Ford Motor Company makes an E-Series Cutaway which is known as an “incomplete vehicle,” intended as a base on which customers can build things such as recreational vehicles, box trucks, or ambulances. Once the vehicle is built out, the complaint for this class action says, the vehicle may need suspension adjustments, so the warranty includes a provision for wheel alignments and tire balancing, but the complaint alleges that it is “illusory” and that the vehicles actually require expensive aftermarket parts to fix the problems.
The class for this action is all persons who bought or leased, in Florida, a new completed vehicle using a Ford E-Series Cutaway, between 2018 and the date the class is certified in this case, that required adjustment or modification to correct alignment within the first 12,000 miles after the vehicle was purchased.
Ford markets the vehicles with a certain gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) that is the heaviest loaded weight that can be safely carried by the vehicle.
But the complaint alleges that the E-Series Cutaway vehicles cannot properly carry their stated GVWRs “because Ford designed and manufactured the Cutaways with a suspension system that cannot be adjusted. Essentially, the vehicle cannot be aligned after it has been built out into its final use … a step that is critical to the construction and safe use of the completed vehicle.”
“As a result,” the complaint claims, after the vehicle has been built out, “the vehicle will not track the road and safe steering is extremely difficult as the vehicle will pull to one side of the road due to its weight. The driver, while operating at highway speed, must constantly compensate for the vehicle’s inability to be driven straight.”
The complaint alleges that, because the suspension could require adjustments, Ford offers the limited warranty for wheel alignments and tire balancing within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles. However, it claims that Ford does not actually honor this warranty, rejecting any such claims on the grounds that “the Cutaway was modified because of its final build out, and therefore, the warranty is void.”
The complaint quotes advertising for the E-Series vehicles as saying, “Twin-I-Beam independent front suspension (with caster/camber adjustment), front stabilizer bar and gas pressurized shock absorbers contribute to a smooth, comfortable ride.” But the complaint contends that the Cutaways do not permit caster or camber adjustments, meaning that the suspension cannot safely accommodate the stated GVWR, properly tracking the road without pulling.
The only remedy available, the complaint alleges, is for owners to buy aftermarket parts which are not included under the warranty.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Ford E-Series Cutaways Warranty for Suspension Adjustments Florida Complaint
July 8, 2022
Ford Motor Company makes an E-Series Cutaway which is known as an “incomplete vehicle,” intended as a base on which customers can build things such as recreational vehicles, box trucks, or ambulances. Once the vehicle is built out, the complaint for this class action says, the vehicle may need suspension adjustments, so the warranty includes a provision for wheel alignments and tire balancing, but the complaint alleges that it is “illusory” and that the vehicles actually require expensive aftermarket parts to fix the problems.
Ford E-Series Cutaways Warranty for Suspension Adjustments Florida ComplaintCase Event History
Ford E-Series Cutaways Warranty for Suspension Adjustments Florida Complaint
July 8, 2022
Ford Motor Company makes an E-Series Cutaway which is known as an “incomplete vehicle,” intended as a base on which customers can build things such as recreational vehicles, box trucks, or ambulances. Once the vehicle is built out, the complaint for this class action says, the vehicle may need suspension adjustments, so the warranty includes a provision for wheel alignments and tire balancing, but the complaint alleges that it is “illusory” and that the vehicles actually require expensive aftermarket parts to fix the problems.
Ford E-Series Cutaways Warranty for Suspension Adjustments Florida Complaint