NHTSA complaint: 2010 FORD F-350 SD — AIR BAGS
RAILROAD HYRAIL VEHICLE EQUIPPED, AFTER MARKET, WITH HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES WHICH ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE ON RAILROAD TRACKS. ONCE HYRAIL (FLANGED) WHEELS ARE RETRACTED, THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED OVER THE HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC ROADS LIKE ANY OTHER VEHICLE. ON OR ABOUT 5/15/12 NEAR NEWCASTLE, WY, RAILROAD EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING HYRAIL-EQUIPPED VEHICLE ON PUBLIC ROADWAY WHEN IT STRUCK A COW AT APPROX. 18-20 MPH. VEHICLE STRUCK COW WITH RIGHT FRONT END, SPINNING THE COW AROUND TO STRIKE THE SIDE OF THE PICKUP ALSO. STEERING WHEEL (FRONTAL) AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT OTHER (SIDE) AIRBAG(S) DID DEPLOY. CONCERN IS THAT THE INSTALLATION OF HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES MIGHT BE IMPACTING THE AIRBAG SENSOR. THE HYRAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLIES EXTEND APPROX. ONE FOOT OF STEEL FRAMEWORK AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. THE PLACEMENT OF THESE ASSEMBLIES MIGHT INADVERTENTLY BE AFFECTING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT IN CRASHES ON THE RAILROAD TRACK AND ON PUBLIC ROADS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation