Issues with just purchased 2018 Limited

[Michael Nannola]

Hi, first time poster here.

I just purchased a Certified 2018 Ford Expedition Max Limited from an out of state dealer, and have had nothing but issues with it.

Two main issues I wanted to see if anyone else here had and what they did about it.

1. The second row passenger seat (bench seat) quick release button does not function. The seat makes a noise, but the seat does not actually release at all. The release lever on top of the seat works as expected. The quick release button on the driver side second row works as expected. Service center here in town took a look and said the seat frame itself would need to be replaced (not covered under ford certified warranty).

2. Burning smell when using 4wd after a few seconds of hard acceleration. Service center here is not able to look at this so I'm not sure what this could be yet, or if it will be covered under the factory power train warranty.

The first issue seems like it will cost around $3,000 to fix, and neither Ford or the dealer I purchased it from want to fix it. Anyone here seen these issues, and if so, what was the fix?

Thanks in advance!

 

[99WhiteC5Coupe]

Hi, first time poster here.

I just purchased a Certified 2018 Ford Expedition Max Limited from an out of state dealer, and have had nothing but issues with it.

Two main issues I wanted to see if anyone else here had and what they did about it.

1. The second row passenger seat (bench seat) quick release button does not function. The seat makes a noise, but the seat does not actually release at all. The release lever on top of the seat works as expected. The quick release button on the driver side second row works as expected. Service center here in town took a look and said the seat frame itself would need to be replaced (not covered under ford certified warranty).

2. Burning smell when using 4wd after a few seconds of hard acceleration. Service center here is not able to look at this so I'm not sure what this could be yet, or if it will be covered under the factory power train warranty.

The first issue seems like it will cost around $3,000 to fix, and neither Ford or the dealer I purchased it from want to fix it. Anyone here seen these issues, and if so, what was the fix?

Thanks in advance!

When you buy a certified, pre-owned vehicle from a dealer, isn’t everything certified to work?

Did the issues occur after some time, or when you got the vehicle?

Have you read your warranty, to ensure the seat issue is NOT covered?

 

[Michael Nannola]

When you buy a certified, pre-owned vehicle from a dealer, isn’t everything certified to work?

Did the issues occur after some time, or when you got the vehicle?

Have you read your warranty, to ensure the seat issue is NOT covered?

The issues were on the vehicle as soon as I got it (received on 12/22). I also had an issue with the AC, but that is going to be fixed by the local ford dealer here since it's covered under the certified warranty. I think this dealer did not do a good job during the certified inspection and just checked yes to everything.

As far as the seat, it seems that only "seat motors" are covered under the certified warranty, not the seat frame.

 

[dlcorbett]

Hmm,., your seat issue sounds like a mechanism or motor issue, not the frame. If you hear the motor releasing the seat but it doesn't release, the release mechanism is clearly not working.

 

[Michael Nannola]

Hmm,., your seat issue sounds like a mechanism or motor issue, not the frame. If you hear the motor releasing the seat but it doesn't release, the release mechanism is clearly not working.

That is what I thought as well, but the service center says it's a seat frame issue.

I am going to bring to another ford service center on Monday to have them confirm.

One strange thing, the wire harness under the broken seat looks different than the harness under the driver side second row seat that works. I would think they should look identical?

Here is the non-working second row passenger side:




Here is the working second row driver side:

 

[mcb345]

I would make a huge stink about it to the dealer that sold it to you.

You buy a CPO car expecting no issues and if there are some you want them fixed under warranty. They should work out a deal with your local dealer to make the repair at no cost to you or have them pickup the car and bring it back to their dealer for them to fix (they won’t do that I’m sure but tell them thats an option to get this taken care of).

I’d maybe get your local dealer to call the selling dealer with you if you can. Get many parties involved, get the GM of the selling dealer involved, etc.

Be nice, but outrageously firm, and tell them over and over that you feel they shouldn’t have certified the car and make them feel guilty about selling a faulty car to someone out of state and that you took their word that the car was flawless. Someone will listen and hopefully will try to help at the selling dealer but likely needs to be someone high up, GM, GSM, head of service, etc. again, be nice about it, nobody wants to help an *****.

By the way, I believe each dealer needs to uphold some sort of CPO standard so maybe getting corporate Ford involved would help? Not sure there.

 

[Deadman]

Make the out of state dealer fix it. If it means returning it to them, then thats what you gotta do.

Thats why I shop online for a vehicle price but them ask my local dealer to match it or get close and then buy it locally. Its always a gamble with an out of area dealer especially if there is no factory warranty to cover costs at your local ford store.

 

[Michael Nannola]

I would make a huge stink about it to the dealer that sold it to you.

You buy a CPO car expecting no issues and if there are some you want them fixed under warranty. They should work out a deal with your local dealer to make the repair at no cost to you or have them pickup the car and bring it back to their dealer for them to fix (they won’t do that I’m sure but tell them thats an option to get this taken care of).

I’d maybe get your local dealer to call the selling dealer with you if you can. Get many parties involved, get the GM of the selling dealer involved, etc.

Be nice, but outrageously firm, and tell them over and over that you feel they shouldn’t have certified the car and make them feel guilty about selling a faulty car to someone out of state and that you took their word that the car was flawless. Someone will listen and hopefully will try to help at the selling dealer but likely needs to be someone high up, GM, GSM, head of service, etc. again, be nice about it, nobody wants to help an *****.

By the way, I believe each dealer needs to uphold some sort of CPO standard so maybe getting corporate Ford involved would help? Not sure there.

Good idea about contacting corporate Ford. I talked to them this morning and they are checking to see what can be done. I am also going to get a second opinion on the seat repair, as needing to replace the whole seat frame for just the one quick release function not working seems like overkill to me.

 

[Aerogt01]

Hi, first time poster here.

I just purchased a Certified 2018 Ford Expedition Max Limited from an out of state dealer, and have had nothing but issues with it. ...

2. Burning smell when using 4wd after a few seconds of hard acceleration. Service center here is not able to look at this so I'm not sure what this could be yet, or if it will be covered under the factory power train warranty.

I have this same issue and posted about it two days ago on a 2020 Platinum. Please keep us updated on this one as well.

 

[Michael Nannola]

I have this same issue and posted about it two days ago on a 2020 Platinum. Please keep us updated on this one as well.

I saw your post! I should be getting that specific issue check out next monday or so. I will report back once I get some info on it.

 

[mcb345]

Good idea about contacting corporate Ford. I talked to them this morning and they are checking to see what can be done. I am also going to get a second opinion on the seat repair, as needing to replace the whole seat frame for just the one quick release function not working seems like overkill to me.

Yea hopefully it’s just a case of your local dealer trying to BS you in to spending more money for a fix and some else can remedy the problem without needing to replace the whole frame. Or they didn’t actually spend the time to diagnose and just went with the sure thing solution.
Either way, I’d check the CPO report and see if anything specifies they tested to confirm properly functioning seats.
I’d also continue to push corporate Ford as from what I understand they have an incentive to make sure dealers aren't certifying cars that shouldn’t be to avoid lawsuits... so they should be helpful.
Lastly, bring the car to a local mechanic that you trust to look it over perhaps? Maybe they can catch other things the dealer missed in the CPO inspection which would give you more ammo to provide corporate. Good luck!

 

[wakeboarder]

Just a quick thought. A house door with two door knobs would require you to turn them both at once to open the door. Since you don’t have to use the manual and electric latches at once, then most likely the electric and manual latches are the same latch. It just requires a different way to actuate each. I think there is most likely something worn out or broken on the electric actuator.

I’ll try to look at mine later to confirm this.

 

[wakeboarder]

After a brief look at mine, I noticed that both the manual and electric actuation are both done via a cable. The end of the cable is circled in red below. There is one on each latch. You said it worked via the manual actuation. I find it highly unlikely that a frame issue would cause it not to work, but still allow the manual version to work. I would think it is most likely a defective actuator or some sort of mis-adjustment.
If you tilt the seat forward, you can manually close the latches and see if the open via the electric pushbutton. Just be sure they are open before you try to slide the seat back.

 

[Julio Walker]

I had similar issues with out of town dealer, and local dealer wasn’t willing to fix it. Spoke to GM of out of town dealer and let them know I had a letter prepared to send to Ford Corporate and would give him a chance to fix the issues. In my letter, I started they pencil whipped the CPO inspection and they passed the cost of repairs to Ford motor company while the dealer is having slightly better profits by selling CPO. At the end, GM of out of town dealer asked me to bring car back and they would fix it all at once and put me on a loaner until everything fixed.

 

[bnicov]

They pushed the truck thru CPO which does make more money for the dealer. That said, they are obligated to make sure EVERYTHING works as it should as per the CPO Inspection sheet. Getting FOMOCO involved is a good idea because they warranty the truck, not the dealer. Corporate will rip the GM a new one for playing fast and loose with CPO.

 

[Julio Walker]

They pushed the truck thru CPO which does make more money for the dealer. That said, they are obligated to make sure EVERYTHING works as it should as per the CPO Inspection sheet. Getting FOMOCO involved is a good idea because they warranty the truck, not the dealer. Corporate will rip the GM a new one for playing fast and loose with CPO.

Exactly...dealers need to be held accountable.

 

[mcb345]

I had similar issues with out of town dealer, and local dealer wasn’t willing to fix it. Spoke to GM of out of town dealer and let them know I had a letter prepared to send to Ford Corporate and would give him a chance to fix the issues. In my letter, I started they pencil whipped the CPO inspection and they passed the cost of repairs to Ford motor company while the dealer is having slightly better profits by selling CPO. At the end, GM of out of town dealer asked me to bring car back and they would fix it all at once and put me on a loaner until everything fixed.

Good to see a success story here! Well done.

 

[Aerogt01]

Hi, first time poster here.
2. Burning smell when using 4wd after a few seconds of hard acceleration. Service center here is not able to look at this so I'm not sure what this could be yet, or if it will be covered under the factory power train warranty.

Do you have and eLSD? I'm fairly convinced my issue was coming from the rear diff when it locks up.