Ford Shattering Sunroof Class Action Claims Shaved

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A federal judge trimmed some claims in a class action lawsuit alleging sunroofs in certain Ford vehicles are defective and can shatter unexpectedly.

Lead plaintiff, Jessica Beaty, alleged in her class action lawsuit that the sunroof in her Ford Escape shattered suddenly.

The plaintiff alleged that a manufacturing defect in the panoramic sunroofs of various Ford models are susceptible to sudden shattering.

The Ford class action lawsuit pointed out that if a sunroof shatters at high speed, it could distract the driver, as well as rain glass on passengers, presenting a very dangerous situation.

According to the Ford class action lawsuit, more than a dozen models of Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles with panoramic sunroofs are susceptible to shattering because of the manufacturing defect. The plaintiff pointed out numerous consumer complaints that have been submitted to Ford over the allegedly defective sunroofs.

Ford asked U.S. District Court Judge Ronald B. Leighton to dismiss the case for the other models because they argued the plaintiff only owned a Ford Escape; however, the judge disagreed finding that the plaintiff had established that the other vehicles potentially had the same defect.

“Beaty can and has sufficiently pled that the sunroof defects are similar across the lines, vehicles, and model years, and that the manufacturing or design defect is the same regardless of the manufacturer,” stated the judge in his order.

The judge did trim class action claims that Ford breached its warranty to consumers by refusing to fix the defect. The Ford class action lawsuit alleged that Ford only offered similarly defective sunroofs to replace the shattered ones. Ford pointed out, however, that the plaintiff’s Ford Escape was outside of the warranty period when she tried to get her sunroof fixed.

“If the plaintiff had made a claim during the express warranty period (or if the complaint can be amended to assert such a claim on behalf a class of such plaintiffs) the court would […] hold that the claim can survive a motion to dismiss,” noted the judge’s order. “In the absence of such an allegation, Beaty has not plausibly [pled] that Ford’s express warranty is unconscionable and the motion to dismiss the express warranty claim is granted.”

Ford also dodged class action claims that it breached implied warranties to consumers. The judge noted that the plaintiff’s claims were based on a relationship she had with her car dealer, not the can manufacturer.

The plaintiff was given a chance to amend the Ford class action lawsuit to fix the problems with the breach of warranty claims.

Beaty is represented by Beth E. Terrell, Amanda M. Steiner and Brittany A. Madderra of Terrell Marshall Law Group PLLC, Gregory F. Coleman, Mark E. Silvey, Adam A. Edwards and Lisa A. White of Greg Coleman Law PC and Paul J. Hanly Jr. and Mitchell M. Breit of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC.

The Ford Shattering Sunroof Class Action Lawsuit is Beaty, et al. v. Ford Motor Co., Case No. 3:17-­cv-­05201, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

UPDATE: On Oct. 1, 2019, as Ford attempted to dodge a shattering sunroof class action, plaintiffs in the case argued that the company is legally obligated to face their claims.

UPDATE 2: On Feb. 11, 2020, a federal judge dismissed a class action lawsuit filed against Ford by a customer who claimed that the panoramic glass sunroof in her Ford Escape spontaneously shattered while driving on the freeway.