Ford Transit Lawsuit Claims Wheel-Well Geometry Cannot Accommodate ‘Trail’ Trim Package Off-Road Tires

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges the Ford Transit van sold with the pricey “Trail” trim package poses a safety hazard given that the geometry of the vehicle’s wheel wells and suspension allegedly cannot accommodate 30.5-inch tires, a key component of the upgrade. 

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The 56-page lawsuit relays that although the Ford Transit was primarily intended to serve as a business van, camping enthusiasts began to buy the vehicle with all-wheel drive and modify it so as to be suitable for off-roading. Per the case, Ford, in an attempt to “recapture the business that aftermarket providers were generating” by modding the Transit van, began to offer a trim package called the “Ford Transit Trail,” which includes lifted frames and suspension and larger, 30.5-inch tires.

According to the complaint, insufficient clearance between the wheels and wheel arch liners of the Ford Transit Trail, an upgrade which reportedly retails for $12,500, causes the van’s 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires to strike the wheel arch liners when turning, braking or driving the vehicle with a load at or near its weight rating. This, in turn, can damage the wheel wells and tires and poses a safety concern, the suit says. 

Related Reading: Ford Transit Subframe Lawsuit Investigation

“Ford promised that ‘the Transit Trail adventure-ready chassis is re-tuned and tested to meet the same BUILT FORD TOUGH durability standards as the rest of the Transit lineup,’” the Ford lawsuit says. “But that was a false promise.”

The alleged Ford Transit Trail tire defect can restrict or alter the intended movement of the wheels and suspension components and may hamper steering responsiveness or stability while cornering, the case relays. Repeated friction between the tire and wheel well may also cause uneven or accelerated tread wear, heat buildup or sidewall damage, all of which can compromise the structural integrity of the tires and increase the chance of a blowout, the case adds.

The Ford class action lawsuit notes that the automaker recalled the 2023-2024 model year Transit Trail vans at issue in April of last year. The recall notice stated that the alleged tire defect can result in a “loss of vehicle control and increase the risk of a crash,” the complaint reads.

The Ford Transit Trail recall consisted of removing the 30.5-inch tires and replacing them with 28-inch tires, the same size as those that come standard on regular Ford Transit vans, the suit relays. Per the case, this “repair” lowers the vehicles’ ground clearance, thus “defeating the purpose of Class Members’ purchase of an off-road capable vehicle.” 

Per the suit, Ford does not allow drivers who opt for the recall tire-swap remedy to keep the 30.5-inch wheels, and they have not been offered compensation for the “failure of the Ford Transit trail package” to provide the advertised off-road capabilities. 

“Although Ford promised off-road capable vehicles suitable for camping and other adventurous purposes, Ford’s recall removes the primary benefit of the Transit ‘Trail’ models— the superior, 30.5-inch tires and superior ground clearance,” the filing contends. “Accordingly, aside from their lifted frames and suspension, Class Members having the recall performed are left with vehicles closer to the less expensive Ford Transit base model than the Transit Trail.” 

The Ford Transit lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who bought or leased, other than for resale, any 2023-2024 Ford Transit Trail vehicle. 

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