Ford Hit with Lawsuit After Recalling Thousands of SUVs Due to Fire Risk

Ford Engine Recall

Ford Motor Company has recalled about 42,000 model year 2021 vehicles because their engines may be prone to catching on fire. Affected models include the 2021 Ford Expedition and 2021 Lincoln Navigator. The American automaker is advising customers to park their cars outside, as fires can occur even when the engines are turned off. Of the 16 reported car fires, 12 of them happened while the vehicles were turned off.

Ford says it does not know the source of these fires. They have confirmed however, that all the vehicles involved in these incidents were built between December 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021. The issue likely affects 39,013 vehicles in total – 32,711 Ford Expedition vehicles and 6,203 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. In its latest recall announcement, the auto manufacturer is also recalling a little over 300,000 heavy-duty trucks due to malfunctional airbag systems that may not inflate in an accident. 

2022 Ford Engine Lawsuit 

Earlier this month, three owners of 2021 Expedition and 2021 Navigator cars filed a class-action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company. They say that the auto manufacturer did not disclose to customers that certain vehicle models are prone to spontaneous engine fires and there is no fix. The law firm representing the plaintiffs is currently investigating whether the engine issue affects vehicles produced outside of December 1, 2020-April 30, 2021.

The lawsuit highlights that Ford has yet to offer reimbursement to owners and lessees who have dealt with loss of use, loss of value, or out-of-pocket repairs to the engine. Ford does not know why these fires have occurred and they do not appear to have a solution for this issue either.

Other Issues with the 2021 Ford Expedition

Several 2021 Ford Expedition drivers have presented a range of transmission and powertrain concerns to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Some have experienced total system failures. Most of the failure mileages were well below 20,000. Loss of acceleration, hesitation, strange noises, or difficulty changing gears appear to be common. For instance, one driver told NHTSA that they heard a loud popping sound “while the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an unknown part was replaced in the transmission.” Despite these extensive repairs, transmission and powertrain symptoms persisted in their vehicle. In addition to strange popping sounds, they also experienced hesitation and transmission failure. 

One safety rating of the 2021 Expedition listed on NHTSA’s website discusses a fire-related incident. It states that while the contact’s husband was “driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact’s husband was able to pull over on the side of the road when they noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood. The contact’s husband opened the hood and saw that the electrical box on the passenger’s side had caught fire.” The SUV ended up in flames. Luckily, no injuries were reported in this incident. 

Previous Ford Truck and SUV Recalls

The 2021 Ford Expedition and the 2021 Lincoln Navigator are included in the same three Ford recalls. Just a few months before the engine recall, Ford and General Motors recalled over half a million compact SUV vehicles because the windshield wipers can fail. Recalled Ford vehicles include: 

• 2020-2021 Ford F-150
• 2020-2021 Ford Expedition
• 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250
• 2020-2022 Ford F-350
• 2020-2022 Ford F-450
• 2020-2022 Ford F-550
• 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator

Both the 2021 Expedition and the 2021 Navigator were also included in a Ford 2021 recall that affected a range of models. Ford said that the front-door side impact pressure sensor modules on several vehicles may have been damaged during supplier assembly. As a result, the airbags in affected vehicles may not deploy properly during a collision. Certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, and 2021 F-150 models were among the list of affected vehicles.

Is My Ford a Lemon?

Engine problems are amongst the most concerning lemon symptoms that can present in your vehicle. If you have taken your Ford or Lincoln car in for multiple repairs, then there is a chance that it could be a lemon. A lemon is a vehicle that has defects that the manufacturer is unwilling or unable to fix during a reasonable number of repair attempts. In California, this criterion can be met if any of the following scenarios occurs:

• The car has been repaired at least two times for a manufacturing defect that can cause bodily injury or death
• The car has been repaired at least four times for any manufacturing defect
• Any manufacturing defect has kept a vehicle out of service for at least 30 calendar days

A fire hazard is something you should act on quickly. Both injury and death are possible in a car engine fire. One person has already been injured in the recent Ford engine fires affecting 2021 Expedition and Navigator vehicles. You cannot wait on the manufacturer for a solution. If you suspect that your vehicle may be a lemon, you should obtain legal advice from an experienced lemon law attorney who can help you in determining your options.

The California Lemon Law Experts with Ford Lemon Law 

If you reside in California and want to know more about what you could receive as compensation for your lemon, contact the Lemon Law Experts. Our team of lemon law attorneys have been successful with hundreds of cases brought against Ford Motor Company for nearly all model vehicles including the Ford Expedition, Edge, Mustang, Fiesta, F-150, F-250, and more. You too could qualify for a refund, replacement, or cash compensation for your lemon Ford vehicle through state lemon laws. 

Our team of Lemon Law Experts can help you seek justice and reparation in your case. We have helped consumers across California secure agreements with big automakers in which they have agreed to repurchase the lemon vehicles and reimburse our clients for all incidental and consequential damages associated with their lemons, including their attorney’s fees. To find out more about what you could receive in recovery, contact us today.