Ford to Settle Lawsuit Over Claims of Faulty Manifolds

Ford Motor Co. has agreed to settle a customer lawsuit over alleged defects in the intake manifolds of as many as 2 million cars.

Under the settlement, filed late Thursday in federal court in Oakland, Ford will pay owners of some Mercury Grand Marquis, Lincoln Town Cars and Ford Crown Victorias at least $735 to reimburse them for repairs made on faulty manifolds, which route air to an engine’s cylinders.

Car owners claim in a class-action lawsuit that Ford installed plastic intake manifolds that were prone to cracking and causing coolant leaks on some 1996 to 2001 models. The settlement could cost Ford as much as $375 million if every customer files a claim, customer attorney Richard Dorman said.

“According to Ford’s own documents, about 450,000 to 500,000 manifolds in the class members’ vehicles have failed,” said Dorman, a lawyer with Cunningham, Bounds, Yance, Crowder & Brown in Mobile, Ala.

Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes said the number of manifold failures claim was “grossly inflated” and wouldn’t comment on the possible cost to Ford.

“Ford believes it is inappropriate to comment upon the terms of a class settlement that is not final, at least until official notice has been provided by the court to the class,” she said.

Ford doesn’t admit liability by settling the lawsuit. “Although we believe this class action was without merit, we are pleased that we were able to negotiate a settlement that, if approved, will provide additional value to our customers,” Vokes said.

Shares of Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford fell 9 cents to $11.28.