2017 with dreaded paint issue?

[haviland]

I bought a new 2017 Limited in 2018 that had been sitting on the lot for a year. I've owned a few earlier Expeditions over the years and each one had paint issues on the front edge of the hood, the liftgate, or sometimes in both places.

Recently I discovered a tennis ball-sized patch of bubbled up paint on the pillar of the driver's side passenger door. Damn, I was hoping Ford had fixed that by now.

I've read horror stories on this forum from Expy owners getting little or no help from Ford on this issue.
My mileage and age on this vehicle are well under the warranty limits but I dread taking it to my dealer because I'm thinking they will say Ford doesn't cover it.

Any ideas on what I should expect?

thanks, Peter

 

[JExpedition07]

Can you supply a picture of the damage? It doesn’t sound like an aluminum panel correct? That would be the hood or liftgate. If it’s actually the steel pillar they won’t fix it until it has a hole thru it via corrosion warranty. That’s not common at all.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Can you supply a picture of the damage? It doesn’t sound like an aluminum panel correct? That would be the hood or liftgate. If it’s actually the steel pillar they won’t fix it until it has a hole thru it via corrosion warranty. That’s not common at all.

How do you know Ford will not fix this defect, if the vehicle is still covered under the basic 3-year / 36,000 month warranty? There could be a paint and/or primer and/or metal defect that would be repaired.

 

[JExpedition07]

How do you know Ford will not fix this defect, if the vehicle is still covered under the basic 3-year / 36,000 month warranty? There could be a paint and/or primer and/or metal defect that would be repaired.

I’m not sure but hopefully, the corrosion warranty says otherwise. Lots of Expys with bubbling paint in first years of ownership have been told no repair if not perforation or holes. I’d try to get it covered under warranty first too, but doubtful. OP can make his own hole if they deny coverage.

 

[Plati]

It doesn't sound like the dreaded aluminum related problem. It just sounds like a factory defect.

This article kind of says it could be covered. Does it not?

The dreaded problem is corrosion based so that's a different animal. It's easy to get the two situations confused.

https://firstquarterfinance.com/ford-paint-warranty/

In the dreaded problem, the only reason the paint comes up and off is the aluminum corrosion under it. The other is a crappy defective paint job that fails and falls off.

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Ford hasn't fixed shit. They just keep updating the TSB to include the latest model years. Whether or not Ford covers yours is anyone's guess. There's an entire FB group devoted to this problem and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind the decision to cover or not when a vehicle is still under warranty.

There was a post today about a 2015 and Ford paid a portion of the bill. The owner sent a demand letter with a threat to sue if Ford did not respond by a certain date. The date came and went and he filed suit as he said he would. Ten days later Ford sent a letter saying they would pay the full amount. Most people have had no luck without going through the courts, but some just get it covered with no argument. Go figure.

 

[Plati]

Ford hasn't fixed shit. They just keep updating the TSB to include the latest model years. Whether or not Ford covers yours is anyone's guess. There's an entire FB group devoted to this problem and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind the decision to cover or not when a vehicle is still under warranty.

There was a post today about a 2015 and Ford paid a portion of the bill. The owner sent a demand letter with a threat to sue if Ford did not respond by a certain date. The date came and went and he filed suit as he said he would. Ten days later Ford sent a letter saying they would pay the full amount. Most people have had no luck without going through the courts, but some just get it covered with no argument. Go figure.

Are you talking about the aluminum panel paint bubbling issue at front of hood and tailgate ... Or the crappy paint that just falls off in random areas unrelated to corrosion issue?

 

[ManUpOrShutUp]

Are you talking about the aluminum panel paint bubbling issue at front of hood and tailgate ... Or the crappy paint that just falls off in random areas unrelated to corrosion issue?

The infamous TSB refers to the aluminum panel issue, but the peeling pillars the OP is referring to have been a widespread issue since at least 2014. Ford hasn't done a thing to address either issue.

 

[Plati]

The infamous TSB refers to the aluminum panel issue, but the peeling pillars the OP is referring to have been a widespread issue since at least 2014. Ford hasn't done a thing to address either issue.

I see said the blind man. Actually I don't really see because I can't tell what part of your first post applied the OP problem, but your second post was more clear.

I hope the OP takes it back for warranty repair and updates the result here. I don't see how Ford could get away with that. I would get my Very capable Lawyer on that if that happened. Usually a letter from him works wonders.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford hasn't fixed shit. They just keep updating the TSB to include the latest model years. Whether or not Ford covers yours is anyone's guess. There's an entire FB group devoted to this problem and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason behind the decision to cover or not when a vehicle is still under warranty.

There was a post today about a 2015 and Ford paid a portion of the bill. The owner sent a demand letter with a threat to sue if Ford did not respond by a certain date. The date came and went and he filed suit as he said he would. Ten days later Ford sent a letter saying they would pay the full amount. Most people have had no luck without going through the courts, but some just get it covered with no argument. Go figure.

Agreed, the problem persists. I’m impressed threatening with a Lawyer got that guy anywhere, good for him. Another option if the dealer denies is to give that a try. In general though our crappy common Lawyers are no threat to large companies. Their attitude is “get in line and waste your money, then we will get your case dismissed in a flash”. Remember, Fords lawyers are better than any of ours if you actually get/have a case against them (doubtful).

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I’m not sure but hopefully, the corrosion warranty says otherwise. Lots of Expys with bubbling paint in first years of ownership have been told no repair if not perforation or holes. I’d try to get it covered under warranty first too, but doubtful. OP can make his own hole if they deny coverage.

I was one of several lwhose Ford dealership said the corrosion under the paint on the rear tailgate was not covered under the corrosion warranty (while within the 36 month - 36,000 mile period, and purchased new).

For 2016 and later models, Ford changed and improved the corrosion warranty - which does not require a hole to perforate.

Looking back, I should have insisted the base warranty cover the corrosion (under the paint - the top paint on the vehicle was done very well).

Aluminum panel paint corrosion - one of several reasons I’ll never buy another new Ford.

 

[Plati]

Agreed, the problem persists. I’m impressed threatening with a Lawyer got that guy anywhere, good for him. Our crappy common Lawyers are no threat to large companies. Their attitude is “get in line and waste your money, then we will get your case dismissed in a flash”. Remember, Fords lawyers are better than any of ours if you actually get/have a case against them (doubtful).

Actually kind of backwards "opinion". The way it actually works frequently is lawyers cost money and it's cheaper for a big company to settle than litigate. YMMV.

I wonder if they teach that in business school or if you learn that kind of thing in real life experience?

 

[JExpedition07]

Actually kind of backwards "opinion". The way it actually works frequently is lawyers cost money and it's cheaper for a big company to settle than litigate. YMMV.

I wonder if they teach that in business school or if you learn that kind of thing in real life experience?

Real life, although larger scale real-estate can’t be compared to an automobile paint job so fair point. Cheaper to paint. In this sector naturally we deal with more slip and falls etc and many are based upon fraudulent cases. Insurance often fights and litigates or at least does discovery. Rarely do they just settle.

 

[Plati]

Duplicate

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

I have seen and read the 2016+ Ford corrosion warranty, and it is better and improved over the 2015 corrosion warranty I received when I purchased my new Expedition.

I do not know if members here have used it, or their vehicles are now just beginning to show the aluminum panel corrosion.

 

[haviland]

Sorry for no pic. I should have realized this would bring some spirited discussion...

 

[haviland]

I am looking forward to your responses. I will take it to the local dealer.

When I first got this Expy I had some fairly minor warranty issues. When I brought it to the local dealer he said they wouldn't take care of it because I didn't buy it from them!! He suggested going back to where I bought it. That dealership, an hour or so away, sent a replacement vehicle I used until they fixed the issues. They were great.

That's another reason I'm not looking forward to going back to the local guy. But I will, and will report back...

 

[Frank Wilson]

Thats awful. 2017, yikes

 

[JExpedition07]

Yes that panel was either A) corroded before it was painted or B) Poorly prepped. See what the dealer says, they would be smart to cover this as it’s not becoming of their brand.

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Although the corrosion shown in post #16 is not aluminum panel corrosion, Ford has been aware of the aluminum panel corrosion for YEARS. Thus, the yearly TSB, which is updated with the new model years and models.

It is my belief that Ford made a business decision years ago to “live with” the aluminum panel corrosion, and repair the panels where the owner complained long and hard enough, instead of identifying the root problem and fixing it.

Ford must have decided it would be cheaper to repair a estimated number of panels, instead of implementing a process to eliminate the corrosion (while vehicles were still covered under the new-car warranty).

What Ford probably was unable to put a dollar figure on was the amount of ill-will generated with their customers, poor-quality perception of their product, and customers that will not buy another Ford with aluminum panels.

It is clear that Ford has no interest in continuous improvement and quality issues concerning the decades-old aluminum panel corrosion issue.