Ford have had a problem with corrosion around the inner edge of the doors, this is caused by faulty sealer that hardens and comes away exposing the metal underneath to moisture, it is not a matter of the sealer itself absorbing moisture. Apparently the doors effected were all made within a few months though were fitted to cars over about 18months or so.
The two rear doors on my 2002 Mondeo were effected, the sealer on these doors was very hard to touch where as on the front doors, hatch etc it was soft to the extent that you could make an indentation in it with your finger nail.
Have a look at the following thread:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=38759&...f
Ford and the dealer could not have handled it better IMO.
|
|
I had two early Mk 1 Mondeos (both 1993 cars) and both were well rust protected ... the first one had paint scraped to the metal on the rear wheel arch thanks to my wife's reversing problems but it steadfastly refused to rust!
|
My 2000 mk2 is completely rust free, even though the paintwork is a little shabby in places now (more through neglect rather than defects)
I always recall a story from a friend who had a 1994 Mercedes C200 estate which developed a rust bubble on the tailgate in 2002. The dealer took the car in the next day, provided him with a courtesy car, and painted and fitted a spanking new tailgate FOC. There wasn't even a hint that he'd be asked to pay for it.
Cheers
DP
|
I have had a conversation with ford today and i am now more disgruntled than before.
I had a conversation with someone from Ford customer care. This gentleman re-iterated to me that Warranty would not authorise a repair as the service book had not been stamped, and Ford cutomer care could not intervene since i had only owned the car for six months thus not long enough for goodwill. I explained that there was no stamp section in the book (as already explained in a letter to them two weeks ago) and this made the first argument seemingly void, and secondly as for good will; the family have been a customer of ford for over 30 years).
He responded initially by silence, and then by saying that this information could not be passed onto Ford Warranty' as Ford Customer services cannot contact Ford Warranty, as this was a dealer only facility, and that Customer services could not do anything for me. He advised that I should contact the dealer again to contact warranty, something the dealer has done till blue in the face.
I am completely fed up with this taurian bi-product, and i am planning my next step.
Would contacting someone like BBC Watchdog, or a car magazine/paper be a good start?
many thanks
|
I really feel for you on this smoke, sickening when a big organisation gives you the runaround like this.
If you stuck your posts on the usenet newsgroups it would, as we know, propogate all over the world and remain on the news servers long term.
Sorry to sound like this but thats how I would feel in your shoes.
Sort of ".... problems faults rust corrosion doors" in the header, key search engine words, so anyone checking out on google groups or or the news servers would throw it up in the search.
Its not as though you would be critical of Ford, but just displaying the facts to potential customers.
Regarding the car,
What about getting a fixed fee interview with a lawyer?
Regards
|
I'm sorry that i can't offer any constructive help, but a three and a half year old car surely shouldn't be rusting and Ford's attitude as reported really sucks. This story just reinforces my own opinion (right or wrong) of Fords and their cars as built down to price rustbuckets.
I really hope that you get it sorted out.
|
|
|
Hello Smoke,
Re my above post, my car was nearly 4 years old and had done over 102,000 miles, I received excellent support from the dealer and had regular calls from a very attentive Ford CC person.
The only difference is that my car had been Ford dealer serviced every 11-12,000 miles, therefore as much as three times a year over the first two years where as, as you say, your car "was almost 3 years old and should have had 2 services but only had one at 18 months and 13500 miles, at time of purchase" therefore it seems that Ford are sticking to the terms of the warranty.
Re the stamps, mine only has service stamps, I am not aware of another section in the book however the book is not needed as it is all on the computer which ever Ford dealer you go to, have you asked them to look up the car's service history by VIN? The computer is the bible, not the service book.
I would write to the MD, Ford Motor Co UK:
Dear sir very disapointed in otherwise quality product, family have owned Fords for 30 years, I know it is not a unique problem, you understand that the dealer's and CC dept's hands are tied, i.e. they are only following procedures, if it goes unattended rusty five year old Fords on the road will damage the co's reputation massively, you appreciate his help in this matter blah blah.
|
Just to give a little feedback as to the outcome. Firstly thanks for the support and advice on the backroom. I sent a few more letters and as a result Ford are replaceing all three doors free of charge.
A brilliant outcome :-).
I had a thought though, does this experience put me off Ford cars? Get in and drive the ST220 and any doubts vanish; as long as Ford produce vehicles that are this good to drive, i will keep buying. Such is the fickleness of brand loyalty, you forget and forgive bad experiences for the good ones as soon as the problem is resolved if you like the make and vehicle.
Sid
|
|
However good they are to drive, rust on a modern car, after a couple of years or so, is unforgiveable. It would put me off buying one.
|
This has been fixed on later cars. If you look at the way the flanges are constructed and sealed on later cars (not sure when, but my 05 car has the change) they are different to the earlier examples.
Some cars aren't affected, some get some very minor bubbling around the sealant and others end up with half the bottom of the door rusted away.
|
others end up with half the bottom of the door rusted away.
Told you a million times, dont exagerrate! Seriously, it is only ever minor surface corrosion behind the sealer.
A great result for Smoke though why only three doors effected, I understand it should be both front, both rear or all four by the way the sealer batches were distrbuted, I wonder if the car had one new door earlier in its life due to a minor accident.
|
I'm not exaggerating. I looked at a used 02 car back in 2004 and the bottoms of the 2 front doors had rusted through to holes - the sealant strip was hanging away from the door. It was registered in a seaside town, so whether that had made any difference I don't know.
My 02 car had a bit of bubbling, but Ford agreed to repair it. I got rid of the car before I had chance to take it in.
|
|
|
|
