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The Ford Crown Victoria has not been redesigned since 1979. It is the only new car on the road today whose design is that old. The design flaw is that the gas tank is in back of the axle. In 1968, a University of California at Los Angeles study showed that the 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. The only major cars which still have the "exploding gas tank" design are the Ford Mustang and the Panther. This is the same problem that Ford had with the Ford Pinto -- only more people have been killed in the CVPI than the Pinto.
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.

Ford also has the technology to prevent the exploding gas tanks such as installing a bladder or shield between the gas tank and the rear axle. Neither the redesign nor modifications have taken place primarily because Ford does not want to take the money out of their profits.

Ford is making Crown Victoria "upgrade" kits available to civilians, but at their own expense. For more information, contact your local Ford dealer.

A Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was issued by Ford in October 2001. The Bulletin recommended that modifications made to "reduce the unlikely possibility of a fuel tank puncture during an extremely high-speed rear impact."

The primary suggestion in the bulletin is to modify the hex bolt that could puncture the gas tank. This modification is covered under the Bumper to Bumper warranty, but has not been tested to see if it will work. Even better solutions involve adding gas tank bladders or tank shields.

Ford currently uses the technology in other makes of vehicles to prevent the exploding gas tanks like the ones put into the CVPI. Safety experts have said that the only real fix would be to redesign the car, which has not been done since 1979. The Crown Victoria fuel system design is based an out-moded technology from 1960's.

Since the TSB was not widely distributed, not many people who purchase or maintain the CVPI have heard of it, much less the safety problem. Even though the TSB modifications are not adequate, they are helpful and should be done as soon as possible.

Ford controls 85% of the law enforcement cruiser market with its "Panther" line. Ford estimates that about 400,000 of these police cruisers currently are in use. First manufactured in 1979, today's Crown Victoria has essentially the same design as the original vehicle, making it the oldest design of a car still being sold as new. It is the only car on the market that is certified for "police pursuit" that has retained the rear fuel tank design.

Vielleicht gelten die Regeln nur bei Mopars @Tom

Americanpatriot hat geschrieben:Na gut ich arbeite zwar nicht für Ford aber mag keine Unwahrheiten oder bashing gegen ein Auto, ich fang ja jetzt auch nicht an gegen die schlechteren Polizeiautos wie Wimpalas oder andere aus dem General Moron Konzern zu stänkern.

Maddox hat geschrieben:
ich misch mich ja ungern ein

aber du hast doch schließlich dieses thema eröffnet, und niemand anderer, oder? möchtest du zu deinen themen nur hören, daß jemand dazu postet "ja, mhm, genau meine meinung?"