FROM THE FIRST DAY I DROVE THIS CAR, IN 1975, I EXPERIENCED SEVERE RESPIRATORY AILMENTS, A CONSTANT ODOUR OF ROTTEN EGGS, INFLAMED EYES AND LUNGS - LEADING TO REPEATED MEDICAL EXAMINATION/TREATMENT. MY NASAL MUCOUS DISCHARGES WERE BLACK AND I ALSO EXPERIENCED CONTINUAL EXHAUSTION - OFTEN RESULTING IN MY BLACKING-OUT WHILE DRIVING. REPEATEDLY RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (JACK PERRY FORD ON NY RT. 17M IN GOSHEN NY) I WAS ADMONISHED BY BOTH THE SALES AND SERVICE STAFF WITH "IT MUST BE ALL IN YOUR HEAD".MY WORK AND COLLEGE STUDIES SUFFERED - EVENTUALLY LEADING TO MY BEING DISMISSED FOR POOR PERFORMANCE. THOUGH I WAS REINSTATED I STRUGGLED AND TODAY, WHILE ENROLLED (AGAIN) - I FIND I'VE BEEN DAMAGED PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY DUE TO WHAT WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED TO BE A DELIBERATE DESIGN DEFECT IN THE CAR'S EXHAUST SYSTEM. UPON MY RETURN FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN THE USAF, HAVING LEFT THE CAR ON BLOCKS, THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST SYSTEM HAD ROTTED-OUT. I TOOK IT TO A MEINEKE DEALERSHIP IN NEWBURGH NY WHERE THE OWNER INSTALLED A 'STOCK' SYSTEM. HE WARNED ME I MIGHT BEGIN SUFFERING THE VERY SYMPTOMS LISTED ABOVE AND SHOWED ME WHY. THE DUAL TAILPIPES TERMINATED APPROX 8 INCHES FORWARD OF THE REAR BUMPER. COMBINED WITH THE AERODYNAMICS OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE; THIS RESULTED IN EXHUAST GASES BEING TRAPPED UNDERNEATH AND LEAKING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND WINDOWS - POSSIBLY AFFIXIATING ALL WITHIN. ACCORDING TO THE MEINEKE SHOP OWNER; FORD AND IOCCOCA PULLED THIS MODEL FROM PRODUCTION AFTER JUST 4 MONTHS FOLLOWING ITS INTRODUCTION. FORD REPRESENTATIVES AT VARIOUS NYC AUTO SHOWS DENY FORD EVER EVEN PRODUCED THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. IT APPEARS TO ME FORD IS UTILIZING THE SAME PRACTICE OF 'PLAUSABLE DENIABILITY' AS HAD THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY CEOS HAD DURING CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10124488
- Incident
- Jul 1, 1975