A class action lawsuit alleges that the Ford Motor Company knowingly sells vehicles with defective sunroofs.
According to the class action, at least 70 complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) stating that the sunroof in their Ford automobiles violently shattered.
“The shattering events are so powerful that startled drivers compare it to the sound of a gunshot, after which glass fragments rain down upon the occupants of the vehicle, sometimes while driving at highway speeds,” the complaint asserts.
The Ford defective sunroof class action lawsuit states that since the mid-2000s, manufacturers have expanded sunroofs to cover almost the entire roof of some automobiles.
Typically large sunroofs are an added cost to the buyer, sometimes thousands of dollars more than the sunroof actually costs to make.
The complaint contends that engineering that glass roof to be safe can be tricky. The class action alleges that Ford (as well as its other brands Mercury and Lincoln), use thinner glass than most manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency.
In addition, the lawsuit claims that Ford uses glass that has been tempered with ceramics, instead of laminated glass like some other car companies. That thinner, tempered glass contains a design defect that causes it to shatter, according to the complaint.
More importantly, the class action alleges that Ford has known of this defect as early as 2008, when at least five complaints were filed with NHTSA.
The class complaint also cites news articles from 2011 and 2012 that mention the potential of these sunroofs to “spontaneously shatter.”
Finally, in its response to a NHTSA investigation in 2014, Ford admitted that it had received 90 complaints and three lawsuits about the sunroofs in its Ford Edge, just one of its models.
The class action contends that despite this knowledge that its sunroofs can explode without warning, Ford has not issued a recall on any of the affected models.
Plaintiffs Douglas and Kathleen Krebsbach state that they purchased a 2013 Ford Escape with a factory-installed panoramic sunroof.
Mr. Krebsbach claims that on Feb. 8, 2016, he and a passenger were traveling on a highway in light traffic at 60 mph, when the sunroof exploded outwards, and some shattered glass fell inside the car.
Mr. Krebsbach thought that someone had shot the roof of his vehicle, and claims that he and his passenger were terrified.
Mr. Krebsbach states that he informed Ford about the sunroof, but Ford responded that it was not responsible for the sunroof failure and refused to pay the repair costs.
Similarly, plaintiffs James and Martha Alexander state that they purchased a new 2013 Lincoln MKX which had its panoramic sunroof shatter in April of 2016.
They also reported the issue to Ford and their insurance company, but both refused to cover the cost of repairs.
The models that the Ford defective sunroof class action lawsuit asserts contain this design defect are the “Ford Edge 2007-present, Ford Flex 2009-2016, Ford Focus 2009-2016, Ford Fusion 2010-present, Ford Explorer 2011-2016, Ford F 150 2011-2016, Ford Mustang 2009-2014, Ford Escape 2013-2016, Ford Transit Connect 2014-2106, Ford C-Max 2013-2016, Lincoln MKX 2007-2016, Lincoln MKS 2009-2015, Lincoln MKZ 2013-2016, Lincoln MKT 2010-2016, Mercury Milan 2010-2011, and Mercury Montego 2010-2011.”
The lawsuit seeks to certify a Class of all purchasers in the United States of those model vehicles with factory-installed panoramic sunroofs.
The class action requests restitution, punitive damages, and a court order requiring Ford to adequate disclose and repair its defective sunroofs.
The plaintiffs are represented by Crystal Foley, Paul J. Hanly, Jr., and Mitchell M. Breit of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC, and Gregory F. Coleman, Mark E. Silvey, Adam A. Edwards, and Lisa A. White of Greg Coleman Law PC.
The Ford Defective Sunroof Class Action Lawsuit is Douglas Krebsbach, et al. v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 2:16-cv-02200, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
UPDATE: The Ford Defective Sunroof class action lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed on October 3, 2016.
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65 thoughts onFord Class Action Alleges Defective Sunroofs Explode
My 2017 Ford Edge Titanium has shattered as well please add me to the lawsuit.
2023 ford explorer 10,000 miles and sunroof exploded on interstate, with 3 young children.. no cars anywhere near me to possible hit with Rock, 3 dealerships say warranty won’t cover…
My wife’s 2020 Ford Edge Titanium sunroof exploded and shattered. Purchase new in March 3, 2021 and still under warranty but Ford denied our claim and we paid $1,615 for a new sunroof
2/12/2022 2015 ford edge sel. Rear window exploded last night. 50 miles from home. Sounded like shotgun blast. Scared us all. Thought I was back in Iraq taking small arms fire while in a convoy.
I just had the same thing happen to my 2014 MKX… I live in Alabama and had a business trip to Jackson MS…. Luckily I was not driving when it happened but there are no rental cars and no one can come repair my vehicle anytime soon. It’s a $1000 deduction and I was thinking of getting another one but not now. Please add me to the lawsuit
My 2014 Ford Fusion sunroof just exploded and flew off my car! It almost caused a huge accident. My 16year old son was driving the car. I didn’t know what happened at first!. I never thought this would happen! Thankfully no one got hurt but now how much will it cost! Ugh
Lincoln MKS 2009.
Please add me to lawsuit
On 10/27/20, while on the freeway during rush hour traffic, I was driving my 2017 Ford Escape, when I heard a loud boom, that sounded like a shotgun blast. Suddenly glass starts raining down on me and I look up and observe my sunroof just “exploded”. Ford refuses to acknowledge this is an issue with their vehicles and refuses to pay for any part of the $700 repair, despite my vehicle still being under warranty. I will never by a Ford again, nor would I encourage anyone to own one. This was incredibly scary and could have resulted in serious injuries to myself or others on the road, had I lost control of the vehicle.
My 2013 Ford Edge did this EXACT same thing while traveling with my 8 yr old son on the freeway at 70 mph. I was so scared and my son Would not stop crying. Luckily it was closed at the time and the sun shade caught all the glass pieces. So freaking loud!!
1/15/2021
2017 Ford Edge panoramic roof cracked, being told it’s out of warrantee at 67k kilos very upset
As this is obviously a factory defect
My 2015 Ford Edge panoramic roof is a road map of cracks. Seeking advice.
Anything going on with 2017 edges?