Ford Motor Company is one of the most frequently sued automakers in California, ranking consistently in the top two or three among lemon law defendants statewide. Transmission failures in the Ford Focus and Fiesta (the DPS6 PowerShift debacle), powertrain defects in F-150 trucks, and electrical system issues across multiple model lines have generated thousands of California lawsuits. If you need to serve Ford, the process is straightforward — but you need the right entity name and the right address.
The Correct Legal Entity
The correct entity name is Ford Motor Company. Ford is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. Unlike some automakers that operate through multiple U.S. subsidiaries, Ford Motor Company is the single entity that manufactures, distributes, and sells Ford and Lincoln vehicles in the United States.
Do not confuse Ford Motor Company with Ford Motor Credit Company LLC, which is Ford’s financing arm. If your case involves a vehicle loan, lease dispute, or financing issue, Ford Motor Credit may be the correct defendant — and it is a separate entity with potentially different agent information.
Search bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov to confirm the current registered agent before serving. Agent designations can change.
Where to Serve
Registered agent: CSC Lawyers Incorporating Service
Address: 2710 Gateway Oaks Dr, Suite 150N, Sacramento, CA 95833
CSC handles registered agent services for Ford Motor Company in California. The Sacramento office is in the South Natomas corridor, the same location where CSC serves as agent for hundreds of other major corporations. Free surface parking, ground-floor suite access, and no building security checkpoints make this one of the more efficient service locations in the Sacramento area.
CSC accepts service Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The early closing time is the key scheduling constraint. Plan accordingly.
What Documents Are Commonly Served
Ford’s California litigation profile is dominated by vehicle defect and warranty cases:
• Lemon law complaints — Ford ranks among the top two or three lemon law defendants in California. The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act allows consumers to seek buyback or replacement of defective vehicles, plus civil penalties for willful violations. Transmission defects (particularly the DPS6 in Focus/Fiesta models), engine failures, electrical system malfunctions, and powertrain issues in F-150 and Bronco models drive high filing volumes.
• Product liability claims — Claims beyond warranty coverage, including allegations of design defects, manufacturing defects, and failure to warn. Rollover cases, airbag deployment failures, and fuel system fire allegations appear in California filings.
• Class action complaints — Multi-plaintiff and class action cases targeting specific defect patterns across model lines.
• PAGA and employment actions — Claims from Ford dealership employees and workers at Ford facilities in California.
• Subpoenas — Discovery subpoenas seeking engineering documents, warranty claim data, technical service bulletins, and recall records.
How We Handle It
CSC at 2710 Gateway Oaks Drive is one of our most frequently served locations. Ford service is a regular occurrence given the volume of California lemon law litigation targeting the company. We deliver documents within the 2:00 PM service window and provide court-ready proof of service.
For cases naming both Ford Motor Company and Ford Motor Credit Company LLC, we verify the registered agent for each entity separately and serve both as needed.
For more on serving at CSC, see our CSC service page and our guide to registered agents in Sacramento.
Service Level | Timeframe | Price
Standard | 10 business days | \$99
Expedited | 3 business days | \$150
Rush | 24 hours | \$175
Court Filing Add-on | — | +\$30
