NSW Police ground Ford Rangers

NSW Police has grounded its fleet of more than 200 Ford Ranger utes -- which represent about one quarter of all general duties cars in the state -- even though there is no official recall on the vehicle.

The Ranger has been sidelined at the request of the Police Association pending an investigation into a spate of roll-overs involving the Ford Ranger in recent weeks.

Questions have been raised over the Ranger's suitability as a police vehicle. No Rangers bought or driven by members of the public are affected by the police action.

A bulletin from the Police Association issued this week (August 4) read: "Ford Ranger -- Advice to Cease Use. The executive of the police association advises all members to immediately cease the use of all Ford Ranger vehicles pending a satisfactory resolution of the inherent risks currently identified."

The NSW Police Vehicle Standards Committee is due to meet today (Friday) to discuss the future of the Ford Rangers, which are front-line vehicles typically driven by general duties police.

Under NSW Police guidelines they are not allowed to be used in pursuits or in urgent duty driving and yet a number of vehicles have been involved in roll-overs in the past few years, with a spate in the past month.

The Ford Ranger replaced the Holden Rodeo on the NSW Police fleet about three years ago after the Rodeo had been involved in a high number of roll-over crashes.

The most recent accident with a Police Ford Ranger happened on the weekend, with an officer trapped for a short time when it rolled while turning.

At the centre of the issue is the plastic prisoner module that is fitted to the rear of NSW Police Ford Rangers.

The modules, estimated to cost $25,000 each, more than half the value of the utes they are fitted to, are made by Varley, a Newcastle-based engineering firm that also makes fire trucks and fits out ambulances -- in addition to providing modules for the Army's new Mercedes-Benz G-Wagens.

There is some concern that these modules cause an imbalance to the vehicle -- however they replaced heavier steel cages to improve stability.

Because NSW Police have acquired about 250 of these modules over the past six years the department continues to buy utilities that are typically tool-of-trade vehicles, rather than replace them with newer vehicles with more safety features.

Unfortunately the modules do not fit the utility with the most safety features -- the Mitsubishi Triton -- which is available with six airbags, stability control and, to date, is the only vehicle of its type with a 4WD system that can be driven on tarmac for added stability and grip. The Mitsubishi Triton also gets a four star safety rating from ANCAP compared with the Ford Ranger's three-star rating.

The Ranger is due to be replaced in 18 months by an all-new model being developed by Ford Australia. Although the Ranger had a facelift in 2007 and then another in 2009, its underpinnings and chassis date back more than 10 years when the vehicle was called a Ford Courier and it had a two-star ANCAP rating.

The Association has asked that utilities be phased out and replaced with caged sedans and vans -- such as the Volkswagen Transporter and Hyundai iLoad -- which are more suited to police work, have more safety features and have a wider, more stable footprint than the narrow-bodied Ranger.

NSW Police have introduced a small number of VW and Hyundai vans, but they are very much in the minority.

The NSW Shadow Police Minister Mike Gallacher told a Sydney newspaper: "If there is some anecdotal evidence that the vehicles are prone to roll over then this needs to be resolved as soon as possible, not just for NSW police but for all state jurisdictions that utilise these vehicles."

Ford Rangers were spotted parked out the front of police stations across Sydney yesterday (pictured).

The spokeswoman for Ford Australia, Sinead McAlary said: "All our investigations show there is nothing wrong with the vehicle and customers should not be alarmed. The Ranger meets all Ford safety and handling requirements. We are working with NSW Police to assist them with investigating the vehicles and what if anything can be done to improve the situation. We have two vehicles at our proving ground being assessed."

Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi