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Multiple Ford XL and XLT vehicles have a dashboard that is prone to warping and separating from the vehicle, and despite full-knowledge of the issue Ford has done little to fix it, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
The class action lawsuit was filed in Delaware on May 12 by lead Plaintiffs Joey Mendoza, Julie Deakin, and Michael Zelaska. The group alleges that they were not told about dashboard defects in the 2015-2020 Ford F-150 XL and XLT vehicles when they purchased them, despite the company and dealer knowledge of the issues.
The drivers also said they had been given the run around by the company and were still waiting on a fix, the claim states.
According to the class action lawsuit, the original and replacement dashboards in the vehicles contain manufacturing defects that make them prone to warping and separation from the vehicle, particularly in the area surrounding the defroster vents.
“Despite a landslide of complaints regarding this Defect, Defendant refused to address the issue for years,” states the claim, which says that there had been complaints since 2015. The claim adds that Ford “omitted and/or concealed the existence of the Defect in the Original Dash to increase profits by selling additional Class Vehicles.”
Mendoza leased a new 2018 Ford F-150 XLT in May 2018, and says that the defect was never disclosed to him. By September 2018, he says that the dash was “warped and creaking or rattling as the result of multiple locations on the dashboard where there were gaps between material joints.”
Additionally, the top of the dashboard by the defroster vents began to bubble up and warp, and the issues still exist today, according to the class action lawsuit.
Despite multiple attempts to remedy the situation, Mendoza has been given the run around by Ford, which has said there was no fix to the issue and Mendoza must wait for parts that are on backorder, the claim states. He is currently in a queue for replacement, and there is no projected timeline to when the problem will be fixed, the class action lawsuit says.
“Plaintiff Mendoza has suffered an ascertainable loss as a result of Defendant’s omissions associated with the Defect, including, but not limited to, out of pocket loss associated with the Defect and diminished value of his vehicle.”
Illinois resident Julie Deakin had a similar experience when she purchased a new 2018 Ford F-150 XLT in June 2018.
By September 2018, she noticed that the dash was buckling at the defrost vent area and a large bump had formed near the passenger side air bag by the defrost vent. Like Mendoza, Deakin said that she was given the run around by Ford over parts, and is still waiting for her dash to be replaced.
Michael Zelaska, of Virginia, purchased a new 2018 Ford F-150 XLT in September 2018, and noticed issues with the dashboard in December, according to the claim. After months of hassling Ford and his dealer, Zelaska got a replacement dashboard in February 2020, but despite “the attention and effort focused on the replacement,” a short while after the installation the new dash began to warp, according to the class action lawsuit.
Ford has faced “a landslide of complaints” for the defective dash and has refused to address the issue for years – at least since 2015, the claim states.
In 2019, Ford released a Technical Service Bulletin (“TSB”) calling for replacement of the dashboard, however, according to the claim all of the new dashboards also possessed the defect.
“In other words, Ford has simply replaced one defective dash with another defective dash, failing to address the underlying issue causing the warping and separation, despite Ford’s awareness of and access to a proper remedy—installation of the dash used in the Ford F-150’s more expensive trim packages.”
Mendoza, Deakin, and Zelaska want to represent a nationwide Class of 2015-2020 Ford F-150 XL and XLT owners, and also California, Illinois, and Virginia subclasses. They are suing for violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and state business and consumer protection laws.
They are seeking certification of the Class, injunctive relief, interest, damages, legal fees, and a jury trial.
Do you own a Ford F-150 XL and XLT vehicle? Have you ever experienced any issues with your dashboard? Let us know in the comments section!
Mendoza, Deakin, and Zelaska are represented by Ian Connor Bifferato of The Bifferato Firm, William H. Anderson of Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC, Rebecca P. Chang of Handley Farah & Anderson PLLC, Jon Herskowitz of BARON & HERSKOWITZ, and Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf.
The Ford XL and XLT Defective Dash Class Action Lawsuit is Mendoza, et al. v. Fords Motor Company, Case No. 1:21-cv-00688-UNA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.
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20 thoughts onFord Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Defective Dash in XL and XLT Trucks
I bought a 2018 Ford F-150 XLT in June this year. It had 32,000 miles on it. Shortly after, the dashboard started to rise up. In the same location as everyone above.
I added the additional bumper to bumper warranty. Took the vehicle back to ford, after realizing the issue. They told me it’s not covered with the warranty and it will cost 3k to fix.
Please add me to the list.
Add me to list. Mine is warping
I have 2019 17k miles and it’s smiling lol..warped
Same here on my 2nd replacement doing the same thing( actually warping worst than the last) That is 3 dashboards(counting the initial assembly) since the vehicle was manufactured. , one would think they would simply replace it with the higher grade dashboard and upgrade the electronics(I.E. Head Unit etc..) Taking it in for a third time . Not an engineer , but this seems ridiculous that no solution has been found by Ford. The dealer and Ford has covered the cost of the repair under warranty, but every time out of the vehicle from 8-14 days. I really wonder if it is assembled back to factory specs once you get the vehicle back. F150’s are Fords main vehicle produced , really disappointed with their ineffective response/solution in dealing with this issue. I am taking it in again next month for the third replacement , even my service manager agrees this is completely ridiculous. Pretty sure the dealer has to be billing back ford 3-5 thousand dollars for labor…..times that by three….put the Lariat dashboards in and upgrade electronics etc…this has to be cheaper than $9,000 to $15,000 they pay for the dealer techs to put in a defective part in 3 times only to do it again 4-6 months later. Thank God I found the problem at 14,000 miles. By the way I have had other issues unrelated to the warping dash , Tailgate not aligned, Struts failing/leaking( Ford replaced it) , a drivers side taillight that is loose rattles (No Fix) , fit and finish issues, transmission software/parts replaced twice ( Hard shift into drive , reverse and from acceleration). Dead rear view camera , emission control replacement ( forgot the code) item…etc… Sound Insulation material behind cab had to be replaced ( Bed removed to perform service.) , electronic glitches with head unit. etc..all repaired as a warranty issue, not to mention the recalls on the vehicle….. My 2018 F150 has been a disappointment.
I have a 2018 model. The dash was replaced under warranty. Whit in a year, the new dash is falling apart. So far, the Ford dealership that replace it and Ford itself said they will not cover for the repairs of the new dash. They told me I have to pay out of pocket.
When purchasing my F-150 in August of 2020, I had asked the salesman, “What’s up with that lump in the dashboard” wile on the test drive, and he said, “Oh, they’re all like that, they know” I thought it kind of strange nonetheless.
Im up here in Ontario Canada and have had the dash replaced three (3) times in the first year. (2020 F-150) It is now warped again and the glove box door also now has a 3/8 inch gap when closed and rattles when hitting a bump. I am not happy. Paid $60,000.00 for this truck. And what adds salt to the wound is at least in the US there is a class action lawsuit. Up here in Canada, we have NO recourse at all.
Yes, I have a 2018 Ford xlt and doing same think buckling down dry side by defrost and buckled up on pass side. These are $50,000 vehicle that should not be doing this.
I purchased a 20118 f150 xlt in april 2019 and have had my dashboard replaced but the new one is warped just like the first one.
I purchased my 2020 F-150 STX last July and I have had 2 new dashes
Installed already.
I have replaced my dash due to this exact problem. Please add me to the list.