Law suite lifted on US Ford cop cars

irsa76 · 02-02-2005, 07:22 PM

Found this on the Copcar.com forum. A bit of background. Over the last couple of years a number of Law enforcment agencies in America have started legal action against Ford Motor Company over the Police Interceptor, a Crown Victoria with Police equipment, claiming they are vulnerable to catching fire when hit from behind at high speed. Late last year another law suite was withdrawn which claimed that vehicles supplied to one agency wasn't equipped as advertised. It is important to note that the Ford PI is the only RWD Police car, as opposed to SUV, available in America.
From the Detroit Free Press:

Cops drop Crown Victoria patrol car suit

January 27, 2005

Two Indiana police departments dropped a lawsuit against Ford Motor
Co., in which they claimed the automaker's Crown Victoria patrol cars are
vulnerable to fires in high-speed, rear-end collisions. By dismissing the suit,
Indianapolis and the Marion County Sheriff's Department paved the way for
the departments to resume buying the cars, Ford said. The suit was one of
more than two dozen prospective class actions by police agencies claiming
the fuel tank location put officers' lives at risk. In October, Ford won the first
Crown Victoria class action to go to trial. Other departments have dropped
similar suits or opted out of class actions since the verdict, after determining
the car wasn't defective, said Ford attorney Doug Lampe.

Smoked · 03-02-2005, 12:57 AM

Idiots. If they dont like where the fuel tank is, dont buy the vehicle, GOD, stupid americans.

XR Martin · 03-02-2005, 01:35 AM

I dont even think Ford sell the Crown Vics to police anymore after this crap.

As for the only RWD police capable car, I think the Chrysler 300Cs could be soon?.

JR. · 03-02-2005, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

I dont even think Ford sell the Crown Vics to police anymore after this crap.

Ford refuse to sell them to any police department that has filed suit against them, but otherwise it's still business as usual.

03-02-2005, 10:15 AM

****er americans, you can file a lawsuit over absolutely anything these days...

Smoked · 03-02-2005, 10:21 AM

Why tho? seriously, if you dont like the way something is built/designed, you have the right not to purchase it. Bloody americans, law suites are their answer to everything.

irsa76 · 03-02-2005, 08:02 PM

The 300C isn't, and from what I understand, never will be a cop car. That duty will be for the Chrysler Magnum wagon, when they fix the brakes catching fire. At this stage the Crown Vic still is the only real choice for Police in the US. Sure GM offers the Impala, but it is FWD and only has a 3.8 V6. The other choices are SUVs which fail to meet the standars set by the LASD and the MSP for pursuit usage. Because of this Ford will not discontinue the Crown Vic, not when they have approx 80% of the market share with a car that is border line second rate.

LUXO_8 · 03-02-2005, 10:36 PM

with the fair trade agreement, should send em as many BA XR8's as they need.....