The Ford Transit Trail debuted back in November 2022 for the 2023 model year as an upfit-ready, off-road-capable version of the top-selling full-size van bearing a host of upgrades, a vehicle that seemed destined to appeal to the growing number of folks that are transforming those models into living spaces and taking them pretty much everywhere these days. Unfortunately, the Ford Transit Trail faced one big issue early on – its beefier 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires were contacting the front wheel arch liner and body flange, causing damage and prompting a recall. Now, a lawsuit has been filed over this very same issue.
According to Car Complaints, this new lawsuit – Provo, et al., v. Ford Motor Company –Â was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware by plaintiffs represented by Berger Montague PC, and Capstone Law APC. It alleges that Ford’s solution for the aforementioned recall – replacing the Transit Trail’s tires with smaller, 28.5-inch rubber – effectively diminishes its off-road capability, and claims that the automaker knew this was an issue when it sold the van to customers.
The lawsuit claims that no Ford Transit Trail owners have been offered any kind of compensation to make up for the fact that those vehicles aren’t as off-road-capable as advertised, and are requesting that the automaker issue a “prompt, complete, and effective recall or free replacement/repair program.”
As Ford Authority reported back in December, a number of “used” Ford Transit Trail models were spotted for sale at dealers recently, albeit, with most of their unique features removed, and each had fewer than 100 miles on the clock. Ford Authority later exclusively reported that the Ford Transit Trail was discontinued due to “ongoing challenges in the supply chain and part availability constraints,” according to the automaker itself, though it’s also assessing demand for the Transit Trail to determine its “future viability.”
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Ford is offering Ford dealers a $15,000 cash back for selling the remaining Transit Trails. To rid them from their lot, some dealer are giving buyers up to $20,000 off the MSRP since Ford is now requiring dealers to pay for them.
Some dealers are using the Ford Employee pricing as a way to make buyers think they are getting a deal when the dealer is making the huge profit on it.Others still think they will get close to MSRP when uneducated buyers come and see the Trail.