As many of you know, some people have perfect trucks, others are dealing with quite a few problems... I feel part of this is expectations... If this truck is truck of the year, it better berform and look like it... While mine looks like it, it doesn't drive like it... It seems whenever anyone brings up a problem or issue with this truck you have people jumping on your back... I guarantee if their trucks were giving them problems, they would be first in line to say something... Below is the letter I have written to the DSB and given copies to the involved parties at my dealership... Please read it and let me know what you think... Like all of you I do think these trucks are cool, great, awesome, but if you can't drive it, its hard to think that way...

*****

Dear Sir or Madam:

First and foremost, I would like to thank you for taking the time to review my case. I have read numerous comments about the DSB and they all seem very positive. I have been a proud Ford customer for many years; however I recently purchased a 2004 Ford F-150 truck from a local Ford dealership and have had more problems in the first 3000 miles of this vehicles life than all of the six previous cars and trucks I have owned put together.
The reason I purchased this vehicle is because upon research I discovered that this truck was named 2004 Motor Trend Truck Of The Year, 2004 Auto Interiors Conference “Truck Interior of the Year,” as well as many others and a 5 star frontal crash rating for both driver and passenger. I know they must be good trucks, but at about 100 miles, I began to think otherwise. I began to notice problems; the hood was not painted correctly, the rear tailgate straps seem to be different lengths, and there appeared to be some strange vibration. I waited a few hundred miles to get it serviced. I talked to Tim, the Mcdonald Ford service manager and told him about the paint and tailgate straps as well as the vibration. There were a few cosmetic issues with some trim and those issues got resolved quickly. I was really thinking that this F-150 would not live up to its reputation. When the vehicle’s vibrations became very, very annoying and hard to drive the vehicle, I became very concerned with the vehicles performance as stated in writing in all of the brochures, on-line and on TV.
I brought the truck in at 700 miles to have the tailgate straps replaced, and that didn’t fix anything. Something in the rear of the truck must be tweaked. I talked to the owner’s son and he said that that was the worst he has ever seen. Some are a little off, but they might as well take the right side strap off, because it doesn’t support the tailgate and I am concerned about long-term damage. At 2571 miles, I took the truck in because I felt the vibration very badly on a trip I just got back from. I noticed the left front tire separating. They replaced and rebalanced this tire. I figured this would cure the vibration. This didn’t change anything. I decided to have all the tires checked out and they ended up replacing all four tires for defects under warranty. The tires were rebalanced. Still same vibration exists. Since the initial complaint about vibration / tires, I have had the vehicle in 4-6 times for the vibration and other issues. The dealer followed the TSB’s about vibration and again rebalanced, road force balanced, took tires off different trucks, use drive shafts from different trucks, only to have little effect on this issue. I was told that a different drive shaft helped a little. The dealer contacted a FSE (Ford Service Engineer) to drive my truck. He took some sophisticated equipment on board my truck and placed vibration sensors all over the truck. He stated that it is indeed a drive shaft issue. He instructed the servicing dealer to order a new drive shaft. The dealer (service manager) told me that because the drive shaft can go in 60+ ways, it may be hit or miss for a while to get rid of the vibration if indeed nothing else is out of order. This information was passed to him from the FSE.
At this point, I have been without my vehicle for 20-30 days – I have only owned it for a couple months and 3000 miles. It has been for service 6 times in 2 ½ months. It has been in 5 times for vibration related issues. I have had problems with the fuel door, the AC system, and the truck continues to show defects. When I bought this vehicle, I was proud to pay $550 a month + $150 a month for insurance because it’s a good looking American made truck. However, it’s not worth $700 a month to drive a rental Ford Focus.
To sum up, I believe the dealership and Ford are trying to find a solution to the problems that this truck presents, and probably doing all they can do at the moment. The problem is that by the time you read this, my truck will have spent over 30 days in the shop, and it has already been in 5 times for the same problem, which should meet Michigan Lemon Law criteria. My problem is not the fact that they are not going to fix it, or we disagree with the current proceedings. The issue at hand is that my truck has been in the shop 6 times for numerous days for numerous problems in the first 3000 miles and there are still a lot of issues unresolved. I really feel that the first few months of new vehicle ownership is why people buy new vehicles, the hassle-free feeling of having a new vehicle with no problems, the new car smell. I was unable to experience this with this vehicle. I missed out on this new vehicle experience. I would not like to be in possession of this lemon vehicle any more. Even when this vehicle gets fixed someday, what are the long term effects of things vibrating. I know if it’s drive shaft related that it’s not a good thing. Also, now both sides of my rear differential are showing sings of leaking. I wonder if the drive shaft caused this. I feel Ford can fix these problems on their time, not mine and sell this vehicle as a slightly used or demo vehicle. I feel that I have put up with enough issues on a truck that rolled off the assemble line a few months ago. This vehicle shows new issues every day. I would like to receive the purchase price back for this vehicle and purchase another vehicle from McDonald Ford, Inc.
I thank you again for your time and understanding, and look forward to presenting my case to the board in person


Sincerely,



Matthew J. Ninke

 

Here is the truck in question!

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...w.cfm?num=6672

 

Sounds like a reasonable and logical letter to me. It's not insulting to anyone and dosn't trash anyone who has tried to help so I think thats about the best way you can go about it. As for people trashing anyone who says anything bad about the truck...well my personal thoughts are that if you bought the truck and then problems showed up, like vibrations, engine limp mode, etc..., then you have reason to complain and want to find any way you can to get it fixed. What really bothers me are the geniuses that buy the truck and then complain mostly about stuff they should have noticed before they ever signed on the dotted line. Some people complain about stuff that makes me think they never test drove the truck before they bought it. Futhermore, some seem to think that they are entitled to some redress from FoMoCo b/c they don't like the design of the truck they bought. This is just ignorant and stupid, I'm sorry these guys don't find the seats comfortable or that the ground clearance is too low, or that the windsheild washer nozzels are in the wrong place, or that not enough stuff lights up in the cab, or that the tilt steerring wheel lever is bad... I mean if they bought the truck despite all these very noticable things why the hell do they think that FoMoCo needs to compensate them for being stupid and unobservant. Sorry to rant and you don't fall into the catagory above so I hope you get a new truck out of all this! Good luck.

 

Thanks FM66,

I appreciate the comments. Yes, my problem is not that I dislike the truck or it's features, thats why I bought the truck... My problem is it doesn't perform to what is stated...

To sum up, if they get this truck fixed in less than a week (total will be over 30+ days then), I will be all set. If not, then I would like a new truck. I just can't see paying all that money for a rental vehical for extended days...

 

Matt,

At least you are one of the few that are seeing the whole picture. I do understand your approach to the whole bashing problem with members. I do understand you want the problems fixed and look towards other members for support. I think sometimes members who complain catch a little too much because the guys who are senior members who read this site wayyyy to often (including myself) see this all the time, and a lot of them are new guys with one or two posts under their belt and demand answers. All this causes is a senior member having a bad day to freak out over another same old same old with no answers. I know some members who rarely hang out in this forum now because of that.
Your letter was very good. I think it will definitely get the attention it deserves. At least you realize that you are a minority and another truck would be great.
I agree with Fatman yet again, the whole b!tch!ing about the armrest, wipers, or anything like that is a joke. If someone bought a house and came back the next day saying they want their money back because they didnt like the look of it or the color of the carpet they would get laughed out the door. Same thing with the truck. You have substantial issues that need to be addressed. I hope you "get er done" and join the forum as one of the more satisfied customers. Good luck and be sure to keep us all posted.


....refraining from posting another meow...D should be around soon to fill in the gaps for me!

 

Well written letter. I agree that not bashing anyone is the best approach. Good luck with your case and please keep us posted!

 

Meow.

Good letter, but I'd personally drop this:

A little too much kiss-*** for me. Your trying to shmooze them too far too fast. Just get to the point and be nice. Meow.

Don't speculate on the issue or tell them what to do. Just state what they did to attempt to fix the issue, that the issue is still there and say you dezerve a new one. Meow.

 

dzervit...

Thanks for the comments, that's why I am here, help, support, stories about these trucks...

Anyway, I did change those two paragraphs... You made perfect sense...

2nd paragraph: . I would not like to be in possession of this lemon vehicle any more. Also, now both sides of my rear differential are showing sings of leaking. I feel that I have put up with enough issues on a truck that rolled off the assemble line a few months ago. This vehicle shows new issues every day. I would like to receive the purchase price back for this vehicle and purchase another vehicle from McDonald Ford, Inc.

1st paragraph: The reason I purchased this vehicle is because I have had many great experiences with Ford’s. I know they must be good trucks, but at about 100 miles, I began to think otherwise about this particular truck.

Thanks again, and if you or anyone else wants to comment further, I am not sending out my packet of stuff until tonight!

 

Make sure you do spell check!

 

She's a looker though!! Of course I love a red truck anyway! May God be with you in your quest for justice. Yours, B

 

Smoke,

Every time I do something, I try to learn as much as I can, so if it happens again, I am better at it...

In the purchase of this truck, if I do get another one, I don't I would change anything. The black is sharp, but the red is different than anything else on the road, I love the black interior. I guess a moonroof would be nice...

I love my Line-X bedliner... I wonder if they buy it back, if they will do something about it???

 

Matt, since this is a letter you are sending in, change the word sings to signs. And capitalize the D in McDonald. Good letter, I hope that they give the satisfication you deserve. Paying a lot of hard earned money for something you haven't used, is bad.

 

That letter expresses your concerns well. They should realize you
are a prime canidate for lemon law protection, and technically you should ALREADY be in a new one. Though they've been trying
to get it worked out for you, they sought of dropped the ball by not putting you in a new one already. Good luck ...

 

Your letter looks good. I can’t even imagine how bad this is for you because of the fact my truck is trouble free. I hope you get things squared away pronto.

 

Thanks for the replys, keep 'em coming...

jztbcz: When you say dropped the ball, do you mean the dealer???

I just thought that they had to wait for the # of times or the 30 days...

BTW... TODAY IS DAY 21 = 3 weeks, I miss my truck... 6 trips to the dealer... MAKE IT STOP...

Anyway, enough of the joking around... I just can't wait to get my new F-150... It is by far the most superior truck ever built...