SACRAMENTO, California (AP) – Ford The Motor Company on Tuesday addressed complaints from 40 US state attorneys general that the company made false statements about energy saving and the payload capacity of some of its vehicles, in violation of state consumer protection laws.
The company agreed to pay $19.2 million to the states and not to mislead advertisement declared as part of settlement filed in San Diego Superior Court in California.
Attorney General says Ford misled consumers about its 2013-2014 C-Max hybrid vehicles and 2011-2014 Super Duty pickup truck.
The company misrepresented the distance of C-Max crossbred can travel on gas tanks and these vehicles have better real-world fuel economy than other hybrids, the attorney general said.
They said Ford also intentionally violated its payload calculate for Super Duty pickups standard items include spare wheel, tire, jack and Car radiothereby artificially raising the required payload capacity.
Ford said in a statement that it was pleased the investigation was resolved with no findings of court misconduct and that the company denied violating any federal or state law. which state.
“We have worked with the states to address their concerns, and in the process, the parties have limited additional investigative and legal costs for all parties,” the company said. .
Ford said it voluntarily flagged the incorrect fuel economy rating to federal regulators, repaired it, and refunded those who purchased or lease vehicles during and immediately after the rating were incorrectly advertised.
Buyers “should be able to trust that they’re getting what they paid for,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in the announcement of the settlement.
$1.2 million to California from the settlement will assist with enforcement of state and local consumer protection laws.
Settlements include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
