CategoriesCrown Victoria Safety Alert Design Problem
Ford’s Panther line of cars, which consists of the Crown Victoria, Lincoln Town Car and Grand Marquis, is designed with the fuel tank located outside the protection of the rear axel and within the car’s “crush zone.” No other passenger cars manufactured in North America have retained this fuel tank position because it has been considered too dangerous. At least five million of these unprotected vehicles are estimated to be in use on roads today.
Ford began offering safety shields to Crown Victoria police cars in 2003 after police agencies demanded greater protection following a dozen police deaths. Ford offered this same protection to owners and dealers of Town Car limousines in September 2005, following several the high-profile burning deaths. Ford has not told the general public about the defect, or about the availability of shields, despite calls by advocacy groups and government officials to do so. The most recent call came from U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, in December 2005, following the fiery death of a New York City cab driver in a Crown Victoria taxi.
(Ford claims a letter to dealers in 2003 saying dealers could sell the shields to the public constitutes an offer. However, Ford has never publicly disclosed either the problem or the availability of shields to anyone other than dealers).
The problem is this: high speed rear collisions cause the back of the car to absorb the impact by collapsing. In these cars, the impact can rupture the tank or can drive surrounding parts or even items in the trunk into the tank, puncturing it. The fuel leaks and sparks created by the collision can ignite the fuel. Unfortunately, the force of impact often jams the cars’ doors shut, trapping occupants. The safety shields cover mechanical parts that could serve as puncture sources. Ford also has offered trunk protectors to police departments to help keep trunk items, such as jacks, from becoming fuel tank puncturing projectiles in a collision.
Below are comparisions of fuel tank locations in the Ford Taurus and Ford Crown Victoria:
Fuel tank location – Ford Taurus
In 1968, the University of California at Los Angeles did a major research study showing that the gas tank should not be located behind the rear axle. Later research determined that it should be placed forward of the axle as in the Ford Taurus.
Fuel tank location – Ford Crown Victoria
The only major cars which still have the “exploding gas tank” design are the Ford Mustang and the Panther (Crown Victoria) frames.
Rear axle bolt head
Another design flaw is the sharp hex bolt located on the rear axle. In a high speed collision, it is the bolt that can puncture the gas tank, which leads to the tank exploding.
Fuel tank – Testing shows leakage of fuel
Fuel tank – Testing with tank shield in place and no leakage
