In a win for consumer rights, and a bitter blow to car manufacturers who like bloating figures, Ford has been ordered to pay USD 19.2 million (P 1 billion) for vehicles that don’t meet advertised fuel economy and payload ratings in the United States.
Reuters reports that the payout is part of a resolution covering 40 states and the District of Columbia due to false advertising involving 2013 to 2014 Ford C-Max (lead photo) and 2011 to 2014 Ford Super Duty pickup trucks.
While Ford did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement, several state Attorney Generals didn’t waste time hitting the carmaker.
“For years, Ford advertised impressive fuel economy and payload capacity for its cars and trucks,” Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said. “Unfortunately, these figures were not based in reality, leaving customers with vehicles that did not meet their standards.”
“Ford misrepresented the distance consumers could drive on one tank of gas, asserted driving style would not influence vehicles’ real-world fuel economy and claimed superior real-world fuel economy compared to other hybrids,” Acting New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
The C-Max, particularly the C-Max Hybrid was found not to be as fuel efficient as Ford advertised. This led the carmaker to drop the advertised fuel economy ratings by 7 MPG (2.97 km/L). They also sent owners checks of USD 550 (P 28,788.65) to make up the difference in fuel costs.
Meanwhile, when it came to the Super Duty’s “best-in-class” payload capacity, Ford used deceptive methodology it come up with the figure.
In calculating the maximum payload capacity of its vehicles, the investigation found, Ford employed a truck configuration it did not actually intend to sell to individual buyers – one that omitted such standard items as the spare wheel, tire and jack, radio, and center console (which was replaced by a mini-console). As a result, Ford was able to add additional pounds to the maximum advertisable payload capacity of its Super Duty truck, just enough for Ford to reclaim the title of “Best-in-Class” for payload.
This settlement show just how strong customer rights is in the U.S., and how agencies such as the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) could step up a bit. While local companies won’t see litigation for these kinds of cases, it should serve as a warning, not just to Ford, but to everyone else that they should stick with realistic figures, fuel economy or otherwise.
Hahaha lol what about the Philippines? Yung problem nga about sa DCT was never rectified dito eh samantalang Australia and Thailand pushed hard against Ford's deceptive marketing of their transmissions. Kaya nag sara yung AAT factory ng Ford sa Thailand that produces The festa, ecosport, and focus.
ReplyDeleteDisappointing ang Ford as a company. Dishonesty is a No No.
ReplyDeleteNaalala ko ang 'dieselgate' scandal ng Volkswagen.