Family Claims Concealed Defect in Popular Hybrid Allowed Lethal Gas to Enter Cabin | Carscoops

      Ford and its dealerships are facing accusations of negligence in a case involving fatal hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

      A lawsuit claims that defective battery venting allowed the deadly gas to enter the vehicle's cabin, branding Ford and its Arizona dealers as negligent due to poor design. The family involved is seeking damages and advocating for stricter safety regulations regarding hybrid batteries.

      The lawsuit, recently filed in Arizona, has brought attention to Ford and several of its dealerships due to concerns about safety oversight in one of the company's hybrid vehicles. The allegations highlight design flaws and insufficient safety mechanisms that allegedly posed a lethal risk to everyday drivers.

      A Toxic Threat

      The case centers on hydrogen sulfide poisoning, a dangerous gas that can be fatal within seconds at high concentrations.

      Reports from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences indicate that it was the cause of death for 60-year-old Abimael Feliciano while he was driving on Montgomery Highway in Dothan, Alabama. After stopping at a traffic light on August 8, 2023, he never resumed driving. His family believes that Ford and several dealers in the state hold responsibility.

      How Could This Occur?

      An inspection of Feliciano’s vehicle revealed that the vent tubing from the rear-mounted battery was not correctly connected, as reported by WTVY.

      The lawsuit asserts that Ford not only designed the hybrid system poorly but also neglected to implement basic detection or alert systems that could have warned Feliciano before he was exposed to fatal levels of gas.

      A pivotal concern raised by the plaintiffs relates to the market accessibility of the C-Max Hybrid. It should, in theory, be impossible for the vehicle to fill its interior with lethal gas.

      The complaint also names Arizona dealerships Bill Luke Tempe, Camelback Ford Lincoln, and Sanderson Ford, accusing them of inadequate inspection, maintenance, or repair of the vehicle during previous service encounters.

      “This extends beyond the loss of one family – it addresses the accountability that automakers and dealers owe to all drivers and passengers on the road,” stated D. Michael Andrews of Beasley Allen. “We are committed to holding these companies accountable and advocating for changes that will prevent such tragedies in the future.”

      Feliciano’s family has requested a jury trial and unspecified financial damages, as well as calling for significant attention within the industry to issues surrounding battery venting and toxic gas detection in similar vehicles.