Ford Explorer Class Action Alleges ‘Dented’ Door Defect

A class action lawsuit filed in Massachusetts alleges that the Ford Motor Company sells Ford Explorers with defective doors, and refuses to properly fix them.

The complaint claims that Explorer doors come from the factory with “manufacturing variances,” or dents, in them.

The class action asserts that Ford violated Massachusetts law by failing to honor the express warranty of its new vehicles, and by failing to notify or warn consumers of the known defect.

Plaintiff Joseph Nasta states that he purchased a new 2016 Ford Explorer Platinum 4DR Wagon, paying over $52,000. Nasta claims that all four doors of his new Explorer had dents at the time of purchase.

Nasta contacted his Ford dealer, who made a warranty claim to get new, unblemished doors on Nasta’s behalf. The class action asserts that Ford agreed the doors were defective and sent new doors to the dealership; however, those new doors were also dented and the dealership mechanic refused to replace them.

A letter from the Ford dealership mechanic states that “[a]t this point there is nothing more that I can do as it looks like a manufacturing issue and every door I order is going to have the same problem.”

After that, Nasta claims that Ford refused any more work under the warranty to fix the defective doors. Nasta also asked the company to rescind the sale and buy back his new Explorer, which Ford also refused.

Nasta states that the cost to repair the doors on his new Explorer is almost $9,000. The complaint contends that Nasta was sold a vehicle worth less than he paid for it, and Ford has refused to honor the warranty that came with the new vehicle.

“Ford breached the covenant of good faith and fair dealing by refusing to repair Nasta’s Vehicle,” according to the class action.

The Ford Explorer class action lawsuit alleges that the door defect affects 2014, 2015, and 2016 model year Ford Explorers. In addition, the complaint cites to correspondence from Ford that the car company knows about the existing defect.

A letter from Ford cited in the complaint states that the dents, or “creases,” “are manufacturing variances inherent to the stamping process and within applicable manufacturing tolerances.”  The letter continues, “[p]ut another way, that is the way 2016 Ford Explorers are built.”

The class action asserts that Ford’s lack of notice to consumers about the defective doors violates Massachusetts consumer protection laws.

The door defect lawsuit requests the court to certify a Class of “[a]ll Massachusetts residents who purchased a new 2014, 2015, or 2016 Ford Explorer from an authorized Ford dealership which contained manufacturing variances or Defects to the vehicle’s doors.”

The class action seeks restitution, including statutory damages, as well as an injunction stopping Ford from selling the defective Explorers and not honoring their warranty.

Nasta is represented by Kevin J. McCullough, Michael C. Forrest, and Brian P. McNiff of Forrest, LaMothe, Mazow, McCullough, Yasi & Yasi, PC.

The Ford Explorer Dented Door Class Action Lawsuit is Joseph Nasta v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 1:17-cv-10015, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

UPDATE: On May 18, 2017, The Ford Explorer Dented Door Class Action Lawsuit ended in a summary judgement in favor of Ford.