Ford Put Profit Ahead of Safety in Explorer Design
Ford Chief Executive Jacques Nasser would like to reassure us that nothing is more important to Ford than the public’s safety, while laying the blame for so many Ford Explorer accidents squarely at the feet of the defective manufacture of Firestone’s tires [“More Deaths Are Linked to Faulty Tires,” Sept. 1].
The Times has performed a most useful service in making public the controversy that occurred at Ford 11 years ago, when engineers knew without a doubt that the about-to-be-introduced Ford Explorer was dangerously prone to rollovers when the vehicles’ tires were inflated to Firestone’s recommended pressures. Engineering fixes were available, but this would have substantially set back the production start date, and so the quick and dirty fix was to sell the Explorer with tires inflated at 25 psi instead of 35 psi.
Under-inflated tires overheat and fail and so here we are with scores dead.
What to make then, of Jacques Nasser’s promise? We might take a hint from his immediate predecessor, Alex Trottman. When Trottman was CEO of Ford, he was asked at a news conference if by moving so much production to Mexico, this would result in lower prices for American consumers. He candidly said no, that Ford was under no obligation to do that, saying his only obligation was to increase profits for the shareholders. The issue may be different, but the motivation remains the same--11 years ago Ford management had the opportunity to put public safety first and make the needed engineering changes.
But their only obligation was to generate the most profit for the shareholders, which meant keeping to the original production schedule, and devil take the hindmost.
KENT SOUTHARD
Dana Point
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I am continually amazed at our government’s reaction to the Bridgestone/Firestone tire defects. We are now at the stage of congressional hearings to find out who knew what, when they knew it and who tried to cover it up.
All tallied, there have been less than 100 deaths related to these defective tires. It is tragic when anyone dies as a result of a manufacturer defect. I believe that those responsible should be punished with equal and fairly meted justice.
How hypocritical are our elected officials, however, in their efforts to put Firestone on the hot seat when the manufacturers of cigarettes continue making and selling a product that is defective by nature and kills more than 400,000 people each year. This production is done with government sanction. The government happily collects all of the tax dollars generated by cigarette use. The hypocrisy here is contemptible.
If Congress is going to hold companies responsible for the manufacture and sale of its defective products and the deaths or injuries that result, then they must hold all companies responsible.
THOMAS JOHN BAUER
Pasadena
