Ford Faces Federal Emissions Probe
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into Ford Motor Co.’s emissions testing and certification processes, the factory revealed in an SEC filing today.

The 2019 Ford Ranger is reportedly among the first vehicles set to undergo retesting following the factory’s discovery of a potentially flawed methodology for calculating fuel economy.
Photo courtesy Ford Motor Co.
DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford Motor Co. revealed it is the subject of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the factory’s emissions testing and certification processes in a report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In February, Ford’s directors self-reported to the EPA their concerns that engineers may have failed to properly calculate the effects of drag and tire friction in laboratory testing. At the time, executives said they could not be sure whether fuel economy ratings or emissions certifications would be affected. An outside law firm, Sidley Austin, was hired to investigate the matter and presumably oversee retesting.
“Our focus is on completing our investigation and a thorough technical review of this matter and cooperating with government and regulatory agencies,” said Kim Pittel, Ford’s vice president of sustainability, environment, and safety engineering, in a statement.
Ford is only the latest vehicle manufacturer to face scrutiny over emissions testing. In 2014, Hyundai and Kia paid a $100 million penalty for inflating the fuel economy ratings of more than 1 million units sold in the U.S. In 2017, the “Dieselgate” scandal cost Volkswagen billions of dollars in penalties and awards, including dealer compensation. More recently, Fiat Chrysler agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement to resolve claims brought by the DOJ and the California Air Resources Board.
To read Ford’s SEC filing, click here.
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Industry

World EV Adoption Set to Grow
A new report says the segment, despite recent setbacks in some regions, is poised for acceleration as many countries look to reduce pollution.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Wholesale automotive auction business stayed steady last week as bidders encountered lower prices, analysts observed.
Read More →
Pricing Transparency Drives Purchase Consideration
An annual study by JD Power found that clear pricing matters to consumers on automaker websites, so much so that it increases their purchase consideration.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Used-vehicle market depreciation was the prevailing story in the wholesale market last week.
Read More →
Smaller Is Looking Better
A growing number of Americans in the market for a new vehicle are opting for more affordable options, not waiting for market stability to bite the bullet.
Read More →
U.S. EV Market Slowly Stabilizes
U.S. electric-vehicle interest is slowly stabilizing since a major dip in sales after last year's end of the federal EV tax credit, and hybrids remain the leading electrified power train.
Read More →
Global EV Market Entering New Phase
Automakers are making investments to lower battery costs and optimize production to meet changing consumer needs.
Read More →
Black Book Weekly Market Update
The holiday weekend, not surprisingly, put a drag on wholesale automotive activity last week, analysts observed.
Read More →
Auto Affordability in Context
Cox Automotive points out the complex circumstances that have led to eye-popping vehicle prices.
Read More →
Black Book: Weekly Market Update
Automotive auction inventory increased last week, giving choosy bidders even more leeway.
Read More →