A lawsuit has been filed against Ford Motor Company, alleging Ford sold trucks with defective fuel tank linings for a decade and hid the information from consumers. In the complaint, the Plaintiffs allege that in 2007, Ford issued a "secret" memo to its dealerships about the problem, but neither recalled the affected trucks nor offered to repair them for free.
The lawsuit was filed last Wednesday in New Jersey Federal court. The Plaintiffs claim the fuel tank linings on F-Series and E-Series truck models made between 1999 and 2008 would "separate and flake off." The Ford F-150 pickup trucks are part of the F-series line and have been the top-selling vehicle in America for decades. The E-Series is a truck-based full-size van. The allegations include that the flakes would clog fuel systems with debris and rust, causing a sudden loss of engine power, potentially causing vehicles to buck or kick or suddenly stall.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of drivers have experienced the defect, it added. A Ford spokeswoman said the company would not comment until it had time to review the lawsuit.
The complaint seeks class-action status on behalf of the vehicle owners. The Plaintiffs allege fraud, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment, among other charges. It seeks compensatory, punitive, treble damages, and other remedies. The Plaintiffs are Coba Landscaping and Construction Inc. of New Jersey and its principal, Galo Coba. The case is Coba et al v. Ford Motor Co, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.
In related news, Federal safety regulators have been investigating a fuel-tank problem that could affect more than 2.7 million Ford F-150 pickups. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said last year that the steel straps holding up the truck’s gasoline tanks could rust and break, possibly causing fuel spills and fires. No injuries have been reported from the possible defect. That inquiry involves the 1997 through 2001 model years. The traffic safety agency’s investigations often lead to recalls.
