The decision to buy a car or truck in these uncertain times is undoubtedly even more difficult than it would be in a world without coronavirus. When people make the decision to invest their hard-earned money in a vehicle, they expect that their investment will provide reliable transportation for years to come.
People who have purchased a new Ford F-150 or Ranger pick-up truck were unquestionably dismayed to learn of a recent recall. The dashboard displays in the trucks can indicate that the vehicles are in Park, even when they are actually in Reverse, Neutral or Drive.
That means that if the vehicles show the erroneous shift indications, a motorist who takes his or her foot off of the brakes could be at risk of having their pick-up move forward or reverse. And if the driver gets out of the truck while the display gives a false indication, the vehicle could start to roll.
The potential for collisions with parked vehicles, or with a building is no doubt obvious, as is the possibility of serious injury in some situations.
According to Consumer Reports, a document Ford filed with the federal the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that some shifter assemblies were improperly installed on the trucks, allowing shifters to move into positions that are different from the one indicated on dashboard displays.
To find out if your Ford truck is part of the recall, go to the NHTSA website at www.safercar.gov and enter your vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN).
Please contact a consumer protection attorney to help you resolve issues involving defective new or used vehicles, dealer fraud or violations of Lemon Laws.