Ford issues 10-year warranty as EcoBoost engine-failure - California Lemon Law
Buying a new car is an exciting experience, but when that vehicle turns out to be defective, it can quickly become a frustrating ordeal. Thankfully, consumers have the Lemon Law to protect them in such situations. If you’ve ever found yourself repeatedly bringing your car in for repairs with no end in sight, you might have wondered what your rights are. Let’s break down what the Lemon Law entails and use a recent GM recall as an example to understand its importance.
What is the Lemon Law?
The Lemon Law refers to consumer protection laws designed to provide a remedy for buyers of cars that repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards. The goal is to ensure that manufacturers stand behind their products, offering repairs, replacements, or refunds for vehicles that qualify as “lemons.”
Under California Lemon Law, the vehicle must have:
Have a substantial defect covered by the warranty.
The defect persists after a reasonable number of attempts to fix it.
The vehicle has been out of service for an extended period due to repairs.
If your car meets these criteria, you may be entitled to compensation, a vehicle replacement, or even a refund. The Lemon Law typically applies to new vehicles, although some states extend these protections to used cars under certain circumstances..
What’s Happening with the Ford EcoBoost?
Ford's EcoBoost engines are reportedly experiencing performance issues, such as sudden power loss, stalling, and coolant leaks. Affected drivers have voiced concerns, prompting investigations and raising questions about consumer protection.
Regulators began investigating claims of engine issues affecting 2021 Bronco SUVs in July 2022. After thereafter, it evolved into a two-year investigation that included over 411,000 automobiles with Ford EcoBoost engines, such as the Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus and the Ford F-150 Bronco, Edge, and Explorer.
After Ford agreed to inspect potentially impacted engines and provide owners with an extended warranty, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) completed the investigation.
NHTSA and Ford’s own inspectors confirmed that the issue concerns a faulty intake valve that could drop inside the EcoBoost engine, causing it to lose power or shut down. The agency’s forensic analysis found the defective valves would fracture when exposed to high temperatures during regular engine use. The faulty valves were made between May and October 2021, NHTSA said.
Ford has now agreed to provide an extended powertrain warranty covering up to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
What Vehicles are Included in the Settlement
Ford or Lincoln vehicles with EcoBoost engine issues include:
2021–2022 Ford Bronco
2021–2022 Ford F-150
2021–2022 Ford Edge
2021–2022 Ford Explorer
2021–2022 Lincoln Nautilus
2021–2022 Lincoln Aviator
The extended warranty lasts through 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.. Your Ford or Lincoln vehicle must be covered by Ford’s “Nano” EcoBoost engine recall to benefit from this extended warranty coverage.
How Lemon Laws Can Help
If your vehicle exhibits consistent issues impacting safety or value, you may qualify for protection under lemon laws. Typically, the vehicle must have had multiple repair attempts within a warranty period.
Your Rights and Next Steps
If you own a vehicle with persistent EcoBoost issues, documenting repairs and contacting an attorney can be essential steps. Depending on your state, lemon laws may allow for a replacement, a buyback, or compensation.
Reach out to valero law for a free lemon law case evlatuion
If you're in California and you’ve taken your Ford vehicle to a dealership for issues relating to the the engine, check engine light, valve problems or engine lifter repair or any warranty concern, we can help you…. AT NO COST TO YOU! Valero Law, APC is a California consumer protection firm dedicated to protecting the lemon law rights of California consumers and ALL cases are taken on a contingency basis, meaning if there is no recovery, there is absolutely no fee to you! To see if you are eligible, contact us on the form below so we can review the details of your case and determine what you may be entitled to under California Lemon Law, including cash compensation or a vehicle buy back / refund!