AUTOS

Consumer Group Blasts Ford Paint Policy: The Center for Auto Safety is accusing Ford Motor Co. of using a secret warranty to cover what it says are widespread paint defects on pickup trucks. The center said it will ask the Federal Trade Commission today to require Ford to notify owners of what it says are defects leading to peeling paint on hundreds of thousands of F-series pickups. The Washington-based group also wants Ford to repair the defects, if necessary. The group, which says it has internal Ford documents indicating that the paint problem has existed for years, says Ford repaints faulty trucks only when owners complain--a policy it says amounts to a “secret or hidden warranty.” Ford acknowledged some problems with silver, gray or blue paint on the trucks, but said the incidence is so rare that it didn’t justify notifying owners.