If your F-150, Explorer, Bronco, Escape or Mustang Mach-E has been back to the dealer again and again for the same problem, you may have a claim under the Ford lemon law California drivers rely on: the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. When Ford and its dealers cannot fix a warranty defect after a reasonable number of attempts, Ford must repurchase or replace the vehicle. You do not have to keep living with a vehicle that does not work.
This guide lists documented Ford safety recalls with NHTSA campaign numbers, summarizes reported California cases involving Ford, and explains what to keep, what to do next and which deadlines apply. It is general information about California law as of October 2026, not legal advice, and it does not suggest that Ford vehicles in general are defective.
How California's lemon law works for a Ford
Under Civil Code § 1793.2(d), a manufacturer that cannot conform a new vehicle to its express warranty after a reasonable number of attempts must offer a refund or a replacement, at the buyer's choice. In the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a lemon after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 days out of service (Civil Code § 1793.22). The presumption is a starting point. Plenty of claims succeed outside it.
A refund generally covers what you paid, taxes, registration, finance charges and incidental costs such as towing and rentals, minus a mileage offset for the miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect. Our lemon law buyback calculator shows how that works. If a court finds Ford willfully failed to comply, it can add a civil penalty of up to twice your actual damages, and a successful buyer recovers attorney's fees and costs (Civil Code § 1794).
Ford trucks often carry heavy-duty and diesel powertrain coverage, and Ford EVs carry separate battery coverage. Check which warranty covers your problem and how long it lasts. A vehicle bought for a small business can also qualify within limits.
Recalls you should know
A recall alone does not make your vehicle a lemon, and a recall fix is not automatically a failed repair. But if a recall matches a symptom you have been reporting, it can help explain your repair history. The table lists a selection of Ford recalls from NHTSA's database, not a complete list. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Model years | Issue | NHTSA campaign no. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer 2020–2022 | Rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture, which can disconnect the driveshaft (238,364 vehicles) | 23V-675 | NHTSA |
| Escape 2020–2023, Bronco Sport 2021–2023 (1.5L engine) | Fuel injector may crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment, raising fire risk (521,746 vehicles) | 22V-859 | NHTSA |
| Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator and Nautilus 2021–2022 (2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost) | Intake valves may break, causing engine failure and loss of drive power (90,736 vehicles) | 24V-635 | NHTSA |
| Expedition and Lincoln Navigator 2018–2021, Explorer and Lincoln Aviator 2020–2021, F-150 2021 | Transmission park pawl may engage while moving, damaging the park system; final remedy expected April 2027 (741,195 vehicles) | 26V-402 | NHTSA |
| Various 2015–2019 models, including Edge, Mustang, Super Duty, Transit, Expedition and Ranger | Rearview camera image may be distorted, inverted or blank (1,456,417 vehicles) | 25V-572 | NHTSA |
| Bronco 2022–2023 | Rearview camera image may not display in reverse (128,889 vehicles) | 25V-273 | NHTSA |
| Mustang Mach-E 2021–2022 | High-voltage battery main contactors may overheat, which can cause loss of drive power | 22V-412 | NHTSA |
Vehicle counts are NHTSA's totals for each campaign. Several Ford campaigns have been followed by later recalls for vehicles whose earlier repair was done incorrectly, which is one more reason to keep every invoice that shows a recall was performed.
Reported California cases involving Ford
Most lemon law claims settle privately, so public results are the exception. These are reported results and rulings in California cases handled by other lawyers. They are not LaCour results.
| Year | Case | Type | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford Motor Warranty Cases (California Supreme Court) | Ruling | The court held that Ford, which did not sign the buyers' dealer sales contracts, could not use the arbitration clauses in those contracts to force lemon law and fraud claims into arbitration. | Opinion, July 3, 2025 |
| 2022 | Anderson v. Ford Motor Co. | Verdict affirmed on appeal | Buyers of a 2005 F-250 with a 6.0-liter diesel reported repeated engine problems. The jury awarded $47,715.60 in damages, a $30,000 Song-Beverly civil penalty and $150,000 in punitive damages; the trial court awarded $643,615 in attorney's fees. The Court of Appeal affirmed. | Court of Appeal opinion |
| 2001–2005 | Johnson v. Ford Motor Co. (Fresno County) | Verdict, reduced on appeal | Buyers of a used 1997 Taurus that Ford had taken back from its first owner, after repeated transmission problems, and resold without disclosure. The jury awarded $17,811.60 in compensatory and $10 million in punitive damages. The Court of Appeal cut the punitive award to $53,435; the California Supreme Court reversed that ruling in 2005 and sent the case back for a new review of the amount. | California Supreme Court opinion |
For context, a CalMatters analysis of 2018–2021 data found about one lemon law lawsuit for every 148 Ford vehicles sold in California, compared with one for every 2,029 Toyotas, according to CalMatters. Lawsuit counts reflect many factors and do not show that any particular vehicle is defective. Every case is different. Past results, including those listed here, do not predict the outcome of any other case.
Building your Ford repair record
- Get a repair order for every visit. Each one should state your complaint, what the technician found and what was done. If the dealer could not reproduce the problem, ask that the repair order say so rather than leaving no record.
- Use the same words each time. Describe the symptom the same way at every visit ("transmission slams into gear from a stop") so the visits read as repeat attempts on one defect.
- Collect records from every dealer. If you have used more than one Ford dealer, request printouts from each. Your claim counts all of them.
- Save app alerts and screenshots. If you use the FordPass app, screenshot warning alerts and messages when they appear, and photograph dashboard warnings.
- Track recall and bulletin numbers. If an invoice mentions a recall or a technical service bulletin, keep it. It ties your visit to a known issue.
- Keep maintenance receipts. For engine, diesel and transmission claims, oil change and service receipts answer the common argument that a problem came from poor maintenance.
- Log days out of service and keep rental, towing and rideshare receipts.
What to do if your Ford keeps going back to the dealer
- Keep taking it in, and keep the paper. A documented visit is a repair attempt even if the dealer says it is "normal."
- Open a case with Ford customer service and write down the case number and the name of each person you speak with.
- Do not accept a trade-in deal, an extended warranty or a "goodwill" payment in exchange for a release without having it reviewed.
- Do not send Ford a written lemon law demand on your own. Ford has been reported among the manufacturers that opted in to the 2025 procedures, which tie civil penalties to a specific pre-suit notice.
- Gather your purchase or lease contract, every repair order and your warranty booklet, and get a free review.
If you bought the Ford used, see our guide to the used car lemon law in California; coverage depends on how and from whom you bought it.
Deadlines and the 2025 rules
For many vehicles, a Song-Beverly claim must generally be filed within four years of when you knew or should have known about the problem. Ford was one of the automakers that backed AB 1755, according to CalMatters, and it has been reported on the list of manufacturers that opted in to the new procedures. For opted-in manufacturers, a lawsuit generally must be filed within one year after the warranty expires and no later than six years after delivery, with some time added for days in the shop (Code of Civil Procedure § 871.21). A buyer who wants civil penalties must send written notice at least 30 days before suing, and the manufacturer can avoid penalties by offering a buyback or replacement within 30 days and completing it within 60 days (§ 871.24).
Whether these rules apply to your vehicle depends on the list in effect, which the Department of Consumer Affairs publishes. Our guide to the 2025 lemon law changes under AB 1755 explains them in detail.
How LaCour handles Ford lemon law claims
LaCour Trial Lawyers handles California lemon law claims statewide, in English and Spanish, with trial counsel leading each case. When a claim succeeds, the law requires the manufacturer to pay the buyer's attorney's fees and costs. Send us your repair orders for a free, confidential review.
Frequently asked questions
How many times does a Ford have to be in the shop to be a lemon in California?
There is no fixed number. In the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a lemon after two attempts for a serious safety defect, four attempts for the same problem, or more than 30 days in the shop. Vehicles outside those numbers can still qualify.
Does the lemon law cover a Ford F-150 or Super Duty used for work?
It can. Personal vehicles are covered, and a vehicle bought for a business can also qualify if the business registers no more than five vehicles in California and the vehicle meets weight limits. Check your purchase documents and registration.
Is my Ford a lemon if it has an open recall?
Not by itself. A recall shows a defect in a group of vehicles. A lemon law claim depends on your vehicle's repair history, although a recall that matches your problem can support it.
Can Ford force my lemon law claim into arbitration?
In 2025 the California Supreme Court held that Ford could not use the arbitration clause in a dealer's sales contract to force lemon law claims into arbitration. Other agreements can raise different questions, so have your paperwork reviewed.
Do I have to send Ford a letter before suing?
For manufacturers that opted in to the 2025 procedures, a buyer who wants civil penalties must first send a specific written notice at least 30 days before suing. Talk to a lawyer before sending it, because its content and timing matter.
What does a Ford lemon law buyback include?
Generally the price paid, taxes, registration, finance charges and incidental costs such as towing and rentals, minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect. You can choose a comparable replacement vehicle instead.
Sources
- NHTSA, Recall 23V-675, Explorer rear axle bolt, October 2023
- NHTSA, Recall 22V-859, Escape and Bronco Sport fuel injectors, November 2022
- NHTSA, Recall 24V-635, EcoBoost intake valves, August 2024
- NHTSA, Recall 26V-402, transmission park pawl, June 2026
- NHTSA, Recall 25V-572, rearview camera, September 2025
- NHTSA, Recall 25V-273, Bronco rearview camera, May 2025
- NHTSA, Recall 22V-412, Mustang Mach-E high-voltage contactors, June 2022
- Supreme Court of California, Ford Motor Warranty Cases, No. S279969, July 2025
- California Court of Appeal, Anderson v. Ford Motor Co., No. C089603, February 2022
- Supreme Court of California, Johnson v. Ford Motor Co., No. S121723, June 2005
- CalMatters, "Newsom wants a do-over on the lemon car law he just signed," October 2024
- Norman Taylor & Associates, "Which Car Manufacturers Opted Into California's New Lemon Law?," November 2025
- California Department of Consumer Affairs, Arbitration Certification Program, manufacturers list
- Code of Civil Procedure § 871.24, pre-suit notice
This guide is general information about California and federal law and about public records as of its date. It is not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney–client relationship. Allegations in lawsuits are claims, not findings. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.