• Ford identified an error with fuel consumption ratings for certain vehicles through its internal testing and notified the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Ford worked with EPA as the agency retested the vehicles, which resulted in adjusted fuel consumption ratings for Ford’s 2013- and 2014-model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as most 2014-model year Fiestas
• The company apologizes to its customers, and will make goodwill payments to owners of the approximately 13,000 affected vehicles in Canada for the difference between the previous and revised ratings
• Ford reviewed its entire line up to determine the vehicles that required further testing and revised the fuel consumption ratings for the affected vehicles. No other fuel consumption ratings adjustments are planned

Ford Motor Company announced today it is adjusting the fuel consumption ratings for its 2013- and 2014-model year hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as most 2014-model year Fiestas.

Ford identified an error with fuel consumption ratings on certain vehicles through its internal testing and notified EPA. The company worked with EPA as the agency retested the vehicles to determine the correct fuel consumption ratings. 

“Ford is absolutely committed to delivering top fuel economy and accurate information,” said Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO. “We apologize to our customers and will provide goodwill payments to affected owners. We also are taking steps to improve our processes and prevent issues like this from happening again.”

Ford reviewed its entire line up to determine the vehicles that required further testing and revised the fuel consumption ratings for the affected vehicles. No other label adjustments are planned.

“This is our error. When we see an issue, we address it,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. “That is why we notified EPA and adjusted the fuel economy ratings for these vehicles.”

Fuel Consumption Testing

Fuel consumption testing involves many factors. Ford’s error was specific to a factor called "Total Road Load Horsepower," or TRLHP. TRLHP is a vehicle-specific resistance level used in vehicle dynamometer testing that determines fuel consumption ratings. TRLHP is established through engineering models that are validated through vehicle testing, including physical track tests referred to as coastdown testing.

Use of these engineering models is a common industry practice, consistent with EPA regulations. These models normally are more reliable and consistent than physical vehicle tests, which can exhibit variability.

As an ongoing practice, Ford conducts tests on production vehicles to validate its engineering models. Based on coastdown testing of the Fusion Hybrid, the company found the TRLHP did not match the values used for the dynamometer testing.

Upon further testing, Ford also discovered an error specific to how we correlate wind tunnel results into the TRLHP model. Ford’s error was the result of a recent process change, which the company has since corrected.

Ford has now validated through physical vehicle testing the TRLHP for the vehicles affected by this error and also instituted enhanced validation tests for future vehicles to prevent reoccurrence of this error.

New Fuel Consumption Ratings and Customer Information

Ford has communicated to its dealers that new fuel consumption EnerGuide labels will be available in approximately 10 business days and that dealers may continue selling the vehicles until the new labels are received. 

Ford estimates that approximately 13,000 of these vehicles have been sold or leased to customers in Canada. Affected Ford and Lincoln owners and lessees in Canada will receive a goodwill payment for the estimated average fuel cost of the difference between the two fuel consumption labels.

Affected Canadian fleet owners will be contacted by their local Ford representatives.

Customers with questions can contact the Ford of Canada Customer Relationship Centre at

1-800-565-3673.

* Bolded figures in the above chart represent the values used to determine the customer goodwill payment.

**C-MAX Hybrid-2014 Model Year fuel consumption rating for City is 4.6L/100 km.  The C-MAX Hybrid 2014-Model Year fuel consumption combined rating is 4.9L/100 km so the customer payment is the same for the 2013-Model Year and the 2014-Model Year C-MAX

^† Le is L/100 km equivalent