Ford Recalling 1.5 Million Focuses
» Posted January 7, 2019 • Resources | Share This Post
Ford Motor Co. wants to take another look at 1.5 million cars the automaker sold in North America. The problem: A fuel tank defect that could cause the vehicles to unexpectedly stall.
“An engine stall while driving without warning or without the ability to restart can increase the risk of a crash,” the company said in a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Ford late last year began sending recall notices to owners of 2012-2018 Focus vehicles with 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. It’s offering to fix a canister purge vale problem the company said is to blame for the stalling problem.
The canister purge valve is part of a system designed to limit vapors from escaping the fuel tank. Ford said some of the devices are “stuck open” on Focus vehicles. That, in turn, creates an “excessive vacuum” of vapors that can deform plastic fuel tanks.
The company says Focus owners should keep their fuel tanks at least half full at all times until the defect is fixed, according to USA Today. The vast majority of the affected cars were sold in the U.S., with less than 200,000 recalled vehicles coming from Mexico and Canada.
How the California Lemon Law May Protect You
The Ford recall is the latest example of some of the serious defects that are often uncovered after cars leave the factory lot.
The California lemon law is generally designed to force a manufacturer to repair the vehicle or take it back. Car makers are required to make certain attempts to fix defects while a vehicle is under warranty. If those efforts aren’t successful, the manufacturer has to either replace the car or reimburse the buyer. That includes covering the down payment and/or purchase prices and financing charges, as well as other expenses like car rentals, towing and repair costs. California’s lemon law also puts the car maker on the hook for related attorney fees and legal costs.
The law applies to both new and used cars, if repair attempts happen during the vehicle’s warranty period. The number of repair attempts required for the law to kick in depends on the situation.
Talk With an Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney
If you’re a California car owner with a faulty airbag or related problem, it’s important that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights and options. The California lemon law attorneys at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
