No surprise that Ford/Mazda have issued a recall on 80,000 vehicles (www.automotivenews.com) because of defective wipers.
I have been patiently waiting 20 days for the parts to arrive at the dealership. Hopefully, the recall will help speed things up. Right now, there is NO zoom-zoom, none at all. Anyone waiting for repairs hear about parts delivery dates from Mazda or the dealer? I called Mazda Canada on Monday and they were clueless - the dealer said perhaps on Dec.1. I think this might be some sort of record for consecutive days waiting for a warranty repair. Nothing to get excited about though!
Ordered XLT 4X4 with V-6 on 10/02. Dealer said it would arrive this week. I called VOPC and got the message it is "on the ramp today" Not far off from the original estimate of 8 weeks by the dealer. Will pick it up Fri AM. 1% over invoice. I hope that most of the bugs are worked out by now. The wiper problem does not affect this vehicle as it was built in the KC plant. Anxiously awaiting the virgin voyage.
I hate to break it to you, but all Escapes are made in Kansas City and this recall includes virtually all 80K Escapes and Tributes that have been built to date. Since mine was built 10/20, I have Escaped the first four recalls. Unfortunately, this one get all of us.
My last fillup yeterday on Tribute EX V6 I finally hit 22 mpg - better than the 18.5 to 20.0 I'd been getting.
Thanks for the WD-40 tip on the clicking seatbelt!
No wiper problems yet at 1950 miles, and they've been getting a good workout with our wet, snowy weather and road spray.
I DO have that strange "sound" when I put the heater control onto "floor" setting. It actually sounds like the fan speed is varying between two different levels - lower and higher! Any clues as to cause?
I sure hope Ford realizes what a devoted group of owners/fans they have. If any foreign manufacturer had half the number of problems/recalls that Ford has experienced thus far with the Escape/Tribute, they'd be filing for bankruptcy protection already. Instead, the general consensus seems to be "Oh well....at least they're trying...you have to expect a few problems with a new model". Who are you kidding? Dozens of new models debut every year and I challenge you to name just ONE other that has experienced a fraction of these problems. Sure the Escape was a great concept but it seems self evident that they rushed it into production and totally skipped the pre-production design evaluation phase.
Ok, I know there have been several new models with several recalls in the first months of production:
Kia Sephia Hyundai Excel Hyundai Accent
I know there are others, but would have to do more research. Perhaps you are correct that Ford didn't do quite a thorough enough job at testing all of the things on this new model, but let's face it, these are all MINOR things that are being addressed quickly and handled efficiently (at least in my case)
And both Kia and Hyundai suffered badly in the marketplace after the problems with those vehicles came out. Take Hyundai for example, how long has it been since the Excel debuted? Over ten years and they're still trying to change their reputation for poor quality!
If you consider the possibility of:
a. Steering wheel falling off b. Accelerator sticking c. Wipers quitting in the middle of a downpour
as MINOR, then you certainly bought the right vehicle. Best of luck (you'll need it).
My dealer got the parts this morning, and I just got the phone call that my truck is ready to be picked up. My wipers failed on November 19th. The repair itself takes about 20 minutes.
So, for everyone out there waiting for replacement wiper parts, (including psouthard), it shouldn't be long now.
BTW, my V6 4WD has been getting 18/19 city and about 22/23 highway. Mixed driving is consistently 20 mpg.
And the fact that Kia, Hyundai et al. are struggling and Ford is not should be a testimony to the way that Ford is handling it's problems.
By the way, for all of the recalls except the wipers, the affected vehicles were within a date range of a month or LESS. SO, not ALL Escapes are having ALL of these problems. If you're bitter, that's fine, but don't generalize.
To Frank P. In 1996 the Chevy introduced the newly designed Cavalier (one of the best selling compact size cars on the market). That car had 5 recalls in that year ranging from premature airbag deployment (with excessive force, causing injury) to the rear suspension trailing arm bolts breaking causing complete loss of control in the vehicle. I don't see a problem with sales with the Cavalier today, or with Chevy's credibility for that matter. Let's give Ford a chance. If this continues throughout the next few months then maybe something is amiss.
We've had our Escape since early August and now have close to 5000 miles on it. We have experienced absolutely no problems and the Escape has met all my expectations.
The real issue is not the number of recalls but customer satisfaction. If the owners are not happy and their vehicles are falling apart, then there is reason for concern. For the most part Ford has addressed the recall items before the vehicles have reached the customers hands. No vehicle is a perfect design. There will be problems peculiar to every make and model. How the manufacturer chooses to address it is another matter. I understand that there have been numerous complaints about oil consumption in the New Beetle, but VW has not issued a recall. Mercedes had at least 3 recalls with the ML 320. If there have been service bulletins issued for a vehicle then that indicates a problem that has surfaced enough times that the manufacturer feels a bulletin is warranted. Ford chooses to be upfront about it.
Ford is not taking any chances. Its public opinion is already damaged by the Firestone fiasco. If Frank would check his data, yes there have been other vehicles with recalls upon introduction. The anti-Ford attitude is getting old. Ford is doing the right thing by recalling asap. And if Frank would read the recalls, NOT EVERY RECALL is FOR EVERY Escape/Tribute on the road today.
Wanted to share what is happening with our Trib. It is at the dealer with the engine broken down waiting for mazda technicians from Jacksonville, FL. this Monday. Dealer replaced the manifold gasket and O rings couple of weeks ago to no avail to fix the fuel smell. At least dealer now agrees that there is a problem. Odor only happens with a hot engine allowed to cool for about 10 minutes. Blast of fuel smell occurs every time in this situation. Factory techs say that they think that fuel escapes from the manifold area and collects in the engine compartment to be pulled into the passenger space by heater/AC fan. Smell dissapates quickly but is quite intense for a minute or two. This is the third trip to the dealer. Other that this problem, the vehicle has been perfect. If they can't fix smell I will require that they give us a new vehicle. Such remedy is available under Alabama Lemon Law. I would have considered getting refund, but wife loves her Trib and won't hear of it. Would appreciate any information on fixes that any other owner is aware of.
I test drove a 2001 Mazda Tribute today.I asked the salesman if there had been any problems with the vehicle.His response simply no.Then I read the negative comments about recalls.Does anyone know if these recalls include the 2001 model also? Thanks!
They would be able to see that Ford's recall of Escaps, in every case but the wiper, involved only a few hundred cars, and the first three "recall" were actually stop productions before they released any at all.
I am a member of the Ford Escape Club at Yahoo and we have over 800 members. There is quite a number of them that complain of the fuel smell in the cabin after a warm restart with the A/c on such as your complaint. This problem, it seems, has not been solved on the Escapes as well as on the Tributes and it is quite concerning as a fuel smell{especially in the cabin area} can be very dangerous. WILL YOU PLEASE "POST THE RESULTS"after the technicians from Jacksonville make their report??? You can Email me at nortsr@cs.com {I live in Melborune Beach, Fla. and am supposed to pick up my new Escape XLT today.} Thankyou and I look forward to your response. Nort Davis, Sr.
jrfish: Appreciate the update on the wiper repair. I will give Mazda Canada a call today to find out if they have any new information regarding wiper parts delivery.
ptmccain: I agree with your post #226. On the surface, all of these recalls appear ominous, but, the wiper problem has been the only widespread problem with respect to the recalls based on the complaints that I have seen posted. The verdict on the fuel smell problem is still out. So far, it sounds like it is not related to the fuel filter/line recall. We had the fuel odour during the first 1000-1500 km and no odours since. I had the dealer inspect the fuel filter connections and found no indications of leakage.
We ordered an LX V6 in Sept and it arrived three weeks ago without the ABS package we requested. We refused the vehicle and the dealership reordered what we originally requested.
I wrote a letter to Mazda outlining my disappointment and received a call back. The customer service people at Mazda claimed there was a tie in between the towing package (we did not order) and ABS package, thought it is not in the literature. I assume they wanted to build them stripped or loaded. Also they could not bump up my second order in the build list, because they were not controlling the FORD building line. Well....
This week we get a call from the dealer. They had received a letter from Mazda that said they were out of ABS and moonroof parts for the foreseeable future (2,4,6 months) and could not venture when my vehicle could be built to my specifications. ABS units must be going in the XLT Escape since it is standard equipment. Mazda total misread the tea leaves customers wanting ABS. Should have been standard on LX and ES models.
Luckly the refused vehicle was still at the dealer and we bought it without the ABS (made mistake of selling wife's car early so had to move or lose). Got it for 400 over invoice and a year of free oil changes as an apology.
Also I talked with a Ford dealer before moving on the Trib and he told me the build ratio for Escapes to Tributes was going from 3 to 1 to 5 or 6 to 1.
So for all your Mazda Tribute fans out there who are patiently waiting for your ABS/Moonroof equiped Trib's - good luck.
Will update you'll on the Trib after I (if my wife lets me drive it) get some miles on it.
What are the o-rings you refer to. Are they the fuel filter o-rings that were the subject of an early recall.
I have an Escape XLT, 3300 miles and have had the exact same fuel smell problem since day one. I am waiting for someone to post news of a successful fix before I let the Ford dealer touch my baby. Please let everyone know how you make out.
While I certainly respect the loyalty a lot of people have for Ford products, I do believe that potential shoppers need to take their posts with a grain of salt. There really isn't such a small thing as a "minor" recall. How many times do we have to read about this fuel smell? I truly wonder how serious this problem would get had so many people not complained about it. And of course Ford is going to react promptly! Do you think they need any more bad PR? Had this Firestone fiasco not occurred, I think their "promptness" would be quite different. The true tragedy is that Mazda and Ford are being made side by side. My wife's 626 has been running great for 3 years until some part broke in the exhaust system and guess what? It was a Ford part.
Got delivery of my 200l Escape @8pm last nite. At 4 pm today had it towed to a dealer. The steering became stuck while turning. Had to really muscle it around to keep on course a couple of times. The first time going around a corner in a parking lot, almost ran into a flower bed. Made a left turn onto a street it only wanted to turn a little bit not near enough to make the corner, had to yank it around. A few turns were OK then it became stuck in a right turn going into the driveway. Saw some whitish, pinkish powder on the front wheel. Ford tow service took it to the nearest dealer. They laughed at me for wanting a loaner because my dealer is 90 miles away. This is my first American car purchase. Very disappointing. Any other problems like this?
Six weeks ago we purchased a 2001 Escape from a local dealer. Three days into ownership we noticed strong gas fumes entering the vehicle from the heat/air/ac vents, when the fan is turned on after the car has been started with an already-warm engine. The problem does not occur when the engine is cold. I discovered this site, while searching to see whether other Escapes had this problem and thanks to those of you who wrote, I have now learned that it is not a unique situation with our vehicle.
We returned the vehicle to the dealer who seemed surprised to hear of our problem and "checked out" the fuel system for leaks. None were reported. We drove the car again, and it continued to smell of gas fumes. We returned the car, and after keeping it for four days the dealer said they could not repair the problem and they had no idea why it was occurring. At our firm insistence, the car was replaced with another Escape, trucked in ten days later from a dealership 100 miles north of us. Our dealer was quite uncommunicative regarding how "known" this problem was, except to say that "a few other" Escapes had been turned in by some customers across the U.S.
Yes, this one also has games fumes. We have 600 miles on the new one. We have reported the fumes to the Ford dealer who simply tells us that when/if Ford can resolve the problem they'll send us a "service upgrade" bulletin. We are now demanding information from Ford regarding how safe it is to drive the vehicle, what constitutes safe levels of fume-breathing by passengers young and old, what exactly is the problem, what is being done to fix it, and what other solution is being offered to customers.
It is very sad and stressful to buy a new vehicle in which your family will ride, and get blasted with gas fumes - and have your dealer act like they've never seen this before or heard of it. They were well aware of the windshield wiper recall, the wheel problems in the 2-wheel drives, and the steering wheel loosening recall. Hard to believe they aren't aware of this problem too.
We are not being dealt with honestly. It isn't looking real good for Ford. I love this car except for the gas fumes, but if they can't fix it, and won't refund us, we'll have to take legal action.
I was set to buy a Tribute...called the dealer to schedule a test drive that afternoon. He told me there was a wiper problem and would call me back.
I immediately searched the web and found this board. Wow. Many of you folks have had a terrible experience. I'm sorry for you.
If I still wanted a Trib, and based on what I read here, there are long waits to get a Trib with ABS and other features, is there any evidence to indicate there will be no additional recalls or that new problems won't emerge?
Thanks for your help, and good luck.
Btw...the dealer never called back. imagine, a car dealer not following up with a customer?? these problems must be serious.
I am concerned about the reported fuel smell. The duratec engine is a time proven engine, however the Escape/Tribute use a plastic/fiber intake manifold. I'm suspicious?? Has the non metal manifold been used in any other application? Can an alum. manifold for another car be ordered from Ford's parts catalogue? Will the manifold from another duratec engined vehicle fit? I think these would be interesting question to know the answers. I assume an after market firm will quickly make available alum. manifolds.
I've just decided not to. I was impressed with the response and handling, but after reading about the various problems current owners are experiencing, I think I'll be looking for a foreign entry.
was strongly considering the mazda tribute to be my next vehicle , love the styling , small v-6 engine and performance. but one day i saw the 2001 toyota rav-4 - way better styling than trib (yeah i know it's a matter of taste) and world renowned toyota quality. if toyota puts a v-6 in the rav-4 , they will sell like mad.
This will be my one post. It occurs to me, reading through 250 some-odd posts, that in a forum such as this we are not likely to hear from people who are in love with their vehicle. By human nature, when nothing is wrong we don't even think to talk about it. Only when we encounter a problem do we become vocal. As a result, a message board such as this will be littered with horror stories and have relatively few happy endings.
I don't want to pretend that there are no problems worth discussing or worth telling other people about. Forewarned is forearmed, after all. However, I would suggest that the truly informed consumer use this information as a piece of the puzzle and not interpret the snapshots shown here to be the whole picture.
When every Escape/Tribute owner has a post here (We'd be well over 6,000 now, wouldn't we?) Then I will consider this a complete resource. Until then, I implore all of you to look beyond the squeeking wheel and see the whole wagon.
Several of the above post offer good advise. I thoroughly researched the vehicle, and on "paper," it's unbeatable. There is no better value for the money. Unfortunately, there are questions that needs answers. I am unconcerned about the past recalls ... good for Ford for addressing them. Of all the issues, I am more concerned about the reported fuel smell, mostly because I do not see a recall, and many report their dealer is unable to resolve the matter. I think a few more months of production will provide a lot of the answers.
I first posted about having the smell months ago, but maybe in the Tribute topic. Time passed and I posted that the smell was going away. Unfortunately, It has returned in the past month.
To review some points about the smell: It is a different issue from the recall for a fuel line leak at the fuel filter. The fuel filter is under the car near the left rear passenger space. The smell comes off the engine, and it is strongest at the left side of the engine as you lean in over the bumper.
Thank you for your updated information. The fuel smell is in EXACTLY the same spot with the Escape. The was true in our first Escape, which the dealer took back and replaced, and in the second Escape which has the same problem.
We stopped by the dealer's today and spoke to our original salesperson who leaned over the engine with the hood open and zeroed in on that spot without assistance from us. He has told us to bring it back tomorrow morning when the dealer manager is in.
One of the saddest things about this, apart from the smell and the potential safety issues, is that people are always walking up to us when the car is parked somewhere and commenting on how much they like the car - and that they've been thinking of buying one. It is such a great car in all other respects, and obviously has wide appeal.
I sure hope Ford can get this fixed, and assure customer safety in the interim. We don't want to give it up, but will be forced to if it can't be fixed. As well as my own safety, I routinely drive a carfull of 10 year olds around every week, and I can't jeopardize the safety of my own child or others.
Is anyone aware of ANY KIND of public stand/statement that Ford has issued over this? Today our dealer salesperson said they are being kept in the dark by Ford. That's a discouraging statement in terms of any hope for a solution to the problem.
I have over 5200 miles on my LX 4x4. Ihave had only one problem with it ( fuel leak ) and it was fix immediately. Every stage of the purchasing phase thru the ownership phase has been a joy. The sales dept knows how to treat people. The service dept knows how to respond to the demands of a new car owner and accurately assess the problem(s) and fix your vehicle. My trib has been a joy to drive. I'm going to have to call my insurance co. to adjust the yearly mileage calculation I gave to them before I knew how much I would be driving it. I would happily give anyone my thoughts on my buying and trib ownership experiences but I thought that this forum was for posting problems and not about extolling the driving pleasures. Hope this helps in some way.
I had the fuel smell and took it in and the dealer could not find any leaks ** they checked the recall and found everything normal ** but the mechanic did smell the fuel smell coming in thru the vents after warm starts. They said they are not aware of any other people with this problem and said i was the only one in this area that has reported the fuel smell *** I was not too happy and didnt know what to do*** I talked to the sales department and they were no help ** and service seemed like they wanted to help** so i called Mazda and wanted to report my displeasure and to see if mazda knew of this problem ** they said that they had some people report this problem and that there was a fix ** she was very helpful at mazda and I actually felt a little better talking to her ** she told me to set up an appointment and that the dealership needs to call tech support or something like that and they can work with the dealership to fix the problem*** I brought my car in the tuesday morning before thanksgiving and they had to order parts and being the holiday, they had my tribute for almost 2 weeks*** they were replacing the intake manifold gaskets or something like that and as of now ** so far no fuel smells ** I think *** Maybe I smell something else now ** but not sure ** we'll see *** but compared to before ** big difference ** I hope this was the fix and as far as the recall of the O rings and fuel line ** i think this is a different problem *** because my recall of the O ring and fuel line checked out just fine ** I recommend all escape and tribute owners to wait about 10 minutes after driving ur tribute or escape*** put their nose to the vents on a warm engine and start the vehicle to see if they dont smell gas *** hopefully not ** but if u do ** hopefully my story helps ** cya peter
A co-worker of mine has a DX-V6 that has the fuel smell. She had the recall regarding the fuel line/o-ring fixed a couple weeks ago - that wasn't the problem. Last week, the dealer performed the alleged fix discussed by peterw64 in post #248. The intake manifold gaskets were replaced. The dealer told her to drive it for a week before bringing it back if the smell continued. Well, it's been a week and the smell is just as strong as ever. She'll be bringing it back in this week, but as of now there's no light at the end of the tunnel. I'll post any further developments as they happen. Now for an editorial comment: Ford/Mazda has absolutely blown the launch of the Tribute. They have developed a product that should be a huge success, but are failing miserably with all the recalls, lack of availability of the LX and ES trim lines, unavailability of ABS, etc. I will be purchasing a small to mid-size SUV in the next 6 months. The Tribute should have been a slam dunk choice for my needs, but now I have serious doubts about this product. If Ford/Mazda can not work out the kinks soon with this product, I'll probably end up with a Santa Fe or some other product.
I just bought ES-V6 4WD and wondering if anybody has the same issue with the car: once I stop on the uphill, the car would roll back and I have to press and hold break pedal. My old car would just stand still on the uphill, with no gas or break pedals pressed. Is this really a problem, or all Tributes do this? Any response is greatly appreciated.
I work at a Mazda/Chrysler/Jeep dealership in the parts department. I purchased a Tribute LX 4x4 on November 16th. I already have 3,500 miles on it and I LOVE it! I've had no fuel/steering/wiper problems to date. Mine was built 10/17/00 so it might have missed the problems.
As for those who are waiting or gave up waiting for the models with ABS and/or sunroofs, don't give up! My dealership currently has a waiting list for the PT Cruiser that is 4-5 months long. Chrysler had no idea that the PT would be such a hit. What you have to take into consideration is manufactures don't have crystal balls to see which model vehicle will sell or not sell. Most have done basic research (Car shows) on what customer response would be, but it's not an exact science. Give them a chance. You don't know what you’re missing!
I have, in the past, stated that I would NEVER buy a new vehicle it's first year out. But when I drove a Tribute from the sales lot to the storage lot for one for our porters, I had to buy one. I live in the mountains and have a curvy road that I spend an hour on each day and the Tribute handles the corners GREAT! I've tried the Cherokee, Subaru, Durango, Toyota and they did not have the cornering feeling that the Tribute has.
Anyway, I will check my Mazda Dealer System on a daily basis and post any additional information on the "fuel/steering/wiper" problems as they come up. Again, don't give up on the Tribute! You'll most likely regret missing your chance to "Zoom-Zoom!
I have 900 miles now on my Escape and have not had a single problem with it. It runs and drive's great. My only concern is the gas mileage. The sticker said 18 city 24 highway, yet I get like 16 MPG with a combo! Anyone have a clue why it is using so much gas? I get like 250 Miles to a tank it's rediculous.
I bought a new escape Nov 14th in NE Mississippi. The first brand new car I've ever owned. Everything about this thing made me happy the first three days I had it; low emissions, economy, size, handling, safety, price, style. But now I'm sick to my stomach because of news of recalls involving steering wheels, sticky cruise controls, and fuel leaks. I don't have any faith the service dept here can assure me the steering wheel isn't going to come loose, or lock during a hard turn. I was only willing to risk buying a new ford offering under the presumption Mazda had a lot to do with it. Now I see Mazda didn't have enough to do with it after all. I still believe Japan would never let this happen, had they had full control in production. My Escape is going into the shop Friday to have the drivers mirror replaced, (it is loose and usless at highway speeds) to have the wiper recall performed, to have the fuel o-rings checked, and to be re-aligned because it pulls to the left. The assembly line in Missouri that builds both the escapes and tributes needs to be slowed down, or people's wives and their three year old kids will continue to be unnecessarily at risk.
There has been a post at the Ford Escape Club {post#11182) that Ford has a TSB out about the fuel pump making too much pressure and releases "GAS FUMES" from the canister.??? I don't know technically what this means but it sounds like they are aware of the problem {finally} and maybe...JUST MAYBE...this might be the answer???? Hope this helps.
You're lucky to get 250 to the tank. I get about 180 when I drive mixed and about 240 all highway. I've been in this forum a while but nobody can figure it out (including the service depts at dealers). In fact they don't really even want to address it. Not all that many people are having this problem but hopefully you'll get it fixed. If you do be sure to drop a line here. I took mine to the dealer and he told me nothing was wrong and that the car needed to be broken in. I'VE GOT 3000 MILES!!! How much more does it need to broken in. Anyways, Good luck!
I thought the 'official petition' about the fuel smell was a great idea AND it was getting a decent response until someone froze that discussion, said to continue it in this discussion and then didn't copy the responses in that discussion to this discussion, effectively ending that discussion. Until there is sufficient pressure put on Ford/Mazda regarding the elusive fuel smell, we are all 'pissin in the wind' so to speak. I have had my Trib in twice to eliminate the smell and have had them say that they can find no problem twice. So, take your VIn # to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm and REPORT the problem.
It states in the Tribute's owners' manual to wait until the vehicle has been broken-in with a couple of thousand miles driven. Check your owners manual to see if it says the same thing. I've read a number of posts in the Tribute club (in yahoo)complaining about the same problem you have. They have all been advised to wait until the vehicle is broken-in. Your mileage should improve. Of course, if your driving habits are on the jack rabbit side........
y2kqtstang,(Yahoo msg.11182) used many printouts of our fuel smell complaints to persuade his dealer to test his XLT. "when they were done they did acknowledge the problem and said Ford had issued a TSB on it when they checked, but no fix yet. Something about the fuel pump produces too much pressure and releases gas fumes from the canister," As I understand this, the calibrated spring inside the fuel pump is too stiff so the output pressure is too high. Too high fuel pressure to the fuel injectors will make the engine run rich unless more air is adjusted in. Any device to relieve the pressure will introduce fuel vapor into the charcoal filled canisters used to temporarily absorb the vapor for later return to the air intake of the engine. There is no pressure relief valve that returns fuel to the tank as in some older designs. So I would assume that the entire fuel pump must be replaced since it is a sealed unit. This is quite expensive. Also, the charcoal filled canister may be too small or it may not clear itself fast enough. Ford is going through the details and tests for a fix they haven't released yet. (garydag)had this same problem on a 2000 Taurus SES with the same Duratec engine. (Ford Taurus Two, Topic #3419 post #544) It looks like another QC problem, this time with the pumps. But we shall see when the fix TSB is issued. My guess is that it won't be so inexpensive like the other fixes so far.
I am very interested in the Ford Focus Wagon. I am checking out the many Ford Forum and now am losing interest in a Ford product after reading all these unhappy post especially in the Escape forum. I need a Wagon and the Legacy cost way too. Now, I am going back to checking out a Toyota Tacoma or Nissan Frontier for my light hauling needs. I am now certain I will not have peace of mind with a Ford car since I hang on to my cars for 10yrs plus.
I'm thinking about buying an Escape, and very much appreciate the education I've gotten here thanks to all your comments. It seems that where identifiable, most of you reporting the fuel smell problem have 6 cylinder engines. Since I'm thinking about the 4 cylinder XLS, I wonder if the fuel smell problem has affected any of these engines? Again, thanks for greatly helping me make an informed decision.
I was examining Tributes’ at a local dealer’s lot and noticed that the lower body plastic cladding were all wavy and some were actually pulling away from the body of the vehicles door panels and exposing the insert plastic clips. Now I don’t know whether this is weather related, as it’s getting quite cold here and maybe the plastic is warping or something.
Comments
I have been patiently waiting 20 days for the parts to arrive at the dealership. Hopefully, the recall will help speed things up. Right now, there is NO zoom-zoom, none at all. Anyone waiting for repairs hear about parts delivery dates from Mazda or the dealer? I called Mazda Canada on Monday and they were clueless - the dealer said perhaps on Dec.1. I think this might be some sort of record for consecutive days waiting for a warranty repair. Nothing to get excited about though!
I hope that most of the bugs are worked out by now. The wiper problem does not affect this vehicle as it was built in the KC plant. Anxiously awaiting the virgin voyage.
Thanks for the WD-40 tip on the clicking seatbelt!
No wiper problems yet at 1950 miles, and they've been getting a good workout with our wet, snowy weather and road spray.
I DO have that strange "sound" when I put the heater control onto "floor" setting. It actually sounds like the fan speed is varying between two different levels - lower and higher! Any clues as to cause?
-Frank P.
Kia Sephia
Hyundai Excel
Hyundai Accent
I know there are others, but would have to do more research. Perhaps you are correct that Ford didn't do quite a thorough enough job at testing all of the things on this new model, but let's face it, these are all MINOR things that are being addressed quickly and handled efficiently (at least in my case)
If you consider the possibility of:
a. Steering wheel falling off
b. Accelerator sticking
c. Wipers quitting in the middle of a downpour
as MINOR, then you certainly bought the right vehicle. Best of luck (you'll need it).
-Frank P.
My dealer got the parts this morning, and I just got the phone call that my truck is ready to be picked up. My wipers failed on November 19th. The repair itself takes about 20 minutes.
So, for everyone out there waiting for replacement wiper parts, (including psouthard), it shouldn't be long now.
BTW, my V6 4WD has been getting 18/19 city and about 22/23 highway. Mixed driving is consistently 20 mpg.
By the way, for all of the recalls except the wipers, the affected vehicles were within a date range of a month or LESS. SO, not ALL Escapes are having ALL of these problems. If you're bitter, that's fine, but don't generalize.
In 1996 the Chevy introduced the newly designed Cavalier (one of the best selling compact size cars on the market). That car had 5 recalls in that year ranging from premature airbag deployment (with excessive force, causing injury) to the rear suspension trailing arm bolts breaking causing complete loss of control in the vehicle. I don't see a problem with sales with the Cavalier today, or with Chevy's credibility for that matter. Let's give Ford a chance. If this continues throughout the next few months then maybe something is amiss.
The real issue is not the number of recalls but customer satisfaction. If the owners are not happy and their vehicles are falling apart, then there is reason for concern. For the most part Ford has addressed the recall items before the vehicles have reached the customers hands. No vehicle is a perfect design. There will be problems peculiar to every make and model. How the manufacturer chooses to address it is another matter. I understand that there have been numerous complaints about oil consumption in the New Beetle, but VW has not issued a recall. Mercedes had at least 3 recalls with the ML 320. If there have been service bulletins issued for a vehicle then that indicates a problem that has surfaced enough times that the manufacturer feels a bulletin is warranted. Ford chooses to be upfront about it.
Thanks!
www.blueovalnews.com
They would be able to see that Ford's recall of Escaps, in every case but the wiper, involved only a few hundred cars, and the first three "recall" were actually stop productions before they released any at all.
Idiotic whining is irksome.
Daimler/Chrysler just recalled 800,000 minivans.
Now THAT'S a recall folks.
nortsr@cs.com {I live in Melborune Beach, Fla. and am supposed to pick up my new Escape XLT today.}
Thankyou and I look forward
to your response.
Nort Davis, Sr.
ptmccain: I agree with your post #226. On the surface, all of these recalls appear ominous, but, the wiper problem has been the only widespread problem with respect to the recalls based on the complaints that I have seen posted. The verdict on the fuel smell problem is still out. So far, it sounds like it is not related to the fuel filter/line recall. We had the fuel odour during the first 1000-1500 km and no odours since. I had the dealer inspect the fuel filter connections and found no indications of leakage.
I wrote a letter to Mazda outlining my disappointment and received a call back. The customer service people at Mazda claimed there was a tie in between the towing package (we did not order) and ABS package, thought it is not in the literature. I assume they wanted to build them stripped or loaded. Also they could not bump up my second order in the build list, because they were not controlling the FORD building line. Well....
This week we get a call from the dealer. They had received a letter from Mazda that said they were out of ABS and moonroof parts for the foreseeable future (2,4,6 months) and could not venture when my vehicle could be built to my specifications. ABS units must be going in the XLT Escape since it is standard equipment. Mazda total misread the tea leaves customers wanting ABS. Should have been standard on LX and ES models.
Luckly the refused vehicle was still at the dealer and we bought it without the ABS (made mistake of selling wife's car early so had to move or lose). Got it for 400 over invoice and a year of free oil changes as an apology.
Also I talked with a Ford dealer before moving on the Trib and he told me the build ratio for Escapes to Tributes was going from 3 to 1 to 5 or 6 to 1.
So for all your Mazda Tribute fans out there who are patiently waiting for your ABS/Moonroof equiped Trib's - good luck.
Will update you'll on the Trib after I (if my wife lets me drive it) get some miles on it.
What are the o-rings you refer to. Are they the fuel filter o-rings that were the subject of an early recall.
I have an Escape XLT, 3300 miles and have had the exact same fuel smell problem since day one. I am waiting for someone to post news of a successful fix before I let the Ford dealer touch my baby. Please let everyone know how you make out.
We returned the vehicle to the dealer who seemed surprised to hear of our problem and "checked out" the fuel system for leaks. None were reported. We drove the car again, and it continued to smell of gas fumes. We returned the car, and after keeping it for four days the dealer said they could not repair the problem and they had no idea why it was occurring. At our firm insistence, the car was replaced with another Escape, trucked in ten days later from a dealership 100 miles north of us. Our dealer was quite uncommunicative regarding how "known" this problem was, except to say that "a few other" Escapes had been turned in by some customers across the U.S.
Yes, this one also has games fumes. We have 600 miles on the new one. We have reported the fumes to the Ford dealer who simply tells us that when/if Ford can resolve the problem they'll send us a "service upgrade" bulletin. We are now demanding information from Ford regarding how safe it is to drive the vehicle, what constitutes safe levels of fume-breathing by passengers young and old, what exactly is the problem, what is being done to fix it, and what other solution is being offered to customers.
It is very sad and stressful to buy a new vehicle in which your family will ride, and get blasted with gas fumes - and have your dealer act like they've never seen this before or heard of it. They were well aware of the windshield wiper recall, the wheel problems in the 2-wheel drives, and the steering wheel loosening recall. Hard to believe they aren't aware of this problem too.
We are not being dealt with honestly. It isn't looking real good for Ford. I love this car except for the gas fumes, but if they can't fix it, and won't refund us, we'll have to take legal action.
I immediately searched the web and found this board. Wow. Many of you folks have had a terrible experience. I'm sorry for you.
If I still wanted a Trib, and based on what I read here, there are long waits to get a Trib with ABS and other features, is there any evidence to indicate there will be no additional recalls or that new problems won't emerge?
Thanks for your help, and good luck.
Btw...the dealer never called back. imagine, a car dealer not following up with a customer?? these problems must be serious.
I don't want to pretend that there are no problems worth discussing or worth telling other people about. Forewarned is forearmed, after all. However, I would suggest that the truly informed consumer use this information as a piece of the puzzle and not interpret the snapshots shown here to be the whole picture.
When every Escape/Tribute owner has a post here (We'd be well over 6,000 now, wouldn't we?) Then I will consider this a complete resource. Until then, I implore all of you to look beyond the squeeking wheel and see the whole wagon.
To review some points about the smell: It is a different issue from the recall for a fuel line leak at the fuel filter. The fuel filter is under the car near the left rear passenger space. The smell comes off the engine, and it is strongest at the left side of the engine as you lean in over the bumper.
Tribute ES 4WD; 3400 miles
We stopped by the dealer's today and spoke to our original salesperson who leaned over the engine with the hood open and zeroed in on that spot without assistance from us. He has told us to bring it back tomorrow morning when the dealer manager is in.
One of the saddest things about this, apart from the smell and the potential safety issues, is that people are always walking up to us when the car is parked somewhere and commenting on how much they like the car - and that they've been thinking of buying one. It is such a great car in all other respects, and obviously has wide appeal.
I sure hope Ford can get this fixed, and assure customer safety in the interim. We don't want to give it up, but will be forced to if it can't be fixed. As well as my own safety, I routinely drive a carfull of 10 year olds around every week, and I can't jeopardize the safety of my own child or others.
Is anyone aware of ANY KIND of public stand/statement that Ford has issued over this? Today our dealer salesperson said they are being kept in the dark by Ford. That's a discouraging statement in terms of any hope for a solution to the problem.
I
dealer could not find any leaks ** they checked
the recall and found everything normal ** but the
mechanic did smell the fuel smell coming in thru
the vents after warm starts. They said they are not aware of any other people with this problem
and said i was the only one in this area that has
reported the fuel smell *** I was not too happy
and didnt know what to do*** I talked to the sales
department and they were no help ** and service seemed like they wanted to help** so i called
Mazda and wanted to report my displeasure and to
see if mazda knew of this problem ** they said
that they had some people report this problem and
that there was a fix ** she was very helpful at
mazda and I actually felt a little better talking
to her ** she told me to set up an appointment
and that the dealership needs to call tech support
or something like that and they can work with the
dealership to fix the problem*** I brought my car
in the tuesday morning before thanksgiving and they had to order parts and being the holiday,
they had my tribute for almost 2 weeks*** they
were replacing the intake manifold gaskets or something like that and as of now ** so far
no fuel smells ** I think
something else now ** but not sure ** we'll see
*** but compared to before ** big difference **
I hope this was the fix and as far as the recall
of the O rings and fuel line ** i think this is
a different problem *** because my recall of the
O ring and fuel line checked out just fine **
I recommend all escape and tribute owners to wait
about 10 minutes after driving ur tribute or escape*** put their nose to the vents on a warm engine and start the vehicle to see if they dont
smell gas *** hopefully not ** but if u do ** hopefully my story helps ** cya
peter
anybody has the same issue with the car: once I stop on the uphill, the car would roll back and I have to press and hold break pedal. My old car would just stand still on the uphill, with no gas or break pedals pressed. Is this really a problem, or all Tributes do this? Any response is greatly appreciated.
As for those who are waiting or gave up waiting for the models with ABS and/or sunroofs, don't give up! My dealership currently has a waiting list for the PT Cruiser that is 4-5 months long. Chrysler had no idea that the PT would be such a hit. What you have to take into consideration is manufactures don't have crystal balls to see which model vehicle will sell or not sell. Most have done basic research (Car shows) on what customer response would be, but it's not an exact science. Give them a chance. You don't know what you’re missing!
I have, in the past, stated that I would NEVER buy a new vehicle it's first year out. But when I drove a Tribute from the sales lot to the storage lot for one for our porters, I had to buy one. I live in the mountains and have a curvy road that I spend an hour on each day and the Tribute handles the corners GREAT! I've tried the Cherokee, Subaru, Durango, Toyota and they did not have the cornering feeling that the Tribute has.
Anyway, I will check my Mazda Dealer System on a daily basis and post any additional information on the "fuel/steering/wiper" problems as they come up. Again, don't give up on the Tribute! You'll most likely regret missing your chance to "Zoom-Zoom!
My Escape is going into the shop Friday to have the drivers mirror replaced, (it is loose and usless at highway speeds) to have the wiper recall performed, to have the fuel o-rings checked, and to be re-aligned because it pulls to the left.
The assembly line in Missouri that builds both the escapes and tributes needs to be slowed down, or people's wives and their three year old kids will continue to be unnecessarily at risk.
and then didn't copy the responses in that discussion to this discussion, effectively ending that discussion. Until there is sufficient pressure put on Ford/Mazda regarding the elusive fuel smell, we are all 'pissin in the wind' so to speak. I have had my Trib in twice to eliminate the smell and have had them say that they can find no problem twice. So, take your VIn # to
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm and REPORT the problem.
Hope this helps!
Anyone else noticed this problem?