If you have a legal dispute with Ford about the website, it must be resolved through private arbitration in Michigan — not in public court — except for intellectual property claims, which Ford can bring to a Michigan court.
This analysis describes what Ford's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
Mandatory arbitration means you give up the right to sue Ford in court or join a class action lawsuit for website-related disputes, and you must travel to or litigate from Michigan.
Interpretive note: Enforceability of mandatory arbitration clauses varies by jurisdiction and by the presence or absence of an opt-out mechanism; the document as available does not confirm whether a class action waiver is explicitly stated or whether an opt-out window exists.
The updated terms establish automatic renewal for paid plans following the one-year trial period, meaning users will be enrolled in recurring billing unless they affirmatively cancel. The revised language also states that prices are subject to change, which means Ford retains the right to adjust fees during the subscription term. Under the updated agreement, equipped Ford vehicle owners transitioning from trial must enroll in a paid plan to continue service access. You can cancel the automatic renewal at any time through your Ford app account to halt recurring charges.
View change record →The updated Terms no longer disclose how Ford collects customer reviews, manages the third-party vendor (MaritzCX) responsible for survey administration, or applies moderation standards to published feedback. Previously, the Terms explained that reviews are moderated to remove profanity, fraud, personal identifying information, competitor references, dangerous behavior, and inadequate text. Users can no longer see these operational details or understand what standards govern how their submitted reviews are processed and displayed.
View change record →The mandatory confidential arbitration clause and specific carve-out for IP enforcement were removed, shifting to a standard governing law provision that is less favorable to Ford's dispute resolution preferences.
View full change record →Website disputes must go through confidential arbitration in Michigan, which limits transparency, may require significant cost and inconvenience for users outside Michigan, and forecloses the option of a public court proceeding or class action.
How other platforms handle this
the arbitration provider, National Arbitration and Mediation ("NAM"), shall not accept or administer any demand for arbitration and shall administratively close any arbitration unless the Party bringing such demand for arbitration can certify in writing that the terms...were fully satisfied.
Neither you nor we may elect arbitration of any claims seeking only individualized relief asserted by you or us in small claims court, so long as the action remains in that court and is not removed or appealed de novo...
"Any dispute relating in any way to your visit to ford.com shall be submitted to confidential arbitration in Michigan, except that, to the extent you have in any manner violated or threatened to violate Ford's intellectual property rights, Ford may seek injunctive or other appropriate relief in any state or federal court in the state of Michigan.Excerpt from Ford's Terms and Conditions
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: Mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer contracts are subject to scrutiny under the FTC Act and have been the subject of CFPB rulemaking and congressional attention, though the Federal Arbitration Act generally permits …
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Search "[your state] attorney general consumer complaint" to find your state's direct complaint form
Coinbase's User Agreement includes a mandatory arbitration clause that most users may not have reviewed. Here is what the clause states and how the opt-out process works.
561 arbitration provisions across 197 platforms. ConductAtlas tracks how dispute resolution is being restructured across the internet.
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Mandatory arbitration means you give up the right to sue Ford in court or join a class action lawsuit for website-related disputes, and you must travel to or litigate from Michigan.
Website disputes must go through confidential arbitration in Michigan, which limits transparency, may require significant cost and inconvenience for users outside Michigan, and forecloses the option of a public court proceeding or class action.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 206 platforms. See the full comparison.
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