Front Cv axle boot

[Expy2020]

After my 2020 explorer back from Ford for its an oil change at 35k yesterday, paper work said leaking drivers side axle boot. This car is a pavement princess driven by my wife and myself only. I thought no way could it be torn at 35k miles so I crawled under and had a look. Found this (see attached).

The car is CPO but the bumper to bumper warranty has aged out. Will the 5/60 powertrain cover this repair at no cost? Of special interest to me though, is if I show them the TSB for front electronic differential that involves them basically deleting the on electric demand AWD clutches and make it AWD all the time, would they do it since the CV axle has to come out anyway? I think that would give me better long term reliability since they tend to leak beyond warranty and are expensive to R&R.

 

[themishmosh]

Axles are covered under powertrain. Axle boots should not be failing left and right--they are defective and Ford should have recalled them. Both Left and Right will fail prematurely for MY 2020 and most MY 2021.

Replacing an axle take about 30 minutes for the drivers side and about 45 minutes for the passenger side. Replacing the FADA probably takes 6 hours, so no, they are not going to do a the TSB. And if there are no codes or evidence to support a problem existing, Ford dealers generally NEVER do work under warranty... TSB or no TSB.

 

[2020FordRaptor]

After my 2020 explorer back from Ford for its an oil change at 35k yesterday, paper work said leaking drivers side axle boot. This car is a pavement princess driven by my wife and myself only. I thought no way could it be torn at 35k miles so I crawled under and had a look. Found this (see attached).

The car is CPO but the bumper to bumper warranty has aged out. Will the 5/60 powertrain cover this repair at no cost? Of special interest to me though, is if I show them the TSB for front electronic differential that involves them basically deleting the on electric demand AWD clutches and make it AWD all the time, would they do it since the CV axle has to come out anyway? I think that would give me better long term reliability since they tend to leak beyond warranty and are expensive to R&R.

View attachment 454276

Unfortunately this is a common problem. The drivetrain warranty will cover it though.

 

[Expy2020]

Is this a manufacturer defect that has been fixed or will it continue to fail prematurely after the initial replacement? My local dealer can't schedule work until September! We can't park it until then and have no choice but to continue driving. They told me they will need to diagnose the problem first and then order parts so it could take even longer. They made sure to point out diagnosis is on my dime of course, even after I showed them the picture. They're very backed up with F150 work at the moment, which is why I'm looking for a CPO Nissan Titan to replace my aging gen 1 F150 ecoboost.

 

[themishmosh]

Is this a manufacturer defect that has been fixed or will it continue to fail prematurely after the initial replacement? My local dealer can't schedule work until September! We can't park it until then and have no choice but to continue driving. They told me they will need to diagnose the problem first and then order parts so it could take even longer. They made sure to point out diagnosis is on my dime of course, even after I showed them the picture. They're very backed up with F150 work at the moment, which is why I'm looking for a CPO Nissan Titan to replace my aging gen 1 F150 ecoboost.

The axle replacements they are using has a slightly different bellows design. It shouldn't recur. There are a few parts from MY 2020-2021 that have been replaced or corrected and this is one of them. Others: catalytic converter pipes, flex section midpipes, exhaust 2-to-1 piping before resonator in middle changed to 2 pipes, FADA changed to intermediate shaft, faulty AWD module grounding fixed, "blow-off"/bypass valve elimination, and unfortunately in the ST/Platinum 2 rear subframe bushings replaced to 1 bushing.

As far as warranty work and scheduling service, yes, it's been a pain since the pandemic! My Ford dealer isn't bad but wife's Audi is atrocious! It's one reason I think warranties and ESP are garbage. Instead of wasting time on the dealer fixing my leaking axle, I bought them from Levittown Ford... around $150 each IIRC. Only one tore but I knew the other one would surely fail so I replaced them both. I'd rather spend $300 in parts and one hour of my time to do it than the usual wasted time at the dealer getting warranty work done. As you've pointed out, you first bring it in for diagnosis, then they order parts, then you schedule the work. I did that for the catalytic converter, because that's a big job, but all other work I choose to do myself.

 

[Expy2020]

What were the catalytic converter symptoms? I swear mine sounds like it's got an exhaust leak when started cold but goes away when warm. My focus is the same and has been that way for 80k miles without issue so I was thinking it's just how the DI motors sound when cold. If it's a leak, I assume the emissions warranty covers that repair?

 

[GeoTracker]

What were the catalytic converter symptoms? I swear mine sounds like it's got an exhaust leak when started cold but goes away when warm. My focus is the same and has been that way for 80k miles without issue so I was thinking it's just how the DI motors sound when cold. If it's a leak, I assume the emissions warranty covers that repair?

Same problem, bad CAT. Did you check for a CAT recall? 8yr or 80K emissions warrant but if your VIN matches a recall it is covered. Look under the veh for black leaks at the connections.

 

[themishmosh]

What were the catalytic converter symptoms? I swear mine sounds like it's got an exhaust leak when started cold but goes away when warm. My focus is the same and has been that way for 80k miles without issue so I was thinking it's just how the DI motors sound when cold. If it's a leak, I assume the emissions warranty covers that repair?

The welds on the cat converter pipe (many refer to as downpipe) fail. You will hear the exhaust sounds become louder or smell exhaust fumes. I had neither and was simply under the car doing another repair and noticed the crack in the weld. The flex section have been known to fail also so you can hear and smell exhaust from that too! There is a recall for it but strangely enough, it specifies only the LH cat pipe--even though people have had both fail. The cat pipes should be covered under federal emissions but as someone with 90k miles on their MY2020, those limits go by quick. If you suspect it, get it checked now--preferrably by yourself. After I noticed the crack in the weld, I brought my car to the dealer--to my shock they said everything was fine!!! I showed the service writer the pics of the crack and only then did he order the cat pipe.

 

[hbalek]

My dealer never charges me for diagnosis of warranty repairs. I've had all of the above mentioned issues and more and all were covered under warranty totally free with free rentals each time. Your warranty and your rights as an owner are as good as your dealership. I got lucky buying and servicing at my dealer. I was very unlucky with so many major repairs done in under 50K miles.

 

[Expy2020]

Car is in the shop today for axle replacement, covered under powertrain warranty. They texted me and asked if I wanted an alignment as well, which would be on me to pay for at $129. If the alignment was perfect when I dropped it off for the warranty work, and it ends up needing an alignment after the new cv axle, shouldn't that also be covered by the warranty work?

 

[2020FordRaptor]

Car is in the shop today for axle replacement, covered under powertrain warranty. They texted me and asked if I wanted an alignment as well, which would be on me to pay for at $129. If the alignment was perfect when I dropped it off for the warranty work, and it ends up needing an alignment after the new cv axle, shouldn't that also be covered by the warranty work?

A cv axle bolt shouldn’t need an alignment. If it does, I don’t even know how they could’ve messed it up to cause an alignment being needed.

 

[Expy2020]

That's what I was thinking, unless they mess with the lock nut when they disconnect the tierod, which they'd have to do on purpose to guarantee it needing an alignment....

I told them the alignment was perfect when I dropped it off, so shouldn't need one. Guess I'll wait and see when I pick it up. It's taken 3 weeks to get it "diagnosed" and then order the part for them to install today. I could have done it myself in an hour but wanted it taken care of under the warranty.

 

[TBill]

I had both of my front axle boots replaced under warranty, took a few days for each, but all is well now.

TBill

 

[Expy2020]

Got it back, no alignment needed, was just an money grab.

 

[themishmosh]

Well, if you detach the lower strut bolts to turn out the knuckle, in theory an alignment is warranted, no?

Strangely, when they did my driver's side catalytic converter downpipe, they did an alignment. I guess just dropping the subframe can affect the alignment.

 

[Stanley Godin]

I had both of my front axle boots replaced under warranty, took a few days for each, but all is well now.

TBill

Have a 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum about 48,000KM, was doing a brake pad change and noticed grey grease everywhere. Tear was in exact same place as photo. Will bring to dealer and see if under Power train warranty. Have a 2009 Buick enclave still and never had any CV axle or boot problems.

 

[peterk9]

Have a 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum about 48,000KM, was doing a brake pad change and noticed grey grease everywhere. Tear was in exact same place as photo. Will bring to dealer and see if under Power train warranty. Have a 2009 Buick enclave still and never had any CV axle or boot problems.

Welcome to the Forum.
Check your Warranty Guide as to what's covered.

Peter

 

[Stanley Godin]

Will drop by the dealer where I baught it new tomorrow and see what the service people say & report back, have photos to discuss with them.

 

[Stanley Godin]

Explorer braught to dealer where I gave multiple images. They said they would cover under 5 yr 100K drive train warranty. I had put a small amount of rubber flex seal around where small clamp boot was torn to stop spraying of grey grease as I was worried the spraying everywhere out of the CV axle boot was going to get on the brakes. Had many pictures of grease everywhere and of cleaned up boot to show where it was actually torn to show dealer. Image of cleaned up boot to isolate location of tear.