EcoBoost Intercooler Sends Water into Engine Causing Violent Shaking and Sudden Cutouts
The F-150 is the best selling vehicle in the United States, which means a settlement could be very expensive.
Hagens Berman, a class-action law firm, yesterday filed a lawsuit against Ford Motor alleging that 2011 and 2012 model F-150 trucks with the EcoBoost turbocharged V6 engine contain a dangerous defect that causes the vehicles to shake violently, shudder and stall when drivers attempt to accelerate.
More than $500 million in damages is requested by 100 plaintiffs in what could be a prolonged image-damaging class action lawsuit about Ford’s claimed fuel economy breakthrough with the downsized EcoBoost engine. Ford issued two service bulletins to dealers about the problem, before redesigning the intake system for the 2013 model year.
Attorneys say that when F-150 drivers accelerate, moisture is forced into the engine, causing the vehicle to shudder. In severe cases, the F-150’s computer controls put the vehicle into “limp mode,” cutting power to prevent damage. The lawsuit against Ford seeks to provide compensation to all current or former owners and/or lessees of model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 vehicles.
“This is a significant defect, and one that involves a life-safety issue,” said Steve Berman, managing partner of Hagens Berman, an attorney for the plaintiffs of the proposed class. “Before we began our investigation, we reviewed the reports of many owners who told us harrowing stories of narrowly avoiding what could have been fatal crashes when their F150 stalled while attempting to pass or change lanes in busy freeway traffic.”
The suit claims that Ford is “completely aware” of the issue, and has gone as far as to warn dealers in a “secret memo,” (lawyer babble for a service communication) noting that vehicles may, “stumble and/or misfire on hard acceleration after an extended drive at highway speeds during high humid or damp conditions.”
“Ford knows about this issue, but has not taken any common-sense steps to protect its customers by issuing a recall, working with customers to repair their vehicles, or warning potential purchasers about the defect,” said Steve Berman. “Instead, Ford has actively concealed the problem, forcing consumers to suffer economic losses from repair costs and a reduced resale value for their vehicles.”
Steve Berman also currently serves as co-lead counsel for the economic loss in the class action lawsuit over unintended acceleration brought against Toyota. That case has resulted in a proposed settlement valued at up to $1.4 billion, which would be the largest automotive defect settlement in history. On 14 June 2013, Judge Selna will hold a fairness hearing and will weigh granting the proposed settlement final approval. (Read AutoInformed on Toyota Settles Lawsuits for $1.1 Billion and Will Modify Millions of Vehicles with Electronically Controlled Gas Pedals to Stop Runaways)
How do I get in on this Class action suit? I have an ’11 F150 ecoboost that gets terrible mileage and has gone into shut down mode twice and the dealer refuses to look at it because the check engine light isn’t on. It’s fun crossing three lanes of traffic in limp mode to shut the thing off. I think I have a lemon as far as the engine goes.