Automotive News: GM Loses Bid To Put Ignition Switch Decision On Hold, Lawsuits against MyFord Touch move forward, Ford vehicles being probed by U.S. over door latch lights, steering issues
GM Loses Bid To Put Ignition Switch Decision On Hold
The Second Circuit on Friday rejected General Motors’ request to put on hold a ruling reviving legal claims over ignition-switch defects previously blocked by the automaker’s 2009 bankruptcy sale until after the U.S. Supreme Court determined whether it will hear the case.
In a two-page order, the federal appeals court denied GM’s motion to stay the ruling pending the Supreme Court’s decision on whether it will hear the case. The decision means plaintiffs who have sued GM over ignition switch problems can continue litigating their claims against the automaker.
The Second Circuit in July reversed parts of a 2015 ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Gerber that had shielded the post-bankruptcy iteration of GM from certain ignition switch defect claims. Judge Gerber had previously ruled that “free and clear” provisions from the sale order blocked ignition switch claims against the post-bankruptcy version of GM. read more »
Lawsuits against MyFord Touch move forward
Remember MyFord Touch and MyLincoln touch, the infotainment systems that shoppers loved and loved to hate? Three years ago, owners sued Ford over the systems' glitchy, underwhelming performance. Now, many of those cases have been wrapped into a class-action lawsuit, which could mean a big payout from Ford. In San Francisco, Judge Edward Chen has now granted class-action status to suits from nine states: California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
Arguments are set for April 2017, with plaintiffs represented by the law firm of Hagens Berman--which is, interestingly, the same firm that represented VW dealers in their suit against Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz owners in their suit against Daimler.
Ford vehicles being probed by U.S. over door latch lights, steering issues
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said today it was opening a probe into 380,000 2011-2013 Ford Edge SUVs after receiving 1,560 reports of "door ajar" lights. Owners reported they are uncertain if vehicle doors are properly latched.
In the door-latch probe, safety issues such as doors opening while driving, doors unable to be locked while driving, and interior dome lights staying on continuously were reported. One injury has been reported, but no crashes.
NHTSA also said the agency is opening a separate investigation into 262,000 2010 Ford Fusion cars for steering issues. The 547 complaints about power steering included sudden failures of the system and were linked to 12 crashes and four injuries. NHTSA previously investigated the issue in 2014 and Ford issued a recall of 2011 and 2012 Fusion cars. read more »
