Status: In progress

Jones v. Ford Motor Co.

Ford allegedly knowingly sold certain Fusions and Escapes with a transmission defect that can cause premature wear of the internal components and potential catastrophic failures.

  • Deadline to file a claim: TBD
  • Proof of Purchase Required: No
  • Potential Individual Reward: TBD
  • Total Settlement Amount: TBD
  • States Involved

Anne Bucher  |  April 4, 2024

Category: Auto News
A gray Ford Escape in a dealership lot, representing the Ford class action.
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock)

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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1,300 thoughts onLawsuit alleges Ford Fusions, Escapes have defective transmissions

  1. Amanda Maestas says:

    2018 escape left me stranded on the highway during rush hour traffic. In the shop and I have been told it’s a bad transmission. How do we get on this lawsuit? Shop is telling me it’s $10,200 for a new transmission.

  2. Armida Simental says:

    I have a 2014 Ford Fusion I bought it from a small dealership and when I drove it home it wouldn’t start apparently it needed a battery they came and put a battery on and that battery didn’t even last a year we were told it was the wrong battery we paid over $200 for another battery now we’re told we may have problems with the fuel pump we haven’t even had the only a year and a half I would have never bought this Ford if I was going to start to have problems so soon

  3. Angela Troncin says:

    Too many issues to list regarding my 2014 Ford Escape! Several years of recall issues with locks not working on doors, door handles not latching, multiple coolant issues, replaced reservoir tank & hoses, replaced coolant housing, new transmission at 152,801 miles…just had to pay
    6600.00 in January 2023 for the most recent repairs. I have always been a Ford supporter…learned how to drive on a ford…family and friends worked and are working for Ford! However, this Ford has been incredibly unreliable over the past few years, numerous recalls, rental cars and tow bills, having to depend on friends and family for months at a time while waiting on parts and escape to be fixed. Not to mention extra loans to pay for the never ending issues. I’ve owned a Ford Taurus, two Ford Explorers and several Ford Trucks with my ex husband throughput the years! This 2014 Ford Escape SE 4WD has been quite the 🍋!

  4. melissa porter says:

    I have a 2017 ford fusion with 92,000 miles. The transmission has went out, then the car won’t start. Please add me to the lawsuit. When the transmission decided to go out it started hesitating, bucking, hard to stop, loss of power, then a sign came up saying ok to turn off now. then the car would not restart.

  5. Matthew Tuck says:

    2018 ford escape currently at ford with coolant in motor

  6. Karen Emenhiser says:

    i was promoted a new engine because od a recall on 2017 design where it was leaking antifreeze into motor when i took it in to be replaced they chatged me 7900 for the motor then later agreed they would pay half. then less than 1000 miles same problem accured and the transmission went out they want another 7900 to fix it . please add me to the law suite. thank you

  7. Tyler Craig says:

    I have been having a cylinder misfire error for months that my mechanic could not diagnose, just found out it is due to the coolant leaking internally into the engine, and looks like this was an issue on all Ford Escapes (and others) between 2017-2019 (mine is a 2018) and I will need a new transmission at $8,000. This is a known issue that Ford has refused to put out a recall for.

  8. Nicole says:

    My 2016 Escapes transmission went out at 127,600 miles. First estimate was @$8000 at the dealership it was purchased at. Found a transmission repair shop who did it for 1/2 that but still had to put over $4000.00 into a car that was only 6 years old.

  9. Jessica Parrish says:

    My 2014 Escape transmission went out this morning on my way to work. Thankfully, I was able to pull off the road safely. I was also quoted $8,000 for replacement, which is not a viable option for me.

  10. Keith Cartwright says:

    We have a 2017 Ford Escape in the shop right now because of a bad transmission. How do we get on this lawsuit?

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