Ford Everest no Exploder

Ford doesn't expect sales of its Australian-engineered Everest SUV to be impacted by what it says was a "one-off event" that saw a press test vehicle burn to the ground near Newcastle last week.

In fact, Ford Australia CEO Graeme Whickman yesterday suggested that public awareness of the new SUV would be improved by the incident, which has parallels with the drama that surrounded Ford's Explorer after its launch in the 1990s.

"When you launch a vehicle you want people to know about the vehicle – and they're certainly knowing about the vehicle," Whickman told motoring.com.au.

Ford yesterday said an investigation had found that one of six battery cables was not properly located following the incorrect replacement of the vehicle's battery post-production, causing high resistance in the electrical system that generated heat and eventually led to fire.

Ford said the incident was therefore deemed isolated and unrelated to a small number of reported 'thermal issues' in the Ranger utility due to the installation of aftermarket electrical accessories, negating the need for a safety recall for the 900 or so Everest SUVs so sold so far or the 100,000-plus Rangers on the road.

"We've investigated very thoroughly, in fact we've gone through 2000 vehicles to be 100 per cent certain [it's not a common fault]," said Whickman.

"What we've concluded is that it [the Everest fire] was a one-off event related to a post-production incident where we replaced the battery."

Ford said the person responsible for incorrectly replacing the battery in the ill-fated Everest would not lose their job, and Whickman added that it is common for aftermarket electronics to adversely affect new vehicles.

"We've had that discussion with that individual and we're working through that and we're confident of that position," he said.

"It's early days for us, so we're early in the [Everest] launch and most people realise when you start to modify vehicles and tinker with the electrical pieces, these things happen. That's common across any manufacturer, any vehicle."

The Everest shares its ladder chassis with the Ranger and both vehicles were designed and engineered in Australia but are produced in Thailand.

Similarly, Ford's original 1990 Explorer was based on the F-Series pick-up of the day. Crude suspension, a high centre of gravity and a tendency of the Firestone tyres fitted to early models to blow-out at highway speed led to a series of often fatal rollover crashes, earning it the unenviable 'Exploder' nickname.

Nevertheless, Ford's Australia CEO insists the Everest incident is not systematic and that current and prospect owners should not be worried.

"It was a human error. It's not a manufacturing error, not a design error, it's post production," he said.

Everest sales have been solid since its launch in August, with 894 sold so far this year including 334 last month, making it Ford's fifth most popular model in November.