The company declined to provide updated information on the class action lawsuit against Ford and did not specify the number of repurchased vehicles or the amount paid for those repurchased cars in 2020. However, the company estimates that 1.5 million Ford vehicles will be on the road in 2020. To qualify for repurchase under the lemon law and the settlement standard, a customer must undergo four transmission hardware repairs within five years or 60,000 miles.
Problems with the electric power-assist steering system
Electric power-assist steering (EPS) is a complex, electrically-controlled system that helps drivers turn the car. The system uses sensors to detect steering input and forward the data to a central control unit, which analyzes the data and applies it to the electric steering assistance motor. Despite the impressive technology, this system is not immune to failures. One of the most common problems with the EPS system is alignment issues, which can affect any vehicle.
Fortunately, a simple fix to this issue can be performed on your own. First, verify that you have power to your electric power-assist steering system. You can find this module via two connectors on the steering column. You can also try replacing the relay system if you notice any symptoms of malfunctioning steering. In some cases, the steering can stop working entirely. The problem occurs in slow-moving vehicles, such as sedans and SUVs.
Issues with corrosion on aluminum body panels
Aluminum corrosion is a common problem in new vehicles, as it is much less susceptible to mechanical damage than steel. However, it can still be destructive to the paint job on your vehicle. Aluminum corrosion is caused by airborne pollutants and poor outdoor air quality. These chemicals, as well as high temperatures, can attack the surface of the vehicle and corrode it. However, aluminum corrosion doesn’t look like rust, as it forms a hard layer on the surface. Often whitish, this layer resembles an opaque water spot.
In the field, very few examples of significant corrosion have been reported. The only instance of filiform corrosion was observed on an aluminum panel while in service. Steel panels on the same vehicles rusted through and filiform corrosion were occasionally observed. Despite this, laboratory-prepared samples of aluminum body panels typically show general corrosion and no filiform corrosion. Moreover, many tests for corrosion in laboratory-prepared samples are far too severe and do not accurately predict the corrosion behavior of the metal in service.
Exhaust odor
A man in Illinois filed a class-action lawsuit against the car manufacturer after he purchased a 2013 Ford Explorer. The lawsuit claimed that the vehicle had an exhaust odor and that the company did not fix the problem. The lawsuit was filed after a representative at Ford claimed the problem was a design flaw and that he was given only two weeks to file an answer. The suit was ultimately dismissed. However, the issue is still a hot topic in the automotive industry, and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is investigating the matter.
The federal government has launched a probe into the cause of the smell and whether it is linked to crashes. As the number of reports and crashes rose, the federal government took notice. The problem is not a new one, and Ford has agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in Florida by six troopers. Many people have complained about the odor in their vehicles and are worried that they are inhaling poisonous gas.
The potential cost to Ford
A federal judge has approved a class-action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company that will result in the repurchase of some defective Ford Fiesta and Focus cars. If the settlement is approved, Ford will have to pay approximately $500 million in compensation to the Class Members. However, a consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, has successfully argued that the case should be reconsidered in 2019.
The provisional settlement was structured as a claims-made settlement. This means that Ford would have to pay class counsel fees based on a predetermined formula. The court expressed concerns about the settlement because the monetary portion was equivalent to a common fund that would revert to Ford. Also, the plaintiffs were given a free upgrade to version 3.10 of MFT software, which was of dubious value.
Is there a class action suit against Ford for the defective cab design that results in almost sure death is a rollover? (The F-series Super Crew 2000 – 2009?)