The High Court has heard startling evidence that approximately one million Ford diesel vehicles sold in the UK were equipped with seriously defective emissions control systems. This revelation emerged during a major legal action representing 1.6 million British car owners against five automotive manufacturers.
The Core Allegations
According to claimants' lawyers, Ford produced and sold highly polluting vehicles between 2016 and 2018, despite company engineers being aware of the issues. Many of these vehicles were never formally recalled or repaired, leaving them emitting excessive levels of harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx) on Britain's roads.
The court learned that critical parts of Ford's emissions control systems became significantly less effective when exposed to sulphur in fuel during normal driving conditions. In damning evidence from 2017, all 27 Ford vehicles with Euro 6 engines failed the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) emissions tests when examined in service.
Courtroom Confrontation
During cross-examination, Thomas de la Mare KC told Marcus Davies, Ford's former calibration manager, that the systems had not been "sufficiently tested" and described the situation as a "generic issue affecting the best part of a million cars".
Davies attempted to downplay the scale, stating "It's not every vehicle that would have this problem," but acknowledged that software updates introduced in 2018 only improved rather than fully resolved the compliance issues.
Internal company documents presented in court revealed concerns dating back to 2012, showing Ford wasn't maximising its exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system to reduce NOx emissions. Ben Jaffey KC, representing claimants, argued the systems were "shaped to the requirements of the test and not much else".
Real-World Consequences
The court heard particularly concerning evidence about Ford Transit vans, where NOx emissions surged beyond regulatory limits when tested in sixth gear - the very gear drivers were encouraged to use by the vehicle's gear shift indicator at speeds of 62mph.
Affected models include several popular Ford vehicles familiar to British drivers:
- Ford Mondeo
- Ford C-Max
- Ford Fiesta
- Ford Focus
- Ford Transit vans
Ford continues to vigorously deny all allegations of using illegal "defeat devices", describing the claims as "scientifically illiterate" in their written submissions. The company maintains that any reduction in NOx control effectiveness represented "necessary, reasonable and justifiable engineering compromises".
This three-month hearing forms part of the wider "Dieselgate" scandal that first emerged in 2015 with Volkswagen, which has been linked to thousands of deaths and childhood asthma cases globally. The trial continues as claimants seek compensation for what they argue constitutes collective costs running into hundreds of millions of euros.
