Ford Reaches Settlement Over Transit Trail Class Action, With Payout Below Package Price

Ford’s attempt to give its Transit full-size van a more rugged look and feel has ended with a class action settlement. The Transit Trail, introduced in 2022 with all-wheel drive and a more off-road-oriented setup, was recalled in early 2024 after its 30.5-inch all-terrain tires rubbed the wheel wells. Ford replaced them with the same 28.5-inch tires used on standard Transits, upsetting owners who felt their vans had lost the capability they paid for.

That frustration led to a class action lawsuit first reported last year. Ford reached a settlement with the plaintiffs recently, agreeing to pay Transit Trail owners $6,000 for the reduced off-road performance of their vans. While that is a substantial class action payout, it is still less than half of the $12,500 price of the original Trail package.

The fine print

According to classaction.org, eligible claimants include original owners or lessees who bought or leased a model year 2023 or 2024 Ford Transit Trail for personal, family, or household use and who have not already received compensation from Ford, including a settlement payment or repurchase, tied to a covered vehicle or any alleged defect or economic loss involving the vehicle. Additional details on how to establish eligibility are available on the Class Action site.

Ford described the Transit Trail as having an “adventure-ready chassis” that was retuned and tested to meet the same Built Ford Tough durability standards as the rest of the Transit lineup. It also came with 6.7 inches of ground clearance, upgraded underbody protection, and the 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse tires that ultimately triggered the recall. After Ford swapped in 28.5-inch tires, ground clearance fell to 5.5 inches, matching the standard Transit. Nearly 2,000 vehicles were part of the recall, though it is not immediately clear how many owners qualify for the settlement.