US judge orders Ford to replace faulty ignition switches

Ford has been ordered by a judge in the US to replace defective ignition devices on an estimated 2 million California vehicles which are prone to stalling.

The ruling comes months after a judge at Alameda County Superior Court ordered the vehicles be recalled as part of a state lawsuit that could develop into a national recall.

Judge Michael E Ballachey, who ordered replacement of the devices based on advice from a court-appointed expert, found that Ford concealed the faulty parts from government inspectors.

It is estimated it could cost the company about $300m.

Even with the fix, which may not happen for more than a year as the legal wrangling continues, the cars still may stall in traffic.

But plaintiffs' attorneys and consumer groups said it was the best of three recall options.

Ford has denies the devices are faulty but has settled hundreds of wrongful death, injury and other suits in connection to allegations of vehicles stalling.

The Alameda County Superior Court suit challenged Ford's placement of the thick film ignition module, which regulates electric current to the spark plugs.

In 300 models sold between 1983 and 1995, the module was mounted on the distributor near the engine block, where it was exposed to high temperatures.

Internal documents show that Ford confirmed the problem in internal studies, and could have moved the module to a cooler spot for an extra $4 per vehicle.