Ford In Class-Action Lawsuit for Updating Owner’s Manuals

Perhaps class-action lawsuits are good for our society, but I’m not seeing much evidence of that. Instead, I’m seeing bogus class-action lawsuits levied with little cause at every turn. Toyota settled a class-action lawsuit for $1.6 billion earlier this year, despite the fact that no one has ever been able to prove Toyota’s electronic throttle systems have a flaw. The law firms behind that class-action suit supposedly earned about $200 million in fees for their efforts, begging the question as to whether this class-action lawsuit was legitimate.

Now let’s be clear – I’m not saying that the lawyers behind this class-action business are all a bunch of greedy, blood-sucking scum who perverted the legal system for their own financial gain. I’m just saying that I think that’s a motivation for some of the lawyers involved.

Are all lawyers bad? No. But the people behind these seemingly groundless class action lawsuits deserve a special place in hell.

Unfortunately, it’s Ford’s turn to face their own class-action lawsuit with dubious value. Specifically, Ford is being sued because they failed to provide “instructions on ‘what to do’ should an [sudden acceleration] event occur could mean the difference between life and death” to owners of older Ford vehicles, while offering these instructions to newer vehicle owners.

That’s right – Ford is being sued because they updated their owners manuals.

Why Is Ford Liable?

I’m no lawyer, but I’m struggling with the basic principle at stake here. From what I’ve gleaned from this press release, the complaint reads like this:

1. Ford added instructions on “what to do when your car won’t stop” to their vehicle owner’s manuals in 2012, and sent 2011 model year owners a special notification (or at least I think so…not clear on what Ford did for 2011 model year owners)
2. Many of the models that Ford added these instructions to were using electronic throttle systems as far back as 2002
3. Therefore, Ford should have sent owners of 2002-2010 vehicles a letter explaining what to do when your throttle gets stuck.

Ford updated their manuals, but since they didn’t tell everyone that’s bought a car in the last 11 years about the update, they deserve to be sued. Make sense?

Me niether.

Just for fun, here’s the instructions that the lawyers behind this class action suit want Ford to send out post-haste:

How to STOP YOUR CAR if it unexpectedly speeds up.

If your car speeds upon its own, and you can’t stop it by pressing the brakes, follow these steps IMMEDIATELY!!!

STEPS – WHAT TO DO

1. Step hard on brake pedal with your foot. Do NOT pump brakes – makes it harder to stop your car.

2. Shift to N (neutral).

If you can shift to N:
– After slowing down, steer car to a safe place by the road.

If you cannot shift to N:
– Keep pressing the brake to slow down the car.

3. Turn off engine.

Cars with a key:
– Turn engine switch to ACC position – the position when you want to listen to the radio, but the engine is off.

Cars with a smart key:
– Press the “START ENGINE SWITCH”
1. for 3 seconds or more, or
2. quickly 3 times or more.

4. Move your car to a safe place by the road.

Life-saving advice right? I mean, there’s no possible way you’d know how to do these things without a helpful flyer from Ford…right?

Am I all wet, or is this complete and total BS? Is Ford getting jobbed here? Please share your thoughts below.