The Ford Motor Company is facing a massive Ford class action lawsuit over allegations that problems with the electronic throttle control could malfunction, causing certain Ford cars to accelerate out of control.

An alleged defect in the electronic throttle control of certain Ford vehicles could cause them to randomly accelerate. This may be termed a “sticky accelerator.”

A number of Ford vehicles are alleged to have the electronic throttle control malfunction, causing unintended acceleration. The vehicles alleged to suffer from unintended acceleration include:

• Ford Escape
• Ford Explorer
• Ford Taurus
• Ford Thunderbird

Other Ford vehicles have been alleged to have this same unintended acceleration problem, including Lincoln and Mercury vehicles, which are also manufactured by Ford. The various makes that have the alleged problem range from 2002 through 2010.

It has been alleged that Ford has not done enough to protect the public from the risk of “sticky acceleration pedals” and other complaints. Small-scale recalls have taken place over the past several years, but there have been no large-scale recalls of all of the vehicles alleged to suffer from these problems.

Additionally, it has been alleged that Ford quietly told dealers to repair the cars while avoiding a large recall that could draw attention to the unintended acceleration problem.

Plaintiffs from more than 30 states have reportedly joined Ford lawsuits, many of which are being consolidated into a single Ford class action lawsuit over these allegations.

Similar vehicle lawsuits in the past have alleged that dangerous defects to vehicles contribute to accidents, causing medical and vehicle costs. A lawsuit against GM over problems with its  ignition circuitry included wrongful death lawsuits, as the defect allegedly contributed to fatal accidents.

There have not been any fatal accidents conclusively linked to the alleged Ford accelerator problem. However, a local news report out of Arizona suggests that a teen in the northern part of the state suffered a fatal accident in a Ford Escape, one of the vehicles under investigation.

The teen reportedly tried slamming on the brakes, but was unable to stop her car. Investigators found evidence that the teen tried slamming the brakes and kicking at the accelerator, trying to dislodge it.

In addition to Ford lawsuits and media attention, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into the safety of Ford vehicles over concerns about unintended acceleration.