Back in August, FoMoCo was ordered to pay $1.7 billion in punitive damages over a roof crush issue that reportedly plagues 1999-2016 Ford Super Duty pickups. This legal decision followed a $24 million dollar judgement granted to the family of two people who died back in 2014 when their Super Duty rolled over. Ford is appealing that decision but is still unlikely to be granted a new trial. At the same time, new lawsuits are being filed over this Ford Super Duty roof issue, including one in Michigan back in September, as well as another one – this time in Canada – according to Car Complaints.
This new lawsuit – Jeremiah Jacob Put v. Ford Motor Company, et al – was filed in the Supreme Court of British Columbia and pertains to 1999-2016 Ford F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 Super Duty pickups, each of which utilize the PHN-131 design platform. This time around, however, the plaintiff who filed the suit – Jeremiah Jacob Put – hasn’t suffered roof crush in his 2007 Ford Super Duty, which he purchased back in 2016.
As is the case with the previous lawsuits centered around this issue, this new suit alleges that the Super Duty’s roof is weak and prone to collapse in the event of a rollover accident. Moreover, it claims that Ford chose to make the roofs weak on purpose to save money, which in turn makes them more dangerous and less valuable in terms of resale.
Meanwhile, Ford has denied any wrongdoing in this particular instance, and as Ford Authority reported back in August, the automaker wasn’t required to install a stronger roof on those trucks at the time. When the rules regulating roof strength were expanded 30 years ago to include light-duty trucks, the National Highway Safety Administration chose not to include heavy-duty trucks in the new regulation after automakers lobbied against it, though that eventually did happen following an order by Congress in 2009.
We’ll have more on this and all of Ford’s active lawsuits soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for the latest Ford lawsuit news, Ford Super Duty news, and continuous Ford news coverage.
Comments
Maby people should just tuffen up and stop trying to get money for nothing it’s a sad world we in
Toughen up? Do you talk so silly in public too?
Automakers lobbied against stronger roofs for Heavy Duty Trucks?!
Yes. It’s not just roofs, OEMs often try to carve out money saving regulation for higher GVWR vehicles even when the basic design is closely related, the vehicles are quite profitable, and production volumes are enough to keep a dedicated assembly plant running full tilt.
I’d rather die in a rollover in my F250 than drive a Chevrolet.
I don’t know how Chevrolet hurr durr entered the conversation, but everybody needs a dream so thanks for sharing yours!
Come on people it’s not made to be on it roof