Delay on AWD Models?

[PVC25]

First Hello.. First post, new guy here!

I ordered my X yesterday (Sterling Grey, XLT, SPEC 202A, Towing Kit, Moonroof). My dealer made the comment that it is a good thing that I didn't order the AWD model, as they have put a stop on production for all those due to a distributor issue. He said it was the same problem that the Tuarus SHO's had.... Any one heard anything about this?

 

[JDraper]

I'm guessing they mean a parts distributor issue, not an ignition distributor issue considering there is no distributor in the motor...

No, I hadn't heard of that one.

 

[peterk9]

First Hello.. First post, new guy here!

I ordered my X yesterday (Sterling Grey, XLT, SPEC 202A, Towing Kit, Moonroof). My dealer made the comment that it is a good thing that I didn't order the AWD model, as they have put a stop on production for all those due to a distributor issue. He said it was the same problem that the Tuarus SHO's had.... Any one heard anything about this?

Welcome to the 2011 Explorer Forum PVC25. :wavey: If there is a problem it must be a recent one. With the number of prospective owners waiting for the Ex to arrive, I'm sure someone will confirm if there is a stop on the 4WD models. Congrats on your order.

 

[rnmomx2]

First Hello.. First post, new guy here!

I ordered my X yesterday (Sterling Grey, XLT, SPEC 202A, Towing Kit, Moonroof). My dealer made the comment that it is a good thing that I didn't order the AWD model, as they have put a stop on production for all those due to a distributor issue. He said it was the same problem that the Tuarus SHO's had.... Any one heard anything about this?

Ugh, not what I wanted to hear, mine is due to be built on March 22nd, I'm going to be one unhappy camper if it is held up further. Just ordered mats for it, guess I'll probably get those before I get my EX.

 

[gabella]

Interesting. My 4WD was built 3/7 and has yet to be shipped.

 

[paulfrank285]

WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

@pvc25: I ordered (3/8/11) a similar XLT minus the towing kit and moonroof (not rich like you) but with AWD...i am heartbroken now

 

[WDinSD]

ARGH!!

I hope that's wrong. I ordered Ingot Silver 4WD 202A in feb and don't have a build date yet. I've got cash sitting.

(I'm thankful, I got my profits out of the stock market before the tsunami. If it's a japanese suppliers issue it's not going to be a fun wait, but it's understandable.)

 

[Sparty09]

I hope there is not a problem. My Limited was just built on the 17th and Sync 2.7 just showed up on the syncmyride.com installation history today so I think mine is ready to go. Well ready minus the delivery.

 

[PVC25]

Yea, i am not sure exactly what the issue is. He said, "Good thing you didn't want AWD, they are currently held up on the line". He didn't say anything about how long, or the exact issue other than a 'distributor' problem. As stated above, i assume that means vendor, not the mechanical part... When i talk to him this week to get some information i will ask for anything else he has unless someone gets more info here before that .

 

[esandye]

My AWD/4WD ex was built on 3-17 (ordered 12-30) and I have an active syncmyride account with my vin now active. Seni can confirm next week if I have a shipping date. Not all ex 4WD's have been delayed apparently.

 

[ATLcanuck]

Over on the facebook site, Craig (who I believe is Craig Patterson, Marketing Manager for the Ex) said that they are running a bit "tight" on AWD parts right now, because of overall sales of the Ex exceeding expectations and more people ordering AWD than anticipated. Which seems a bit odd to me...I could have told them that the AWD would have been quite popular -- they are marketing it as a true "SUV", beating the hell out of the TMS, why wouldn't people want the AWD?

 

[dutchie]

I wish the cat was out of the bag. What is up?

 

[gabella]

Over on the facebook site, Craig (who I believe is Craig Patterson, Marketing Manager for the Ex) said that they are running a bit "tight" on AWD parts right now, because of overall sales of the Ex exceeding expectations and more people ordering AWD than anticipated. Which seems a bit odd to me...I could have told them that the AWD would have been quite popular -- they are marketing it as a true "SUV", beating the hell out of the TMS, why wouldn't people want the AWD?

So, the 4WD sitting waiting shipping might still need a part? Otherwise that doesn't explain why built cars are missing their ETA dates.

As for more people purchasing 4WD, maybe they thought that more people would be mpg conscious? I do agree with you that they really marketed the TMS heavily. I don't think they gave any reviewers a FWD vehicle to play with at all.

 

[uniquename]

As for more people purchasing 4WD, maybe they thought that more people would be mpg conscious? I do agree with you that they really marketed the TMS heavily. I don't think they gave any reviewers a FWD vehicle to play with at all.

I think that they (correctly) expected an entirely new group of fans. You've seen it, we are the red headed stepchildren of the Explorer community because we love a FWD based, unibody "abomination" of the name Explorer. Even in our audience, 99% or better would barely ever need 4WD with how FWD excells over RWD in slightly slippery conditions.

Marketing of the TMS aside (I believe it was to quell the screams of "that's not a damn explorer!!!"), this is a luxury crossover in everything but name. With that, most don't even know if AWD kicks in. This will be a home run for Ford if they can get their act together and ship these things. I picked mine up Wednesday. Since then, three total strangers have approached me in parking lots to talk about it.

 

[rnmomx2]

Now I'm really worried, over on facebook, FCS posted that parts were tight on the AWD models due to unanticipated demand. I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel for my wait, and now maybe not which stinks.

 

[broadway]

I wish they would be more forthcoming in explaining why my order which was built three weeks ago remains waiting for shipping while I can see explorers that were buit after mine on dealer lots in the area.
I'm not very excited about buying a truck that they were so concerned about that they held off shipping it for weeks for "quality checks" while thousands of others were built and shipped before mine.
I've spent my weekend shopping other brands... Ford seems to have a hot vehicle, but between the buggy MFT, poor customer service, and quality control issues, I'm just about ready to move on.

 

[Token57634]

I saw this link posted on facebook that seems to confirm Ford stopped taking orders for AWD Ex's after 3/9 because of demand.

http://www.donlen.com/updates.aspx

I'm still concerned that mine was built 3/15 and is not yet in transit (originally had an ETA of Monday) and am even more concerned that gabella's was built on 3/7 and hasn't shipped yet. But it seems to be more of a demand issue than a distributor issue.

 

[ATLcanuck]

@Token...wow, I just read that blurb on the Donlen fleet management site. Just wow. So ford is basically saying, hey, if you want an AWD Explorer ordered after March 9, because we horribly misjudged demand, you're basically SOL until MY2012???? That is friggin laughable.

 

[ATLcanuck]

@uniquename...I understand what the Explorer "is"...but we all know that for the vast majority of buyers, the cache of the SUV is what it aspires to be, or what it says about you the owner. And when you give the reviewers the AWD with the fancy TMS, and put up a billion youtube videos showing the Ex going through sand, down hills, etc. your willful intent is to convince people that "no, this isn't just another luxury or entry-level luxury mall crawler crossover...it is a REAL SUV." And BTW, most people aren't going to care too much about a slight decrease in fuel economy with the AWD vs. the FWD. And frankly, a real utilitarian/safety argument can be made for the AWD, even if you are only going to use it for suburban work. Wrap that all up, and I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to have predicted that demand for the AWDs would have been pretty high. This kind of thing, if true, is something that could cost some marketing folks their jobs. They will absolutely lose customers who don't want to wait for MY2012 to get an AWD 3-row "crossover".

 

[xknoch]

As TOKEN'S link shows = "AWD (K8B, K8D, K8F) models have been built out." Thanks, Token for the link. NOT what we wanted to really hear!! SOooooo, does anyone know what is included in each of these three models?