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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?