Report: Ford to pay $30M-plus for lawsuit over transmissions
Source: AP
Ford will pay at least $30 million in a proposed settlement over a class-action lawsuit related to failing transmissions in its Fiesta and Focus vehicles.
The lawsuit represents nearly 2 million owners and former owners of the cars, which had bad dual-clutch transmissions, the Detroit Free Press reported, citing court documents.
In addition to the $30 million in cash reimbursement, there will be an easier process for people to get compensated and a simplified buyback program for defective vehicles, the report said.
Ford spokesman T.R. Reid said the company believes the settlement is fair and reasonable and expects it to be approved during a final hearing on Feb. 28. The case was filed in 2012.
Read more: https://apnews.com/338d251571bea5f80608758ad39f485b
PatrickforO
(14,576 posts)Interesting that this class-action suit was filed in '12. These corporate lawyers like to grind things out SLOWLY in the hope that the people suing will become 'fatigued' and perhaps die before it goes to court.
Ford had net profit of $3.7 billion in 2018 and on track in 2019 for a net profit of about $2.6 billion. So, even in the face of these losses $30 million is chicken feed in terms of a settlement.
That said, it looks like Ford is going down hill. Remember, they made the stupid decision to focus on the big trucks and stop building sedans while at the same time GM wants to retool its factories to make up to 20 plug-in models. Who do you think will win THAT market battle over the long haul?
rickford66
(5,523 posts)Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)In a big class-action like this, the attorneys get about 40% of of the pot. So that $12 million for legal fees and $18 million for the plaintiffs. There are 2 million owners and former owners and 18,000,000/2,000,000 = $9.00 per plaintiff.
Can I just say 'Big Whoop'?
bucolic_frolic
(43,173 posts)has railed here or there against most automakers' on transmissions these last couple years. Seems few companies make their own because it involves, he says, significant up-front costs - design, development, testing, manufacturing. There are independent companies who make transmissions, some good, some not so good. Even European luxury cars can have suspect models. Slapping together parts was a mainstay of certain companies, now many do it. And CVT reliability has still to be proven.
BTW, Range Rovers are owned by a Chinese company now, and are going all electric? Even Volvo uses JATCO transmissions?
I talked to a guy at a mini-auto show, he had a restored early 70s Chevy muscle car. Torn apart and rebuilt. Cars today, he told me, are 100,000 mile throw aways.
krispos42
(49,445 posts)It's just shy of 90k miles. Haven't had much problem with it, aside from the sporatic power delivery in 1st gear.
I'm hoping the 100k curse is just a myth.
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)Woodwizard
(844 posts)We prefer a manual transmission and I can change a clutch in the shop, not that that is an issue besides my truck that pulls a trailer a lot. We usually get way over 150.000 out of a clutch in the car. Manuals are getting hard to find a lot of new models do not have a manual option.
My wife just got a new Yaris AI with a stick so we have at least another ten years.
cstanleytech
(26,293 posts)I should know as we had to pay to fix the transmission for our Ford Focus about a month out of warranty and we will never buy another Ford vehicle of any kind.