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Ford to Pay 40 States Over Allegations

The automaker falsely advertised features for some of its hybrids and pickups.

Ford Motor Co. will pay $19.2 million to states over false advertising allegations, Reuters reports.

According to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the automaker falsely advertised real-world fuel economy and payload capacity for some of its pickup trucks and hybrids. 

The settlement covers 40 states and the District of Columbia and includes 2011-2014 Super Duty pickups and 2013-2014 C-Max hybrids. 

Ford misreported how far owners could drive on one tank of gas and claimed driving style would not affect its vehicles’ real-world fuel economy.

The company also ran ads dubbed the “Hybrid Games,” which portrayed the Ford C-Max topping the Toyota Prius in real-world fuel economy.

An acting New Jersey Attorney General said Ford also employed a truck configuration it did not intend to sell to buyers. 

The configuration left out items including the tire and jack, spare wheel and center console, which allowed Ford to add pounds to the maximum advertisable payload capacity. 

Ford subsequently gave its Super Duty truck the deceptive title of “Best-in-Class” for payload.


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