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Ford Media Center
At Ford, we have no higher priority than earning and keeping the trust of our customers and assuring they are safe. That is why we are deeply concerned consumers may be confused or fearful as a result of recent reporting in the Detroit Free Press about the development and introduction of Ford’s DPS6 transmission nearly a decade ago.
That reporting includes conclusions that are not based in fact, which risks misleading customers about the safety and dependability of their vehicles.
This is too important for such misunderstanding to take hold. Consumers deserve to be told that vehicles with the DPS6 have proven to be safe, after billions of miles on the road since Ford introduced them in good faith. Indeed, automobiles with current versions of the transmission rank highly in performance and reliability, based on warranty statistics.
Here is what Ford believes consumers need to know:
Ford has been persistent in addressing these quality problems. We have gone to great lengths investigating the issues, alerting dealers and consumers, recommending and making repairs, and extending warranties. Resolving the problems took longer than we expected. We regret the frustration and inconvenience this has caused.
Unfortunately, reporting by the Free Press has needlessly added to consumer frustration and generated unwarranted concern. The newspaper has relied on documents that have been publicly available for a year, many of them shopped to reporters by attorneys attempting to call new attention to an old topic. Ford could have helped avoid numerous factual errors like the ones above. However, the Free Press declined an invitation to meet with our engineering experts – and go over facts in detail – prior to publishing these stories.
Ford continues to stand behind the affected vehicles today, including providing owners involved in a class action an option to resolve their claims sooner through voluntary arbitration, following the guidelines of the pending class settlement. Across our global business, we remain diligent and accountable in developing products and services that best meet the needs and interests of consumers.
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford trucks, utility vehicles, and cars – increasingly including electrified versions – and Lincoln luxury vehicles; provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company; and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification; mobility solutions, including self-driving services; and connected vehicle services. Ford employs approximately 186,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit corporate.ford.com.