SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A Sacramento County judge on Monday gave tentative approval to a deal that would end class-action lawsuits on behalf of about 800,000 Ford Explorer owners.
The plaintiffs argued that their vehicles lost value because of the sport utility vehicle's perceived rollover danger.
The settlement announced last week ends lawsuits against Ford Motor Co. in California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas, but personal injury and wrongful death claims involving the Explorer will continue.
People who bought Explorers from model years 1991 through 2001 will be eligible for $500 vouchers to buy new Explorers or $300 vouchers to buy other Ford or Lincoln Mercury products.
Ford, which admits no wrongdoing, will also be required to limit the safety claims in its advertising.
Judge David De Alba is set to give his final approval to the deal in April.
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