Ford Frozen Door Lock Class Action Settled For $5.3M

UPDATE: October 2020, the Ford door latch class action settlement is now open. Click here to file a claim.

Ford has agreed to pay $5.3 million to settle customers’ claims that the door latches in F-150 trucks do not latch in frozen conditions. Now, the settlement awaits preliminary approval in New York federal court.

Class Members include F-150 owners in the United States who have experienced what the Ford class action lawsuit calls a defect that prevents the latch from working when temperatures are below freezing. Allegedly, the issues affect model years 2015 through 2017. 

Under the terms of the settlement deal, Ford will provide both repairs and cash compensation to customers affected by the defect. Ford has agreed to repair affected vehicles until October 2028.

A settlement fund of $5.3 million will be created, from which F-150 vehicle owners can receive compensation. 

F-150 owners will be eligible for up to $400 in compensation for repairs that they have already had done to fix the problem. Owners who had repairs done after the settlement receives preliminary approval will get up to $200 in compensation. Customers who experienced the alleged door latch defect but did not take action to repair the problem will receive far less from the Ford F-150 class action settlement but will still receive $10 in compensation. 

Attorneys for vehicle owners will get up to $1.3 million to cover fees and costs. The named plaintiff will receive up to $7,500. The remaining money that is not claimed from the settlement will be distributed among Class Members on a per capita basis.

The Ford F-150 lock defect has gone through a number of developments since it was first filed by Brandon Kommer in March 2017. Kommer claimed that there are multiple problems with the latches — the doors do not lock in cold weather, the electric locks do not work, the handles do not move, and the locks do not release.

Kommer said that he had to resort to using the exterior electronic keypad to lock the doors because of the problems with the locks.

Despite an unsuccessful stab at dismissal, Ford succeeded in having some of Kommer’s claims trimmed in July 2017. Kommer had claimed that Ford’s slogan that their vehicles are “Built Ford Tough” misled customers into thinking that the vehicles would be high quality and free of defects. A judge threw out this claim, arguing that the marketing slogan was just that and not a misrepresentation as customers had claims.

Additionally, a judge denied efforts to extend the class action lawsuit by adding four plaintiffs in court states other than Kommer’s home state of New York. Nonetheless, the settlement aims to extend the Class to Ford F-150 owners around the country.

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Kommer is represented by Jeffrey I. Carton and Robert J. Berg of Denlea & Carton LLP.

The Ford F-150 Truck Lock Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Kommer v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 1:17-cv-00296, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

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