Anne Bucher  |  July 19, 2018

Category: Consumer News

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Ford Motor Co. has reportedly agreed to pay nearly $300 million to settle its part in multidistrict litigation related to Takata airbags that can allegedly explode upon inflation, sending shards of metal into vehicles’ passenger compartments.

The Ford airbag settlement was preliminarily approved on Monday and the judge granted preliminary certification to a proposed Class of persons or entities who have owned and/or leased vehicles with the allegedly defective Takata airbags.

Millions of Class Members throughout the United States are expected to qualify.

The proposed Takata airbag class action settlement will increase the rate of removal of the allegedly defective airbag inflators from affected Ford vehicles. Ford has also agreed to inform affected consumers about the Takata airbag recall and to provide compensation for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the Takata recall. Consumers who did not document their out-of-pocket expenses may be entitled to claim up to $500 in compensation.

Ford has also agreed to provide rental cars to Class Members while they wait for the Takata recall repairs to be completed.

The Takata airbag lawsuits were first filed in 2014 by plaintiffs who allege the ammonium nitrate used to inflate airbags can explode in humid conditions, ejecting chemicals and metal shards at vehicle occupants.

The Takata airbags have been linked to at least 11 deaths in the United States.

To date, Takata has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and agreed to pay $1 billion in fines and restitution. The company has also acknowledged it engaged in a scheme to deceive automakers and convince them to purchase airbag systems with inferior and/or defective inflators.

Six automakers have already reached settlements in order to escape the multidistrict litigation. Honda has agreed to pay more than $600 million and Nissan has agreed to pay $98 million to settle the Takata airbag MDL. In May 2017, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda and BMW agreed to pay nearly $555 million.

In March, new Takata airbag lawsuits were filed against Fiat Chrysler, General Motors LLC, Mercedes-Benz USA LLC and Volkswagen Group of America and were added to the sprawling Takata airbag MDL. The claims against these motor companies are still being litigated.

Top Class Actions will post updates to this class action settlement as they become available. For the latest updates, keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter. You can also receive notifications when this article is updated by using your free Top Class Actions account and clicking the “Follow Article” button at the top of the post.

Class Members are represented by Peter Prieto, Aaron S. Podhurst, Stephen F. Rosenthal, John Gravante, Matthew P. Weinshall and Alissa Del Riego of Podhurst Orseck PA and other portions of the MDL are being handled by the law firms of Boies Schiller Flexner LLP, Colson Hicks Eidson, Power Rogers & Smith LLP, Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein LLP, Carella Byrne Cecchi Olstein Brody & Agnello PC, and Baron & Budd PC.

The Takata Airbag Defect Class Action Lawsuit is In re: Takata Airbag Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 1:15-md-02599, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

UPDATE: On Sept. 5, 2018, Ford’s nearly $300 million settlement agreement for its part in a Takata airbag defect class action lawsuit was preliminarily approved by a federal judge.

UPDATE 2: On Dec. 20, 2018, Class representatives secured final approval of a near $300 million Ford air bag class action settlement from a federal judge.

UPDATE 3: On April 7, 2020, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks in the mail from the Takata airbags class action settlement worth as much as $400. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID!

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32 thoughts onFord to Pay $300M to Settle Takata Airbag Class Action Lawsuit

  1. Aisha Alston says:

    I have owned a 2012 does fusion and I took the car back and forth to Ford in 2017 to get airbags changed out! But they never had the parts! So for my safety and my family safety I traded the car in ! I did receive an settlement letter but I haven’t received any settlement pay??

    1. Aisha Alston says:

      I didn’t receive any class act settlement pay for my 2012 Ford Fusion

  2. Albert Utzinger says:

    I received the class action case in the mail from the legal team.Then reveived several airbag safety recall notices which I finally have time to go drop my 2010 ford mustang off at the our local ford company.It was my understanding that since they mailed me the notice of the settlement they knew I owned a ford that qualified and I need do nothing as I’m already part of the class action.Am I correct in this or do I need to do something more?

    1. La la says:

      You must go to takata airbag settlement to file a claim

  3. Sandra A Fosbrink says:

    How do I get part in this lawsuit

  4. Pam Taylor says:

    Please add me to this suite I have an SE ford fusion 2014 in 2015 had an accident my airbag did not deploy it I believe it was replaced as well as my seatbelt parts that did not hold me during the accident now I’ve had at least seven recalls on this vehicle a staring wheel bolt it could cause the steering wheel to come off if it went bad and there’s multiple issues with this car please add me to this suite.

    1. Brittany Foster says:

      The same exact same thing happened to me in may 2019. Exact same but the lawsuit is already closed— were you able to get anything or what was your outcome?

  5. Ronald Tratz says:

    I applied for the settlement if I qualify, how long before I receive any money?

  6. Patricia parks says:

    Add me to this action suite

  7. Nancy Cramer says:

    Add me to the lawsuit. I received letter a year ago. Still waiting. I drove my family in this car for 4 years before being notified. I drove another ford for 4 years before this one. I’m ticked off that they don’t seem to be in any hurry to rectify.

  8. Cheri D Drake says:

    I have had 3 fords in the past 3 years. Can I list them all?

  9. Dale Martin says:

    Please add me to the Ford list. I had my Ford Fusion SE recalled because of the airbag.

      1. Amtul Chaudhary says:

        I bought my car privately May 18/2018 FORD Fusion 2007 unfortunately My husband got in accident Feb 11 2019 got hurt and suffering with psychical injury and pain because of airbag which was recall after my husband accident letter written to me Feb 26 2019 how can I proceed from here on.

        1. Allene Willhite says:

          I went to the dealer shop to have air bags replaced said they didn’t have the parts in for
          2015
          Ford
          Fusion

          I was
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          In the mai
          But no money that waslastyear
          Please add

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    1. Mary Ellen Griffin says:

      MY first letter re the defective passenger airbag arrived in Nov. 2017.I am still waiting for a replacement airbag and have registered my 2012 Fusion at a ford garage in Peachtree Corners, GA I am no longer driving as I wear oxygen so would like to sell my car and use the money to purchase transportation to my MD appts. BUT CANNOT SELL MY CAR WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG. iT IS SO FRUSTATING.

  10. Christopher Varrieur says:

    I need to be added to this lawsuit. I did receive recall notice but they were extremely late compared to other dealers. Ford never called me back to handle this recall and they always said they didn’t have parts or means yet? I have two young kids that could be killed in an accident so Im getting rid of my Mercury Milan!!!! I want compensation for the aggravation, safety concerns and money needed to find another vehicle that is safe for my family!!!! I haven’t received any other notices except the initial one concerning the airbags. I never knew there was a class action and/or settlement coming! Please assist me on getting the money I deserve. I can’t afford a lawyer and Im already suffering from mental illness which this is only making it worse!

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