Cleveland Files
Flaming Ford Suit

• Crown Vic Disappears from Ford Dealer Lots • Ford Recalls Police Cruiser for Faulty Wheels • New York Taxi Fire Puts Heat on Ford • Ford Offers Retrofit to Prevent Fire in Lincoln Limos • Jury Awards $43 Million in Flaming Lincoln Case • Jury Finds Ford Not Liable in Crown Vic Fire • Ford Recalls Police Cars, Taxis to Fix Different Fire Problem • Chrysler Rolls Out New Dodge Charger Police Car • Arkansas Refuses to Back Down • Illinois Cops Drop Out of Crown Vic Class Action • Dallas to Add Fire Suppressant to Fords • Philadelphia Joins Ford Suits • Police Car Flunks Ford's Own Test, Dallas DA Charges • Ford Will Shield Police Fuel Tanks • Cleveland Files Flaming Ford Suit • Ford Agrees to Police Car Safety Probe • New Jersey City Sues Ford

August 28, 2002
The city of Cleveland has joined other jurisdictions in filing a class-action lawsuit against Ford Motor Co. on behalf of law enforcement agencies across Ohio, charging that the Ford Crown Victoria police car is prone to fuel tank fires in rear-end collisions.

The lawsuit lists seven separate fuel tank fires involving deaths and injuries during 2000 and 2001, although none occurred in Ohio. Similar suits have been filed in Texas, Arizona, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida.

Ford has set up two study panels to try to find a solution to the problem. It is said to be considering placing foam-filled bladders around the fuel tank to block fuel from leaking and causing a disastrous fire or explosion after a collision.

"This is a very serious situation for us and we're treating it with urgency," a Ford spokesman said.

The city of Cleveland has 481 Crown Victoria police cars, the suit said. The mayor, Jane Campbell, also has a Crown Victoria as her official car.

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