Ford Focus Brake Defect

Case Summary

In 2002, M&S filed a class lawsuit action against Ford Motor Company alleging defects in the front braking system of the 2000 and 2001 Ford Focus. Our clients alleged that the break system contained a systemic defect that caused front brake pads and rotors to wear out prematurely and repeatedly, forcing cto spend hundreds of dollars in repairs and maintenance on a recurring basis.

In 2005 M&S, along with co-counsel, filed a motion to certify a class of all persons who purchased or leased a 2000 or 2001 Ford Focus in the State of California. The motion contained multiple expert reports, hundreds of pages of documents and depositions, and statements from clients, all of which documented the extreme and unusual wear on Ford Focus breaks when compared with other automobiles and pointed to a systemic design issue rather than normal wear and tear.

In 2007 the Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for certification of a warranty class. The Court’s opinion noted that “plaintiff’s present extensive evidence that the 2000 and 2001 Ford Focus exhibits excessive brake wear” and that a class action would benefit both the court and the litigants.

SETTLEMENT

The settlement provided for reimbursement for class members who had paid out-of-pocket to have the brakes in their 2000 or 2001 Ford Focus fixed or replaced. The average eligible claim received was approximately $350, with some claims exceeding $1,200.