Georgia man files class action lawsuit against Ford Motor Company

ATLANTA — A federal audit shows Ford Motor Company has had more complaints in the last decade about cars speeding up by themselves than Toyota.

The report, obtained by Channel 2 Action News consumer investigator Jim Strickland, is cited in a class action lawsuit filed by a Georgia man who went to court after saying his Mercury Montego allegedly without warning and crashed into a garage.

"I'm driving a big vehicle, and I can't stop it. I don't know what to do to stop it. It has a mind of its own. It takes over and takes control," said car owner Samuel Hairston, of Roswell.

Hairston said the car has accelerated on its own eight times times -- four times, it occurred for several seconds.

"I don't think anybody would buy it if they knew what it did. It's basically a big safety hazard," he said.

Hairston joins consumers in 30 states filing suit. They are seeking damages for diminished value and demand Ford fix the problem.

Court documents said there are 35 different models of Ford and Ford sister brands involved. Model years vary from 2002 to 2010. That's 11 million vehicles.

"We want Ford to get involved now and stop it from being a serious body count," said attorney Adam Levitt.

A federal audit said from 2003 to 2009, 29 deaths and 345 injuries are blamed on Ford speed control issues, including unintended acceleration. The figure represents the most deaths of any manufacturer during that time.

"It's sad because it puts everybody on the road in jeopardy," said Hairston.

With a lawsuit pending, Ford refused to comment.

WSBTV