— A Ford 12-volt battery recall lawsuit alleges a recent recall to replace the batteries isn't good enough and won't repair the vehicles.
The lawsuit was filed by Illinois plaintiff Erika Ortega who purchased a new 2022 Ford Bronco Sport in April 2022, a vehicle she complains is worthless because Ford recalled her vehicle to replace the 12-volt battery.
The class action lawsuit includes:
"All persons in the United States who purchased a 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sport or a 2022-2023 Ford Maverick equipped with a 12 volt battery having an internal weld and cast-on-strap that was manufactured by Camel Battery Group."
Although it cost $405 to file the 12-volt battery lawsuit for more than $5 million, the plaintiff doesn't allege her battery failed or had any problems. But she complains vehicle owners "are unable to safely drive the Class Vehicles without risk of crashing."
Ford 12-Volt Battery Recall
Ford issued a 12-volt battery recall for about 273,000 model year 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles in January following an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Ford and NHTSA determined the 12-volt batteries, supplied by Camel, could suffer from internal weld and/or cast-on strap failures. A vehicle could stall when coming to a slow stop and the vehicle may be unable to restart.
The Camel batteries could also have battery plate lugs too close to the cast-on strap walls and weak tombstone welds due to weld temperatures being too high or the weld position being offset relative to the target position.
Ford knew of no crashes or injuries caused by the 12-volt batteries, and Ford mailed 12-volt battery recall letters the first part of February to replace the Camel batteries with BAGM-48H6-760 batteries.
In addition to replacing the defective 12-volt battery, a Ford owner could be reimbursed if they paid their own money for problems associated with the Camel battery.
Ford 12-Volt Battery Recall Lawsuit
The plaintiff says she received a Ford 12-volt battery recall notice but the "solution" for her vehicle is "wholly inadequate" and will cost her hours of her time. She complains the 12-volt battery recall has devalued her Ford Bronco Sport, and she asserts there is "cognizable risk inherent within this Recall."
"Unless Defendants are to issue a more comprehensive recall to truly fix the root cause of the Defect, it is foreseeable, and should be expected, that the Class Vehicles’ battery systems will fail once again. Defendants’ Recall is no more than an ineffective waste of time as there is no true fix for the Defect." — Ford 12-volt battery lawsuit
The plaintiff complains the Ford 12-volt battery recall "leaves more questions than answers" regarding the safety of the Mavericks and Bronco Sports. She also complains she must spend time and money to transport her Bronco Sport to a Ford dealership.
"In all, Defendants’ Recall amounts to tens of thousands of hours and dollars needlessly taken from Plaintiff and other Class Vehicle owners." — Ford battery class action
The Ford 12-volt battery recall lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: Erika Ortega v. Ford Motor Company, and Camel Group (USA) Battery, Inc.
The plaintiff is represented by Laukaitis Law LLC, and Siri & Glimstad LLP.