Ford Slows Production Over Parts Shortage

Supply chain issues are continuing to hamper major auto manufacturers and are keeping prices high for car buyers.

Ford Motor Co.recently idled plants in Michigan and Missouri, citing supply chain constraints. The factories produce Mustangs and Transit cargo vans, according to the Detroit News.

“The global semiconductor shortage continues to affect Ford's North American plants — along with automakers and other industries around the world," Ford spokesperson Kelli Felker told the news outlet. “Behind the scenes, we have teams working on how to maximize production, with a continued commitment to building every high-demand vehicle for our customers with the quality they expect.”

The move is the latest sign that the ongoing semiconductor shortage continues to disrupt the auto industry. Ford recently said the company’s first-quarter performance was hampered by the inability to get enough of the parts, used in a wide range of vehicle production.

The shortage was largely driven by the coronavirus pandemic. Automakers reduced their orders for semiconductor chips in the early days of the pandemic, expecting a steep decline in demand. As conditions eased and stay-at-home orders were lifted, manufacturers looked to ramp back up. But chip suppliers had shifted to serving consumer electronics makers, creating a bottleneck.

“We didn't have enough chips to build the vehicles customers wanted and couldn't take full advantage of our manufacturing capacity," John Lawler, Ford’s chief financial officer, told the Detroit News.

Production slowdowns have led the prices to skyrocket for new and used cars.

Ford Recalls Cars Over Safety Risks

Meanwhile, Ford and other major manufacturers continue to struggle to ensure that the cars they do produce are actually safe to drive. The companies collectively recall millions of vehicles every year, often citing serious defects.

Ford in April said it was calling back approximately 345,000 vehicles across models. Oil leaks could cause the cars to go up in flames, the company said at the time. Just a month earlier, Ford said it was recalling about 18,000 sport utility vehicles. It said those cars were also at risk of engine fires if they were involved in collisions.

The good news for Ford and other car owners in California is that you have some valuable rights and protections against defects and malfunctions.

The California lemon law generally requires car manufacturers to do a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are still under warranty. The law also requires carmakers to buy back - or replace, in certain circumstances - vehicles that they refuse or are not able to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, along with financing costs, rental vehicle costs and other related expenses.

Speak with a San Diego Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a Ford or other car owner who has been stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a car manufacturer over repairs, the San Diego lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a San Diego lemon law attorney.