Ford Settles Spark Plug Defect Class Action Lawsuits for $2.2M

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On June 5, Ford Motor Co. agreed to a $2.2 million spark plug defect class action settlement, resolving claims that their vehicles feature defective spark plugs that were difficult and expensive for consumers to replace. This Ford class action settlement will reimburse qualifying consumers a portion of what they paid to replace the defective car part.

This Ford spark plug defect class action settlement covers six separately filed Ford class action lawsuits that were consolidated into one Ford spark plug multidistrict litigation (MDL), which represents plaintiffs and Class Members in two dozen states across the nation. According to court records from the Ohio federal court where these spark plug defect class action lawsuits were consolidated, Ford will reimburse consumers who paid at least $37.50 to replace the allegedly defective spark plug a percentage of the replacement cost.

Additionally, Ford has agreed to reimburse a higher percentage for consumers who paid even higher out-of-pocket costs to replace the defective spark plug parts and will also spend $5.2 million to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, according to the spark plug defect class action settlement.

Ford denies all liability in these spark plug defect class action lawsuits. However, they have decided to settle the spark plug defect claims against the automaker in order to avoid further court costs and the uncertainty of continued litigation. Ford’s decision to settle is advantageous to both plaintiffs and defendants, according to the Ford spark plug defect class action settlement documents, because “Settlement on a class basis also provides Class Members with prompt compensation for their damages. Continued litigation on the other hand, whether on an individual or class-wide basis, is fraught with uncertainty.”

The proposed Ford spark plug defect class action settlement will provide compensation to consumers who bought or leased 2004-2008 Ford mode cars within the United States that feature 5.4 liter three valve engines.

Despite Ford’s objections, the various Ford spark plug defect class action lawsuits were consolidated into the Ford spark plug MDL back in 2012 in Ohio federal court.

According to the plaintiffs of the Ford spark plug defect class action lawsuit and MDL, the spark plugs allegedly accumulated hydrocarbon residue that glues these parts to the car’s engine and break during a removal process. This spark plug defect leaves part of the spark plug attached to the engine’s cylinder head, adding time and extra costs to what should have been routine maintenance for a Ford vehicle.

Back in July 2014, U.S. District Judge Benita Pearson found that Ford knew about the alleged spark plug defect as far back as 1997, the same year these cars were first developed. Despite this knowledge, the spark plug defect was still presented when the vehicles were launched in 2004, according to the Ford spark plug defect class action lawsuits.

The plaintiffs are represented by co-lead class counsel Jeffrey S. Goldenberg of Goldenberg Schneider LPA and James C. Shah of Shepherd Finke lman Miller & Shah LLP.

The Ford Spark Plug Defect Class Action Lawsuits were consolidated in the Ford Spark Plug MDL known as In re: Ford Motor Co. Spark Plug and 3-Valve Engine Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 1:12-md-02316, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

UPDATE: Claim filing instructions for the Ford spark plug class action settlement are now available! Click here or visit www.FordSparkPlugSettlement.com for details.