Ford Maverick and Bronco Stop-Start System Recall: Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Battery Defects
Start-stop technology is a common feature in modern vehicles, designed to save fuel by automatically turning off the engine at temporary stops. However, Ford Maverick and Bronco owners faced a setback when a recall was issued due to the stop-start system failing to restart the engine, resulting in a loss of power.
Ford recalled around 456,000 Maverick and Bronco Sport SUVs, specifically the 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sports and 2022-2023 Mavericks, due to the auto start-stop feature malfunction. Despite offering a free software update as a solution, the issue was later found to be related to hardware, specifically defective 12-volt batteries.
A class action lawsuit alleges that Ford and Camel Group (USA) Battery, Inc. concealed the battery defects, which include an internal weld and a cast-on strap prone to failure. The lawsuit claims that the software update provided by Ford did not address the root cause of the problem, leading to continued battery failures and potentially dangerous situations for vehicle owners.
Affected customers who experienced power outages and inability to restart their vehicles had to incur towing costs and inconvenience. The lawsuit also highlights the diminished value of vehicles with faulty batteries, compared to those with properly functioning batteries.
The proposed class-action lawsuit aims to represent individuals in the United States who purchased a 2021-2024 Ford Bronco Sport or a 2022-2023 Ford Maverick with the defective 12-volt battery manufactured by Camel Group (USA) Battery, Inc. The lawsuit seeks to address the inadequate repair provided by Ford and hold the companies accountable for the battery issues.