Ford Motor Co. on Nov. 28 agreed to settle a class-action suit on behalf of about 800,000 Ford Explorer owners stemming from a series of rollover accidents that involved certain models of the Explorer SUV.

The plaintiffs alleged Ford falsely advertised the vehicles as safe when the company knew they had a tendency to flip. They say the SUVs lost about $1,000 in value because of their perceived danger and bad publicity.

Under the settlement people who bought the sport utility vehicles 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. The vouchers can be transferred to anyone in the same state as the original vehicle owner.

Ford, which admits no wrongdoing, will be required to limit the safety claims in its advertising and will pay as much as $25 million in attorneys' fees and costs.

Sacramento County Superior Court Judge David De Alba tentatively accepted the deal that ends lawsuits brought in California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas against Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford Motor Co. The judge is expected to give his final approval to the deal in April.

Not covered in the settlement are multiple personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits across the country against Ford involving the Explorer. Those will continue.