Complete History of Ford Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect

Ford released their Ford Explorer model in 1990. Since then it has become one of the most popular mid-sized SUV's on the road.

All in all, the Ford Explorer has been the quintessential vehicle for driving kids to school and soccer practice, a teenagers first car and the sports enthusiast.

Police departments have made the Ford Explorer their choice vehicle for Sheriff's, California Highway Patrol, K9 Units and other specialty law enforcement.

Until a flaw in the design of the Ford Explorer's exhaust system began allowing poisonous and harmful carbon monoxide gas fumes to seep into the occupants cabin.

Ford Explorers Begins to Silently Poison

In 2012 to 2017 model year Ford Explorers, a design flaw caused a chain reaction of injuries, complaints and reports of carbon monoxide gas fumes to seep inside the occupant's cabin, silently poisoning them and their families while they are innocently driving down the road.

Drivers and riders inside the vehicle's occupant cabin were complaining about headaches, nausea and even loss of consciousness. Law enforcement, doctors and experts could not understand why so many people were experiencing such a high and consistent volume of similar symptoms.

Ford has stated, that due to Ford Explorer police interceptor vehicles having emergency flashing lights, strobes and other after-market police equipment installed, the vehicles that were not properly sealed were reported having carbon monoxide issues. They immediately follow that statement by saying that is why normal civilian Ford Explorers have no problems with carbon monoxide at all.

If you or a loved one has been subjected to and injured due to this Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect, contact an auto defect attorney at Bisnar Chase and receive a Free Consultation and Case Evaluation.

For immediate assistance, Call 800-561-4887.

Newport Beach Police Officer Narrowly Escapes Death by Carbon Monoxide

Newport Beach police officer Brian McDowell was reporting to a call when he suddenly lost consciousness while driving his Ford Explorer police cruiser. His police cruiser veered to the left and hopping the center boulevard. As he careened through the lanes and narrowly missing oncoming traffic, he jumped the sidewalk and smashed head-on into a tree.

Officer McDowell suffered a traumatic brain injury and has scars from a fractured eye socket, dislocated shoulder and has no memory of the accident. McDowell had no drugs or alcohol in his system.

Below is an ABC 7 Eyewitness News video on Newport Beach Officer Brian McDowell's experience with the Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect

Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer

Being subjected to carbon monoxide for extended periods of time can result in severe injury and death, even when you don’t know it’s present.

This leaking of carbon monoxide auto defect in the 2012-2017 Ford Explorers usually occurs when the vehicle's engine is running and the air conditioning is in circulation mode.

It has also been reported when the vehicle is driving and while stopped or parked with the engine in idle or running in park.

One of the most dangerous aspects of carbon monoxide is the fact you can not smell it. It is a poisonous and deadly gas that can saturate the air inside cars, houses, buildings and basically anywhere, and you would have no clue that you are slowly being poisoned.

Below is a diagram that shows the signs, symptoms and possible dangers one can experience when subjected to carbon monoxide.

According to the New England Journal of Medicine, Governmental air-quality limits for exposure to carbon monoxide are intended to keep carboxyhemoglobin levels in non-smokers below 3%.

Carboxyhemoglobin levels of 3% or more can adversely affect high-risk groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, fetuses, infants and patients with cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.

Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Crash, Injury and Complaint Statistics

Ford Motor Company, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and governmental entities have seen a surge of complaints and reports of heavy exhaust odors, lightheadedness, nausea and other factors that most likely are a result of the Ford Explorer carbon monoxide auto defect.

• So far there have been over 2,700 complaints and warranty claims to Ford
• Another 800 complaints to the government
• 3 crashes
• 41 injuries
• Over 1.3 Million Ford Explorers recalled

Accidental carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable, and that is exactly what police departments and law enforcement agencies are doing around the country after a second police officer reported carbon monoxide poisoning.

Second Police Officer in Texas Suffers Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from Police Cruiser

While many police departments have installed hundreds and hundreds of carbon monoxide detectors in Ford Explorer police interceptors and cruisers, the city of Austin, Texas has pulled all 446 Ford Explorers from its police fleet after detecting potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in the vehicles over the past 5 months.

62 workers' comp reports have been filed by officers for exposure to carbon monoxide, 20 of those officers had a measurable level of carbon monoxide in their system when they were tested, and three of them have still not returned to work.

According to KXAN, Austin Police Sergeant Zachary LaHood is suing Ford Motor Company and Leif Johnson Ford stemming from a carbon monoxide poisoning incident in March.

“Essentially, I died from the inside out that night. I just suffocated from the inside out.” LaHood said in a KXAN interview.

Another Officer Posioned While On Duty

Recently, officer Brandy Sickey of Henderson, Louisiana, blacked out and suffered severe injuries due to carbon monoxide fumes seeping into the cabin of her Ford Explorer police interceptor.

Officer Sickey was treated for her injuries where doctors tested and confirmed she experienced carbon monoxide poisoning. In fact, doctors said the amount of carbon monoxide Sickey had in her blood was near lethal, and could have killed her.

Officers McDowell, LaHood and Sickey are just 3 of many police officers now coming forward to tell their stories and experiences of being poisoned by carbon monoxide.

Many of them, like these 3 officers experienced extreme circumstances, blacking out, crashing in motion and suffering prolonged and permanent injuries and damage.

Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Cases

Bisnar Chase is representing officer Brian McDowell, Zachary LaHood and a handful of other officers who have had similar experiences with the dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning in their cases against Ford and other affiliated entities.

The traumatic experiences and permanent injuries they encountered while driving their Ford Explorer police interceptors on duty, will not be disregarded or unrecognized. Instead they will be brought to justice and stand as a symbol for the future safety of police officers and civilians who put their trust and faith in these vehicles.

Bisnar Chase is currently representing dozens of these cases across the country regarding civilians. Mothers, fathers, children and loved ones have been injured due to the contamination and poisoning of carbon monoxide fumes inside these Ford Explorer family cars.

These trusting and unsuspecting individuals were unknowingly risking their lives while driving to work, transporting young and vulnerable children to school, picking loved ones up from sports practice and going grocery shopping on Sundays after church.

The skilled and dedicated Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect Lawyers at Bisnar Chase are here to help those who have already been a victim to this deadly auto defect.

You, your family and loved ones deserve the safety, peace of mind and satisfaction in knowing your vehicle is not trying to silently kill you. If an auto defect or recall becomes apparent, the auto maker or manufacturer should take safety over profit, and step up to fix and make sure you are back on the road safe and sound.

Have more questions? Read through our Frequently Asked Questions about the Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect, and Call our skilled attorneys who are currently representing these cases at 800-561-4887.

There have been many reports and complaints about heavy odors of exhaust and gas fumes when accelerating and when in slow traffic in other Ford models, including the Ford Escape.

Although carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, heavy exhaust fumes can be dangerous and still be saturated with carbon monoxide.

Ford Escapes are popular vehicles just like the Ford Explorer, especially for families, sports enthusiasts and the common driver who still appreciates the space for transporting larger items that can not fit in the back seat of a sedan or coupe.

Drivers of any car including Ford Explorers Ford Escapes are urged to contact a skilled Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect Lawyer if they have excessive amounts of exhaust fumes inside the occupant cabin while the engine is on.

If you have signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, seek medical attention immediately. Getting medical attention is the best way to care for your health and safety, as well as documenting any injuries inflicted in result of the carbon monoxide auto defect in your vehicle. Having the ability to prove your injuries are the result of an auto defect is the best way to win your case.

Bisnar Chase is Here to Represent You

For over 39 years, The skilled lawyers at Bisnar Chase have been representing clients, establishing a 96% Success Rate and winning over $500 Million for their clients.

Currently, Bisnar Chase is representing over a dozen civilians and several police officers across the country for the Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect.

Our attorneys prove their dedication, passion and professionalism, along with their skill, resources and knowledge is a winning combo.

We can not allow large corporations like Ford to choose profit over you and your family's safety and well-being. They won't get away with it this time, because Bisnar Chase is fighting this fight.

If you have been injured by a Ford carbon monoxide auto defect please contact our Ford Explorer Carbon Monoxide Auto Defect Attorneys.

For immediate assistance, give us a Call at 800-561-4887.