Houston police, sheriff's office checking Ford fleet after reports of exhaust leaks in Austin

On command, Keegan the Belgian Malinois shepherd literally unveiled Ford’s new 2016 Police Interceptor SUV for the media on Feb. 12, 2015, at the Chicago Auto Show. On command, Keegan the Belgian Malinois shepherd literally unveiled Ford’s new 2016 Police Interceptor SUV for the media on Feb. 12, 2015, at the Chicago Auto Show. Photo: Ford Motor Company Photo: Ford Motor Company Image 1 of / 23 Caption Close Houston police, sheriff's office checking Ford fleet after reports of exhaust leaks in Austin 1 / 23 Back to Gallery

Hundreds of patrol vehicles could be facing safety checks in Houston and Harris County after officers in Austin and other parts of the country apparently became ill from exhaust leaks while on patrol in special-edition Ford Explorers.

Local law enforcement officials have received few complaints about odors in vehicles but are checking out the nearly 600 vehicles now on the streets.

Ford has issued maintenance warnings starting in 2012 about the "Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles," a Ford Explorer specially modified for use by law enforcement, but has not issued a recall.

Harris County, however, is installing carbon monoxide monitors in all of the 134 Interceptors used by the sheriff's department and county constables, and the Houston Police Department is doing spot-checks of its 434 Ford vehicles, most of which were purchased in 2016 and 2017.

"We're aware of what Austin is experiencing and the steps they've taken," said Kese Smith, an HPD spokesman.

Over the past two weeks, at least five Austin police officers were treated for possible carbon monoxide poisoning, according to a report Sunday from the Austin American-Statesman.

The department uses 'Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles," essentially a Ford Explorer designed for use by law enforcement officers.

That comes after an officer in March had to be hospitalized and treated for carbon monoxide poisoning after blacking out while driving and almost hitting a bus.

The Houston Police Department has received odor complaints from drivers of two unmarked Ford Explorers but could not confirm the smell stemmed from an exhaust leak, said Senior Officer Shawn Palin, a fleet officer.

"I want to protect my officers and cars as much as possible, but I don't know if we're having that issue," he said.

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The Harris County Sheriff's Office has had one deputy complain of nausea but officials have been unable to confirm whether it was because of an exhaust leak, said Cedrick Collier, a department spokesman.

"Although inconclusive, we have ordered that all Ford Explorers be outfitted with the carbon monoxide detectors," he said. "In the meanwhile, temporary detectors will be installed for safety measures."

Harris County has about 130 Ford Explorers, including 56 in the sheriff's office. The vehicles are also used by the county's deputy constables and the district attorney's office, said Bruce High, chief of Harris County's Central Technology Services.

High said the county an order of carbon monoxide detectors is scheduled to arrive on Thursday.

"As soon as we get them ... we'll take them to the substations and get them installed," High said. "All the agencies are aware of the concerns and working with folks that drive them."

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Organizations representing local rank-and-file said they are monitoring the situation.

"Obviously we're concerned whenever something like this comes out," said Houston Police Officers Union Vice President Joe Gamaldi. "However, after we notified the department, they have been pro-actively testing exhaust in all Ford Explorers and have yet to find any problems."

Harris County Deputies Organization President David Cuevas likewise said he had not received any complaints from his members.

"If there was an issue involving exhaust leaks with the vehicle and officer safety, our department would have notified us," he said.

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In addition to the incidents in Austin, officers in agencies across the country have also blamed exhaust leaks for other dangerous incidents, with one California officer passing out while driving and crashing into a tree and an officer in Louisiana blacking out and flipping her vehicle.

Ford officials have downplayed any problems with the vehicles but records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show Ford issued a "technical services bulletin" notifying users they were aware of a possible problem with the cars.

Ford officials said police modifications could have contributed to the exhaust problems and they do not believe the design of the vehicle is responsible.

At least 150 drivers of regular Ford Explorers have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the issue, according to a letter the agency sent the Ford Motor Co. last July.

A report from CBS in February alleged that number had grown to more than 450 complaints.

"My wife ... complains of a lot of headaches and I am beginning to wonder if she is getting carbon monoxide poisoning from driving this vehicle daily," a Virginia man wrote in September in a complaint to regulators.

While settling a class-action lawsuit in Florida, Ford agreed to reimburse customers for the cost of repairs.

The Austin officer who became sick in March while driving his patrol car has also sued the company, and the Austin department recently finalized emergency contingency plans in case they have to pull their Interceptors from service.

The Austin department uses mostly Interceptors for its fleet; Houston varies its purchases among different models to keep too many vehicles from getting sidelined by possible recalls.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.