A proposed settlement in a massive class-action lawsuit brought in Sacramento against the Ford Motor Co. would give 1 million Explorer owners in four states the opportunity to claim vouchers toward the purchase of a new Ford vehicle.

 The settlement agreement between plaintiffs' lawyers and Ford was signed Wednesday and delivered to Sacramento Superior Court. Under the proposal, Ford would provide vouchers worth up to $500 each toward the purchase of a new Explorer or $300 toward another Ford vehicle to owners of Explorers purchased in the 1990s. The company admits no wrongdoing in the settlement.

"Ford was peddling the Explorer as a safe vehicle that you could run up and down the highway at 70 mph," said lead plaintiffs' attorney Tab Turner. "But this vehicle does not perform as a safe and stable soccer mom kind of vehicle." Turner joined with a group of California lawyers -- including Elizabeth Cabraser of San Francisco -- in the consumer lawsuit.

For further information, class members should visit: www.explorercasuit.com/