Ford transmission mass action lawsuit overview:
- Who: More than 100 plaintiffs have joined a Ford mass action lawsuit.
- Why: The lawsuit alleges the automaker knowingly sold certain Ford Fusion and Ford Escape vehicles with a transmission defect that can cause premature wear of the internal components and potentially lead to catastrophic failures.
- Where: The Ford lawsuit was filed in Michigan federal court.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story mistakenly referred to the lawsuit as a class action. It is a mass action.
Ford Motor Co. knowingly sold Ford Fusions and Ford Escapes with defective transmissions, according to claims made in a 533-page Ford mass action lawsuit filed March 20 in Michigan federal court.
The Ford transmission defect allegedly affects model year 2010-2020 Ford Fusion and 2009-2021 Ford Escape vehicles.
“Ford repeatedly lied to consumers as to the reasons for the problems consumers experienced,” says the lawsuit, which has already been joined by more than 100 plaintiffs. “As a result, consumers were and are stuck in unsafe Fusion and Escape autos that have costly repairs and minimum resale value” allegedly due to the Ford transmissions defect.
The automaker allegedly knew the Ford transmissions in its Fusions and Escapes had a defective condition that could manifest in violent jerking, delayed acceleration, difficulty stopping, hard decelerations, premature wear of the internal components and potential catastrophic failures.
Ford transmission defect due to ‘fundamental design failure,’ plaintiffs claim
The Ford transmission defect is the result of a “fundamental design failure” in the interconnected array of software and hardware systems that allow the transmission to operate, the Ford lawsuit alleges.
Had the plaintiffs known about the Ford transmission defect and the potential for premature failure, they would not have purchased or leased the affected vehicles, according to the mass action lawsuit.
As a result of the undisclosed Ford transmission defect, the plaintiffs claim they experienced financial losses, including but not limited to out-of-pocket costs related to repairs, costs of obtaining alternative transportation and decreased value of their vehicles.
The plaintiffs also claim they suffered harm because their vehicles’ transmissions and related components “are substantially certain to fail before their expected useful life has run,” the Ford lawsuit alleges.
Ford recently reached a $365 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations it put a sham row of back seats in cargo vans to avoid a 25% duty rate.
Did you purchase or lease one of the allegedly defective Ford Fusions or Ford Escapes? Tell us about your experience in the comments.
Jones is represented by Kenneth A. Stern of Stern Law PLLC, Amy L. Wells of Wells Law Office Inc., Amy L. Marino of Marino Law PLLC and William C. Ourand Jr. of Newsome Melton PA.
The Ford transmissions lawsuit is Gerkarrah Jones v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 2:24-cv-10721-MAG-CI, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division.
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1,720 thoughts onLawsuit alleges Ford Fusions, Escapes have defective transmissions
I have a 2021 Ford Escape. I have had two transmissions replaced, a torque converter, and door panels. I have been out 4,000 this last time in rental car fees, waiting for the repairs of the second transmission. I have not had it out of the shop more than a week, and now the torque converter is broken. I drive four hours a day, and I thought I was purchasing a reliable vehicle.
Thank you for all you are doing to help us. We deserve to be compensated. See my comment. This has been going on for a long time, and obviously, they continue to put the vehicles out, knowing that consumers will have to face high repair bills, dangerous situations, and some people like me, left without a vehicle.
I purchased a 2013 Ford Escape. The owner before me took meticulous care of this vehicle, as I did. The engine is so clean….unbelievable! We followed the wonderful upkeep of this SUV. At 177,000 miles, she stalled ( on the day of my daughter’s graduation from college. I was devastated to hear it is the transmission!! I now have to buy another vehicle- at the age of 60+. I received a recall notice on my SUV in 2023. It was concerning the transmission. I took it to the Ford dealership, left it, and trusted them to be honest and do what the recall called for. Looking back, in 1980, I worked for a company that was compiling data from letters sent in by FORD owners whose transmissions randomly shifted from one gear to another, causing damages to property and people. Henry Ford would be ashamed!!!
My 2014 Ford Fusion SE jerks or jolts when I press the gas. It hesitates before accelerating and doesn’t pick up speed like it should. The check engine light came on, and I was told it has a transmission-related code. The problem is most noticeable when accelerating from a stop or when the transmission shifts.
2021 Ford Escape – 92k miles – Transmission just failed – quotes 12k to replace – car is worth 10k…. Don’t Buy Ford.
I purchased a 2017 Ford Escape .. I am now experiencing transmission failure . Bought used in 2024
We have a 2014 Ford Fusion plug in hybrid. It has stopped and/or stalled several times in the last month. It is under an extended warranty and has been in and out of the Ford dealership several times. They claim they can’t find what’s wrong with it, and have indicated they are about to give up
By the way, the internet indicates that this model’s stalling and dying on the road is quite common. A recall for 2019/2020 has taken place, but our car is a 2014.
It stalled twice last week while driving it, and a couple more times earlier in the month as well as various other times in the last several months.
We are terrified to drive it, as it is, apparently life threatening when it stalls/stops while driving on the road.
Currently in active litigation with Ford over a 2020 Escape. the vehicle suffered 4 transmission failures, 2 being catastrophic lasting 176 and 722 miles after new units were installed. Ford is currently alleging that the failures are due to use, which implies that the transmissions weren’t designed to last more than 1000 miles.
I purchased a used 2014 escape. It’s transmission just went out 150k miles
I have a 2016 ford escape with only 106,056 miles. 4 codes came up on the transmission. I’m so irritated.