Ford Explorer^®/Mercury Mountaineer^®

SUVs have become one of the most popular types of vehicles on the road. However, research has shown that many have design defects that cause them to be less safe than other types of vehicles. The high center of gravity on an SUV poses a higher threat for rollovers during foreseeable driving maneuvers. The vehicles also create a greater risk of flipping over when involved a collision, resulting in serious injuries and occupant ejections.

It has been repeatedly alleged that when the Ford Motor Company developed and distributed the Explorer^®, the company knew SUVs that incorporated a narrow track with a high center of gravity and swing axle suspension had a dangerous tendency to flip/roll over during ordinary turning maneuvers. Ford also allegedly knew the Explorer^® was not equipped to handle emergency maneuvers at interstate highway speeds and that the vehicle was not equipped with reasonable safety features to protect vehicle occupants in the event of a rollover.

On December 1, 2000, the Ford Motor Company recalled 876,413 Explorer^® and Mercury Mountaineers^® to replace faulty parts on the suspension system. The models recalled were the 1995-1997 Explorer^® and the 1997 Mountaineer^®. It was found that the links that attached the front stabilizer bar (which helps control the pitch of the vehicle during turns) could, and did, fail.

In addition, some of these SUVs were equipped with Firestone^® TIRES that were found to suffer from tread separation and blowouts. NHTSA officials said the sway problem did not cause tread separations in and of themselves, although some experts believe that the broken links have the potential to increase the severity of an accident during a tread separation/blowout incident. Based on a report by the Washington Post, citing analyses of national and Florida crash statistics, the Ford Explorer^® higher fatality rate in blowout accidents appears to be related to rollovers. In 5,870 single vehicle accidents in Florida, the Explorer^® was thirteen percent more likely to roll than other compact SUVs. The Explorer^® was fifty-three percent more likely than other compact SUVs to roll over when an equipment failure, such as faulty brakes, bald tires or blowouts, caused an accident.

• Were you or someone you know injured in an accident due to design defects in the Ford Explorer^® or Mercury Mountaineer^®?
• Was someone you know killed in an accident due to design defects in the Ford Explorer^® or Mercury Mountaineer^®?

If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, a recovery may be available. Contact us immediately for a FREE, no obligation consultation with our firm's legal team.

To find out if you have a claim, complete our online form or contact our legal team for more information.

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