MPI sues Ford over block-heater fires
Manitoba Public Insurance is suing Ford Motor Co. of Canada after block-heater fires broke out in vehicles insured by the Crown corporation.
It filed a lawsuit in Court of King’s Bench last week that seeks $252,212.67 — the amount it paid to claimants — plus interest and court costs from Ford.
The company hasn’t filed a statement of defence.
MPI alleges block heaters in eight vehicles caught fire due to defects, in five incidents in 2022 and 2023. The vehicles included a 2020 Ford Explorer, two 2019 Ford Rangers, a 2014 Ford Escape and a 2017 Ford Escape.
The insurer says that in each fire, the block heater was plugged into an appropriate power source.
In one fire, the claim alleges, the flames spread from a 2014 Escape to two vehicles in a Winnipeg parkade.
The suit accuses Ford of negligence, claiming it failed to adequately test the block heaters to make sure they were defect-free and installed properly.
In November, MPI filed a suit after a block heater fire caused nearly $16,000 in damage to the vehicle. Ford has yet to file a defence in that case.
The Crown corporation regularly files lawsuits against individuals it has deemed at fault in a collision or businesses accused of doing improper work.
The number of civil suits launched by the Crown corporation has dropped — to 61 in 2023 from 321 in 2019.
— Erik Pindera
