Wallace Miller is pursuing class action litigation against Ford Motor Company alleging that their 10R80 transmissions are defective and dangerous. Plaintiffs claim that these 10-speed automatic transmissions, which were installed in various Ford cars and trucks in the 2017 model year and afterwards, had design or manufacturing defects that made these vehicles faulty and unsafe to drive. 

The Wallace Miller team is utilizing our knowledge of state courts and decades of collective experience to help individuals work towards a class settlement.

Timeline 

October 2024 — The plaintiffs’ motion for class certification is currently pending in the Northern District of Illinois. In the District of Massachusetts, plaintiffs have filed a consolidated complaint and are beginning the discovery process. Meanwhile, plaintiffs’ counsel in the Eastern District of Virginia are moving into the expert discovery phase. 

November 2020 — A decision in the Northern District of Illinois has dismissed some claims, but the class action lawsuit continues with more limited parameters. 

2019 — A lawsuit filed in Illinois is the first to assert that Ford manufactured, sold, and distributed vehicles with defective transmissions. 

2017-2024 — More than 60 complaints have been made to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration related to issues with the Ford transmission. 

2017-2019 — Plaintiffs allege that multiple models of Ford vehicles released in model years 2017-2019 include a faulty powershift transmission that can pose serious risks to driver safety. 

What you need to know about the Ford transmissions lawsuit 

Several classes of plaintiffs across the country allege that Ford sold and leased thousands of vehicles with defective 10R80 10-speed automatic transmissions. The 10R80 Ford transmission was first introduced in model year 2017 vehicles including Ford Expeditions, Mustangs, Rangers, F-150s, Transits, and Lincoln Navigators. 

Car owners and operators claim that the faulty transmission in affected vehicles has led to a number of serious problems, including jerky and harsh shifting. They allege that these risks can pose hazards to drivers while on the road, leading to potentially life-threatening situations. 

The lawsuit claims that Ford customers began reporting issues to the company shortly after the new transmission was introduced. Although dozens of complaints have been sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 2017 and 2024 raising safety concerns, and Ford itself has issued numerous Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) attempting to address the issue, Ford has refused to replace or repair the defective transmissions, publicly claiming the shifting issues are normal.  

Why are transmission problems dangerous? 

In basic terms, a car or truck’s transmission is its gearbox (somewhat similar to the gears on a bicycle). It converts engine power to momentum and controls how much power is delivered to the car. The transmission makes it possible for the car to accelerate, maintain speed, and decelerate reliably—and it prevents the engine from overheating or shaking itself to pieces. 

In vehicles with a manual transmission, drivers use the clutch to change gears according to speed and road conditions. First developed by General Motors in the 1930s, cars and trucks with automatic transmissions like the 10R80 transmission conduct that process automatically, reducing driver involvement and potential for error.

Ford first installed the 10R80 10-speed transmission in model year 2017 vehicles that went on the market in late 2016. Shortly after its release, drivers began experiencing serious issues with gear shifting. In numerous complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers reported transmission problems that caused their vehicles to surge, hesitate, jerk, lunge, and slip gears. Although Ford released a number of technical service bulletins to attempt to correct the issue, it has still not admitted that there is a design or manufacturing problem with the transmission. 

Drivers and operators of Ford vehicles with the 10R80 transmission claim that they would not have purchased these vehicles had they known about the transmission issues. Ford Motors assured them that they were purchasing or leasing a high-quality car or truck—but instead, drivers found themselves dealing with harsh and faulty gear-shifting and an increased risk of accidents. 

Understanding the Ford Motor Company class action lawsuit 

Ford Motor Company, the defendant in the ongoing class action lawsuits, is a publicly traded company that operates throughout the U.S. and internationally. It sells vehicles through authorized Ford dealerships and sets dealership policies on repairs, warranties, and services provided. 

The lawsuit has been brought by class members who purchased or leased cars and trucks with a Ford 10R80 transmission. Ford has claimed that their 10R80 transmissions, installed in vehicles of model year 2017 or newer, deliver high-quality performance and smooth shifting. Instead, owners of class vehicles allege that the company sold vehicles with design and/or manufacturing defects leading to problems including erratic shifting and gear slipping. 

Plaintiffs claim that Ford either knew or should have known of the potentially dangerous shifting problems and that the company misrepresented or actively concealed the defect from its consumers. Members of the class action lawsuit are asking for a jury trial, injunctive relief, and damages for replacement or costly repairs to faulty models and for risks to consumer safety. 

The legal framework for Ford’s transmission class action lawsuit 

Plaintiffs in the Ford transmission lawsuit are bringing their claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, breach of warranty principles, consumer protection statutes, and various other state laws. These laws were written to protect consumers from harmful business practices and ensure that the terms of warranties are held up fairly. 

Consumers say that they would not have bought or leased their Ford vehicles (or would have paid less for them) had they known about the transmission issues. 

Holding corporations accountable for product safety 

Wallace Miller is proud to act as counsel in class actions across the country fighting for consumer rights and protection. Our team of attorneys brings more than 100 years of total experience fighting for individual plaintiffs against powerful businesses including Ford, Johnson & Johnson, and Monsanto. 

Questions about working with Wallace Miller? Learn more about our class action practice and find out how we collaborate with other firms to fight for justice.