— A Ford EcoBoost class action lawsuit has been dismissed after Ford owners claimed a defective oil pump caused the failure of their 1-liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engines.
The class action lawsuit covers the following Ford models and years:
2016-2017 Ford Fiesta
2018-2021 Ford EcoSport
2016-2018 Ford Focus
A so-called oil pump problem prevents oil from circulating and protecting the EcoBoost engine. The owners who filed the lawsuit claim that the cost of repairing the EcoBoost engine may be more than the engine itself.
Ford allegedly knew about the problem with the EcoBoost engine because the automaker had issued a technical service bulletin and special service message (SSM) to dealers about the 1-liter engine.
SSM 48093 was issued for 2018-2019 Ford EcoSport vehicles equipped with EcoBoost engines, which “may experience a loss of engine oil pressure with an illuminated oil pressure warning light.”
SSM 49726 was issued for the EcoBoost oil pump tensioner for certain 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2019 Ford EcoSports manufactured before July 3, 2019. Dealers were told to replace the engine component with the failed engine oil pump tensioner.
SSM 49918 was subsequently issued which stated “Replacement of engine components with long block option 6006 and turbocharger.”
Ford is recalling 2016-2018 Ford Focus and 2018-2022 Ford EcoSport vehicles in December 2023 due to a possible failure of the drive belt tensioner or oil pump drive belt.
“The engine oil pump drive belt tensioner arm may break and separate from the tensioner backing plate, and/or the oil pump drive belt material may degrade and lose teeth, resulting in a loss of engine oil pressure.” — Ford
Ford failed to dismiss the class action lawsuit despite telling the judge that no plaintiffs took advantage of the recall repairs.
Although Ford argued that the lawsuit should be dismissed based on the EcoBoost engine recall, the judge found that even though the allegedly defective parts would be replaced for free, the plaintiffs still claimed that their vehicles were worth less than normal because of the oil pump.
Although the plaintiffs did not take advantage of the free recall repairs, Judge Gregory B. Williams said he must accept that the EcoBoost engine recalls “do not make the problem complete” as the plaintiffs said.
The judge did dismiss the express warranty claim, two Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims, a claim seeking equitable relief, and a claim under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act. However, he said the class action lawsuit may continue based on the remaining claims.
However, court records show that plaintiffs Veronica Maldonado, John Wright, Margaret Vasquez, Tracey Drotos, Marlon Bolton, Bea Tyree, Lane Tyree, Scott Martin, Jenny Ptaszek, and Gina Bilotta voluntarily dismissed their EcoBoost lawsuit.
The Ford EcoBoost class action lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware: Bolton et al v. Ford Motor Co..
The plaintiffs are represented by Chimicles Schwartz Kriner & Donaldson-Smith LLP, Berger Montague PC and Capstone Law APC.
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