Congress Holds Hearing On Ford - Firestone
June 19, 2001
Today, the Congressional Joint Committee for Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection and Oversight Investigation held a hearing on the Ford - Firestone recall debate. The first such hearing was held in September 2000 after it came to light that Firestone tires had been experiencing dangerous tread separations. Six million Firestone Wilderness ATX and ATX II tires were recalled last year as a result of such tread separations.
On May 22, 2001 Ford announced that it intended to replace all Firestone tires on Ford vehicles because the company claimed that the Firestone brand was simply too dangerous. Ford's action will eventually lead to the replacement of an additional 13 million Firestone tires at a cost to Ford of at least $3 billion. Ford's decision to replace the Firestone tires lead Firestone to sever all corporate relations with the automaker.
Firestone continues to blame the design of the Ford Explorer for many of the deadly accidents that have occurred after Firestone tires failed. The tire maker maintains that Explorer's top-heavy design makes it particularly susceptible to rollover after a tire tread separation. Ford counters that the Explorer is no different than any other SUV and that the rollover propensity of the Explorer is not an issue if the tires perform as advertised.
The Congressional committee ordered today's hearing in an attempt to get to the bottom of the controversy. Many committee members blasted the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for failing to prevent the tragic accidents that have left over 200 people dead and for dragging its feet in the investigation of the matter. NHTSA's mandate is to "carry out safety programs under the National Traffic & Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1996 and the Highway Safety Act of 1966." Several Committee members openly expressed doubt regarding the agency's success at so doing.
Ford insists that the problem lies squarely with poorly manufactured Firestone tires. To support the company's position, Ford supplied the committee with data showing that from 1995 to 1997, over 1,180 tread separations had occurred in Ford Explorers equipped with Firestone tires. In contrast, during the same time period, only 2 Goodyear equipped Explorers suffered tread separation.
The Congressional committee is particularly interested in why a private company like Ford would voluntarily replace tires manufactured by another private company, Firestone Tire & Rubber. The committee members question whether NHTSA should order a recall of the same Firestone tires rather than leave such a replacement decision up to a private entity. In other words, what does Ford know about Firestone tires that the government does not?
Representative James Greenwood questioned whether Ford is as innocent as the company claims to be. For instance, Greenwood revealed that some of Ford's tests of Firestone tires may have been designed to skew the results against the tire maker and in favor of Ford. Other committee members expressed their concern that Ford's replacement of Firestone tires with competing brands may not solve the problem. That is, many members question the integrity of competing brands of tires such as Goodyear and Michelin.
Representative Edward Markey called the Ford Explorer and Firestone combination a "toxic cocktail." However, Ford Motor Company's Chairman and CEO Jacques Nasser reiterated to the committee that the stability of the Explorer is similar to other SUVs and that such stability is not an issue unless a tire fails. Nasser claimed that the Explorer is, and always has been, a safe vehicle. He went on to state that the Explorer "is among the safest SUVs on the market, 27% safer than passenger cars, safer than comparable SUVs in all collision types, experiences 19% fewer accidents than typical SUVs, and received the second highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety." Clearly, it is Ford's position that the Firestone tire is to blame for the hundreds of deaths associated with the Explorer. Firestone President John Lampe disagrees, "I've said it before. I said it last year. Ford can replace all the Firestone tires on their vehicles, but the Explorer will continue to rollover."
NHTSA is scheduled to complete its study of the Ford Explorer - Firestone issue before the end of the summer. Unfortunately, the tires that are subject to the investigation most often fail in hot weather. It may take another summer of accidents and deaths before any significant progress is made on this most important consumer issue.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
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