Ford sold one million diesel cars with faulty emissions systems in uk, high court hears

Ford is facing serious allegations that it knowingly sold approximately one million diesel vehicles in the United Kingdom with defective emissions control systems, according to testimony presented to the High Court. The case represents one of the largest automotive environmental lawsuits in recent UK history, with lawyers representing 1.6 million car owners taking action against five major automakers.

The court heard that these highly polluting vehicles were manufactured and sold between 2016 and 2018, despite Ford engineers being aware of significant problems with components designed to reduce toxic exhaust emissions. Most concerning is the allegation that many of these environmentally harmful vehicles were never properly recalled or repaired, potentially continuing to release excessive pollutants into the atmosphere for years after the defects were identified.

Ford has strongly denied the accusations, particularly rejecting claims that it deliberately installed “defeat devices” – illegal software designed to cheat emissions testing while allowing higher pollution levels during normal driving conditions. Such devices became infamous during the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” scandal that rocked the automotive industry and resulted in billions in fines and compensation payments.

This legal action highlights ongoing concerns about diesel vehicle emissions and their impact on air quality and public health. If proven, the allegations suggest that potentially millions of drivers unknowingly operated vehicles that were contributing significantly more air pollution than they were led to believe, undermining efforts to reduce urban air pollution and meet climate targets during a critical period for environmental protection.