Ford Accused of Selling Defective Diesel Cars, Affecting Over 1 Million Owners

As of November 15th, 2025, Ford is embroiled in a legal battle over the sale of nearly 1 million defective diesel vehicles in the UK between 2016 and 2018. The high court has heard evidence that the highly polluting vehicles were produced and sold after Ford's engineers became aware of serious issues with the emissions control systems.

The claims are part of a broader legal action on behalf of 1.6 million diesel vehicle owners against five car manufacturers, including Ford, for allegedly using "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests for nitrogen oxides (NOx). The court was told that parts of the emissions control systems calibrated by Ford became less effective when "poisoned" by sulfur in fuel during driving. In 2017, when tested in service, 27 out of 27 Ford vehicles with Euro 6 engines failed the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) emissions tests.

Ford has denied creating "defeat devices," but the carmaker's former calibration manager admitted that the systems were "calibrated in part to the requirements of the NEDC" rather than to reduce real-world driving emissions. The court also heard evidence that NOx emissions from a Ford Transit van surged beyond regulatory limits when tested in sixth gear, a gear that the vehicle's gear shift indicator encouraged drivers to use at higher speeds.