Class Action Alleging Unintended Acceleration Filed Against Ford
A federal class-action lawsuit was filed against Ford Motor Co. in West Virginia late last week for what plaintiffs’ attorneys have said are alleged defects causing unintended acceleration.
The suit includes plaintiffs from 14 states and was filed by Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. — as well as other firms — in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
In a statement from Grant & Eisenhofer, the securities litigation and consumer class action firm explains that the suit is "in connection with alleged defects in Ford's vehicles causing and failing to prevent the unintended acceleration of those vehicles."
The firm added: "The suit seeks compensatory relief on behalf of a proposed class of potentially millions of purchasers and lessees of Ford vehicles manufactured between 2002 and 2010."
Ford spokesperson Kristin Adamski gave the following statement from the automaker: "NHTSA’s work is far more scientific and trustworthy than work done by personal injury lawyers and their paid experts. In rare situations, vehicle factors, such as floor mats or broken mechanical components, can interfere with proper throttle operation, and manufacturers have addressed these rare events in field service actions."
According to the law firm's statement, the cars in the complaint include the following:
Ford Vehicles
2005-2007 500
2005-2009 Crown Victoria
2005-2010 Econoline
2007 2010 Edge
2009-2010 Escape
2005-2010 Escape HEV
2005-2010 Expedition
2004-2010 Explorer
2007-2010 Explorer Sport Trac
2004-2010 F-Series
2009-2010 Flex
2008-2010 Focus
2005-2007 Freestyle
2006-2010 Fusion
2005-2010 Mustang
2008-2010 Taurus
2008-2009 Taurus X
2002-2005 Thunderbird
2010 Transit Connect.
Lincoln Vehicles
2003-2006 LS
2006-2008 Mark LT
2009-2010 MKS
2010 MKT
2007-2010 MKX
2006-2010 MKZ
2005-2009 Town Car
2006-2010 Zephyr.
Mercury Vehicles
2002-2005 Cougar (XR7)
2005-2009 Grand Marquis
2009-2010 Mariner
2005-2010 Mariner HEV
2006-2010 Milan
2005-2007 Montego
2004-2010 Mountaineer
2008-2010 Sable.
"The suit contends that Ford owners have experienced unacceptable rates of sudden unintended acceleration, citing a report issued in October 2011 by the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General. Plaintiffs allege that Ford should have prevented the SUA incidents by including the brake-over-accelerator system or other fail-safe systems in its vehicles," the statement from Grant & Eisenhofer reads.
"They maintain that, while Ford began installing a BOA system on some of its North American cars beginning in 2010, the company has failed to remedy, or even warn drivers about the lack of a brake-over-accelerator system on its earlier vehicles," it continues.
"Plaintiffs, individually and on behalf of all other class members, seek compensatory damages for the lost value of their cars — the difference between what they originally paid for their cars versus the actual value of their defective vehicles. Plaintiffs also seek injunctive relief, requesting that Ford fix the problem."