR OVERTURNED. THE 'BLACK BOX' LOCATED IN THE STEERING WHEEL COLLECTS A VOLUME OF DATA EXCEPT ONE IMPORTANT FACT: STEERING WHEEL ANGLE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS POSITIONED TO MISS THE MOUNTAIN BUT NOT TO ENTER THE ON-COMING LANE. THE STEERING DIDN'T REACT. WHY WAS THIS ESSENTIAL DATA NOT RECORDED WHEN MANY OTHER TRIVIAL COMPUTATIONS ARE PRESENT? I BELIEVE FORD UNDERSTANDS THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND OMITS THE STEERING WHEEL ANGLE BECAUSE OF LIABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS RENTED FROM HERTZ. THEY FAILED TO ADVISE THE CUSTOMER OF THE SLOW RESPONSE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING. SECOND: PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS POSITIONED HIGH AND THE HEADREST PROTRUDES, MAKING AN OCCUPANT OF AVERAGE SIZE 'SLOUCH' TO AVOID THE UNCOMFORTABLE STRAP. REGARDLESS, THE SEAT BELT TRAVELS ALONG THE PASSENGER'S NECK AND TIGHTENS WHEN THE VEHICLE OVERTURNS. THE 'ACCIDENT' CAUSED AN 85% CAROTID ARTERY DISSECTION. MY WIFE SPENT 10 DAYS IN A TRAUMA CENTER BECAUSE OF THIS HORRIBLY POSITIONED SEAT BELT AND UNRESPONSIVE STEERING. A FRIEND WHO HAS A DOCTORATE IN NURSING ADVISED US DURING THE HOSPITALIZATION. SHE RECENTLY RENTED A MUSTANG AND WAS WORRIED WHEN THE STRAP BISECTED HER THROAT. GO SIT IN ONE! IT'S ALL THE EVIDENCE YOU NEED. FORD M
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation