DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hagens Berman and Hilliard Martinez Gonzales filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of consumers accusing Ford of knowingly installing a mileage cheat device and misrepresenting fuel economy ratings in 2019 Ford Ranger trucks.
The emissions-cheating device is also likely installed in F-150 series trucks and possibly all other Ford vehicles, according to attorneys.
The class-action complaint, filed May 6, 2019 in the U.S. District for the Eastern District of Michigan, accuses Ford of deceiving consumers with false misrepresentations regarding its Ranger vehicles, which it marketed as its “All-New Ford Ranger Rated Most Fuel Efficient Gas-Powered Midsize Pickup in America.”
If you own a Ford vehicle, find out more about the class-action lawsuit.
“Ford deceptively advertised its Rangers to consumers as ‘best-in-class’ in fuel economy,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman. “Ford knew that consumers pay a premium for fuel efficiency and that less fuel burned means less emissions, and therefore more profits.”
“Its own employees questioned its fuel efficiency calculations,” Berman added. “Ford chose to blatantly ignore the clear warning signs it was given.”
ABOUT THE DEFECT
The lawsuit states that Ford deliberately miscalculated and misrepresented factors used in vehicle certification testing in order to report that its vehicles used less fuel and emitted less pollution than they actually did. The certification test related cheating centers on the “Coast Down” testing and “Road Load” calculations.
Coast Down testing measures the forces working against the vehicle by driving it up to speed, and then shifting to neutral, allowing it to coast down, being slowed by forces such as wind resistance, rolling resistance of the tires, and other forces working against the vehicle.
Ford miscalculated “Road Load,” which is a measure of those forces, defined as the force that is imparted on a vehicle while driving at a constant speed over a smooth, level surface from sources such as tire rolling resistance, driveline losses, and aerodynamic drag.
This measure of forces acting against the vehicle during real-world driving is critical to the simulation of actual driving when a vehicle is tested in the laboratory. Ford’s internal lab tests did not account for these forces, which lead to better—and entirely inaccurate—fuel economy projections, and claims that the vehicles emitted less pollution than they emitted in reality.
AFFECTED VEHICLES
The complaint states that the class is defined as all owners and lessors of 2019 Ford Ranger trucks. Because the F-150 is similarly failing to measure up to its advertised mileage, the cheating likely includes the F-150. The lawsuit states that the class is likely to be expanded and could potentially include all Ford vehicles certified for sale in the U.S. for a number of years.
DECEPTIVE MARKETING
Ford used the fuel efficiency ratings as a selling tool to entice consumers into purchasing the 2019 Ford Ranger claiming that it “is the no-compromise choice for power, technology, capability, and efficiency.” Ford knew that to sell the Ranger, it had to tout it had fuel-efficiency, and a promise that was important to consumers.
The suit says Ford deceived consumers in calling its Ranger “fuel efficient,” and that without manipulating its testing procedures and ignoring common road conditions, Ford could not achieve the fuel economy and range it promised.
If you own a Ford, find out more about the lawsuit.
Hagens Berman is the same firm responsible for emissions lawsuits against Fiat Chrysler, Mercedes, General Motors and Volkswagen for use of emissions-cheating software. The firm’s managing partner Steve Berman serves as co-lead counsel in a case against Ford concerning emissions cheating in F-250 and F-350 Super Duty trucks.
Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP is a consumer-rights class-action law firm with nine offices across the country. The firm’s tenacious drive for plaintiffs’ rights has earned it numerous national accolades, awards and titles of “Most Feared Plaintiff’s Firm,” and MVPs and Trailblazers of class-action law. More about the law firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.
