ACCC set for Ford lawsuits

THE consumer watchdog will launch Federal Court action over thousands of dodgy Fords in a major win for women told by the car giant the problem was their “driving style”.

The Bulletin can reveal the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is in the final stages of preparing to allege the carmaker misled owners over their legal rights.

It follows a year-long investigation into Ford’s handling of a transmission fault in as many as 70,000 cars sold since 2011.

The ACCC has been examining whether owners of models including Focus and Fiesta were unlawfully denied refunds or replacements and instead offered only repeated, but often unsuccessful, repairs or the option of paying thousands of dollars extra for a flaw-free car.

The ACCC has also been contacted by women whose complaints to dealers were dismissed as “driving-style” issues.

Ford is also facing a class action from frustrated owners.

Lead applicant Billie Capic was told several times there was nothing wrong with her Focus, despite it repeatedly losing power in traffic.

In court documents, she said she was told shuddering, jerking and harsh gear changes were a result of her driving.

ACCC spokeswoman Elise Davidson said “a number” of carmakers were being investigated over the handling of consumer guarantee issues “including in the context of particular faults identified in certain models”.

The ACCC has already forced Jeep to reopen two years of customer complaints; taken VW and Audi to court over “defeat devices” to game emissions testing and probed the industry over concerns for consumers’ legal rights.