Ford Edge Class Action Sent to Arbitration With Claims Dismissed

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Ford Edge Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

• Who: Ford is heading to arbitration with a driver over alleged faulty flexplates, while other drivers had their claims against the auto company dismissed.
• Why: The drivers accused Ford of selling and leasing Ford Edge vehicles with faulty flexplates, which resulted in issues with the vehicles’ transmission.
• Where: The class action was litigated in Michigan.

Ford managed to send a class action lawsuit accusing the automaker of selling vehicles with faulty flexplates causing engine problems to arbitration, with some claims dismissed, according to a recent ruling. 

US District Judge Sean F. Cox ruled Tuesday that claims filed by Christopher Straub, who leased a Ford Edge vehicle, would go to arbitration while claims from the other lead plaintiffs, James and Christie Ranum, who also leased a Ford Edge, were dismissed for lacking privity and being time-barred.

Straub and the Ranums had started the lawsuit against the automaker earlier this year alleging that the company violated warranty and state business laws with the sale and lease of Ford Edge vehicles, which they say contain a flexplate that is prone to breaking during use, causing the vehicles to lose their forward propulsion.

Cox ruled that Straub’s claims must go to arbitration as they all stem from issues with the company’s lease agreement, which contains an arbitration clause.

“The claims Straub asserts against Ford make reference to, and depend upon, his having entered into the Lease,” he writes.

“Ford’s duty to comply with its warranty arose only when Straub leased the vehicle. Had Straub not signed the Lease for that vehicle, he would not have received the warranty at issue from Ford. The Court rules that Defendant Ford is entitled to enforce the arbitration clause in Straub’s Lease under principles of estoppel.”

Cox added that Ranums’ claims either lacked privity due to the couple not having an established special relationship with Ford to support their claims or were time-barred, with the Ranums buying their car in 2017 after the four year statute of limitations.

Ford Hit With Class Actions Over Fusions, Infotainment Systems

Ford is facing other legal action over issues with its vehicles’ engines. Just last month, Ford drivers filed a class action lawsuit against the company alleging that a Ford Fusion transmission problem can cause sudden shaking, violent jerking, and difficulty stopping.

Ford is also facing a data privacy lawsuit, with drivers accusing Ford of using its infotainment system to secretly download and store drivers’ private text conversations, and then turning them over to law enforcement.

To see if you qualify to join a vehicle safety defect class action lawsuit investigation click here (links to paid attorney advertisement). 

The plaintiffs are represented by Mark E. Silvey, William A. Ladnier, and Jonathan B. Cohen of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC, and Nick Suciu III of Barbat Mansour Suciu & Tomina PLLC. 

The Ford Edge Class Action Lawsuit is Straub et al. v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 2:21-cv-10634, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Harley Davidson Financer Called Motorcycle Rider’s Girlfriend 30 Times, Harassing Her, Class Action Says
• Recall Roundup: Tesla, Audi, Ferrari Announce Recalls for Multiple Vehicles
• COVID-19 Triggers Slew of Class Action Lawsuits Over School Fees, Mask and Vaccine Mandates
• Ford Fusion Transmission Problem Causes Shaking, Jerking, Brake Failure, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges