In a legal battle that could have significant implications for consumer rights, a Pennsylvania resident has taken on a major automobile manufacturer over alleged defects in a newly purchased vehicle. Theodore Franklin Gallaher Jr. filed a complaint against Ford Motor Company in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on an unspecified date. The lawsuit accuses Ford of failing to address persistent issues with a 2024 Ford F150 truck under warranty.
Gallaher Jr., represented by attorney Robert A. Rapkin from Kimmel & Silverman, P.C., claims that the Ford F150 he purchased on May 1, 2024, for over $73,500 is plagued with defects that render it "substantially impaired" and unfit for its intended use. Despite multiple repair attempts by authorized dealers, the vehicle continues to exhibit problems such as engine misfiring and power loss, according to the complaint. The plaintiff alleges these issues violate both state and federal laws designed to protect consumers from defective products.
The complaint outlines several instances where Gallaher Jr. sought repairs under the vehicle's warranty but found no resolution. For example, on January 14, 2025, at just over 6,000 miles, the truck was reported to have engine misfires and other performance issues that persisted despite being serviced multiple times. Gallaher Jr.'s lawsuit argues that these unresolved defects breach Pennsylvania's Automobile Lemon Law and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act—a federal law mandating manufacturers honor their warranties.
Gallaher Jr.'s legal team contends that Ford failed to rectify the vehicle's nonconformities after reasonable repair attempts as required by law. Under Section 1955 of Pennsylvania's Lemon Law, if a manufacturer cannot fix a defect after several tries or if the vehicle is out of service for more than thirty days due to repairs, they must either replace it or refund the purchase price minus certain deductions.
In addition to seeking reimbursement for the full purchase price of the truck plus collateral charges like attorney fees and court costs, Gallaher Jr.'s suit demands relief under multiple legal counts. These include violations of state consumer protection laws which allow for treble damages—tripling the amount awarded—if fraudulent practices are proven.
Theodore Franklin Gallaher Jr.'s case is presided over by an arbitration panel within Allegheny County's civil division courts. The case ID is: CVPDD008S365F971.