Does Conservative MP Jeff Watson really care?

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I haven’t posted for awhile as it seems Ford is just doing a waiting game.  I guess they hope all the bad Fords will just rust away and with Toyota in the newspaper constantly, what have they got to worry.

Well I’ve sent two letters to a Windsor Ontario politician ( Conservative Jeff Watson MP for Essex) who seems to be glad Toyota is going before a House of Commons  committee.  Here is a company doing the recalls, etc and gets investigated while Ford hides under a rock somewhere and seems to miss the scrutiny of this politician.  I have put two letters here to show what I sent him.  I made it an open letter with the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun, City TV, CTV and Canwest as my CC.  Nothing from any one of them but then, Ford is a big advertiser.  I put the CBC article at the end.

1:

Mr. Watson…. It was with some interest I read a recent article titled, “MP wants Toyota questioned” in the Toronto Star. You are quoted as stating: “I am very concerned that Canadian families have been exposed to potentially unsafe vehicles.”

I am of course assuming your statement has nothing to do with the fact that Toyota is non-union and is foreign based.

Notwithstanding that the Toyota problem may be caused by drivers who mistake the gas pedal for the brake pedal (a car with a reving engine will probably slow down if the brakes are applied), I feel that although your interest in vehicle safety is correct, you should actually broaden your field of concern to domestically owned automobile companies as well.

Ford F150’s with a built in leaky front window (documentation at end) have been causing problems since at least 2002. This has been documented with the United States Department of Transport and the Canadian Department of Transport.

This fault will occur over a period of time and cause various electrical components to short out. This includes and not limited to, blowers, GEM’s, car locks and wipers. People have had to repair these items and most think it is normal wear and tear. The reason there may be few complaints is that most people really do think they are normal failures and not being caused by a fault that Ford is fully aware of. Ford issued a notice to their dealers regarding this problem but did not notify the owners. Thus, many repairs are done and will only be corrected if the front window is removed and resealed. Dangerous to Canadian and American families? Yes, you can imagine what happens during a rain storm when the electronics fail. As well, you are unable to drive the vehicle which could put you at risk, depending on where you are.

You may not be concerned about American families but I believe the trucks were built in Oakville, Ontario, thus there is a certain liability attached to the fact these were sent to the United States.

Ford refuses to acknowledge this fault to the owners and their silence has created a financial burden on the consumer as well as putting their lives at risk. At least Toyota did recalls.

I feel that if you are pushing for accountability with Toyota, you should ask why is Ford not being held accountable?

At the end of this email, you will see a number of documented cases to show the seriousness of this problem. If you wish to contact me in regards to this, please do not hesitate to do so. I should note that this does not included the ongoing blowing spark plugs for the F150 (risk of fire and a crash) and the leaking rear window on F150’s, all of which are documented on the internet but seem to have been overlooked by the press and government officials.

(examples at end of this blog)

2: Second letter to Conservative MP Jeff Watson send 9 days later after no reply.

Mr. Watson… Since I had not received a reply to my last letter, I assume you would wish to have further informatin concerning auto manufacturers, quality and their recall practices. I notice in the March 10th copy of the Toronto Star they noted that Toyota is going before a House of Commons transport, infrastructure and communites committee. I also note that Toyota is “offering refunds to customers” per this same article.

Since Toyota is offering the recalls and Ford isn’t, I kind of wonder who should be the one going before a commmittee and justifying their actions. Toyota who does the recall or Ford who refuses to acknowledge a complaint that puts people’s lives at risk.

To show the impact Ford’s policy is having on owners, I submit the following response to my blog by a concerned F150 owner. Since you are already quoted in the press in regards to being concerned, you can pass this information, along with my other letter, to the appropriate committee for action. Maybe the same committee going after Toyota. And, maybe you could contact Ford about this problem and see how they react to a politician making inquiries.

I await your thoughts on this matter. I should note this is happening on both sides of the border and appears to be Canadian built Ford F150’s

– – – – – – –

Bad factory windshield install left Bill stranded. Never had a clue. Would’ve been nice to get a heads up, that hey, you need a new windhield for $100, rather than a $1000 plus electronics repair. Thanks alot Ford. For $30,000, we’d expected a good tight sealed windshield, or at least the decency of a warning about the damage it could cause. Wish Ford had let us know. It was 11 degrees the other night, when my husband’s Ford ‘99 F150 (90,000 miles) refused to start. We couldn’t understand it, since the truck was in great condition, and had been well maintained. Lights were flashing and things were turning on and off, yet it just wouldn’t go. I wanted him to come home. He’d been gone two nights, working out-of-town. It was 7 pm, and he was done working. I prepared my self to make the 5-hour round-trip to pick him up, but struggled to think how he could get help in the mean time. The trouble started earlier in the day, when he went out to his truck for lunch. It wouldn’t start, and a tow service I called came to him. The truck started on its own, and the 5-minute charge for this was $40. He told him he needed to see Ford dealer for electronic problems. With that, he said “good luck getting home”, and was off. Bill left the truck running for 2 hours as he worked, hoping to help it. By 7pm, it refused to go, but did alot of crazy electronic things. It acted like it wanted to start but just wouldn’t. He tried many times. The dome light wouldn’t turn off. He’d turn on the wipers, and the radio came on. Think outside the box, I encouraged. I’d owned cars with gremlins and understood sticky accelerator pedals, leaky windows, and other strange things where the mechanics couldn’t even figure it out. Until the day I’d had enough strain and financial drain, and bought a Toyota, and now a Honda. I couldn’t afford unreliability, since I’m not mechanically skilled enough, so am at the mercy of others, who aren’t always looking out for my best interests. Independence is the spirit of America, but why is it foreign-made? New leadership, and a new business model with that in mind would do wonders for these US car companies. Back to Bill: The heater had started staying on after the key was out, last winter, and sometimes he’d have to jump in my trusty Honda to get to work in time. From what I’ve heard and seen all over the internet, it’s shocking to me that Ford still has no customer awareness program, or recall, or something regarding such a serious problem

　

tw12@sbcglobal.net

Tina Sorensen

and here are the examples I sent to Watson.

DOCUMENTATION ( a sample ):

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10254107

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Details: 2002 FORD F-150 WINDSHIELD LEAKS CAUSING DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (FUSE BOX AND ELECTRICAL MODULE). MANY ISSUE HAPPENING INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING AND SHORTING OUT THE AIRBAG DEACTIVATION SWITCH. WINDSHIELD REPAIR FACILITY STATES THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE PRIMING OF THE WINDSHIELDS AT INSTALLATION IN MANUFACTURING. ALSO STATES IT MIGHT CAUSE A POTENTIAL FOR THE WINDSHIELD TO EJECT ITSELF DURING A ROLLOVER REDUCING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAB. DEALER WHO IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM STATED IT WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE BUT RESEARCH STATES OTHERWISE AS WELL AS A LETTER FROM FORD TO THE DEALERSHIPS EXPLAINING THE ISSUE – #15773. *TR

Occurrences: 1 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 01/05/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 1/7/2009

　

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10252207

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Details: I HAVE A 2002 FORD F150 DURING THE LAST RAIN WE HAD WATER LEAKED IN FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND GOT INTO THE FUSE BOX AND SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY, FUSE BOX AND A MODULE TOTAL COST WAS OVER $1,000.00. INSURANCE SAID THEY COULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS SO THE ADJUSTER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TALKED TO FORD AND THEY SAID NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AND NO REIMBURSE MENT COULD BE MADE, BUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FORD TRUCKS WHY HASN’T A RECALL BEEN ISSUED. *TR

Occurrences: 1 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 12/10/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 12/18/2008

　

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10237321

Component: VISIBILITY

Details: I HAVE HAD THE 02′ F150 SINCE DECEMBER 07′ AND HAVE HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD LEAKING. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH IN THE 97′ TO 03′ F150 MODELS VIA FORD FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET SITES AS WELL AS THE LOCAL FORD DEALER REPAIR SHOP WHO WORKED ON MY TRUCK. THIS LEAK SHORTS OUT THE FUSE PANEL IN THE CAB THAT CAUSES THE LOSS OF POWER TO EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE LEAK ALSO TENDS TO SHORT OUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO BE UNABLE TO READ WHAT GEAR THE TRUCK IS IN. THIS CAUSES THE TRUCK TO NOT START AND EVEN SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING WHICH AGAIN IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING IN ANY CONDITION. THIS LEAK COST ME $1500 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE STARTER, RELAY, ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER, FUSE PANEL, AND HAVING TO REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT THIS LEAK WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAVE ONLY ISSUED A SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETIN! I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE WINDSHIELD LEAK IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE YET A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED FOR FADING PAINT? *TR

Occurrences: 1 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 03/20/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 8/7/2008

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10225023

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Details: MY VEHICLE HAS A WATER LEAK THAT IS GETTING THE GEM MODULE WET AND THIS HAS RESULTED IN THE WIPERS FAILING, THE POWER WINDOWS TO FAIL, THE HEATER FAN STAYS ON AFTER THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, AND THE ENGINE RUNS VERY ROUGH AND STALLS RESULTING IN ME LOSING THE POWER STEERING AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN A DITCH, THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RECENT HEAVY RAIN AND I HAD TO PULL ONTO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE FOR OVER 30 MINUTES. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMS THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BUT I FOUND OUT THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 98-9-13 TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THIS AND ALSO FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773 FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS OVER $1,100.00 TO FIX .THIS PROBLEM IS IN 1997-2002 FORD F150 AND EXPEDITIONS. I FEEL THAT THE LOSS OF WIPERS AND SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES IS A BIGGER SAFETY HAZARD THAN THE CURRENT RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR

Occurrences: 10 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 04/18/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 4/19/2008

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10222597

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Details: I HAVE HAD THE 02′ F150 JUST OVER ONE YEAR AND HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD LEAKING INTO THE CAB. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 97′ TO 03′ F150 MODEL VIA FORD FORUMS AND OTHER INTERNET GROUPS. THIS LEAK SHORTS OUT THE FUSE PANEL CAUSING THE LOSS IN POWER IN VARIOUS EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS SHORT HAS ALSO CAUSED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO FAIL CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO NOT READ WHAT GEAR THE TRUCK IS IN WHICH HAS CAUSED THE TRUCK NOT TO START OR STOP RUNNING WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN OPERATION. THE ONLY WAY THE FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REMOVED AND RESEALED AS WELL AS REPLACING THE FUSE PANEL REPLACED. OTHERS AS WELL AS I HAVE HAD TO HAVE OTHER REPAIRS MADE DUE TO THE LEAK INCLUDING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, STARTER, RELAY, ALTERNATOR, AND THE IGNITION SENSOR. I HAVE HAD TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS OUT OF POCKET AS NO MANUFACTURE RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, ONLY A SPECIAL SERVICE BULLETIN. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT HAS STATED THAT IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Occurrences: 30 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 03/20/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 3/28/2008

　

CONSUMER COMPLAINT: ODI Case Number: 10221814

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Details: 2002 F150 SUPERCREW LEAKY WINDSHIELD CAUSING ELECTRICAL PARTS TO GO ON AND OFF. I WISH FORD WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM IM AFRAID TO TAKE THE FAMILY IN IT IN FEAR OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *TR

Occurrences: 1 Injuries: 0

Fail Date: 03/18/2008 Deaths: 0

Date added to datbase: 3/19/2008

3: CBC ARTICLE

Toyota to be investigated by Ottawa

By CBC News
CBC News

The federal government will work with the opposition to have a parliamentary committee investigate the Toyota recalls, the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister says.

The federal government will work with the opposition to have a parliamentary committee investigate the Toyota recalls, the parliamentary secretary to the prime minister said Friday.

Pierre Poilievre told reporters that the government wants the standing committee on transport, infrastructure and communities to hold hearings into the recall when Parliament resumes March 3.

The opposition is supporting the plan, the CBC reported, so the committee can get moving as soon as possible, and MPs can pose questions directly to Toyota officials.

Toyota Canada said it would welcome the opportunity to address the committee.

“Toyota looks forward to the opportunity to participate in the formal hearings to ensure issues are on the record for all Canadians to understand,” the company said in a news release.

Poilievre said the questions could include:

• How did this happen?
• How did the defect go undetected?
• What should government and industry do to prevent it recurring?

In a letter to Merv Tweed, chair of the standing committee, Tory MP Jeff Watson asked for the hearing and said: “I am very concerned that Canadian families have been exposed to potentially unsafe vehicles.”

Poilievre noted that the U.S. government has already begun hearings into Toyota, and has heard “gut-wrenching stories.”

Toyota recalled about 270,000 vehicles in Canada and 4.2 million vehicles worldwide in January because the gas pedal could stick.

The company announced a fix on Feb. 1.

　

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Freedom of the Press – real or not?????

I read an article in the Saturday Toronto Star (IN 6 April 18th, 2009).  Titled, “Stories that make a difference“, it was a nicely written piece by the Toronto Star Public Editor, Kathy English that explained how the Star utilized investigative reporters and was one of the few newspapers to have the luxury of such services.  I tried to submit the following as a comment but, as you can see, it was too long.  I did submit it to the Public Editor though via email.  If you visit the comment section for the article, you will see that I am not alone in my thoughts.

We all know there are Republican/Democrat/Conservative/Liberal biased newspapers run by those in power that want their viewpoint brought forward.  The opinion pages are just that, OPINION PAGES.  Hopefully though, the integrity of the journalistic occupation is upheld though in the NEWS sections of the paper.  Just the facts ma”am is what we want.  Unbiased reporting of the facts that let us make our own conclusion.  If we want help, we visit the opinion page and get the biased look at the news.

But, when a newspaper says it does investigative reporting to right wrongs and when given evidence of such wrongdoing and it does nothing, well, it loses its credibility.  Freedom of the press, methinks, is bought and paid for by the advertisers and power structure of the country it is published.  In some 3rd world countries, the dictator dictates the news.  Here, an advertiser just calls the publisher and gets what they want.  Has anyone read about the Ford leaky window problem in the mainstream (Ford advertising) press or just in local forums and this blog? But then again, you don’t see Ford ads on this blog.  🙂

 

Dear Ms. English

 

I originally wasn’t going to comment on your piece dated April 18th (IN 6 “Stories that make a difference”) but, the more I thought about it, the more I felt that the whole story wasn’t being told.  No, it was a good article and made a few good points but, it may have “talked the talk” but we are talking about a paper that no longer “walks the walk”.

 

You mention that the Star is “clearly in a minority of Canadian newspapers in its current commitment to investigative journalism”.    You further state that “investigative reporting as integral to its mission of serving the public trust and championing social justice issues”.  Well, we have seen your paper publically display the income of a few police officers who are working hard and, you recently hounded a police senior officer to his house even in order to further expose his “internal” charges.  I am sure the public at large out there are really concerned on how this will affect their own lives. 

 

But, when you are given solid information that Ford has built F150 trucks with internal manufacturing faults and does not even tell the consumer, you ignore something that not only affects a lot of people but, puts their lives at risk.  Ford was even selling these vehicles knowing they had these faults and didn’t warn the consumer to look out for certain signs.  No, they just let the consumer pay for the repairs.  I guess you consider that good corporate citizenship.

 

And, Mattamy Homes?  Here we have an award winning builder pleading guilty to an environmental crime and it doesn’t appear in your paper nor the other issues in Kanataand Bracebridge, which are covered by much smaller news agencies.

 

What is common between these two?  They are major advertisers in your paper. 

 

Your editor Kevin Donovan is quoted as saying: “”We do these stories to make a difference.  We investigate allegations of wrongdoing and when those allegations are borne out we tell stories that, we hope, make decision-makers take notice. If we are lucky, we bring injustices to light and right wrongs.”  Only those injustices that perk the interest of your reporters and don’t offend your main advertisers it seems is what you write about.  Let’s face it, money talks and so do advertisers.  So, please don’t talk about righting wrongs when you are selective on whom you take on –   non-advertisers and I guess those who can’t defend themselves publically.  Thank god for Blogs.  At least we have an opportunity to bring the truth out into the open.  And you wonder why there is declining readership?  It is called credibility and the Star’s biases are one reason you’re losing readership.

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