2014 FORD TRANSIT CONNECT Complaints

PERHAPS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, BUT THE REAR AREA OF THE 7 PASSENGER IS NOT HEATED, CAUSING DISCOMFORT TO PASSENGERS AND PETS. ACTUALLY, THE REAR "HEATER" BLOWS COLD AIR. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED MY VEHICLE (5800 MILES) AND BOTH REPORTED THAT THE DESIGN IS, "INADEQUATE", "POOR", "NOT THOUGHT OUT", "CRAPPY" AND SO ON. THAT WAS THE ONLY EXPLANATION THEY COULD TENDER. I HAVE POSTED THIS SITUATION OF THE TRANSIT CONNECT FORUM AND HAVE NOTED THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. I JUST PAID $32,000 FOR A NEW VEHICLE THAT HAS A TOTALLY INADEQUATE REAR HEATING SYSTEM. OF COURSE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF JULY SO I NEVER GAVE THE REAR HEATER A THOUGHT. COME TO THINK OF IT, I HAVE NEVER GIVEN A REAR HEATER A THOUGHT AS THEY ALWAYS WORKED. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CHECKED THE OPERATION OF THE REAR HEATING SYSTEM BEFORE PURCHASING A NEW VEHICLE? *TR

HEADLIGHTS AIM AT GROUND APPROX 30-40 FT IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. CAN NOT SEE BEYOND THAT AT NIGHT. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND THEY ADJUSTED THEM SO NOW I CAN SEE ABOUT 2-3 CAR LENGTHS IN FRONT OF ME AT ANY SPEED. DEALER SAID THEY WERE FINE EVEN THE WAY THEY WERE. I HAVE HAD 2 CLOSE CALL EVENTS, ONE INVOLVING A PEDESTRIAN, I WANT THIS TO BE ON RECORD FOR THE TIME WHEN IT IS NOT JUST A CLOSE CALL AND I ACTUALLY HIT SOMEONE. L AM ALSO REPORTING THIS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER IS AUTOFAIR OF MANCHESTER, NH.

THE EASY FUEL SYSTEM LEAKS BADLY ESPECIALLY OVER 75 DEGREES. I CAN SMELL THE STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. IN ADDITION IT SET OFF THE MIL LIGHT FOR THE "SMALL LEAK" IN THE EVAP SYSTEM. IT HAS NOW SET A PERMANENT CODE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THE FLAP DOES NOT TIGHTLY SEAT ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE GAS VAPOR AND THE UNIT OUT GASSES BADLY. IT COULD BE A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. ANY OPEN FLAME, SPARK ON A JOB SITE, OR JUST SOME GOOF WITH A LIT SMOKE COULD SET OFF A FIRE BALL. AT PRESENT THE UNIT IS PARKED, AS I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT LESS IT BECOME A LIABILITY PROBLEM FOR OUR FIRM. WHAT IS NEEDED IS A STANDARD FUEL CAP TO TOTALLY SEAL THE TANK. THERE IS NO WAY TO GET ONE FROM FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THE VEHICLE WE BOUGHT IS FROM HUFFMAN FORD. ON FRIDAY, MAY 30TH, WE WERE DRIVING, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR GOT OVERHEATED. IN ORDER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, THAT AFTERNOON WE WENT TO AUTO NATION KATY SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SINCE IT IS CLOSER TO WHERE WE LIVE THAN HUFFMAN. WE TALKED WITH THE SERVICE MANAGERS [XXX], AND [XXX] AND THEY INFORMED US THAT WE WOULD GET A CALL THAT EVENING ABOUT THE VEHICLE. WE WAITED ALL EVENING, BUT WE DIDN'T GET A CALL FROM THEM. THE NEXT MORNING WE WENT BACK OVER TO AUTO NATION TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND THEY TOLD US THAT OUR CAR HAD AN OIL LEAKAGE, AND THEY SAID HOW IT WILL ALL BE FIXED ON MONDAY, JUNE 2ND. WE SAID IT WAS FINE AS LONG AS THEY KEEP US INFORMED AND FIX OUR CAR. THEN TUESDAY, WE FOUND OUT IT STILL WASN'T FIXED, AND THEY TOLD US THAT THEY FOUND OUT THERE WERE NO AVAILABLE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE VEHICLE HAS, AND THAT THE EARLIEST DELIVERY THEY CAN GET IS JULY 28TH, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING IT'S A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THEN WE CALLED THE FORD COMPANY AND TALKED TO THE REGION MANAGER [XXX] ABOUT OUR SITUATION, AND AFTER REQUESTING FOR A LONG TIME SHE FINALLY AGREED TO GIVE US A RENTAL CAR. ALSO, BEFORE ASKING ABOUT GIVING US A LOANER CAR, I ASKED IF SHE COULD JUST REPLACE OUR VEHICLE AND GIVE US ANOTHER FORD TRANSIT CONNECT BECAUSE LIKE I SAID BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS STILL BRAND NEW AND WE ALSO HAVE A WARRANTY. SHE WASN'T UNDERSTANDING AT ALL AND DIDN'T WANT TO HELP AND JUST SAID THAT WE CAN'T SUPPORT YOU WITH YOUR VEHICLE'S PROBLEM. WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE CAR WE BOUGHT, BUT FRANKLY THIS IS THE WORST EXPERIENCE WE HAVE EVER HAD WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE FORD COMPANY. ON TOP OF THAT, SHE TOLD US THAT WE ALSO HAVE TO PAY THE TAX FOR THE RENTAL CAR EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT WE HAVE IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR