New Ford F-150 Lawsuit Alleges False MPG Estimates

A class action Ford F-150 lawsuit has been filed against Ford Motor Company over allegations that the automaker marketed and sold its F-150 and Ranger trucks with false fuel-economy ratings. In his lawsuit, plaintiff Ryan H. maintains that he and others who owned or leased Ford model years 2017 through 2019 were provided incorrect miles to the gallon (MPG) information.

The lawsuit accuses Ford of failing to complete accurate or adequate fuel economy testing, resulting in putting the vehicles in question on the market with inflated MPG numbers.

The lawsuit claims that since MPG is a chief consideration among buyers when deciding on a vehicle, Ford should be held accountable for deceptively promoting MPG estimates that differ from what its trucks could actually achieve when driven, according to The Detroit News. Many consumers have begun lodging complaints about the affected cars online.

MPG Issue Should Have Been Discovered Long Before Ford F-150 Lawsuit

Ford knew, or should have known, about the inaccuracy of its promised gas mileage, the Ford F-150 lawsuit states. The company maintains an internal reporting channel known as “Speak Up,” and the lawsuit argues that the company has known about the inflated MPG estimates through this channel since at least September 2018. The plaintiff also says that the company should have discovered the issue during internal testing and investigations, according to CNBC.

The complaint includes claims that Ford failed to identify and correct misstatements about the MPG ratings, and that this failure to disclose constitutes violations of consumer protection and unfair competition laws as well as actionable misrepresentation.

The plaintiff seeks recovery for damages to consumers who bought Ford vehicles under the impression that they had better gas mileage than what they actually did. Lead plaintiff Ryan H., a resident of Illinois, purchased a new 2018 Ford F-150 XL in February 2019.

In his proposed class action Ford F-150 lawsuit, Ryan maintains that before purchasing his truck, he read its window sticker, reviewed advertisements, and talked with sales representatives, and based his decision to buy an F-150 on the information provided. The truck’s window sticker advertised its miles per gallon ratings as 24 highway, 19 city, and 21 combined, according to the lawsuit.

MPG Mistatements Resulted In Financial Loss

“Ford’s EPA fuel economy ratings and advertising statements overstated by a material amount the actual numbers that the required testing would have produced,” according to the proposed class action suit. “These misstatements are material because the EPA numbers provide a necessary tool for vehicle comparison for consumers when evaluating vehicles to lease or purchase, and they exist to help foster realistic numbers with which consumers can compare one of the most important factors in new-car buyers’ purchase decisions.”

None of Ford’s dealers, agents, or representatives ever disclosed to Ryan H. —  either before or after purchasing the truck — the vehicle’s actual miles per gallon, according to the suit.

The lawsuit accuses Ford of causing Ryan H. and others to suffer a serious financial loss resulting from the company’s omissions and/or misrepresentations, including the diminished loss of the vehicle’s value because of the inaccurate information regarding the MPG.

The Ford F-150 lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-02125 in the U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois.

Join a Free Ford Truck Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you own or lease a 2019 Ford Ranger or F-150 and have experienced less-than-expected gas mileage or if you feel you are simply filling up your gas tank much more than you expected, you may be entitled to compensation.

Get a Free Case Evaluation Now

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.