2018 FORD TRANSIT Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD TRANSIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WIRING WAS WORN AND BEING EATEN BY RATS. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE HAD TROUBLE STARTING, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIRLANE FORD (14585 MICHIGAN AVE, DEARBORN, MI 48126, (313) 846-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WIRES WERE MADE OUT OF SOY AND ORGANIC BIO PLASTIC. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,700.

VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED (STANDARD EQUIPMENT, NOT AN OPTION) WITH AUTOMATIC FOLDING SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVERS DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. SAFETY FAULT IS THAT VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN FOLDED POSITION. FORD DEALERSHIP AND FORD'S CUSTOMER HOTLINE ARE CLAIMING THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION OF THESE MIRRORS. HOWEVER, COMMON SENSE DICTATES THAT A VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE MIRRORS FOLDED. LEGALLY, THIS APPEARS TO BE IN VIOLATION OF US DOT REGULATION CFR 571.111 S5.2.1 WHICH RELATES TO THE FIELD OF VIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR - DRIVER'S SIDE. IF THE MIRROR IS FOLDED, IT DOES NOT MEET THAT REGULATION. AS SUCH, THE MANUFACTURER CODING OF THE FOLDING SYSTEM'S HARDWARE SHOULD ALWAYS DEFAULT TO FULL OPEN POSITION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING OR IN MOTION. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAS INDICATED THAT THERE IS NO SETTINGS IN THEIR CONTROL RELATED TO CHANGING OR DISABLING THE FUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC FOLDING MIRRORS. THEY HAVE SEEN THE PROBLEM BUT CONSIDER IT NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE SCENARIO TO PRODUCE THIS PROBLEM IS SIMPLY: - UNLOCK AND ENTER THE VEHICLE (MIRRORS UNFOLD TO OPEN POSITION) - LOCK THE VEHICLE USING THE BUTTON ON THE ELECTRONIC KEY/FOB. (MIRRORS FOLD) - START VEHICLE. (MIRRORS REMAIN FOLDED AND WILL REMAIN FOLDED AS LONG AS VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED) ----- IF PROBLEM IS SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE, IT REQUIRES REPAIR. BUT IT APPEARS THAT PROBLEM IS RELATED TO EVERY SIMILARLY EQUIPPED VEHICLE OF THIS YEAR/MODEL AND MAY EXTEND TO OTHER FORD MODELS. IF SO, THIS REQUIRES A RECALL AND RESOLUTION TO COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS AND BASIC SAFETY FUNCTION.

SEVERAL SPOTS ARE OCCURRING AT JOINTS OF DOOR OPENINGS AND ALSO ON THE ROOF WHERE THE PAINT IS NOT ADHERING PROPERLY OR IS ACTUALLY BEING RUBBED OFF WHEN THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND THE VEHICLE IS AN OPERATION. THE PAINT JOB ON THE CEILING WELDS IS NOT SMOOTH. IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME BUBBLING OR CHIPPING GOING ON AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS.

WHEN THE VAN IS STATIONARY AND RUNNING FOR 10-15 MINUTES, HALF OF THE CARGO FLOOR (BEHIND THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS) REACHES A TEMPERATURE OF 125-130 DEGREES. A TEMP GUN WAS USED TO DEMONSTRATE THIS SAFETY HAZARD. I MADE MENTION OF THIS TO AN AUTOBODY SHOP WHO SUGGESTED HAVING THE DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK SINCE THAT DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP IN WEST PALM BEACH (AL PACKER, 561-689-6550) LOOKED OVER THIS, THEY STATED THIS IS AS DESIGNED AND IT MATCHES A FEW OTHER FORD TRANSITS THEY CHECKED. THEY SAID NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO ASSIST ME EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD AS A TEMPERATURE OF 130 DEGREES CAN CAUSE FIRST DEGREE BURN IF IN CONTACT FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS (SEE ATTACHED IMAGE REFERENCES). WHEN I SPOKE TO FORD MOTORS (800-392-3673), THEY SAID IT'S UP TO THE DEALERSHIPS TO SPEAK WITH THE ENGINEERING DEPT IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE INTO ANYTHING AND THAT THEY ALSO CANT DO ANYTHING BESIDES ADD COMMENTS TO MY CASE NUMBER (15138348) WHICH WOULD BE SUPPLIED TO THE SERVICE DELIVERY MANAGER I ALREADY WORKED WITH (STEVEN THOMAS). THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE (2500 MILES SO FAR) AND I'VE NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF ANY WHERE IT'S EXPECTED TO WORK WITH A FLOOR SPACE THAT GETS 130 DEGREES HOT. I'M LOOKING TO GET FORD TO AGREE TO A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THE INSUFFICIENT HEAT SHIELDING WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.