There were no reporters present in Laurel, Miss. when a jury handed down a $131 million verdict against Ford after an Explorer rolled over, killing a young man who was on track to play baseball for the New York Mets. Hours after the verdict, there was no coverage of a case that involved a high profile victim, a major corporation, and the possibility that more than four million Ford Explorers are dangerously unstable.
Adam Penenberg heard about the verdict immediately from the defense lawyer. Hours later, he was amazed to see there had been no major media coverage at all. So he turned to Twitter.
Firing off more than 50 tweets in two hours, Penenberg related the entire story of the fatal accident, the case and the verdict.
After the verdict came in, Ford settled the case for which it must pay for the rollover-prone and thus defective Ford Explorer. Penenberg's article can be found here. Says Penenberg:
There is ample proof that more than 4 million Ford Explorers were dangerously unstable and prone to rolling over at far higher rates than other vehicles, including other popular SUVs. In fact, according to government accident statistics, one in every 2,700 Ford Explorers built between 1990 and 2001 (when Ford finally reengineered the vehicle) rolled over and killed at least one person in the car.
The figures for the Ford Bronco II, the precursor of the Ford Explorer, are even more frightening: one in 500 Bronco IIs ever produced was involved in a fatal rollover. But you won't find many publications willing to go there. Perhaps they are fearful of losing Ford advertising dollars.
To this day Ford denies its Bronco II and Explorer is dangerously defective. Ford is wrong and should be held accountable, over and over again if need be until it becomes a responsible manufacturer. Click here for more.
