Ford Motor Company recently began a publicity campaign to promote its newly redesigned Explorer SUV. However, the automaker's marketing materials fail to mention that only the four-door model of the popular vehicle has been redesigned. The two-door Explorer Sport, the more dangerous model, has not been redesigned.
Ford officials maintain that the two-door Explorer Sport is safe. However, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the two-door Explorer Sport has a death rate approximately five times higher than all other SUVs, including the four-door Explorer. The two-door Explorer Sport has the same high, narrow body that contributes to rollovers, according to auto experts.
The most recent data collected by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analyzed 1994-1997 models of the Explorer Sport. The data indicated that the two-door model equipped with two-wheel drive is especially dangerous, as it is lighter and thus more prone to rollover.
Ford addressed these same safety concerns with design changes made to the four-door Explorer. The 2002 four-door model includes a wider body, longer wheelbase, side-impact air bags and rollover sensors.
Consumer advocates are angered by Ford's ad campaign touting design changes. They call the tactic misleading as it suggests that all Ford Explorers are now much safer.
An estimated 203 people have died and over 700 have been injured in Ford Explorer rollovers in the United States. Ford points out that many of these accidents may have involved recalled Firestone tires.
This is not the first time the automaker has faced safety problems involving a sport utility vehicle. The since discontinued Bronco II was prone to flip and was the subject of over 800 lawsuits.