Just to let everyone know in and around NASHVILLE,TN. I went to the local FORD dealer last WED and spoke to the service manager on the door crack. After showing him the crack on my drivers side door and the approx.30 threads I printed off of this web site,the approx.20 different other web site threads, and a few cracked doors that were sitting on there lot,he was more than happy to fix the door crack for me. His main comment was that he couldnt beleive that there was that many people with this problem.(thank god I didnt print off every thread on the sites)He said that they would not replace the door but would weld and blend the crack.Maybe this will help any around this area and even in other states to finally remedy the problem or at least to get the service managers that work for FORD to talk to one another. Who knows, maybe they will band together and fix all our problems. HEE,HEE,HEE...

 

Went to my local ford dealership this past week. They called ford directly, and they said a fix is within the next six months.

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Ford vs Chevy
www.fordvschevy.com
Moderator: Road Kill, Mustang vs F-bodies
2000 White F-150 Sport 4.2L 5-speed,3.55 gears
No Mods Yet
superstang97@yahoo.com

 

Did they give you any idea as to what type of fix that they are coming up with?I am curious if the weld and blend in is the best fix or what.I also spoke to the Customer Care at FORD and they just turned it over to the local service manager.
It might be best for me to wait and see what FORD puts out for the fix.

 

I really do hope FORD comes out with a fix soon. Hopefully whatever they are working on makes it through durablilty testing! I'd like to be able to use my windows without having to worry about the metal cracking for once!


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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Well Glad to hear that Heavy.
I've talked with the auto body manager at my local dealer, and mine's in as I type being welded up and refinished. I was past my warranty period by 4,000 miles, but I bought the extended warranty, which has a $50.00 decutable.
So their fixing it for $50.00 and I get a rental for free while their making the repair. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't warp my doors...

Good Luck to all,
Rob

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1997 F150 XLT Ext. Cab, Green, 4.6 v8, 4x4, A/EOD, 3.55, K&N w/Low-Buck Airbox Modification, Splitfire Triple Platinum Plugs, Bedliner, 265/75/16 Dunlop Radial Rover RV's.

 

ROB,
Let me know when you get your truck back and get a chance to look at it.I hope it is a once-and-for-all fix.THANKS.

 

Greetings to all. I have been reading a lot of the posting here on this site for some time now but this is my first posting.

I have to say this is the best site that I have found for Ford trucks by far, my hat's off to the guy who created this web site.

I have been reading all the posts concerning the door cracks and decided to check my truck today. It's a 99 F-150 XLT with the 5.4L engine. Anyway, I didn't find any cracks on either door and I moved the window trim back as far as I could. I also could not detect any stress points on the doors. I don't know the build date of my truck but I got my truck Aug.99. I will keep an eye on it though.

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99 F-150 XLT, 5.4l 3.55LS. No performance or exterior mods. Stock stereo with Alpine CHA-1214 12 disc cd changer.

[This message has been edited by zooman (edited 02-23-2000).]

 

As a machinist I have seen many things welded up to fix a crack, but all have cracked in a new place. I read a post about drilling a hole at the end of the crack, This might work if it were a cast iron door, but very doubtful. I have the crack on my drivers side door and they are giving me whole new door. My buddy that owns a body shop is the one that get all my dealers body work so he and I are gonna try to fix it right. If we succeed I will gladly make the post!

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99 F-150 XLT Sport, Black 4x4 4.6L , 3.55 LS,Manual Tranny, K&N air filter, No Muff Exaust system,.999 tuned TPS,Pioneer CD Player,Pioneer GM-X332 Amp,8" Rockford Fosgate Punches, Custom(self done)pinstriping,Wrap around bugdeflecter

 

Robs: Is that kinda like: "...Now that you got them to repaint the roof, all you need to deal with are the footprints on the hood..."?

Good luck.

 

My Quest to Get Door Crack Fixed Has Begun!
(This may be a bit long but as others go down this path, it may help)

Well, we all know about the door crack and I have started the process of trying to get FORD to stand behind their Quality Is Job #1 Slogan.

After being away from the list for a while I came back and sure enough after reading the DC posts, I found that I had the issue. At 40,600 miles on a top of the line fully loaded Lariat, I thought I might have a shot at the few miles out of warranty not being an issue. WRONG!

2/2/2000 - I went to my local FORD body shop and they said they would pass it by the Regional Warranty guy. They will call in about two weeks when they get an answer. They say they have seen a few but most people do not know to look for it.

2/16/2000 - I call since I have heard nothing an no one returns my call.

2/24/2000 - I take my truck in for regular service and drop by the body shop while I wait for the truck. "Oh yes, we just got word back on that today" (A note on my paperwork signed by the Service Manager who talked with the regional guy was dated 2/16,,,, Hum the day I called and left a message to check on the status)

FORD says they will pay 50% to replace door. Approx. total cost $1000.00. This is not a fix but just a new door that may or may not have the same issue in the future. The dealer can not extend any long-term guarantee on the replacement door.

I ask whom can I step this up to. They say call FORD Customer Care 1-800-392-FORD.

I get home and call Cust. Care. I was on hold for 25 minutes. A guy comes on and takes all the details just to say if the Regional office has made a decision, than the issue is closed. I said I would like to know whom else I could talk to on this, "The Regional Rep. never talked to me or inspected the truck". This guy said there is no else I can talk to. I said there is always someone else to talk to. I asked him for the number of the regional office. He says that he does not have those numbers and that the Regional office is a dealer resource and I can not contact them directly.
Bottom line, they may take your info, but they seem to have no pull or will not get involved. Comments on that?

My next step is to meet with the Service Manager at the dealership and ask him to have the Regional Rep. Contact or meet with me to talk about this issue.

I can not see buying a top of the line 97' Lariat F-150, keeping it in immaculate condition, being only 4k out of warranty with a issue that is not unique to me, not using it as a "work" truck and them only offering to cover this repair @ 50%. The proposed solution is not addressing the true issue.

I will keep you updated. I am open to any suggestions those of you that have been down this road have to offer.

Are there any official statements from FORD on this issue that I can use to show FORD is aware of this issue?

I have considered contacting a local TV Consumer Reporter to highlight the issue on a larger scale if I get no further than I am now.

My thoughts, If everyone that had an F-150 still under warranty noticed this problem today and went to FORD, that would cost a lot more than just greasing this squeaky wheel. I only want FORD to stand behind their Quality is Job #1 slogan and fix this know issue, nothing more.

Thoughts?

 

ROB,
Seems like they created more of a problem than they fixed.Hopefully when the weather starts to warm up the orange peel will fade out a little.It is a shame that your truck was left with overspray on it.This is what PISSES ME OFF about the dealers (body shops) They seem not to care about the quality of work they do anymore.Let me know how it turns out with the body shop.

TOPHER,
If you chek out the main page of this site,lower right hand side,you will see a link that says "Not What It's Cracked Up To Be" check that out .It should contain enough info in there to help your case.I printed off as much as possible off this site and the site fseries.com (even though f150 online is the better site 8-) )as I could before I went to the dealer about the crack. I really beleive that this helped me out.By the way I would be wary of getting the door replaced as this might lead to air leaks or and other problems like the crack coming back.Thats just what I hear.Let me know what happens and Lots Of Luck To You.

 

Well Heavy, got my truck back last night...
At first glance looked good, as usual, but they only painted a portion of the door, so I can see exactly where their orange peel starts...
The repair looks pretty good, and the body shop manager did tell me that I was the first of many trucks that they were fixing. Lucky me, I asked if this was a permanent fix, or temporary. He hoped it was permanent, but didn’t look very confident. There is a flat spot/dent in the passenger door now, but all in all it looks good.
Going to call and see how much of the door they painted, and to see how to get their over-spray off of the outside of my windshield and hood. Oh yeah, they over-sprayed the inside of my passenger door window too… Oh well, I’ll keep ya’ll posted.

Rob


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1997 F150 XLT Ext. Cab, Green, 4.6 v8, 4x4, A/EOD, 3.55, K&N w/Low-Buck Airbox Modification, Splitfire Triple Platinum Plugs, Bedliner, 265/75/16 Dunlop Radial Rover RV's.

 

Seems like jgorka... What a pain in the butt. I have nothing more to do with my life but go back to the dealer and have them remove the overspray. Heck they were even nice enough to leave a couple of sanding discs and scotchbrite on my rear seat. Quality is what????

Heavy: I'm hoping the the orange peel will smooth out as the weather warms, just have a slight dent look in the passanger door. Truthfully, I'm afraid to take it back. Oh well I'll live with it for a little bit.

I'm interested in seeing the warranty paperwork that I'm supposed to get in the mail, as to how they classified the repair.

Good luck to all with this problem, I'm doing my best to help spread the word about the cracks... Misery Loves Company, they say.
Rob

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1997 F150 XLT Ext. Cab, Green, 4.6 v8, 4x4, A/EOD, 3.55, K&N w/Low-Buck Airbox Modification, Splitfire Triple Platinum Plugs, Bedliner, 265/75/16 Dunlop Radial Rover RV's.

 

Look at the bright side ROB, in a week or two you will get a "CUSTOMER CARE/SERVICE QUESTIONARE" in the mail from FORD.They want you to fill it out about the experience that you had with their repair service. Wait, come to think of it, my questionare helped me start a fire in our fireplace this winter.

 

There is a special service message on Oasis concerning the door crack. Ford says "for immediate customer concerns" to "replace the door panel". Not to fix, or repair, but replace the whole panel. Don't let these dealerships push you around. Tell them to look it up on Oasis. I am a service tech, and have come across this s.s.m. many times. I have talked to the tech hotline several times concerning it. They "almost" had the fix out, but when they were gonna release it, a vehicle came back with the adhesive failing. Now they are looking to mig weld in a reiforcement plate. They are working on a procedure to do this that wont warp the door, and won't fail, ever. I'm wouldn't count on the 6 months though. 6 months could turn into 6 years if they don't figure out what works. They are working hard on this though, since 97, 98, 99, and 00 will all develop this crack. So, until they remedy this, all doors will crack.

If you're still under warranty, go to your dealership and have them note it in your service history. This way, if you run out of warranty, they can still fix it "under warranty".

Hope this helps.

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1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Ford bugshield, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, Lund Premier tonneau cover, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)