Ford faces class action over alleged defect in Ford Explorer seat belts

Ford class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Jeffrey Terrell filed a class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Co.
• Why: Terrell says Ford failed to disclose that certain Ford Explorers had defective seatbelts.
• Where: The Ford class action lawsuit was filed in Michigan federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges Ford Motor Co. failed to disclose that certain model year 2011-2019 Ford Explorers had defective seatbelts prone to failure.

Plaintiff Jeffrey Terrell filed the class action complaint against Ford on Nov. 14 in Michigan federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the Ford class action lawsuit, the seatbelt system in the second row of the affected Ford Explorer vehicles is deficient and prone to failure, posing a serious safety risk to passengers.

The seatbelt system, which includes inflatable seatbelts as part of the supplemental restraints system, is designed to provide additional protection in the event of a crash. However, the lawsuit alleges that the system is defective, causing the seatbelts to either come undone or become stuck closed, and triggering the airbag warning light on the dashboard.

This defect, Terrell says, indicates that the vehicle’s airbags are non-operational, further compromising passenger safety.

Ford knew about Explorer seatbelt defect, lawsuit alleges

Terrell claims Ford has been aware of the seatbelt defect for some time but failed to take adequate steps to address the issue.

The lawsuit accuses Ford of refusing to repair the vehicles when they display symptoms consistent with the defect, instead recommending costly out-of-pocket repairs.

Ford’s alleged failure to disclose the defect not only jeopardizes the safety of vehicle occupants but also diminishes the intrinsic and resale value of the affected vehicles, the class action lawsuit says.

Terrell claims that, despite numerous complaints from Ford Explorer owners and lessees, Ford has not issued a recall or offered an adequate repair for the defect.

The Ford class action lawsuit seeks to represent anyone who purchased a class vehicle in New York, primarily for personal, family or household purposes.

Terrell is suing for violations of New York consumer laws and breach of warranty. He is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

In April this year, Ford did issue a recall for more than 105,000 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles from model years 2018 to 2020 due to a seat belt defect.

What do you think of the claims made in this Ford class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by David C. Wright, Todd A. Walburg, Steven A. Haskins and Scott B. Baez of McCune Law Group and Kevin C. Riddle of Fieger, Fieger, Kenney & Harrington PC.

The Ford class action lawsuit is Terrell v. Ford Motor Company, Case No. 2:25-cv-13633, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

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