USA Today on SUV's flipping over

[Kanab]

They stated that all 2004 Toyota and Lexus SUV's came with stability control that made them safe for 50+ MPH lane changes but if it was switched off that it would be unsafe at 35 MPH lane changes. I didn't think you could switch it off? But it is nice to know that I drive one of the safest SUV's out there because of this feature.

 

[Thai]

They stated that all 2004 Toyota and Lexus SUV's came with stability control that made them safe for 50+ MPH lane changes but if it was switched off that it would be unsafe at 35 MPH lane changes. I didn't think you could switch it off? But it is nice to know that I drive one of the safest SUV's out there because of this feature.

Those idiots probably locked the center diff or they found some other way to shut it off (which i doubt)! Can't be good for the center diff!

 

[CMiYC]

I didn't think you could switch it off?

There's actually an option to have a switch to disable it.

 

[Thai]

There's actually an option to have a switch to disable it.

Really?? Who installs this "switch"??

 

[4route]

that's scary and sounds like it could verge on a conspiracy ... this "switch" and all ...

hm.

i, too, wonder who installs this "switch"...

 

[EDGE]

Bunch of idiots at least when I rolled my Explorer over I lost the tread on my firestone tires and started to travel sideways in heavy traffic at 90 and I hit noone

 

[Kanab]

Bunch of idiots at least when I rolled my Explorer over I lost the tread on my firestone tires and started to travel sideways in heavy traffic at 90 and I hit noone

Sounds like fun Post some pictures, what did you get out of Firestone???

 

[EDGE]

No pictures, accident happened in Florida on I-95 and the truck vanished shortly after Ford executives showed up Ford paid the medical bills and gave me back the money I spent on the truck, it was only 9 months old but this happened in 96 way before the highly publicized news media and recalls of millions of tires in 2000 or 2001.

 

[TranceKrayz]

why does it sound so similar to what they did with the pinto incident? once again, did they believe it was cheaper to pay people off than to fix the problem?

 

[Thai]

why does it sound so similar to what they did with the pinto incident? once again, did they believe it was cheaper to pay people off than to fix the problem?

Well, Ford Explorer was the #1 selling SUV on the road...recalling all of them would have cost a lot! In the end, i think that Ford did suffer more than they expected due to bad publicity and lawsuits. But then again, the current Explorer is doing quite well. So, you see, Ford may have done the right thing in hiding these incidents.

 

[Iowa4Runner]

Really?? Who installs this "switch"??

Umm... The factory, right? When you press the button to lock the center diff, doesn't "VSC OFF" show up somewhere on the instrument cluster?

 

[Thai]

Umm... The factory, right? When you press the button to lock the center diff, doesn't "VSC OFF" show up somewhere on the instrument cluster?

Yes, i do know about the center diff lock button...see my original post in this thread...and i do know a little bit about the 4runner's 4wd system. However, CMiYC seems to refer to another switch that you can shut off VSC without locking the center diff.

My comment rests on the fact that IF they locked the center diff to perform these slalom tests, then it's not good for the center diff.

 

[EDGE]

Well, Ford Explorer was the #1 selling SUV on the road...

Thats true but they also over produce them and then unload them however they can, the 96 I had was 10x better maybe 100x better then the disposable tin can modern day wagon on wheels they currently sell, but then again I heard conflicting stories that the V8 models where of a higher quality, but when Ford realized customers where going 100k+ with no problems they fix that by lowering the quality and putting a weaker V8 in the truck.

I was young and had no idea their was a difference between an Import and a domestic but realized after I got my Pathfinder that the japanese where way better, now most if not all of my friends drive japanese cars cause of me, they all like the Pathfinder and eventually got rid of their Fords and Chevys:

If anyones wondering I refuse to ride in an Explorer, standing by 1 makes me nervous, and Ford use to sell over 400,000 Explorers a year they have since dropped to the mid 300k and Ford just blames that on a more competitve market with more options, thats their excuse.