'16 Explorer Sport Issues
Hi everyone. I purchased a factory ordered '16 Ford Explorer Sport Ecoboost White Platinum.
After receiving the car from Bozard in St Augustine, I did not initially notice anything wrong with the vehicle. We took it for a test drive and still no issues notice. I received my car on 9/2/15. Since I have put 2100 miles on it and I got it professionally waxed 2 weeks ago and the detailer pointed out some paint issues with the car.
On the hood, there's a black dot under the clear coat with no white paint covering it and there's a bubble with pinhole in another spot on the hood.
At every quarter panel
seam, there's a blue streak of some "under" layer that isn't painted white. Some of the areas in the seam it is blue then fades to white and then goes back to blue as if that spot was missed during the painting portion of the build. The front quarter panel has some left over plastic that wasn't removed upon delivery. Also there appears to be knife cuts in the area too...maybe from the detailer at the dealership trying to remove the plastic...see pic.
At the lift gate weld spots on the top, there seems to be some "overspray" of weld material or some sealant that got onto the body of the car.
I also have a terrible rattle coming from the right rear passenger B pillar or window or door. Haven't been able to pinpoint it yet. Here is a link to an audio recording of this rattle.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1SUJwtN2kWm
10/7/15 - Appointment with Bozard Service Dept. Service advisor stated that he has to send each paint issue separately to Ford to have them approved. Waited to test drive to duplicate the rattling. Service advisor said that it is 100% an issue with the door/b-pillar or somewhere in that area. I told them I'll have it repaired when they repair the paint. Service advisor stated that the paint issues may take several weeks before anything is done from Ford. Then the Service manager came out to inspect the paint issues. He said that the blue under layer is part of the plastic molding and will probably be denied to be repainted. He said this until I pointed out that at every quarter panel seam, the paint runs white then fades to blue in some areas and then runs back as white and then blue again. I told him if it was part of the plastic seam, then why are some areas of the seam painted white. He agreed after that and said it should be warrantable but Ford has to approve of it. He wanted the service advisor to make sure he wrote that the paint in the seams are "thin" and that the blue under layer is showing. He also stated that the paint issues on the Hood will most likely be approved by Ford. Service manager told advisor to take me out to the lot to find '16 Explorers to see if they have common painting at the seams. We found 6 different '16 Explorers, some were XLTs and some were Limited, I think there was one Sport. We checked the white ones, they have the same blue layer at the seams. Even the red and silver cars did. Every Explorer had this issue. After verifying this, he told me we will be in touch so I can send some pictures for him to send to Ford.
Now on with the waiting game. I have heard that Ford Reps patrol some of these forums. I'm not happy with the paint or that rattle. I already love this Explorer but these issues are bugging me everyday and I want Ford to be aware of them. If a Ford Rep can PM me on here so that I can discuss the issues in further detail would be greatly appreciated. For an over $50k MSRP equipped Explorer Sport, these paint issues should not be so common.