Ford Crown Victoria is under fire again

New York senator asks automaker to provide gas tank shields for taxis after fiery death in Manhattan.

Jeff Plungis / The Detroit News

WASHINGTON -- A U.S. senator has asked Ford Motor Co. to issue gas tank shields to all Crown Victoria sedans used as taxi cabs, following the burning death of a New York City cab driver.

In a Dec. 30 letter to Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, urged a "major design overhaul" of the sedans, which are the most popular vehicle in the New York City taxi fleet.

The move is the latest twist in a continuing debate about the safety of the Crown Vic, a full-sized, rear-wheel drive sedan popular with older drivers, police departments and taxi services. Critics contend that the location of the gas tank, behind the rear axle, leaves it vulnerable to rupture and fire in a rear-end crash.

Beginning in 2003, Ford made a set of gas-tank shields available for police cruisers. It offered the kits to owners of Lincoln Town Car limousines in September.

In addition, the kits have been available for purchase by private owners of the Crown Vic, Lincoln Town Car and Mercury Grand Marquis for $105, plus labor costs.

"For some time now, Crown Victorias have evinced an apparent design flaw that makes the fuel tank susceptible to rupture, leakage and explosion following crashes," Schumer wrote.

Schumer urged Ford to make gas-tank shields and an expected fire-suppression system standard on all future models of the Crown Victoria and related cars. The fixes should be made available to New York City yellow taxis for retrofits, the senator said.

Schumer's letter followed the death of New York cab driver Gurbaj Singh. According to press reports, Singh's cab was struck in the side Dec. 26 by a minivan and burst into flames.

Ford spokesman Dan Jarvis said he could not comment on Schumer's letter since company officials had not reviewed it.

But Ford tests the Crown Victoria at speeds well beyond requirements imposed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Jarvis said. The vehicle holds up well in the tests, he said.

"Certainly,the Crown Vic is a very safe car," Jarvis said. "The safety record of the car is among the best in the industry."

Ford has been mired in questions about the Crown Victoria's gas-tank design since a series of police deaths. At least 18 police officers and state troopers have died in Crown Victoria Police Interceptor fires. Most of the deaths occurred when the cruisers were struck from behind at extremely high speeds.

In Oct. 2003, another New York cab driver, Mohammed Abu Yousef, was killed in a fire when his Crown Vic was rear-ended.

Schumer previously wrote to Ford in 2003 after the death of a New York state trooper in a Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

You can reach Jeff Plungis at (202) 662-8735 or jplungis@detnews.com.