Ford Motor Co. may be headed toward some of the same problems Toyota has endured recently over questions about floor mats in some of its vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a federal investigation into the safety of optional floor mats for the 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles - some 250,000 vehicles in all - following several complaints.
The NHTSA warns that drivers of these Ford vehicles should avoid using any unsecured, all-weather floor mats, extending its mat warning beyond those made by Ford to include any aftermarket mats. Mats sit atop the standard carpeted floor mat on the driver's foot well.
The NHTSA's website states that an "all weather" optional floor mat should be placed in the driver's side foot well only after the original mat is removed from the carpeted floor.
One of the Ford complaints was lodged by Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing for the website Edmunds.com. According to a report in the Detroit News, Edmunds installed an all-weather floor mat incorrectly in a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, which caused inadvertent acceleration when it was temporarily wedged against the vehicle's accelerator pedal.
While no complaints related to vehicle crashes, injuries or fatalities have been reported to the NHTSA, researchers continue to interview drivers about the problem as a part of its investigation. The NHTSA is authorized to issue a recall if substantial evidence suggests that these floor mats are indeed defective.
The NHTSA is also warning that any driver experiencing unintended acceleration in their motor vehicle (regardless of reason) should brake firmly, shift the vehicle into neutral, steer to a safe location and shut the engine off.
Defective vehicle parts account for more than 40,000 motor vehicle fatalities every year. Accidents caused by defective parts are often referred to as "products liability cases," where either the manufacture or design of the part can be directly attributed to being the source of the car crash.
If you have been involved in a crash related to a problem with the floor mat or other issue, contact an attorney as soon as possible. Injuries due to a defective product could be grounds for a products liability case; an attorney can help determine if you are eligible for compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
For more information about the Ford investigation, contact the NHTSA at (888) 327-4236, or your local Ford dealer.
