Getting serious doubts on build quality - XLT 2020

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Hellwig

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WTF difference does it make as to what car wash you use?? I see no warning in my warranty book that specifies what car wash I can or cannot use.

I have no idea either. So far I've never seen or heard any other car having similar roof molding misalignment issue with my local carwash shops. Nationwide-wise, it's highly unlikely any carwash could cause such a specific damage on vehicles. I assume, the root cause of this problem is the "easy" method, which Ford adopts, to fasten the roof moldings and rack covers.
 

ROBERT BONNER

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Checked my moldings on my '20 yesterday after reading this thread (NEVER been through an automatic car wash)....Not pretty. It's not difficult to imagine just the right crosswind at freeway speed creating enough pressure to boost them.

For those of you who have already experienced an unscheduled disassembly:

* Any ideas on how to remove the parts without destroying them to inspect for some initial damage (maybe some of the attachment features being broken on the inboard side in my case) and to install some additional attachments (3M tape, or other)?

* If trim tools are used to pry them up, is it likely that they'll be destroyed during removal?

* Any insights would be valued.



For anyone with connections that is following.....I'm sure that there is no warranty coverage once the vehicle is beyond the bumper to bumper coverage; however, parts flying off of normally operated vehicles at freeway speeds is CERTAINLY a highway SAFETY issue of NHTSA concern...that could lead to a recall. The only things worse than losing such a piece would be having one break a windshield or burst a tire. Just saying.

For the PVT: This would be an easy one to to monitor...simply see what the repair part consumption looks like. It's hard to imagine anyone ordering these parts for ANY other reason. If you get 10 turned into NHTSA....bad things will happen.
 
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Hellwig

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Let us know how the warranty process goes with this repair.

Good luck.

The service manager just indicated Ford may cover this repair. My vehicle is still in the 3 yrs/36k warranty. I emailed the advisor to see if there any update from Ford. He replied: "I am getting them to cover the repairs!"
 
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Left Coast Geek

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Fwiw, I've had to replace similar trim pieces on a Toyota Prius and a Mercedes E class wagon, so this sort of thing is not unique to Ford.
 

Hellwig

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Update: Problem is fixed this morning. It took the dealership 2 to 3 weeks to get approval from Ford warranty department. And another 3 weeks to get the parts and paint the molding. Anyway, the repair is covered by Ford. I notice the newly installed piece (on passenger side) is slightly firmer attached with the roof than the factory installed driver side molding. Not sure what happened underneath on driver side during the 8 months of my ownership.
 

Fastcar

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Update: Problem is fixed this morning. It took the dealership 2 to 3 weeks to get approval from Ford warranty department. And another 3 weeks to get the parts and paint the molding. Anyway, the repair is covered by Ford. I notice the newly installed piece (on passenger side) is slightly firmer attached with the roof than the factory installed driver side molding. Not sure what happened underneath on driver side during the 8 months of my ownership.
Glad it worked out for you. No rant but I'm really liking the Explorer ST we picked up last week. With the aggravation that has been going on with ford with some I'm thinking more and more of unassing our expy. We are out of warranty with it and really don't need the size.
 

5280tunage

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Definitely doesn't seem like Ford is fixing their quality issues. This is unreal, my 2024 F150 loaner just puked its left rear shock fluid all over my garage, this thing has 1200 miles on it. This has been happening for years on the Expy's as well, how is it Ford can't source better parts, especially when I looked at the sticker of this thing and its MSRP was $74k. Seriously, I know people with 30yr old vehicles with original suspension and they aren't blown.
 

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5280tunage

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Thought i would post this too. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't be looking at buying one today, and I know my experience is fairly limited, but my 2019 has now been in the shop for just over 4 weeks for a couple recalls and some tranny work. During that time, i've had two different loaners, a 2024 F150 pretty loaded, with 400 miles on it (and a sticker MSRP of $74K) and a 2024 Expedition Max XLT 202A with 4.2 miles on it (MSRP also of $75K).

The F150 at 800 miles experienced a blown shock, seriously, one of the most rudimentary parts on a vehicle fails at 800 miles. Tells you the quality is complete trash. I also found extra bolts, laying around in the cab and in the bed of the truck?

The Expedition is already showing issues and now has about 200 Mi on it. Pretty sure the driver front hub and or wheel bearing assembly is shot. I can hear a slight whirring sound as I decelerate to come to stop, say at a traffic light. Only coming from the front left. Not as noticeable at cruising speeds. I see numerous build issues, things that shouldn't have left the factory. Rear bumper cover popping off on the side (no apparent signs of damage, again this thing had 4mi on it). Drivers side mirror making tons of squeeling noise while driving at speeds above 30 mph, headliner not properly installed (show a picture later), black grease looking spots all over headliner towards the rear of the vehicle, power liftgate makes some interesting sounds, interior trim not looking right, and other items. I've also noticed that some of the materials look far less well made than anything my 2019 has, lots of places that used to be quality looking materials are now more plastic.

The headliner thing - this would drive me absolutely nuts, and I would never accept a vehicle that looks like this. How can this pass any sort of inspection along the line of making it to a customer. All in all, Ford and the CEO blammed a lot of quality issues on Covid, but I think the quality issues are far more self-created, and aren't getting better. I only wish they would own up to them. We see Toyota for example recalling 110K vehicles due to issues with the TT motor, what about the 3.5L and the Phasers. Sure it was a SSM, but it should be a recall. A known defect that could literally make the vehicle useless, or require 3-5K in repairs, possibly more than once in a vehicles lifetime? And what I can only explain as a lack of any pride coming from the assembly lines.

I always try to stagger my vehicles, between mine and my wifes so we don't have two car loans at once, but I don't think mine will make it long enough for me to get my wife a new car and not have to buy another one for myself. Sad state...
 

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Rednecked

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When I removed my roof racks. I actually silicone mine down lol.
 

Hellwig

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Thought i would post this too. If it were me, I certainly wouldn't be looking at buying one today, and I know my experience is fairly limited, but my 2019 has now been in the shop for just over 4 weeks for a couple recalls and some tranny work. During that time, i've had two different loaners, a 2024 F150 pretty loaded, with 400 miles on it (and a sticker MSRP of $74K) and a 2024 Expedition Max XLT 202A with 4.2 miles on it (MSRP also of $75K).

The F150 at 800 miles experienced a blown shock, seriously, one of the most rudimentary parts on a vehicle fails at 800 miles. Tells you the quality is complete trash. I also found extra bolts, laying around in the cab and in the bed of the truck?

The Expedition is already showing issues and now has about 200 Mi on it. Pretty sure the driver front hub and or wheel bearing assembly is shot. I can hear a slight whirring sound as I decelerate to come to stop, say at a traffic light. Only coming from the front left. Not as noticeable at cruising speeds. I see numerous build issues, things that shouldn't have left the factory. Rear bumper cover popping off on the side (no apparent signs of damage, again this thing had 4mi on it). Drivers side mirror making tons of squeeling noise while driving at speeds above 30 mph, headliner not properly installed (show a picture later), black grease looking spots all over headliner towards the rear of the vehicle, power liftgate makes some interesting sounds, interior trim not looking right, and other items. I've also noticed that some of the materials look far less well made than anything my 2019 has, lots of places that used to be quality looking materials are now more plastic.

The headliner thing - this would drive me absolutely nuts, and I would never accept a vehicle that looks like this. How can this pass any sort of inspection along the line of making it to a customer. All in all, Ford and the CEO blammed a lot of quality issues on Covid, but I think the quality issues are far more self-created, and aren't getting better. I only wish they would own up to them. We see Toyota for example recalling 110K vehicles due to issues with the TT motor, what about the 3.5L and the Phasers. Sure it was a SSM, but it should be a recall. A known defect that could literally make the vehicle useless, or require 3-5K in repairs, possibly more than once in a vehicles lifetime? And what I can only explain as a lack of any pride coming from the assembly lines.

I always try to stagger my vehicles, between mine and my wifes so we don't have two car loans at once, but I don't think mine will make it long enough for me to get my wife a new car and not have to buy another one for myself. Sad state...

It's not only Ford. That's the consequence of being de-industrialized. Another example, Boeing is no better than Ford, or even worse.
 
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