Trending...
- Byrd Davis Alden & Henrichson Launches Independence Day Safe Ride Initiative with 500 Free Uber Credits
- Agreement to Supply US-Based Defense Provider with Thin-Film Solar Tech for Orbital Application; Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (N A S D A Q: ASTI)
- Make Innovation Matter: Support H.R.1's R&D Expensing Relief for American Small Businesses
DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new class-action lawsuit aimed at Ford accuses the automaker of knowingly mishandling a purported "fix" for a defect causing underhood fires, localized melting of components or smoke in more than 100,000 recalled hybrid Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair vehicles, according to attorneys at Hagens Berman.
According to the lawsuit, Ford's official response for the defect – which has led to at least 23 reported instances of smoke, ignition and fire – has been to drill holes in the under-engine shield and to remove four blinds from the active grille shutter system. Ford's response does nothing to address the manufacturing defect – which can cause the engine to leak flammable fluids and vapors – the lawsuit says, and creates an environmental hazard, setting the stage for future property damage and possible injury.
If you purchased or leased a 2020-2022 Ford Escape, 2022 Ford Maverick or 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair, contact Hagens Berman to find out more about this issue and your consumer rights against Ford.
"Ford admits that the Fire Defect Vehicles suffer from engine manufacturing issues that can cause engine failures involving engine block or oil pan breach. But Ford's fix is wholly silent as to this admittedly affected component," the lawsuit states. "Ford leaves the engines exactly as they are and instead drills holes into the under-engine shield and removes blinds from the active grille shutter to prevent oil and gas from pooling in the car. This 'fix' does not live up to its name because the engines in the Fire Defect Vehicles may still leak flammable fluids and vapors—a problem Ford does not address."
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and stems from a defect affecting Ford's 2.5-liter hybrid electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle engines that can cause engine oil and fuel vapor to accumulate near ignition sources, resulting in underhood smoke and fires.
More on Michimich.com
Attorneys say that instead of meaningfully fixing the defect, Ford has chosen instead to drill holes into the under-engine shield, allowing any pooled fluids or vapors to leak out. Ford's meager response comes even though the affected vehicles are nearly all still covered under Ford's new vehicle and powertrain warranties.
"Ford's fix is essentially rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic," said Steve Berman, Hagens Berman co-founder and managing partner. "While drivers, their families and others on the road attend to the real crisis of a potential vehicle fire due to this manufacturing defect, Ford's solution does nothing to address the issue at hand and will mean an unknowable amount of engine fluids will be spilled onto roads, leaching into groundwater and soil."
What Ford Knew
According to the suit, Ford puts its vehicles through a Total Durability Cycle, described by Ford as "sped-up evaluation runs around the clock, day and night, to simulate 10 years, or 240,000km, of severe customer usage in just a few weeks."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents reveal that an issue pertaining to underhood fires was brought to Ford's Critical Concern Review Group for review on May 4, 2022. During the Review Group's analysis from May 4 through June 8, 2022, the Group included data from 19 field reports of underhood fire or smoke pertaining to the affected hybrids. Ford's investigation continued up until the recall and uncovered four more reports of underhood smoke or fires in the affected vehicles, according to the lawsuit. Attorneys say Ford has yet to address these manufacturing issues.
"We find Ford's response to this frightening issue to be both irresponsible and ineffectual," Berman said.
The lawsuit says owners are left with vehicles that may still leak highly flammable oil if their engines succumb to the manufacturing issues identified.
Not as Advertised
The lawsuit details multiple advertisements for the affected Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair hybrids in which Ford touts the family-friendly qualities of the vehicles, their reliability and the confidence owners can have in their safety and other features.
The lawsuit's named plaintiff representing the class of consumers uses the vehicle to take his two children to school and to run errands, and the California father says at no point did Ford or its agents or representatives disclose the defect to him before he purchased his Ford Maverick.
The lawsuit seeks damages and a repair, and brings claims of warranty violation, fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and violations of state consumer protection laws based on Ford's omissions regarding the defect and its failure to act quickly in disclosing and providing a remedy.
More on Michimich.com
Hagens Berman has brought dozens of class-action lawsuits against automakers, including an additional class action filed against Ford in July 2022 for spontaneous fires in its luxury SUVs. Hagens Berman has helped successfully secure the largest automotive settlements in history.
Learn more about the class-action lawsuit against Ford on behalf of owners of recalled Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair hybrids.
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm's determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Contacts
Media Contact
Ashley Klann
pr@hbsslaw.com
206-268-9363
According to the lawsuit, Ford's official response for the defect – which has led to at least 23 reported instances of smoke, ignition and fire – has been to drill holes in the under-engine shield and to remove four blinds from the active grille shutter system. Ford's response does nothing to address the manufacturing defect – which can cause the engine to leak flammable fluids and vapors – the lawsuit says, and creates an environmental hazard, setting the stage for future property damage and possible injury.
If you purchased or leased a 2020-2022 Ford Escape, 2022 Ford Maverick or 2021-2022 Lincoln Corsair, contact Hagens Berman to find out more about this issue and your consumer rights against Ford.
"Ford admits that the Fire Defect Vehicles suffer from engine manufacturing issues that can cause engine failures involving engine block or oil pan breach. But Ford's fix is wholly silent as to this admittedly affected component," the lawsuit states. "Ford leaves the engines exactly as they are and instead drills holes into the under-engine shield and removes blinds from the active grille shutter to prevent oil and gas from pooling in the car. This 'fix' does not live up to its name because the engines in the Fire Defect Vehicles may still leak flammable fluids and vapors—a problem Ford does not address."
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan and stems from a defect affecting Ford's 2.5-liter hybrid electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle engines that can cause engine oil and fuel vapor to accumulate near ignition sources, resulting in underhood smoke and fires.
More on Michimich.com
- West Dentistry Welcomes New Oral Surgeon to Enhance Patient Care
- Delta Industrial Provides Custom Flatwork for Factory Floors
- American Plastic Solutions Launches FAQ to Provide Tailored Plastic Fabrication Solutions
- AdviCoach of Southeast Michigan Helps Business Owners at Every Stage
- The AML Shop Launches New Financial Investigations Unit, Appoints Director to Lead the Initiative
Attorneys say that instead of meaningfully fixing the defect, Ford has chosen instead to drill holes into the under-engine shield, allowing any pooled fluids or vapors to leak out. Ford's meager response comes even though the affected vehicles are nearly all still covered under Ford's new vehicle and powertrain warranties.
"Ford's fix is essentially rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic," said Steve Berman, Hagens Berman co-founder and managing partner. "While drivers, their families and others on the road attend to the real crisis of a potential vehicle fire due to this manufacturing defect, Ford's solution does nothing to address the issue at hand and will mean an unknowable amount of engine fluids will be spilled onto roads, leaching into groundwater and soil."
What Ford Knew
According to the suit, Ford puts its vehicles through a Total Durability Cycle, described by Ford as "sped-up evaluation runs around the clock, day and night, to simulate 10 years, or 240,000km, of severe customer usage in just a few weeks."
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents reveal that an issue pertaining to underhood fires was brought to Ford's Critical Concern Review Group for review on May 4, 2022. During the Review Group's analysis from May 4 through June 8, 2022, the Group included data from 19 field reports of underhood fire or smoke pertaining to the affected hybrids. Ford's investigation continued up until the recall and uncovered four more reports of underhood smoke or fires in the affected vehicles, according to the lawsuit. Attorneys say Ford has yet to address these manufacturing issues.
"We find Ford's response to this frightening issue to be both irresponsible and ineffectual," Berman said.
The lawsuit says owners are left with vehicles that may still leak highly flammable oil if their engines succumb to the manufacturing issues identified.
Not as Advertised
The lawsuit details multiple advertisements for the affected Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair hybrids in which Ford touts the family-friendly qualities of the vehicles, their reliability and the confidence owners can have in their safety and other features.
The lawsuit's named plaintiff representing the class of consumers uses the vehicle to take his two children to school and to run errands, and the California father says at no point did Ford or its agents or representatives disclose the defect to him before he purchased his Ford Maverick.
The lawsuit seeks damages and a repair, and brings claims of warranty violation, fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and violations of state consumer protection laws based on Ford's omissions regarding the defect and its failure to act quickly in disclosing and providing a remedy.
More on Michimich.com
- Raidium révolutionne le diagnostic de la Sclérose en Plaques en partenariat avec l'Hôpital Fondation Adolphe de Rothschild
- New Podcast "Spreading the Good BUZZ" Hosted by Josh and Heidi Case Launches July 7th with Explosive Global Reach and a Mission to Transform Lives
- The Herbal Care, Led by Markel Bababekov, Becomes a Top Dispensary in NYC's Upper East Side
- Digital Watchdog Launches New myDW Cloud Services
- Stan Fitzgerald Appointed Acting Press Secretary for Veterans for America First VFAF Georgia State Chapter
Hagens Berman has brought dozens of class-action lawsuits against automakers, including an additional class action filed against Ford in July 2022 for spontaneous fires in its luxury SUVs. Hagens Berman has helped successfully secure the largest automotive settlements in history.
Learn more about the class-action lawsuit against Ford on behalf of owners of recalled Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair hybrids.
About Hagens Berman
Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm with a tenacious drive for achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. Since its founding in 1993, the firm's determination has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of "Most Feared Plaintiff's Firm," MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at www.hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
Contacts
Media Contact
Ashley Klann
pr@hbsslaw.com
206-268-9363
Filed Under: Business
0 Comments
Latest on Michimich.com
- Infinite Health Introduces Cutting-Edge Regenerative Medicine for Wound Care with Trip Goolsby, MD
- Top Dentist Concord CA, Smile Makers Dental Care, Celebrates 500 5-Star Reviews
- Bio-Inspired Technology-Dynamic and Adaptable for unknown real-world environments
- 'Public Speaking Without Panic' Launches to Help Leaders Speak with Confidence
- Michael Reafsnyder opens solo exhibition at Scott Richards Contemporary Art in San Francisco
- Valley Sleep Therapy Expands to Prescott with New Location at Crossings Road
- $17.4 Million Total Revenue for First Half of 2025 (up 31.8% YOY) for Global Wet Trades Services Provider with High Value Bitcoin Investments
- $12.8 Million Net Revenue for 2024 for Cloud-Based Crowdsourcing Recruitment and SaaS-Enabled HR Solutions Provider: Baiya International Group Inc
- Rocket Companies Completes Acquisition of Redfin
- Hire Virtue Announces Executive Sponsorship Opportunity for Houston Hiring Blitz & Job Fair on August 6, 2025
- Inked & Maxim Model Teisha Mechetti Turns Heads—And Builds Community Impact
- Plan to Launch Silo Technologies' Cybersecurity Pilot Program for Ultimate Nationwide Deployment via Exclusive Partnership: Stock Symbol: BULT
- Robert Michael & Co. Real Estate Team Celebrates Industry Recognition and Showcases Premier Central Florida Listings
- NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK RELEASE: "Mommy, Where Is My Daddy?" by Tracy L. Gray
- UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP AND THE UCLA HERB ALPERT SCHOOL OF MUSIC ESTABLISH THE BERRY GORDY MUSIC INDUSTRY SCHOLARSHIP TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF A MUSIC PIONEER
- AI-Based Neurotoxin Countermeasure Initiative Launched to Address Emerging National Security Needs: Renovaro, Inc. (N A S D A Q: RENB)
- The Naturist World Just Shifted — NaturismRE Ignites a Global Resurgence
- $796,000 in Q2 Revenue Marks Highest Earnings to Date on 3 Trailing Quarters of Profitability in Multi-Billion Homebuilding Sector: Stock Symbol: IVDN
- Cybersecurity is THE Hot Market Sector; Revenues, Earnings & Profit matter; Only 33 Million Shares + a Huge Short Position Equal an Undervalued Stock
- Despite Global Calls for a Ban, US Child Psychiatry Pushes Electroshock for Kids