In a compelling legal battle, two California residents have filed a lawsuit against a major automobile manufacturer and a local dealership, alleging violations of statutory obligations related to vehicle warranties. The complaint was lodged by James Nolan and Diana Nolan in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara, on January 22, 2025, targeting Ford Motor Company and Frontier Ford as defendants.
The Nolans' lawsuit centers around their purchase of a 2022 Ford F150, which they claim has been plagued with defects since its acquisition. According to the complaint, the couple entered into a warranty contract with Ford on May 11, 2022. They allege that despite multiple repair attempts under this warranty, significant issues persist with the vehicle's transmission and other components. "Defects and nonconformities to warranty manifested themselves within the applicable express warranty period," states the complaint, highlighting problems such as transmission defects and electrical malfunctions that substantially impair the vehicle's use and safety.
The plaintiffs accuse Ford of failing to fulfill its obligations under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. This California law mandates manufacturers to repurchase or replace vehicles that fail to conform to warranties after reasonable repair attempts. The Nolans assert that Ford did not offer restitution or replacement for their defective vehicle despite being aware of similar issues in other models equipped with the same transmission system. They cite technical service bulletins issued by Ford acknowledging these defects but argue that no effective solutions were provided.
Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Ford of fraudulent concealment, alleging that the company knowingly sold vehicles with defective transmissions without disclosing these issues to consumers. The Nolans claim they would not have purchased their truck had they been aware of these defects and now seek damages for what they describe as deceptive practices by Ford.
The plaintiffs are seeking various forms of relief from the court, including general damages exceeding $35,001.00, restitution for their purchase price minus usage costs before defect manifestation, civil penalties amounting to twice their actual damages due to willful violation by Ford, and coverage for incidental and consequential damages incurred due to these alleged breaches.
Represented by attorney Tionna Carvalho from Strategic Legal Practices APC in Los Angeles, James and Diana Nolan demand a jury trial to resolve their grievances against both Ford Motor Company and Frontier Ford. The case is registered under Case No.: 25CV457136 in Santa Clara County’s Superior Court.