Status: In progress

Nishon, et al. v. Ford Motor Co.

The plaintiffs say Ford sold certain Escapes, Mavericks and Lincoln Corsairs with a dangerous defect that sometimes led to the engine combusting into an “inferno.”

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

Jessy Edwards  |  August 15, 2023

Category: Auto News

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Close up of a Ford emblem, representing the Ford class action.
(Photo Credit: JuliusKielaitis/Shutterstock)

Ford class action, Ford defect overview: 

  • Who: A group of Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair drivers are suing the automaker.
  • Why: The plaintiffs say the vehicles were sold with a dangerous defect that sometimes led to the engine combusting into an “inferno.”
  • Where: The Ford defect class action lawsuit was filed in a Michigan federal court.
  • What are my options: Advance Auto Parts offers parts for Ford and other vehicles.

A group of Ford Escape, Maverick and Lincoln Corsair drivers are suing the automaker alleging the vehicles were sold with a dangerous defect that sometimes led to the engine combusting into an “inferno.” 

Plaintiffs Todd Nishon, James Capps, Joseph Vaillancourt, Harry Hilburg, Raymond Dynne II, and William Simmons filed the class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company on Aug. 8 in a Michigan federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

According to the lawsuit, Ford sold Escapes, Mavericks and Lincoln Corsairs equipped with faulty engines that can suffer a blown engine. The engine can allegedly seize and shatter the engine rods and connecting bearings, which can then be propelled through the engine block itself or the oil pan. 

“The ‘block breach’ or blown engine, however named, causes the engine to stall and it causes highly flammable fluid and vapors to escape, causing an under hood fire, or at least presenting a serious fire risk,” the plaintiffs say.

Though Ford knew or should have known of the stall and fire risk prior to launching the vehicles, it did nothing to promptly warn owners and lessees, instead waiting over a year to announce a safety recall, the plaintiffs allege.

Ford’s fix ‘utterly failed,’ lawsuit states

Once complaints surfaced, Ford allegedly assured its customers it had developed a fix that would alleviate the risk of fire. However, the lawsuit alleges the automaker chose not to inspect the engines to determine which cars had the defect or issue a fix that addressed it.

As a result, Ford’s fix, “utterly failed, leaving all owners in the same position as owners like Plaintiffs Nishon and Capps who suffered catastrophic car fires when the engines in their Stall/Fire Risk Vehicles blew up.”

Nishon describes how, on Oct. 28, 2022, the engine compartment in his Ford Escape hybrid exploded into flames, and he was “fortunate to escape the inferno.” Meanwhile, Capps was driving in Arizona on Feb. 24, 2021, when he noticed smoke coming from his Ford Escape Hybrid. He says he pulled over and he and his wife jumped out. Within 15 minutes, the vehicle was “totally consumed” by fire, the lawsuit states.

The plaintiffs are suing on behalf of anyone who purchased or leased model year 2020-2023 Ford Escape, 2022-2023 Ford Maverick or 2021-2023 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. They’re suing for breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, unjust enrichment and violations of state consumer laws. 

They are seeking certification of the class action, restitution, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co. is dealing with a number of class action lawsuits and recalls. 

What do you think of the allegations against Ford in this case? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Steve W. Berman, Thomas E. Loeser and Abigail D. Pershing of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.

The Ford Motor Co. class action lawsuit is Todd Nishon, et al. v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 2:23-cv-11972-LVP-EAS in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.


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49 thoughts onFord class action claims Escapes, Mavericks, Lincoln Corsair defect can result in blown engine

  1. Dalton says:

    leased my 2021 escape sel just few months ago after a couple days go by found out there were 11 recalls for my car and when I asked if they had been all repaired I was told yes they have but continued to still have problems with the car a lot or weird and non pleasant engine noise with rear brakes making loud grinding noises when reversing not including hard shifting and jerky transmission and trans fluid pooling up on top of trans and I’m not sure if this has been mentioned by others but my escape tends to try and stall out quite often mostly in the morning after first start or right after I get gas. It only tries to stall out either when I’m stopped at red lights or just sitting still I have also gotten several my ford app recalls for high pressure fuel injectors and broken spot welds and tried asking the dealer I bought my car from to look at it it seems as they really did not want to they kept making excuses to try and get me to change my mind about bringing it in so I’m not sure how I’m gonna be able to fix this car even tho it’s a factory problem.

  2. Joann Ross says:

    I’m in Charlotte NC I purchased a 2017 Ford escape eco titanium in August needed a new engine and its a lemon

    1. Joseph says:

      Got a 2018 ford escape from Randy wise in flint Michigan June 24 2022 and last year the end went out they replaced after that and before the engine went out my acceleration is slow and it jerks some times brake squeaks but they said nothing was wrong with my breaks and top it off I went a few months ago to get tires put on at Walmart here in Saginaw Michigan where I reside they can the vin code came back as a Florida vechile call the dealership ask them about it of coursed they lied and said it wasn’t so Iknow they done tampered with the vin number and changed it by now all these dealers are scammers u ask me.

  3. Dane Simpson says:

    An excellent car, rode and drove great. But….white smoke, coolant going away, I suspect a blown head gasket or worse. Ford should facilitate a repair on their dime!!!

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