A Class Action For Wheel Fitment
The Ford Transit with the Trail trim package was positioned as an outdoorsman’s camper van, and it totally looked the part back then. Indeed, the trim package did end up enticing buyers and leasers who were led to believe that this was the ultimate setup for an adventure van, or so you’d think.
It came with adjusted suspension with a 3.5-inch lift, a 2.5-inch wider track width, and also all the skid plates, tow hooks, and cladding that you may “need” while driving your van out in the wilderness. However, even with the additional lift, Ford failed to check whether the meaty 30.5-inch diameter all-terrain tires would clear the Transit’s wheel arches in all conditions. A class action lawsuit was served, and now Ford has agreed to a settlement.
Ford
Ford to Pay $6,000 per Customer
The class action lawsuit alleged that the Ford “Transit Trail” failed to provide enough wheel and tire clearance in the wheel wells of the vehicle. In certain driving conditions, the 30.5-inch all-terrain tires would rub against the fender liners while turning, braking, or while loaded up with equipment or people. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is aware of the situation, issuing a recall in March 2024 due to “insufficient packaging allowance” for the front tires.
It seems like Ford didn’t even test whether the wheels would fit. Remember, the wheels on the van [bus] go up and down, not just round and round. Enthusiasts, whether on the upper or lower end of the spectrum, pay close attention to wheel fitment, off-roaders especially. For Ford to miss this but agree to a settlement at least tells us that it’s owning up to its mistake.
Mind you, Transit customers paid Ford $12,500 to get the Trail trim, which is no small amount. Ford is no stranger to off-roaders, and products like the Bronco and any one of the Raptors will tell you that you can trust the Blue Oval to deliver on a trail package. Apparently not, I suppose.
Ford
Eligible Parties
Class members include parties that qualify as an eligible original owner or lessee. That means that you must be the first owner of the Ford Transit Trail, purchased it from an authorized dealer or outfitter/upfitter or other intermediary that acquired the vehicle for resale or conversion. Sadly, parties that bought a used Ford Transit Trail are not included in the settlement, so too are the individuals that have already sued Ford for the same issue.
That being said, if you purchased or leased a Ford Transit Trail before June 1, 2024, as an original owner or lessee, but no longer own the vehicle, you may still be included in the settlement class.
Settlement class members who submit a valid and timely claim form with documentation and proof of ownership or lease can receive a $6,000 payment per vehicle. That’s almost half the value of the package, and probably enough to get something custom done to address the wheel clearance issues.
To process the claim, you can head on over to the class settlement’s website and submit the needed info and documents on or before January 15, 2027. Eligible class members will be paid via check once the court determines whether to grant final approval to the Ford Transit Trail class action settlement following a hearing on March 16, 2027. After this, settlement money will be made available after the approval and any appeals have been resolved.
John Beltz Snyder
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