Complaint 953162

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES

Owner Narrative

FORD E-SERIES VANS. 2009-2012 E150, AND E350 BOTH AS VANS, AND AS PASSENGER SHUTTLES I AM A COMMERCIAL DRIVER, I'VE SPENT MY LIFE WITH FORD VANS (HAVE NOT DRIVEN 04-08) 09+ NEWER VANS OCCASIONALLY DO NOT STOP BELOW 15MPH ABS OVER SENSITIVE AND EASILY CONFUSED BY SLIGHT DOWNGRADES, POTHOLES, SAND, RR TRACKS, LIGHT SNOW OVER COMPACT SNOW, WET BRICK, OR SLIGHT ICE TOO OFTEN I MUST RELY UPON DOWNSHIFTING TO STOP BEFORE THE INTERSECTION NUMEROUS VANS, VARIOUS TIRE CONDITIONS (GREAT TO POOR), ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE CAN TAKE 13-20 SECONDS TO GO FROM 15MPH TO 0MPH RELYING ON ABS ALONE, WHICH OUR OTHER VEHICLES ARE JUST FINE ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD (STOP IN ABOUT 3-5SECS) THE ABS IS AMAZINGLY GOOD ON LEVEL GROUND, BUT SLIGHT DOWNGRADES + A PREVIOUS LISTED ELEMENT CONFUSES THE SYSTEM AND WILL DENY THE DRIVER BRAKE PRESSURE THE ABS IS DANGEROUS IN WINTER (OCCASIONALLY) I WAS DRIVING THESE FANS OVER 40 HOURS A WEEK, EVERY WEEK SINCE WE GOT THEM IN 09'. I LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A 94, OUR WORK HAD A 95 AND AN 03, WHICH WERE FINE IN WINTER (BUT BROKE DOWN AFTER MY FIRST YEAR OF EMPLOYMENT THERE). THE 09'S AND NEWER WERE THE PROBLEM. THE TRACTION CONTROL SET A NEW LEVEL OF DANGER IN FLUFFY SNOW. SOMETIMES THESE RWD VANS WOULD UNDERSTEER, BUT THE TC WAS OVER ZEALOUS AND YOU COULD NOT CORRECT UNDER STEER. THE TC COULD NOT BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF EITHER. SO THEY WOULD BE STUCK ON THE ICE, AND UNSTEERABLE IN THE FLUFFY STUFF I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR 15 YEARS, NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT, I STUDY RALLY RACING TECHNIQUES, AND I AM SHOCKED THESE NEW FORD VANS MADE SAFETY REGULATIONS "AMERICA'S DRIVERS SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENT THAT ANYTIME THEY GET BEHIND THE WHEEL THEY CAN EASILY MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES -- ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY"-RAY LAHOOD. THESE SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE DRIVER INPUTS, PROFESSIONAL, EXPERIENCED DRIVERS INPUTS. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.