Liftgates on backorder until November?

[rbrightwell]

I bent up my liftgate on my new 2015 Explorer and the body shop tried to order a replacement, but Ford says there is a tooling problem and there are hundreds backordered. The current estimate for catching up with the backorders is 11/10/2015! I can't believe I have to rent a car for three months. I know the bent gate is my fault, but I feel that Ford has some responsibility to supply parts for the cars they sell. Anyone else ever run into a problem like this? I'm trying to figure out the best approach/solution.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Opened a case with Ford customer service
• Requested a parts escalation
• Talked with a regional service manager, but not sure what she can do

I'm also looking for suggestions on what to do if I really have to wait 3 or more months for the part?

• Can I seal the gate somehow and drive it?
• Can Ford help me with a loaner?
• Do I rent a car for 3 months? Is there a monthly rate?
• Do I buy a used car to use for a few months?
• Ask for a trade-in on another vehicle?
• what else?

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Richard

 

[patsy1099]

• Can I seal the gate somehow and drive it? Ford will probably be best to answer this
• Can Ford help me with a loaner? I doubt it but the local dealer might have special rates with a local rental company
• Do I rent a car for 3 months? Is there a monthly rate? There usually is a monthly rate and local companies like Enterprise usually have a special "50%" discount if you tell them your car was in "an accident being repaired"
• Do I buy a used car to use for a few months? Why on earth would you do that?
• Ask for a trade-in on another vehicle? you would get destroyed. don't panic.
• what else? ask ford if they can make it driveable until inventory catches up. otherwise get the cheapest rental you can find using the above rental ideas and maybe some more you can find online. Also check if you have rental insurance through your insurance company to help defray the cost of the rental.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Richard

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Are you going thru your insurance? See what they can do to support you... this was your fault, not Ford's

 

[Exit32]

I bent up my liftgate on my new 2015 Explorer and the body shop tried to order a replacement, but Ford says there is a tooling problem and there are hundreds backordered. The current estimate for catching up with the backorders is 11/10/2015! I can't believe I have to rent a car for three months. I know the bent gate is my fault, but I feel that Ford has some responsibility to supply parts for the cars they sell. Anyone else ever run into a problem like this? I'm trying to figure out the best approach/solution.

Here's what I've done so far:

• Opened a case with Ford customer service
• Requested a parts escalation
• Talked with a regional service manager, but not sure what she can do

I'm also looking for suggestions on what to do if I really have to wait 3 or more months for the part?

• Can I seal the gate somehow and drive it?
• Can Ford help me with a loaner?
• Do I rent a car for 3 months? Is there a monthly rate?
• Do I buy a used car to use for a few months?
• Ask for a trade-in on another vehicle?
• what else?

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

Richard

Perhaps you can locate a "totaled" Explorer with extensive front-end damage and buy a good, used liftgate?

 

[rbrightwell]

Update

I finally have my liftgate today, but Ford handled this very poorly. I opened an escalation so that I could at least know the status of the liftgates, but Ford was never very communicative or helpful and after a few weeks they closed it as resolved without even talking to me about it. When I tried to find out why it was closed nobody would return my calls. When I filled out the customer satisfaction survey, it was all negative and nobody followed up on that either.

As part of the accident the sunroof shade started making weird clicking and popping noises, so I suspect something got jarred off track or out of alignment. My insurance company is ready to pay for that to be repaired, but the Ford mechanic says it's normal! No way brand new cars sound that way. So, now I'm stuck with a shade which sounds terrible and will probably break in the future on a SUV that's only 10 months old.

I'm just really disappointed because I really like the Explorer, but Ford sucks. The joy I felt driving the Explorer has been killed because I know the company won't stand behind it when I have problems. I feel like a sucker. I won't be buying Ford again, but does any company stand behind their cars these days? Lexus maybe?

 

[peterk9]

I finally have my liftgate today, but Ford handled this very poorly. I opened an escalation so that I could at least know the status of the liftgates, but Ford was never very communicative or helpful and after a few weeks they closed it as resolved without even talking to me about it. When I tried to find out why it was closed nobody would return my calls. When I filled out the customer satisfaction survey, it was all negative and nobody followed up on that either.

As part of the accident the sunroof shade started making weird clicking and popping noises, so I suspect something got jarred off track or out of alignment. My insurance company is ready to pay for that to be repaired, but the Ford mechanic says it's normal! No way brand new cars sound that way. So, now I'm stuck with a shade which sounds terrible and will probably break in the future on a SUV that's only 10 months old.

I'm just really disappointed because I really like the Explorer, but Ford sucks. The joy I felt driving the Explorer has been killed because I know the company won't stand behind it when I have problems. I feel like a sucker. I won't be buying Ford again, but does any company stand behind their cars these days? Lexus maybe?

It has been posted here many, many times that communications is definitely not one of Ford's strong points. As for the problem with the shade, that sounds like a dealer issue. Have you tried another dealership? You can also send a PM to the FordService rep on this forum; http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&u=157968

Peter

 

[FordService]

I finally have my liftgate today, but Ford handled this very poorly. I opened an escalation so that I could at least know the status of the liftgates, but Ford was never very communicative or helpful and after a few weeks they closed it as resolved without even talking to me about it. When I tried to find out why it was closed nobody would return my calls. When I filled out the customer satisfaction survey, it was all negative and nobody followed up on that either.

As part of the accident the sunroof shade started making weird clicking and popping noises, so I suspect something got jarred off track or out of alignment. My insurance company is ready to pay for that to be repaired, but the Ford mechanic says it's normal! No way brand new cars sound that way. So, now I'm stuck with a shade which sounds terrible and will probably break in the future on a SUV that's only 10 months old.

I'm just really disappointed because I really like the Explorer, but Ford sucks. The joy I felt driving the Explorer has been killed because I know the company won't stand behind it when I have problems. I feel like a sucker. I won't be buying Ford again, but does any company stand behind their cars these days? Lexus maybe?

I'm sad to see you disappointed, rbrightwell. I'll look into this for you, and see how to best assist. Please send over a private message with the VIN, or your case number.

It has been posted here many, many times that communications is definitely not one of Ford's strong points. As for the problem with the shade, that sounds like a dealer issue. Have you tried another dealership? You can also send a PM to the FordService rep on this forum; http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&u=157968

Peter

Thanks for the mention, Peter.

Mariel