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Comments
Mark.
1) This means that the brake wear problem is NOT a "design defect".
2) This means that the brake wear problem would not affect ALL vehicles (which explains people like me who've had no issues)
3) More interestinlgy, think of what this implies for those who have had MULTIPLE sets of brake pads wear early. Hmmmm.
I had this same problem a couple of months ago. The dealer replaced a switch under the steering wheel (under warranty). A rapid blinker means there is something wrong with the electrical system. Typically this is a burnt out light bulb, but it could be anything.
wasn't a design issue it was a QC issue... but thanks anyway
Any particular reason you're defending Ford so much?
My point is that I don't believe you are making a big overstatement that there was potentially a life threatening situation in regards to this matter.
More brake force delivered to the rear does not mean that the front still does not do the majority of the braking, say rather than a traditional 70%/30% F/R, maybe now they proportion 60%/40%(these are just round numbers to illustrate my point and not in any way accurrate) alleviating some dive.
Again, I'm not saying it wasn't dangerous, but if you have pads metal to metal you know it and are adjusting your driving accordingly or better yet getting directly to the dealer to fix. Mine got metal/metal, I heard it and drove slowly to the dealer to fix it as did most I suspect.
Life threatening and lucky no one died I think is an overstatment. Not great PR and poor handling of a tough situation set up by a vendor's poor efforts, that I think is what this situation warrants.
I'm a customer with the vehicle, and I would consider it a QC issue . . . especially since it didn't affect me.
Since I know I've driven my vehicles in the rain, then the pads I got must have been OK. If it were a "Design Defect", few (if any) would have had no issues at all with it.
Took copy of a TSB about shifter issues to the service department when I took it in for shifter replacement. They were surprised to see I had a TSB in hand. They totally replaced the entire shifter assembly for free! A $700 repair bill that I almost paid, because they didn't either take the time to look for a TSB or knew it was there and just wanted me to pay. :confuse: Thanks to the info here on this forum and another forum I was able to save some money!
Thanks in advance for any insight on this.
carsten
I had a similar situation for some control modules that ended up being covered by the emission warranty, but it took a lot of calls between the service manager and Ford to make sure the dealer would be reimbursed.
Nobody like something to break down right after the warranty expires, but there has to be some defining line.
Has anyone heard of this issue? I cannot believe they do not consider this part of the power train!
As far as the brakes are concerned, it was inconvenient and annoying but after getting reimbursed by Ford I don't feel nearly as bad. Several years ago I had a similar experience with a Nissan Maxima (13,000 miles on rear brakes) and never saw a dime from Nissan. The vehicle had very small pads on the rear and never would last 15,000 miles.
Keep smiling and enjoy that Freestyle.
I haven't been reading this forum much lately but I have been having almost the exact problem with my 06 FS. My CVT has been out of the car three times already and it is currently sitting on the bench at the dealership as I type this. My car is only 19 months old but has over 70,000 miles on it. I had the almost same exact symptoms as you. I would be driving at about 70 MPH, with cruise control on, and the engine RPM's increasing after just starting up a hill. I would get the Wrench light and the traction control light would light up then go off. The wrench light would stay illuminated. The car would surge like a normal automatic transmission downshifting but I didn't get the neutral/disengaged condition. The dealer has replaced some parts in the CVT twice. This all started back in June. The last time I was picking up the car the service manager asked me if the cruise control was on when the light came on. I said it was and that I also told the person who receives the cars that the cruise was on more than one time. Anyway, they installed a data recorder to record what was going on when it happened since they couldn't duplicate the problem. It happened the next morning on the way to work. That was over 2 weeks ago and the car has been in the shop since then. Service manager did seem to think that there is a new TSB on CVT but I haven't been able to locate it. The CVT was one of the main reasons I bought this car and it was also the main reason that I purchased the Extended Warranty plan. All of this work has been performed under the warranty and the service manager has been covering the $100.00 deductible every time. Since this is warranty work everything needs Ford's approved before they can replace it. Looking on the bright side, I've put at least 7,000 miles on loaner cars since June (saving wear and tear on the old FS). But. I'd much rather be driving the Freestyle. I believe that they finally know what's wrong with it this time. Have your service guy look for a TSB on CVT input shaft seal. Not sure if that’s what it is and it may not be an actual TSB, just have him call the Ford hotline before he starts replacing parts.
Thanks Peterz
You can use your hand to pull up the lock manually. I take it you mean that the electric door locks didn't unlock the doors?
To recap, at 40,600 miles the CVT has been replaced twice, the brakes and rotors have been replaced twice, and my battery needed to be replaced. :lemon: Any of you believers want to put your money where your mouth is and buy my Freestyle? I've done the research and this vehicle has more issues than a model normally has. A car manufacturer doesn't change the name of a vechile and re-engineer it (transmission) if it has been reliable. I'm trading it in for a Toyota Sequoia.
Really? Where did you do your research jogumo? Tell us? We'd love to know. Obviously you didn't take J.D. Power's opinion into account.
"Ford has supplanted Toyota as the leading manufacturer in initial quality rankings, taking the top spot in five of 19 segments in the 2007 survey by JD_Power and Associates. That was more than any other automobile corporation this year."
J.D. Power & Assoc. 06/07/07
Enjoy your 11mpg Sequoia.
I take it you have a 2005, early production? The car had some initial issues. I have had no problems with my 2006, except for an electrical relay that had to be replaced at 6K or so, and that didn't kill the car, just caused the turn signals to blink faster (which is a long-time Ford method of telling the owner that something is wrong with the electrical system - typically a blown light bulb).