Lawsuit Allegedly Claims Ford's Battery Solution for Bronco Sport and Maverick is 'Ineffective' | Carscoops

      The plaintiff is requesting compensation for himself and fellow class members through a jury trial.

      Ford issued a recall for Bronco Sport and Maverick models in January due to defective 12-volt batteries.

      The plaintiff argues he changed his 12V battery after experiencing repeated failures at 34,000 miles.

      This defective battery poses the risk of vehicles stalling or losing power entirely while in operation.

      In the United States, Ford is facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that specific Bronco Sport and Maverick models contain faulty 12-volt batteries, which can lead to power loss or stalling of the vehicles. The lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania and also names Camel Group Battery, the battery manufacturer involved.

      The suit states that 2021–2023 Bronco Sport models and 2022–2023 Maverick models are outfitted with a 12-volt battery that has an internal weld and cast-on strap susceptible to failure. Ford has acknowledged this problem and issued a recall for more than 272,000 affected vehicles in late January, addressing these potentially defective Camel batteries.

      Ford’s remedy involves substituting the Camel batteries with a new AGM 12V battery. However, the class action asserts that this is “an ineffective waste of time,” contending that “there is no genuine resolution for the defect.” The lawsuit claims that “unless the Defendants undertake a more thorough recall to effectively address the root cause of the defect, it is foreseeable and expected that the battery systems in the Class Vehicles will fail again.”

      Edward Benson initiated the lawsuit on behalf of himself and other Bronco Sport and Maverick owners. After purchasing his Bronco Sport from a dealer in Janesville, Wisconsin, last year, he reports multiple battery failures, necessitating a replacement after 34,000 miles. He indicated that he has had to carry a battery booster and disable the start/stop feature, concerned about the possibility of being unable to restart the engine if it turns off.

      In the class action, Benson’s attorneys highlight that he has been “burdened with a vehicle that has been devalued” due to the recall and that he, like other class members, “must invest time and money” to have their vehicles repaired by certified Ford mechanics. The lawsuit accuses Ford of unjust enrichment and negligence, violations of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and breaches of both express and implied warranties.

      Benson is pursuing a jury trial and seeks damages for himself and other affected owners.