FORD - HUGE rant !!

[Homerr]

Sorry guys.. I need to vent a little...<br /><br />I took my truck down to the screwlearhship today to have a front axle pinion seal replaced.<br /><br />First.. a little history:<br /><br />When I purchased the truck new, I also got their behemoth warranty. The best they had to offer. <br /><br />On 9-27-04, I was having some general maintenance done (belts trans service etc..) and at that time they replaced the front pinion axle seal and some other seals at the front wheels.<br />Except for the general service, the seals were all COVERED under warranty.<br /><br />On 5-24-05, I took the truck down for an emission control issue they they fixed... but only by pulling teeth. It seems there was a 'silent recall' on that particular emission device that I was never told about. It took an act of congress to get them to admit the recall.<br /><br />At this time, the mechanic also noticed a FRONT PINION seal leaking and wrote it down as such on the invoice.<br /><br />? Yep.. that same seal they replaced a few months ago (approx. 10k miles)<br /><br />Well a day off today and I finally get time to get to Ford to fix that seal.<br />Now they are telling me that they won't fix it under warranty!<br /><br />Excuse me?<br /><br />I'm looking at my warranty right now... and SEALS are covered. <br /><br />Setting that all aside... shouldn't they be required to fix it anyway since they've already fixed it once and it went bad less than a year later?<br />If they fixed it once, then obviously they have a defective part or an idiot installed it wrong.<br /><br />I have NEVER in my automotive experience.. EVER seen an axle seal fail in that short time.<br /><br />We're on the phone of course to the big dogs at Ford themselves... for what little it will do.<br /><br />I can fix the damn thing myself... It's a part less than $10, but it's not the point.<br />I paid an enormous amount of money SO I DON'T HAVE TO WORK ON IT!<br /><br />I can now see why Ford is having so much trouble.<br />With service like this, I'm losing faith in American cars quickly.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for letting me vent...<br /><br />H.

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Usually dealerships have a 12 month/12K mile on replaced parts. It may not be part of your big warranty, but I would think it would be covered as the part was replaced and failed within the dealerships warranty period (if there even is one).

 

[Pogo123]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Sorry to hear about your problem, Homerr ... and sad that what you describe appears to be the general case and not the exception.<br /><br />I had such a go round with the local Ford dealer over service and warranty that I refuse to do business with them any longer. Like you, I got it fixed, but it took contacting Ford Motor home office to get it straightened out.<br /><br />Luckily, I found a dealer in a small neighboring town that does still believe in after sale service. I gladly drive the extra miles to be treated like a valued customer.

 

[aspeck]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Now, let's get this straight,<br /><br />Sept 04 - Work done and covered<br /><br />May, 05 - It is pointed out to you that it is leaking.<br /><br />Feb, 06 - you take it back to be fixed.<br /><br />Question, is the warranty still valid in tact? Or has it expired? The behemoth warranty? Cause if it has expired, you are on your own.<br /><br />Let's look at it from the dealers perspective (not saying they are right - and you all know how much I dislike Fords - if it ain't GM it's not a real vehicle), but you had the repair done almost a year and a half ago. How many miles have you put on the vehicle in that time. Yes, the dealer noted that the seal was leaking (or at least showing signs of moisture that could have been there from the original leak) 8 or 9 months after the repair, but they have to feel that it must not have been a good diagnosis at the time because it took you so long to make an appointment to get it fixed. It must not have been leaking after all.<br /><br />The idea of pointed out things like that are to get them fixed quickly, before the become a major problem. Not so the customer can see how much life he can get out of the defective part before replacing it for free.<br /><br />Now, I am not saying that the dealership is correct - I think they should have been calling you trying to schedule an appointment back in May and doing what needed to be done to get the truck in and get it fixed once and for all - but I think if you look at the other side of the coin, surely there you can see that you are somewhat culpable for this misunderstanding because you were just too busy to take care of the truck properly.<br /><br />Hope I do not upset you, Homer. That is not my intent. Just to get you to look at the other side also. If you can do that, it will help you when talking with the Ford Service Rep and also with the dealership personel.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

All the dealers I know will stand behind replacement parts for 12 mothths or 12,000 miles whichever comes first.<br /><br />Now whether the seal will be covered under the original warranty or not I am not sure.

 

[Homerr]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

The part only had 10k miles on it and approx. 6-7 months. It probably went out earlier, but that's when it was noticed.<br /><br />We tried to get it back into them on several occasions. In fact.. they canceled a few of my appointments after we pointed out that they had already fixed it once!<br />They canceled because a 'master mechanic' would now have to do it and of course only had specific times to get it done. Makes me wonder what they did wrong the first time.<br /><br />I'm extremely busy, and they are going to fix it on MY schedule.. not theirs. That's why I paid for the warranty.<br /><br /><br />And my warranty isn't expired. Far from it.<br />It's a seven year warranty extended past the original factory warranty.<br /><br />And on another note... The Wife just found a recall on that axle seal problem.<br /><br />Hmmm...<br /><br />Now it's going to get real interesting.<br /><br /><br />H.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Homerr, not trying to start anything, but most extended warrantys just apply to the end of the original warranty.<br />ie: if you have a 3 year 36,000 mile warranty and you buy a 7 year 60,000 mile warranty, you are just adding on 4 more years and 24,000 miles of warranty, not 7 additional years or 60,000 additional miles.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Thats the ford way. We have two 550 dump body trucks with less than 10.000 miles both in the shop for rear main seals. Have a brand new 350 utility body in the shop with a spent tranny at less than 4000 miles. We have yet to have a ford in the fleet that makes it ten years. This goes on year after year. I wish my boss would learn! <br /><br />Good luck with the F.M.C. Hoomer, you'll need it.

 

[aspeck]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Okay, Homerr. Just trying to get you to look at the other side. I agree that it should be fixed at your convenience, not theirs, and if necessary you should be given a loaner till they are able to fix it. But it is not about what I would have done when we had our dealership and it is not about what you think should be done. It is about what the Dealership is offering to do, and how the two sides are presented to the Ford Service Representative (by the way, these representatives USUALLY take the side of the customer, even when they know the dealership is correct - at least they used to do it that way).<br /><br />Since your extended warranty isn't expired, even the dates become a non-issue to a point. Is the extended warranty with Ford, or is it with an aftermarket company. If an aftermarket company, my personal opinion it is not worth the paper it is written on because that paper is too course to wipe with, and most of the blank spaces are already used up so it is no good for writing anything on it. The manufactures warranties are different beast, and although there are tons of loopholes like any other insurance policy, they do pay in the end.<br /><br />The recall is another issue. Since it was fixed before the recall (I am assuming that, anyway) then it would not have been fixed with the new seal. That could be the problem right there. There should be no problem with getting it fixed - but it would be fixed under the recall program, not under the faulty repair. (By the way, the insurance companies will usually only pay for a repair once. If it needs repaired again it comes out of the dealers pocket or the consumers pocket if the dealer can manage that.)<br /><br />Hope this is helping. Just some ramblings from a former dealer.

 

[JB]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

I don't think your rant is for Ford, I think it is for the dealer.

 

[Homerr]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

SBN: My warranty is 84 months/100,000 miles.<br /><br /><br />I know you're probably right JB... I'm just realy getting tired of huge places like Ford expecting you to roll over and take it.<br /><br />I love all my old Fords. It's all I've ever driven for the most part. But when you pay your hard earned money for a service they don't want to honor... I get a little upset!<br /><br /><br />As the old saying goes... the squeaky wheel gets the grease. And I have plenty of sqeaky wheels!!<br /><br />This truck was my first (and probably last) brand new vehicle I've ever bought.<br /><br />I certainly won't make the mistake of an extended warranty in the future.<br /><br />H.

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Could you send me the links to the recalls you found?<br /><br />I have an '04 F350 that might fall in those lists.<br /><br />kcchappy (AT) sbcglobal.net<br /><br />Thanks,<br />AK Chappy

 

[txswinner]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

It ain't just Ford, it seems car dealers are not happy until they put it to their customers. This includes rice burners also.

 

[QC]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Personally I think the rant is with Ford. Dealers love warranty work. They don't have to fight the customer. However this could be dealer rework depending on the cause of failure. Bad seal or bad install . . . Either way, I think your warranty should cover it despite the question of dealer vs. factory. You stayed within the network, that should not void your coverage for the seal.<br /><br />I am currently really pissed with Ford. I have a 2003 Expedition with 65K on it and the rear axle has been apart 5 times. Three clutch packs, a ring and pinion and the latest is a half shaft. I don't have extended warrranty and Ford has paid a protion of the repairs, but my contention is that this thing has never been right since the day it was built i.e. still in warranty. There are at least 25 service letters pertaining to this rear end (new in 2003, independent) and they know it is a pile.<br /><br />Calling the factory means nothing. The dealer gives you a number where they have the most excellently trained people you could imagine at saying absolutely nothing. You can't get in contact with the local rep, there is nobody that will reason with you. I don't know about you guys, but neither a rear-end or a front axle seal should require replacement under 100K. The rear end should be never. I am not against paying for failures. I understand that, for God's sake I have had to remind customers of that a 1000 times, but there are some things that are just not right!!! Homerr, I'm with you. Where do we picket?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

http://www.alldata.com/recall/make/Ford_Truck.html Good place to look up recalls and TSB announcements.

 

[one more cast]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Awhile ago I posted on my daughters focus with the front spring problem. Silent recall and 2 local Ford garages said they would fix it with no hassles. The one she took it to (not where she bought it) replaced darn near every front end part in the car. No Charge. Plus they took the time to give her a diagram as to where the heater relay was located so she could change it herself.

 

[Homerr]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

QC:<br /><br />Here's a site you can lodge your complaints:<br /><br /> http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ <br /><br />-----------------------------------<br /><br />Don't give up and roll-over for them. Keep on top of it.<br /><br />I would think at this point, the lemmon-law should kick in for your situation.<br />I'm not positive, but if they replace/fix it so many times and it still fails... they need to use brand new items, or give you a new car.<br /><br />You gripe loud enough, and it might just happen.<br /><br />Take it to the media too... BAD PR !<br />That's one thing Ford doesn't want especially after shutting down all those plants and laying off how many people?<br /><br />H.

 

[roscoe]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Well according to link provided by Bob_VT, all my <br />vehicles are under recall, except my Force outboard.

 

[POINTER94]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

Be careful, there is a difference between a TSB (technical service bulletin) and a recall. A TSB cost you money and recall tags the dealership/mfg'r. Lots of TSB's I didn't catch a recall on my expedition.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: FORD - HUGE rant !!

In todays manufacturing of so many parts from so many distributors, it is hard for the main assembly line to do quality checks on the parts they obtain.<br /><br />Awhile back we had some problems with seals in our ice cream freezers. Brand new ones would leak and deteriorate within a week. The company has made good on the product, but now all of our equipment has big messes of mix in areas it shouldn't be.<br /><br />It is possible that the seals that Ford has been putting in is a bad bunch of seals. I bet there is a paper trail on those bad seals. I would almost bet that the bad seal they original replaced was with another bad one. Sometimes it is not the main manufacture's fault, but those shops hired to make the parts for them. However is is still Ford that needs to correct the problem. Good Luck Homer!