Bill:
All correct, then add to it that:
1) The subject vechicles have been completely destroyed. Consider the forensics of just electrical connections: House fires that are started at electrical connections or appliances will normally have several feet of separation between discrete suspect appliances and/or connections to be investigated. Under the hood of any modern vehicle, the separation is millimeters. There are thousands of suspect connections and devices, that are all scorched and melted together. This doesn't make the task impossible, just more challenging.
2) Ford's access to suspect vehicles is usually mired in legal turmoil while the burned remains are left to corrode in a salvage yard or impound lot. Frequently the NTSB and NHTSA have first access to the vehicles after the attorneys and local fire investigation authorities. The people assigned from those various organizations have neither the expertise, knowledge, common sense or basic intelligence to know where to start, not to mention the damage to the forensic process that they do either intentionally or unintentionally to the involved vehicles long before Ford is allowed to review the vehicles. Having a vehicle experience the thermal event while being operated by a Ford Employee, at a Ford facility, or at a Dealership constitute a lucky break for all involved because it normally speeds the process by months to years.
In fact, the time that it took for Ford to get custody of the first vehicle(s) probably explains the lag between these specific events and the official notice to customers of the suspected problem.
Just saying.
