Ford Motor Company is one of the oldest auto brands in the world. Founded by Henry Ford, the company became famous for introducing the assembly line to automobile manufacture and pioneering the pickup truck. Nevertheless, the brand has not been without issues over the years, and continues to have some problems with quality control and other issues. This is why Ford owners should be aware of the potential problems in their vehicles, and should also know their rights under California law. An experienced attorney like the ones here at California Consumer Attorneys P.C. can help you get the assistance you need including compensation for any defects in your Ford car, truck, or SUV.
Vehicle Safety Information and Recalls
Ford has been in the news recently, and not for all the right reasons. At the end of 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a federal government agency tasked with making sure the vehicles we drive are safe, reported that Ford issued recall notices for roughly 400,000 vehicles. This was a broad swath of the Ford lineup. The famous Super Duty heavy-duty trucks faced recalls for problems with biodiesel deposits in the fuel pumps on ones with diesel engines. Many hybrid Escape compact SUVs were recalled for overheating in the lithium-ion battery packs. The discontinued Ford Flex SUVs, Ford Fiesta subcompact cars, and Lincoln MKT SUVs had problems with rearview camera malfunctions. Problems can even happen with newer models, with the current Lincoln Nautilus luxury SUV experiencing problems with the automatic window reverse system not working. If you own any of these models, you should check with your dealer to see if you need to have the recalled feature repaired.
While recalls are one way to find out if there is a safety or functionality issue with your Ford, you may also receive technical service bulletins (TSBs). These are also issued by the manufacturer, but do not involve mandatory repairs like recalls. You can locate TSBs for your vehicle on the NHTSA website. www.nhtsa.gov. Ford also maintains a webpage on its website where you can find out if there are any TSBs or recalls for your specific vehicle. At www.ford.com/support/recalls you can search by your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN (vehicle identification number), or the year and model of your vehicle if you are unable to locate the VIN on your Ford model. Some recent ones involve minor features like SiriusXM audio not working after activation of this service and Apple CarPlay not launching when a phone is connected. This has been traced with issues associated with the rollout of Ford’s most recent version of SYNC, its infotainment system. These kind of issues usually entail a minor repair and won’t interfere with your enjoyment of your Ford. Others, however, could present a problem.
A recent TSB on the full-size Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator involved the blind spot information system called BLIS. This active driver assistance feature helps you change lanes safely when you are driving on a highway or other multi-lane road. When you signal to change lanes, BLIS will let you know if there is a vehicle traveling in your blind spot in the adjacent lane. The malfunction has occurred when a buildup of dirt, ice or snow obstructs the vehicle’s radar system, giving the BLIS a false reading of a vehicle in the blind spot when none is present. Ford issued a TSB with a simple fix that will prevent this from occurring in the future.
Common Vehicle Issues and Solutions
While recalls and TSBs are often issued for the entire model year of a specific Ford vehicle, you may encounter problems common to a certain model that has not given rise to a recall. In many cases, this might have to do with quality control as opposed to a design defect.
Some of the most recent ones have involved 2024 models of specific Ford vehicles. The Ranger midsize pickup and Bronco off-road SUV have been experiencing problems with the front control arm installed as part of the suspension system. Some Mustang sports car has been having problems with the rear suspension. There have even been some issues with the Ford F-150 full-size pickup truck, the most popular passenger vehicle in America today. Some drivers of these trucks have noticed a transmission downshift issue, where it abruptly shifts to a lower gear without any action on the part of the driver.
If you experience any issues with your Ford car, truck, or SUV, your first move should be to bring it to a dealership. Authorized Ford dealers receive the bulletins issued by the company, and also have service stations that may find other drivers with the same vehicle as you experiencing similar problems. In many cases, these can be fixed at no cost to you. You may also have other rights under California’s Lemon Law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
Understanding Consumer Rights
California has one of the strongest consumer rights laws for people who buy cars. Called the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, it is also know as the Lemon Law. Under this law, dealers who sell or lease new cars are required to make a “reasonable number of repair attempts” to fix a problem with a vehicle. While the law does not define the meaning of this term, it has been interpreted to mean that there must be at least four repair attempts during the earlier of 18 months of ownership by the driver or the first 18,000 miles on the vehicle’s odometer. However, if the defect presents a serious safety risk, then there must be at least two repair attempts on the vehicle. If the repair does not work, then the dealer is required to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price to the buyer.
The law applies to all new cars that are sold or leased in California. It also applies to certain used cars if they are “dealer owned” or were used as demonstration vehicles, which are typically the ones used for test-drives and as loaners to people having their cars serviced in a Ford dealership. However, not all used cars are covered. If there was no remaining time left on the original warranty and you did not receive a used vehicle warranty from the dealer, then the used car may be considered “as is” and not covered by the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
In order to get covered by the act, you also need to notify the dealer as soon as possible about the defect. So, if you have experienced a problem, you should call the Ford dealership and let them know about it. You should also make sure to document all of your contact with the dealership.
Call Us if You Have Had a Problem with Your Ford
It is not unusual to encounter problems with your vehicle. If you think you have bought a lemon, call us for a free consultation today.