The Ford Motor Company, one of the most famous brands in the world, has been linked to past asbestos use in its products, especially brakes and clutches. Former employees and contractors worked around asbestos-containing products, and many of them developed mesothelioma. Ford continues to fight asbestos lawsuits.
If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.
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Did Ford Use Asbestos?
Asbestos was once common in automotive parts, especially friction parts like clutches and brakes. Asbestos helped prevent overheating and fires. Ford used asbestos in some of its parts for many years until the 1980s.
Ford Motor Company History
- Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1903.
- Although many felt that the automobile industry would never be profitable, Henry Ford, along with 12 investors, had already made a profit of over $30,000 at the company’s start.
- Several years later, Ford revealed the Model T, its first automobile, which quickly became popular in the U.S. It was the first mass-produced vehicle affordable for most working Americans.
- The company then created the world’s first automotive assembly line at its Highland Park plant. The assembly line made over 200,000 vehicles in its first year alone.
- Less than ten years later, Ford’s vehicle production reached over a million. With its rising success, Ford expanded its plants during the 1920s to include factories in numerous different countries.
- When World War I started, Ford created several parts and vehicles for the military, including tanks and submarine chasers. Ford continued to manufacture for the government during World War II, including most of the military’s B-24 bomber planes.
- By 1956, Ford went public with its products and, within the next ten years, released the Mustang, one of its most popular vehicles to date.
- However, during the same period, foreign vehicles began making their way into the nation, which resulted in a decline in interest in Ford’s vehicles. Ford continued to make new vehicles, including the Taurus, another of the company’s most successful cars.
- Until the 1980s, Ford continued to use asbestos parts in its vehicles. It faced lawsuits and other financial issues but never filed for bankruptcy. Ford was not part of the federal aid package GM and Chrysler received in the 2000s.
Which Ford Products Contained Asbestos?
Asbestos was useful in the automotive industry for its ability to insulate against heat and protect against fire. Several Ford parts were made with asbestos:
- Brake linings
- Brake pads
- Clutches
- Gaskets
- Engine components
- Transmission components
- Firewalls
- Hood liners
Some of the brand names of Ford asbestos products were Ford, Mercury, Motorcraft, and Ford Authorized Remanufactured.
Occupations Affected by the Ford Motor Company
Many people were at risk of exposure to asbestos in Ford parts. Mechanics who worked on and installed Ford asbestos products had the highest risk of exposure.
Many other workers were also affected, including factory workers, warehouse workers, machinists, pipefitters, auto store employees, and more.
In addition, consumers who bought Ford products may also be at risk of developing asbestos illnesses. Many consumers purchased asbestos-filled Ford products from auto parts stores. Home mechanics risked exposure when they worked on the clutches and brakes on their own vehicles.
Ford Asbestos Lawsuits
Ford has faced thousands of claims of asbestos exposure from their brakes and other products. Ford never filed for bankruptcy and did not set up an asbestos trust. It continues to fight asbestos lawsuits. These are just some examples of claims that went in favor of the plaintiffs:
- Secondhand Asbestos Exposure. Joyce Stockton was diagnosed with an asbestos illness but never worked with asbestos. Her husband was a mechanic and likely exposed her to fibers on his clothing. Stockton sued Ford and other companies. A jury in Tennessee found Ford 71% liable and awarded her $4.6 million.
- Exposure in Manufacturing Plant. Linda Behiling developed mesothelioma and died in 2019. She worked in a manufacturing facility with Ford and other asbestos products. Her family sued for wrongful death and was awarded $6 million.
- USPS Mechanic. Nollie Wood worked for the U.S. Postal Service and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1990. In his role as a mechanic, he repaired USPS vehicles that contained Ford brakes and clutches. Wood died shortly after his diagnosis. His wife won $6.3 million in a jury award.
- Widows of Mechanics. Two widows of mechanics who worked with Ford products sued for wrongful death, receiving a jury award of $14 million at trial in 1996. Both men died of mesothelioma before the conclusion of the lawsuit. This was an early case that helped set a precedent for assigning liability to companies that made and used asbestos car parts.
- Mechanic with Mesothelioma. William Trokey was a mechanic in the 1960s, a time of peak asbestos use. He worked with Ford brakes that contained asbestos and eventually was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Trokey and his wife sued several companies. A jury awarded $10 million to each of them to be paid by Ford.
Asbestos lawsuits against Ford continue to this day. In 2022, the widow of a mechanic who died from mesothelioma sued for wrongful death. Ford tried to have the case dismissed, but a judge ruled that it could proceed.
OSHA Cites the Ford Motor Company
In 2013, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Ford for at least eight severe violations of the asbestos and respiratory protection standards. The violations occurred at Ford’s Lakeshore Road plant in Buffalo.
According to OSHA, a serious violation entails probable cause to believe that a severe injury or death can occur from employer negligence.
“Workers deserve to perform their duties in a safe environment knowing they are protected from unsafe exposure to asbestos and other hazardous materials. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that proper and effective safeguards are in place and in use at all times.”
OSHA Buffalo area director, Art Dube
The violations that Ford was cited for included allowing employees to work in a hazardous environment, including, but not limited to:
- A pipefitter working on a steam line that was filled with asbestos-containing insulation
- Workers were not given respirator masks when working around asbestos-filled products
- No unauthorized area signs in asbestos-filled working areas
- Failure of employers to monitor airborne asbestos and protect workers
“To prevent incidents like this from occurring, employers should implement and maintain an effective illness and injury prevention program. Employers should aim at working with their employees to identify, address and eliminate hazards before they occur.”
OSHA’s New York regional administrator, Robert Kulick
Ford Covered Up Asbestos Dangers
Like other companies facing lawsuits, Ford has tried to dodge or limit liability. An investigative report found that Ford spent about $40 million to cover up the dangers asbestos parts posed to mechanics.
The company spent money on consulting firms and studies that would cast doubt on the link between mesothelioma and mechanics who worked on asbestos brakes.
The studies Ford funded had mixed results. Scientists and researchers who have testified on the connection between illness and asbestos exposure in mechanics criticized Ford’s studies. They confirmed there is a definitive link.
What to Do if You Used Ford Asbestos Products
If you worked with Ford products that contain asbestos, talk to your doctor about the risks and screenings. The earlier you get a diagnosis of an asbestos illness, the better the outcome will be.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to determine your legal options if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease. Experienced asbestos attorneys give you the best chance of recovering damages through an asbestos trust fund, a lawsuit, or both.
Additional Resources for Asbestos Victims
Remember, you may be eligible for considerable compensation if you’ve been injured by asbestos. Don’t forget to fill out our form for our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
