Ford Suit Claims Lemon Law Lawyers Bilked Them Out of $100M
And while many automakers find themselves involved in Lemon Law cases, this next instance is a bit unique. For Ford Motor Company, instead of facing off in lawsuits over defective products, it is filing a suit against a group of Lemon Law attorneys alleging widespread fraud.
Most Read on IEN:
Ford Worker Accused of Stealing Millions in Parts
The Cybertruck's Staggering Depreciation
Shoemaker Looks to Outsmart Tariffs
Podcast: Cybertruck's Wild Depreciation; Faraday's 2 Cars; BioLab Won't Rebuild
Companies who are found in breach of Lemon Law are often on the hook for the legal fees of the customer, which means there are certain law firms that specialize in – and seek out – these specific types of consumer protection cases. In Ford's instance, the automaker claims that a group of nine attorneys have been presenting them with inflated bills for Lemon Law-pursuing customers, to the tune of millions of dollars.
In fact, Ford's claims go even further. A report in Carscoops says Ford has accused the law firms in question of working in tandem, which they say is tantamount to fraud in violation of the RICO Act – a federal law that targets corruption.
Ford's suit outlines a 'magical mystery tour of fictitious billings' including a breakdown of nonsensical hourly charges. For example, Ford says one single attorney in the case billed Ford more than 20 hours in a day on 66 occasions. 34 of these incidents were reportedly bills above 24 hours in a day and one cites a 57-and-a-half-hour workday.
Ford also says one attorney billed them for traveling to two different trials held on the same day. The problem was, they were held 380 miles apart.
Carscoops points to Ford's lawsuit, which suggests that half of all the legal fee applications the automaker received were suspect. The company is not only seeking $300 million in damages, but it's warning other automakers that they might be affected too.
For their part, the attorneys are emphatically denying the accusations. Knight Law Group called Ford's legal action 'nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to silence firms who would dare hold them responsible and seek justice for consumers.'
Click here to subscribe to our daily newsletter featuring breaking manufacturing industry news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ford's Latest Truck Patent Could Change the Camping Game for Good
The Blue Oval has published a design for an overlanding pop-top that's innovative in more ways than one. Like most OEMs in the industry, Ford typically leaves the development of overlanding equipment to aftermarket suppliers. After all, their specialization creates a competitive product. However, the Blue Oval appears to have had its eye on the pickup accessories market lately. As evidenced by a recently discovered patent, Ford's engineers are kicking around a few ideas that could change the camping game. Pickup pop-top As reported by Carbuzz, Ford filed a patent for a rooftop tent in 2024 — the 'Shelter System Having Deployable Platform' — that was published last week. While a pop-up sleeper in itself is nothing new, the Blue Oval's engineers have designed this particular patent specifically for use with a pickup. Rather than adapting an existing design developed for the roof of an SUV, Ford's concept takes advantage of a truck bed. When stowed, the tent acts as an angled aerodynamic tonneau cover — it packs flat and shields the bed while leaving its cargo area unobstructed. However, come time for deployment, it unfolds over top of the cab and creates a spacious overlanding shelter. In addition to a set of slippery side panels for extra wind-cheating abilities, Ford engineers also envisioned the system featuring some front struts for structural support. It's a slick system in that it forgoes the need for a rear rack common to truck tent setups. Electric implications Throughout the patent document, Ford made specific and multiple references to the fact that the pictured pickup was electric. After all, improving aerodynamic efficiency reaps significant benefits when it comes to EV range. However, even in the absence of its fancy bed-based tent design, the truck doesn't really look like anything that's in the Blue Oval's lineup. While there are some obvious similarities to the Ford Maverick, the F-150 Lightning is currently the only electric Ford pickup on the market. At this stage, the brand does have a hybrid Maverick, though it's a PHEV. Considering the recent rumors surrounding Ford's forthcoming affordable battery-powered truck, this patent may give an early look at a soon-to-be-announced vehicle. While you shouldn't hold your breath for a release because of a patent filing, past designs have made the jump to reality.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Forbes
Ford Says Its New Midsize Pickup Will Aim For $30,000 Sticker
Ford announced Monday it will debut a new generation of affordable electric vehicles in 2027, led by a midsize four-door pickup truck with a target starting price of $30,000. The truck will be built at Ford's Louisville, Kentucky, assembly plant, where the company is investing nearly $2 billion to prepare the facility. The investment will retain at least 2,200 jobs at the plant, which currently produces the Escape and Lincoln Corsair. It's great news for autobuyers who've shaken their heads in recent years at the skyrocketing prices of new trucks. CEO Jim Farley said the move is aimed at matching the cost efficiency of Chinese automakers such as BYD, which produce EVs for $10,000–$25,000 through highly streamlined supply chains and manufacturing systems. While those models aren't sold in the U.S., Farley called them 'the standard' Ford must meet. 'I can't tell you with 100% certainty that this will all go just right,' he told employees in Louisville, according to Reuters. 'It is a bet. There is risk.' The pickup and other upcoming EVs are being developed by Ford's 'skunkworks' team in California, led by former Tesla executive Alan Clarke and staffed with talent from Tesla and Rivian. The group operates independently from the broader company, to the point where Farley himself couldn't initially access its building. Ford will use lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries made in Marshall, Michigan, with technology licensed from Chinese battery maker CATL, to help lower costs. The U.S. EV market averaged prices of $47,000 in June, according to J.D. Power, with affordability cited as a top concern by shoppers. The competition to offer cheaper EVs is heating up, too. Amazon-backed startup Slate is aiming for the mid-$20,000s for its electric pickup, while Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid are preparing lower-cost models in the $40,000–$50,000 range. Ford's shift to lower-cost EVs comes after scaling back earlier plans. The company canceled an electric three-row SUV, postponed its next-generation F-150 Lightning and E-Transit until 2028, and dumped a project to develop a more advanced electrical architecture. Losses in the EV and software division could reach $5.5 billion this year, after nearly $10 billion in combined losses from 2023–2024. However, Farley expects the new EV lineup to turn a profit within its first year. Currently, Ford sells three EVs in the U.S.—the Mustang Mach-E SUV, E-Transit van, and F-150 Lightning pickup—whose sales fell 12% in the first half of the year. Meanwhile, hybrid sales climbed 27%. Federal incentives are also shrinking, with the $7,500 consumer tax credit being phased out, emissions rules loosened, and charging-infrastructure funding reduced. Farley said Ford will focus on the segment where it sees the most opportunity: smaller, practical EVs for commuting and city driving. While General Motors built a dedicated EV platform for its lineup, Ford initially adapted gasoline-powered models to run on batteries, a move that allowed quicker launches but exposed the company to market volatility. Lessons from that experience, Farley said, will inform Ford's next phase of EV development.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ford recalls more than 103k F-150 trucks over rear axle hub bolt defects
Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for 103,174 F-150 pickup trucks, citing concerns over faulty rear axle hub bolts that could break. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report has identified that the affected vehicles come with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy-duty axle. Switch Auto Insurance and Save Today! Affordable Auto Insurance, Customized for You The Insurance Savings You Expect Great Rates and Award-Winning Service These trucks, which have a three-quarter float axle design, were manufactured between 2 January 2023 and 21 May 21 2025. The auto regulator's report indicates that the rear axle hub bolt may succumb to fatigue, leading to a breakage that prevents it from securing the hub splines to the axle shaft splines. The resulting micro-movement, particularly in corrosive environments, may wear down the hub splines and compromise torque transfer to the wheel end. This defect could potentially cause the vehicle to roll away when parked without the parking brake engaged or result in a motive power loss during 4X2 operation, increasing the crash risk. The cause of the issue has been attributed to fretting wear between the hub and axle splines, with displaced particles leading to corrosion and accelerated wear. Customers might notice a clicking noise if the rear axle hub bolt loosens, or a rattle noise if the bolt breaks. NHTSA estimates that only about 1% of the vehicles are affected by this defect. Ford plans to notify owners via mail, directing them to take their trucks to a Ford or Lincoln dealer for a no-cost replacement of the left and right rear axle shaft assemblies. These replacements will feature revised spline geometry and fasteners. The notification period for the planned remedy is scheduled between 18 August 18 2025, and 22 May 2026. As of now, Ford is not 'aware' of any injuries or accidents associated with this condition. In July 2025, the company recalled 694,271 vehicles globally due to a potential fuel injector issue that could lead to underhood fires, affecting certain Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Escape models with 1.5L engines. "Ford recalls more than 103k F-150 trucks over rear axle hub bolt defects" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
