Attorney General Christine Gregoire helped ink a national $51.5 million settlement with Ford Motor Company, manufacturer of the popular Explorer SUVs that have been linked to rollover accident and 271 deaths and 700 injuries nationwide.

The settlement comes a year after attorneys general reached a similar $51.5 million settlement with Bridgestone/Firestone, maker of tires installed as original equipment on the Ford Explorer.

“In an effort to make more sales, Ford’s advertising led consumers to think these trucks have car-like handling,” Gregoire said. “Owners’ manuals tell a different story. To bolster sales, the company blurred the distinction between SUVs and passenger cars.”

Gregoire said the lessons from the state investigation, including the review of 7.5 million documents, were clear: “An SUV is not a car. It has a higher propensity for rollover and drivers need to know you drive an SUV differently.”

Gregoire noted that most of the safety issues identified in this case apply to all SUV’s regardless of make or model. SUVs are actually small trucks with a higher center of gravity than a passenger car, which makes them more prone to rollover.

Washington, which took a lead role in the negotiations, will receive a total of $900,000. Of that, $600,000 will reimburse the state for its attorney fees and costs, $100,000 will be used to continue the state’s tire safety public education campaign and $200,000 will be turned over to the state General Fund.

Ford will also pay $30 million to a national consumer education campaign to advise drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with trucks, about safe SUV driving and loading. The campaign will focus on all SUV’s, not just those made by Ford.

Although no Washington residents have been killed or injured as a result of Ford Explorer rollovers connected to tire failures, there have been 26 reports of tire failures in the state. Most deaths and injuries have occurred in warm states, where road and tire heat were identified as contributing factors.