A class-action lawsuit alleges that Ford Motor Company (“Ford”) failed to disclose longstanding knowledge of suspension and/or steering linkage-system defects in 2005-2019 Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks. The class-action lawsuit, Lessin v. Ford Motor Company, et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-01082, was filed on behalf of current and former owners and lessees of 2005-2019 Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks. The alleged defects can cause a vehicle to shake violently which the lawsuit refers to as the “death wobble.”
California Plaintiff, William Lessin, purchased a 2011 Ford F-250 in 2010, which at the time he believed to be in good working condition and without defects. Lessin claims to have presented his Ford F-250 to a Ford dealership twice for “death wobble” concerns in less than three months, but that both times the dealership refused to fix the vehicle under warranty and denied the existence of a defect. Lessin claims that Ford sold him the vehicle with preexisting knowledge of the defects he alleges in his complaint. According to Lessin, Ford has been consciously selling consumers defective trucks for nearly 15 years.
What is the Death Wobble?
The “death wobble” is an uncontrollable and severe shaking of the entire vehicle. It is typically triggered when the vehicle is travelling at speeds above 50 miles per hour and one of the tires hits a groove or bump in the road. This causes a violent shaking of the vehicle, which can only be controlled by a sudden reduction of speed. The violent shaking of the vehicle and inability of the driver to retain full steering control poses serious safety concerns. The Ford F-250 and F-350 defects are allegedly linked to abnormal wear and/or loosening of the track bar bushing, damper bracket, ball joints, control arms, shocks and/or struts, which can result in shaking of the vehicle when encountering irregularities in the road at high speeds.
Have You Experienced the Death Wobble?
As of recent, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received over 1,200 consumer complaints involving the death wobble in Ford F-Series trucks. The class action states that “despite knowledge of the defect from the numerous complaints it has received, information received from dealers, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHSTA”) complaints, and their own internal records, including pre-sale durability testing, [Ford] has not recalled and/or offered an adequate suspension repair to the Class Vehicles, offered their customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge, or offered to reimburse their customers who have incurred out-of-pocket expenses to repair the defect.”
If the Ford dealerships have been unable to repair your Ford truck within the warranty period, you may be entitled to compensation under the California lemon law.
Does Your Ford Truck Qualify as a “Lemon” Under California Lemon Law?
Your vehicle may qualify as a “lemon” under California lemon law if Ford’s authorized dealerships have been unable to repair a “nonconformity” or defect after a “reasonable” number of repair attempts within the original warranty period. The California lemon law defines “nonconformity” as a problem which substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle to the buyer or lessee. The California lemon law does not designate a specific number of repair attempts to satisfy the reasonable opportunity to repair requirement. Under the California lemon law, a “reasonable” number of repair attempts is determined on a case-by-case basis according to the severity of the defect. The requirement may also be satisfied if your vehicle has been at the repair facility for a cumulative total of more than 30 days for a particular issue (not necessarily at the same time.)
What Am I Entitled to If My Ford Truck Qualifies Under California Lemon Law?
Under the California lemon law, if a vehicle manufacturer is unable to repair a “nonconformity” after a “reasonable” number of attempts, the manufacturer must either promptly repurchase or replace the defective vehicle. If your Ford truck qualifies as a “lemon” under California lemon law, you may be entitled to one of the following:
- A refund of your down payment, monthly payments, and a full lease/loan payoff (less a statutory mileage offset for the distance driven from the time of purchase to the first repair attempt.)
- A similar replacement vehicle.
- A cash settlement.
The California Lemon Law Attorneys at Young & Young APC Can Help You
The California lemon law attorneys at Young & Young APC are dedicated to holding auto manufactures and auto dealerships accountable. If you think you have purchased or leased a Ford lemon vehicle, you need an experienced lemon law attorney to represent you. Our lemon law attorneys have successfully handled countless cases against Ford Motor Company. We represent consumers in lemon law cases in Los Angeles, Orange County, Inland Empire, San Diego, Bay Area, Silicon Valley, Sacramento and throughout all of California. If you believe your Ford vehicle qualifies under California’s lemon law, contact our firm for your free case evaluation at (833) 536-6600.
