2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan

DRIVER'S SEAT-BELT BUCKLE RECEIVER COVER BROKE OFF UNDER NORMAL POLICE USE, EXPOSING THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE BUCKLE RECEIVER AND PREVENTING LATCHING OF THE MALE END OF THE BUCKLE INTO THE RECEIVER. DRIVER DID NOT REALIZE RECEIVER WAS NOT SECURELY HOLDING THE SEAT BELT AND WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION RESULTING FROM POLICE WORK WAS NOT SECURED AND HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD, REQUIRING STITCHES. *TR

OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS TWO NEW FORD INTERCEPTOR. THREE TIMES MY CAR HAS STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A QUICK TURN AROUND TO STOP A VEHICLE FOR A M/V VIOLATION. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF, I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES THEN I STARTED TO ROLL TOWARDS A FENCE . I HAD TO SHIFT BACK INTO PARK TO START THE CAR. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IF THIS IS GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING. *TR

I AM AN OFFICIAL FOR A LARGE POLICE AGENCY. IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN REGARDING THE 2013 FORD INTERCEPTOR SEDANS. THE PARTITIONS THAT ARE BEING INSTALLED THAT SEPARATE THE OFFICER FROM A PRISONER HAVE A FLAW. BUT THE FLAW WAS DEVELOPED WITH THE INSIGHT OF THE AIR BAG MANUFACTURED BY FORD. FORD DEVELOPED THE INTERCEPTOR FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BEING THE NEW POLICE CAR FOR AMERICA, POSSIBLY THE WORLD. WHEN FORD DEVELOPED THE INTERCEPTOR, THEIR DESIGNERS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE ONE SIMPLE FACT. THAT POLICE MAKE ARRESTS AND THE ARRESTEE WOULD BE PLACED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORT TO WHEREVER. WITH THAT FACT, A DESIGNER SHOULD HAVE REALIZED THAT THE PARTITION NEEDED TO SEPARATE THE PRISONER FROM THE OFFICER SHOULD BE JUST THAT, SEPARATING ANY PHYSICAL CONTACT FROM THE PRISONER. IT APPEARS THATS NOT POSSIBLE WITH THE WAY FORD DEVELOPED THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. FORD FAILED TO REALIZE THIS ISSUE IN DEVELOPMENT AND CREATED A ONE PIECE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFETY SEPARATE THE PRISONER FROM THE OFFICER. WITH THIS FACT IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURERS ARE DESIGNING PARTITIONS THAT LEAVE A 4" X 12" X 6" HOLE AT HEAD AND NECK LEVEL OF AN OFFICER SITTING/DRIVING IN THE VEHICLE. THIS AREA HAS BEEN FABRICATED WITH A FLIMSY PIECE OF PLASTIC LEAVING THE OFFICER VULNERABLE TO POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH FROM A PRISONER PUSHING BY THE FLIMSY PLASTIC MAKING CONTACT WITH THE OFFICER. THE PLASTIC WAS DESIGNED WITH THE THEORY THE AIR BAG COULD PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY FOR FULL DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AS FORD SHOULD HAVE DEVELOPED A TWO PIECE CURTAIN AIR BAG, THUS ALLOWING A PRISONER TO BE SECURED AND FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. I FIND THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE IN OFFICER SAFETY AND A MAJOR ISSUE AS FORD DEVELOPED THIS VEHICLE WITH THE SPECIFIC USE AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE. *TR

VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY HEADREST FOR THE SECOND ROW PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND A75 MPH REAR IMPACT BUT THE REAR SEAT WAS NOT BUILT TO PROVIDE HEAD/ NECK SUPPORT FOR IMPACT AT ANY SPEED. THE NECK AND HEAD OF AN AVERAGE HEIGHT PASSENGER SITTING IN THE REAR WILL MOST LIKELY EXTEND ABOVE THE TOP PORTION OF THE SECOND ROW SEAT THEREFORE PROVIDING NO SUPPORT FOR THE HEAD AND NECK DURING A SUDDEN STOP OR IMPACT. THE ABSENCE OF THE HEADREST COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE CURRENT DESIGN OF THE SEAT DOES NOT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT A HEAD REST CAN BE RETROFITTED. THE 2013 FORD EXPLORER, SAME AS THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR, IS EQUIPPED WITH A SECOND ROW HEADREST SO IT MAKES NO SENSE WHY THE POLICE INTERCEPTOR IS BEING SOLD WITHOUT THAT CRITICAL SAFETY FEATURE TO PROFESSIONALS WHO ADVOCATES VEHICLE SAFETY AND UNFORTUNATELY, WITNESS THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN YOU IGNORE THEM. I APPRECIATE YOU SPEEDY ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR