Lemon Law · Ford
Ford lemon law attorney in California
Owners of Ford F-150, Explorer, Escape, Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, and Maverick vehicles have filed complaints with federal safety regulators describing power train failures, electrical system malfunctions, engine performance problems, and service brake defects. The reports include transmissions that unexpectedly shift to neutral or fail to engage, complete loss of motive power, door locks that will not secure, brake pedals that lose pressure, and windshield wipers that stop working. Ford has issued recall campaigns addressing driveshaft fractures, steering gear damage, brake fluid leaks, wiper motor failures, and engine valve breakage. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act requires manufacturers to repair a defect covered by warranty. When a safety defect persists after two repair attempts, or a non-safety defect after four attempts, or the vehicle spends more than thirty days out of service, the owner may have a claim for replacement or repurchase. These presumptions apply when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22).
Known defects
What Ford owners report, and why repeat repairs matter
These are the categories owners file most often with the federal safety regulator for the Ford model years in the record below. A complaint is one owner's report, not a finding that a vehicle is defective.
Transmission and drive power failures
Owners report transmissions that shift into neutral without warning, refuse to engage gears, or hesitate when accelerating. Some describe complete loss of drive power. Ford has recalled F-150 trucks for transmission software errors and Mustang Mach-E vehicles for high-voltage contactors that eliminate motive power. Each repair attempt counts toward the reasonable-opportunity threshold. A transmission defect that persists after the dealer's second or third visit typically strengthens a claim.
F-150 · Explorer · Maverick · Mustang Mach-E
Electrical system and locking malfunctions
Complaints describe door locks that will not secure, reverse lights that stop working, and body control module failures. Some owners report that one or more doors remain unlocked even after the vehicle is locked, creating a security risk. Ford has issued recalls for software updates that disabled reverse lights and for damaged body wiring harnesses. Electrical defects that create safety concerns fall under the statute's two-attempt threshold for presumptive replacement rights.
F-150 · Mustang Mach-E · Maverick · Explorer
Engine performance and valve failures
Owners report engines that stall at traffic stops, hesitate when the accelerator is pressed, or lose power while driving. Ford has recalled certain Bronco and F-150 vehicles equipped with EcoBoost engines for intake valve breakage that can cause engine failure and loss of drive power. An engine defect that produces repeated shop visits for hesitation, stalling, or power loss may meet the statute's repair-attempt threshold even when the dealer reports no trouble code found.
F-150 · Bronco · Escape · Maverick
Brake system failures and loss of stopping power
Complaints describe brake pedals that sink to the floor, rear wheels that lock unexpectedly, and warning lights for brake system failure. Ford has recalled F-150 trucks for electronic brake boosters that leak fluid into the control unit, reducing braking performance. Loss of brake pressure is a safety defect under the statute. Two repair attempts that do not eliminate the symptom may support a presumption that the manufacturer cannot conform the vehicle to warranty.
F-150 · Escape · Bronco · Mustang Mach-E
Windshield wiper failures
Owners report windshield wipers that stop working or wiper arms that break. Ford has recalled F-150 vehicles multiple times for wiper motor failures and broken wiper linkages that render the system inoperative. Wipers that fail in rain or snow eliminate visibility. The statute classifies visibility defects as safety issues. A wiper failure that recurs after repair, or that the dealer cannot permanently resolve, typically meets the two-attempt threshold.
F-150 · Bronco · Explorer · Mustang Mach-E
Steering, suspension, and structural safety defects
Ford has recalled F-150 trucks for steering gear damage that can make rotation of the steering wheel difficult or impossible, and for windshields that were not properly bonded and may detach in a crash. Bronco vehicles have been recalled for improperly tightened lug nuts that can result in wheel detachment. Owners have reported fractured suspension control arms. Loss of steering control or wheel detachment are critical safety defects. The statute's two-attempt threshold applies when these issues recur.
F-150 · Explorer · Bronco
By model & year
Find your exact Ford
Every model year the firm has read the federal record for has its own page. Pick your model year for what owners filed against it, the recall campaigns naming it, and what the statute asks.
Bronco
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Bronco | 21 | 9 | Electrical system |
| 2025 Ford Bronco | 176 | 19 | Electrical system |
| 2024 Ford Bronco | 74 | 16 | Electrical system |
| 2023 Ford Bronco | 222 | 18 | Visibility/wiper |
| 2022 Ford Bronco | 375 | 23 | Visibility/wiper |
| 2021 Ford Bronco | 225 | 20 | Engine |
Escape
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Escape | 4 | 2 | Electrical system |
| 2025 Ford Escape | 28 | 9 | Electrical system |
| 2024 Ford Escape | 76 | 8 | Electrical system |
| 2023 Ford Escape | 95 | 11 | Electrical system |
| 2022 Ford Escape | 231 | 19 | Fuel system |
| 2021 Ford Escape | 343 | 19 | Structure |
Explorer
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Explorer | 34 | 14 | Electrical system |
| 2025 Ford Explorer | 98 | 20 | Electrical system |
| 2024 Ford Explorer | 20 | 10 | Forward collision avoidance |
| 2023 Ford Explorer | 108 | 15 | Electrical system |
| 2022 Ford Explorer | 264 | 24 | Power train |
| 2021 Ford Explorer | 423 | 26 | Power train |
F-150
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford F-150 | 28 | 5 | Forward collision avoidance |
| 2025 Ford F-150 | 324 | 13 | Power train |
| 2024 Ford F-150 | 595 | 11 | Power train |
| 2023 Ford F-150 | 1,318 | 13 | Power train |
| 2022 Ford F-150 | 1,981 | 23 | Power train |
| 2021 Ford F-150 | 3,281 | 29 | Power train |
Maverick
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Maverick | 10 | 7 | Electrical system |
| 2025 Ford Maverick | 98 | 12 | Electrical system |
| 2024 Ford Maverick | 71 | 15 | Power train |
| 2023 Ford Maverick | 264 | 21 | Power train |
| 2022 Ford Maverick | 150 | 28 | Electrical system |
Mustang Mach-E
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns | Most-reported part |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 1 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 12 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 43 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 122 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 136 | 0 | Electrical system |
| 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 343 | 0 | Electrical system |
The statute
When a Ford problem becomes a lemon
These are the presumptions in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22). Each applies when the defect is first reported, and the vehicle is presented for warranty repair, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. They are presumptions, not predictions about any individual vehicle.
A
Two or more attempts (safety)
For a defect that could cause death or serious injury, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
B
Four or more attempts
For the same non-safety warranty problem, reported within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
C
30 days out of service
Cumulative, for warranty repair, within 18 months or 18,000 miles.
Have an attorney read your Ford repair orders.
Start My Free Case ReviewAttorney Advertising disclaimer: Prior results do not predict or indicate a similar outcome in any future matter. The information on this page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, stop driving it and call the firm on (619) 235-0137. Figures from the federal safety regulator's record are estimates taken from the record on the date shown.