Be careful X owners - got into a fender bender yesterday...

[FordMomof3]

I was heading down a 5 lane road in the left lane and went to change lanes. Checked it all - blind spots, mirror, BLIS. All clear...NOT.

Ended up scraping the side of a 05 Honda Civic. Took off her side-mirror and got the trim. Her mirror put a dent and some abraisions on my front right fender. I've only had the thing a MONTH!!

I'm just sick about it. Everyone was fine but now I"m almost afraid to drive the thing - I'm honestly considering trading vehicles with my husband for a while.

So - please, be aware that everything can be setup right but sometimes...

I just keep telling myself "no one was hurt" and "it's just stuff" but damn it - while those things are important, I feel like an idiot. Just please be careful!

 

[VinceL]

I'm so sorry to hear that Kermit took one on the chin! Thank goodness that everyone is okay. Just the other day I nearly had the same thing happen to me. You do all the things you are supposed to do, and I'll be darned if there wasn't another car in the exact same place I was trying to move to. Startled me, probably gave them a wake-up call, but fortunately I saw them at the last moment. Kept thinking to myself, 'where in the heck did they come from? '

 

[FordMomof3]

Vince L, That's exactly what I keep thinking. Where in the heck did they come from? I have played it over and over (and now, lost sleep over it - time of my post was 2:52 and I'd been up for a while before that).

Ugh. I'm going to take it down to the dealership today to have them check it all over. We have a mini-road trip on Saturday and I can't take the chance that something got knocked loose, etc. Maybe I can get an estimate from the body shop there too. *sigh*

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Sorry FordMom. Is this your first SUV?

 

[FordMomof3]

Bill #4 - yep, first SUV. Still getting accustomed to the blind spots and range of vision after a mini-van. *sigh*

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Bill #4 - yep, first SUV. Still getting accustomed to the blind spots and range of vision after a mini-van. *sigh*

That's what I thought. You must properly adjust your mirrors. Search the Forum, there was a very good post on this a few months back.

Have a safe trip. You'll be fine!

 

[FordMomof3]

Oh but I did. As soon as I got the thing and saw the HORRIBLE blind spots (and the head rests in the way), I found the link to set the mirrors and I did! My husband found the same article with directions that I saw and he double checked them.

Truly, here's what I think happened - I got stuck behind a truck doing a *very* slow Mph - like 30. When I turned on my blinker and checked everything, it was clear. The car I hit was doing the 40mph speed limit and that's how she got there fast enough to get hit.

I'm usually very aware of the cars around me and where they are - but this SUV makes that a lot harder.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Driver error, you made a mistake, and you "owned" it. I respect that. Live & learn. Move on. No one got hurt. Hopefully you did not get ticketed. That's why these are called accidents.

 

[FordMomof3]

No ticket. I have collision and since we're a "no fault" state - she can go to my insurance for up to $500 for any deductible she may have to pay.

Thanks Bill#4

 

[SouthernSAR]

So you turned your blinker on and the Honda STILL came up??? What an a**... Glad to hear everyones ok, hope it's not too costly to fix!

 

[VinceL]

So you turned your blinker on and the Honda STILL came up??? What an a**... Glad to hear everyones ok, hope it's not too costly to fix!

Too true. Blinkers mean nothing to the folks around here. Most don't use them, or leave them on all the time. When they do see one, I get the impression that they believe it doesn't apply to them, and simple courtesy simply has no place in today's world. Sad Nevertheless, I still use mine, and I hope someone out there appreciates it as much as I appreciate others using theirs. It is very rare that I won't let a person with a blinker on get ahead of me. It's my little way of saying thanks for using it

Unfortunately in your situation FordMomof3, the other driver probably wasn't paying attention and never saw your blinker to let you over or give you a quick toot on the horn to let you know they were there. It was an undesireable confluence of events. I've had to honk twice at people who had tried to move into my lane, in the exact spot I was occupying! Thing was, we were going the same speed, and we were about even with each other. I was right there...! I remember the days when driving used to be fun, lol...

Hopefully Kermit's bruise will be easy to fix.

 

[FordMomof3]

So you turned your blinker on and the Honda STILL came up??? What an a**... Glad to hear everyones ok, hope it's not too costly to fix!

Yes. I had it on a good amt of time before I moved too - I turn it on before I check the mirrors/etc. So Yes, I had it on. She may have already been ahead of my tail at that point though, as I said, I was going significantly under the speed limit and she was probably doing it. So she probably went up faster than that (but then I'd have seen her).

*sigh* Whatev. It is what it is right? Doesn't make my stomach feel any better but I'm glad it's today and not last night. Feel more like I can handle today. And I just drove "Kermit" to post and back (a whole .41 miles one way - can see my house from the post) and it was fine. No one came up on me, didn't side-swipe anyone and didn't hit the bushes where I park with the side. All good.

 

[jrmexplorer]

Yes. I had it on a good amt of time before I moved too - I turn it on before I check the mirrors/etc. So Yes, I had it on. She may have already been ahead of my tail at that point though, as I said, I was going significantly under the speed limit and she was probably doing it. So she probably went up faster than that (but then I'd have seen her).

*sigh* Whatev. It is what it is right? Doesn't make my stomach feel any better but I'm glad it's today and not last night. Feel more like I can handle today. And I just drove "Kermit" to post and back (a whole .41 miles one way - can see my house from the post) and it was fine. No one came up on me, didn't side-swipe anyone and didn't hit the bushes where I park with the side. All good.

I do a blind spot triple check in the Explorer (kinda like a discount double check, but without Aaron Rodgers) - I check BLIS to get a sense if someone is in the blind spot in the first place, then I check over my shoulder, then, as I'm moving into the lane I keep my peripheral vision on my side mirror and the BLIS to make sure nothing moves into the lane as I'm moving into it.

The other possibility with your accident (you were on a 5 lane road) is that you both were moving into the lane at the same or nearly the same time.

One thing I've noted with BLIS is that you have to set the mirrors based on BLIS. Adjust the mirrors so that BLIS activates just as the car in your mirror disappears. BLIS does not compensate for mirror position and so you can get momentary blind spots where the car isn't visible and BLIS is not on. Finally, I've noticed that sometimes BLIS does not come on - it seems to be based on the position of the Explorer and the other car. For example, if the explorer is in the left portion of a left hand lane and the other car is in the right hand portion of the right hand lane - BLIS doesn't "see" the car.

 

[peterk9]

Sorry to hear about your fender bender. The manual states that if a vehicle passes though the 'blind zone' quickly (less than 2 seconds) that BLIS will not
trigger the alert. Perhaps that is what happened.
That is one reason I have always used those small 2" convex stick-on mirrors on all my vehicles. When properly placed, they will not only allow you to see your rear wheels for parking but will also show that vehicle beside you right up to he point where you can physically see it. They are the first items I have always added to all my vehicles.
I'm not sure how they would perform with the mirrors adjusted as per other posts. In any case, nothing will replace due care and caution, which should lessen, but not necessarily eliminate the possiblility of an accidental meeting.

Peter

 

[harlenm]

That's what I thought. You must properly adjust your mirrors. Search the Forum, there was a very good post on this a few months back.

Have a safe trip. You'll be fine!

I posted the link.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-adjust-your-mirrors-to-avoid-blind-spots

 

[mcpickem]

That Sucks. Got mine last week and I dont want to drive it im so scared. Thanks for your post.

 

[bilzy7]

You just have to learn how todrice it. I almost side swiped someone in my ranger. I consider the explorer to have less blind spots.

 

[FordService]

...Ugh. I'm going to take it down to the dealership today to have them check it all over...

What a shame, FordMomof3! I’m so glad everyone’s safe. Please let us know how the dealer checkup goes.

I hope “Kermit” feels better soon… It’s not that easy being green.

...That is one reason I have always used those small 2" convex stick-on mirrors on all my vehicles...

Those little mirrors are great, Peter.

Cory

 

[cnsheets]

Glad everyone was OK. Sounds like you did everything right, the other drive probably came into the lane you planned on going into just at the last minute and at the faster speed, things happen. Don't beat yourself up over it.

 

[new to ford]

Don't feel bad...
If it's any comfort, within less than two months from purchasing our explorer, my wife backed into our neighbor's mailbox and yes, we do have rear camera!