Being one of the first buyers of the 2001 Supercrew Lariat I've just about reached 40K miles and have a few comments for anyone about to lay out 30K+ dollars for one of these animals.

Don't.

The quality is slightly better than a 73 Pinto. Mine has been a regular visitor to the Ford Dealer since I got it. To date they have replaced

a. Cigarrete Lighter (Burned out)
b. Steering Wheel -- The color came completely off.
c. Front Seat Spring - Spring broke and stuck me in the ***
d. Front Seat Leather Cover - Spring went through leather before going up my ***.
e. Air Blend Door - requiring the complete disassembly of the dash as well as the removal of both seats (Took them three days)

Things that suck that can never be fixed - Various stress cracks in the cheap *** plastic truck bed that is obviously made of recycled clorox bottles.

An annoying thermal pop in the dash that sounds like a rock hitting the windshield at various times with either the A/C or Heater turned on. (Ford dealer says they all do it.)

I have a 92 Maxima with 150,000 miles on it that doesn't rattle and pop like this puppy.

Both Side mirrors have just enough play in them to allow them to wiggle back and forth rendering the images too blurry to be useful. (Also Normal according to the Ford Dealer)

Things I like - It has an awesome sound system (Good thing so I can turn it up and don't have to listen to the snap crackle and pop coming out of the Dash), and it runs / shifts well although it sucks gas (13mpg - regardless). I also like the braking system. The first set of front pads lasted 30K miles - something I consider a major miracle due to my driving habits.

Ford has taken a real nice Engine / Chassis - thrown in the cheapest plastic dash they could find - and bolted on a brittle plastic bed.

Like I said - I've owned lots of Ford Products over the years and I can say - at least they are consistent. Consistently shoddy.

(Thank god I didn't buy and Exroller .. er... Explorer)

 

Hey guy,

I've had a few issues with my truck but I can say that overall it's a fine vehicle for the most part.

IMO, I think the design is pretty damn good, it's just the inspection process that needs work in addition to needing more folks that take extraordinary pride in their work.

I think almost every issue I had with my screw was due to lack of strong enforcement of quality during painting and general assembly and so far all of it has been covered under warranty but not without some inconvenience of course.

I don't think you're gonna make many friends here and you might've started F-150 world war III for the Screw gang.

I'm playing neutral here 'cause this thread is a powder keg looking for a fuse!

DaveMan

 

Rexwl,
I'm sorry to here about all your problem's. It's unfortunate that we have to pay out this kind of money & get some not so good product's once in a while.
I guess I would think that being a 1st time poster you would talk to other's about the problem's they are having & try to find solution's with your dealer & not just start ranting about what a pile of crap your Ford is, if you want to have that view go to a Toyota, Chevy or Dodge site I'm sure they do it all the time . I'm sure non of them ever have any problem's. We are all here to help each other & we all stick together & give each other tip's & advice on how to solve problem's or how to enjoy our truck's more than we already do.
All vehicle have problem's (Yes that does suck) but we can only make the best of a situation since it is a mechanical object & every man made mechanical object will have it's flaw's. I personally have 22,000 mile's on my truck & yes they are pretty hard mile's towing,off-roading & just pounding in general.I have not had any major problem's .(Not to say that it won't ever happen) I think the design & concept of this truck is great. Are there thing's I would improve on ? Of course there is.
The 2 minor problem's that I have had my dealership has handled very well.That is alway's the key for me is finding a good dealership,there is one that is 5 minute's from my house that I won't even go to for an oil change or a car wash for that matter.
I don't know your dealship situation so I can't comment on that.
If you that unhappy get rid of it & maybe you'll be happier with a Chevy Avalanche that should give you the good quality plastic your looking for. You won't make friend's here with that type of attitude. People probably have already formed an opinion from your post.
Best of luck to you
Later...Mike

 

I'm not trying to start a war - just warn anyone prior to peeling 30k for a truck - Hey guys - This is a FORD - Not a Lincoln - I probably would have been much happier had I bought a plain jane XLT supercrew with cloth seats and saved myself about 8K.

I do like the engine / transmission combo. The braking system is amazing. But honestly the noisy plastic dash is the downfall of this machine in my opinion.

My paint quality was definetely acceptable - as was fit and finish.

The Plastic bed has some stress cracks in the paint - that I'm going to choose to ignore since I don't think it would be worthwhile to get fixed.

I have to drive this puppy every day and the dash popping and cracking is so annoying that even the service rep at ford said she couldn't live with it. But alas - nobody can seem to fix it - I personally don't think it can be fixed because I think it is a design flaw.

I have had several fords and this is pretty much par for the course.

If I had to buy another vehicle - I would probably look around - and still by a supercrew because - besides the ugly *** avalalanche (Mad Toaster) - It's the only 4 door fullsize truck in production. I might look at a F250.

Another thing - Most of the people posting have just gotten their trucks - I have 40K on mine - I was just giving an extended review of what to expect in the future. There is a reason they only warranty these guys for 36K miles - Cause that's when the trouble begins.. I looked into a extended warranty and the Ford one cost 1500.00 with a 100 deductible per repair. There is a reason for that as well.

Obviously I'm not the only one concerned with Ford quality - since they have now fallen behind chrysler in JD powers quality review - and William Ford himself has taken over the company. Hopefully he can turn it around and start producing some quality vehicles for the masses like his dear ole granddaddy.

Other things I've had fixed that I forgot in my original post.

A. Windshield Wiper has been recalled because it could catch on fire.

B. Front Seal in the Differential.

C. Rear End makes noise between 60-70 miles per hour - probably due to the wear it received when the Front Seal Failed and spewed Oil everywhere.

Do youself a favor if you really want a Supercrew - Drive a bunch of them - the quality is not consistent. Good Luck

 

I'm sorry to hear your problems, but I understand what you are saying. Every time I have something done to my truck, I explain to the mech/tech that this is a 30k truck and she is my baby, they understand this before even touching her, and yes its a female even though its a 4x4. I have 5000 now on my SCrew and everyday I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm awake because I feel like I have the best truck on the road, period! But like I said, if I had the problems like you had I would've raised hell, and started a paper trail for a possible buyback before that baby rolled past 36k miles. Like the previous poster said before, its all about the dealership. Personally, now that I have all the mods on my truck, I wouldn't trade it for anything else on the road, including a hummer or a beamer or whatever else you have to offer. Just my opinion though.

cajun

 

Hey rexwl,

Now that you've explained your issues a little more, I'm starting to take a slightly different veiw from before. I to am sorry to hear you've been jerked around like you say, that must really suck.

It's possible that since you've got one of the early screws that some of the issues you are experiencing have possibly been resolved by modifications and revisions, or maybe we will see the same crap in time, we'll find out eventually.

Hope you make the right decision if you elect to get out of your present vehicle and get something else.

I for one definately think that Ford has some quality issues and mainly at the Kansis City Facility, IMO.

If we could get a Screw built at the Norfolk plant I bet the quality would be second to none using the same parts and using the same processes with inspections/verifications done correctly.

Good luck to you man! Let us know what you decide, unless it's a rubbermaid chebie, then keep that a secret!

DaveMan

 

I, like most people - won't bother starting a paper trail - or trying to get a buy back for a squeaky dash and shoddy interior.

Honestly I wouldn't drive anything but a big ole gas sucking American truck

But you know - I have a couple of jap cars (old ones) that don't pop - squeak and rattle (Clunk in a couple of posts although mine doesn't clunk) down the road - and I didn't give 32K for them either.

I want a truck just like my Supercrew - with a high quality - non-popping/rattling interior that the color doesn't rub off of the steering wheel. That the HVAC system doesn't disentegrate - and that the springs don't break in the seat and stick me in the ***.

I'd really prefer a steel truck bed that doesn't have stress cracks in the paint and is made out of recycled clorox bottles.

Other than all the little bull**** that goes with your average North American assembled/Mexican manufactured Vehicle - It's a dandy.

I'm an engineer. And I tell you - they can build a good truck in this country. If they are willing to upgrade the components that they use. If Ford is anything like where I work, you go with the absolute cheapest part that meets the published specs.

There are several decisions made during the tooling up and construction of one of these vehicles - and often, it's the cost that keeps good engineering from being implemented.

If you go with this manufacturing philosophy - you get this.

A Ford.

 

rexwl,
Don't get me wrong I think your more than justified in your bitchin.
You have every right to get these problem's solved & were all in favor of that. You came across a little hostile in your first post and after reading your other post's I understand that. (I recant the chevy Avalanche curse I put on you.)

I'm also glad to hear that you won't drive anything but a good ole American gas guzzler.

Unfortunatly we live in the age of plastic weather it be a Ford or a Lincoln should not matter it should not rattle , pop or whatever.
I too would prefer a metal bed & I don't even have crack's in mine. I am also extremely particular about my truck although I do give it a pretty good workout. If I had going on what your dealing with these screen's would be burnin. I agree with what you have to say so go to the dealership and kick some a$$ dammit.

Oh that *** poking seat issue your talking about is the #2 minor problem I have . It's going in on Monday for a replacement spring,cushion & cover.Hopefully it will turn out OK.

On to an unrelated issue,I was filling up with gas on Friday & a guy from the Caddy dealership up the road drive's in with the caddy version of the Avalanche(still fugly).He's kind of giving me that look like I'm envying him & his Whatever ya call it.As he goes into pay for gas I run over like a spy to look at the window sticker and the only option this thing had was a power moonroof.Everything else was standard and here it goes the price is a mere $51,600.00 . Can you guy's fricken believe that!!!!
Again...Good luck on your problem's
Later...Mike

 

I also had the snap, crackle, and pop coming from my dash and solved it by using silicone spray. I sprayed all along the contact points where the dash rubs against the underlying supports.

 

Unfortunately , it is my belief the Screw was built as a test to
see how it was accepted before the Blackwood goes into
big production. ( test vehicle if you may)
I too have issues with mine in the Quality specrtrum, however,
all in all I believe it is a wonderful vehicle.
Marc

 

I know you can look at the VIN and discover where it was built. Could someone let me know what number/letter to look at and the letter/number coding chart.

I have a 02 SCREW (my FIRST full size American) aka 19 year Nissan Pathfinder/pickup owner.

um..

Alittle nervous about know!!!!!!

THANKS GUYS!!!

 

Either Kansas City, or Norfolk.
Both are very respectable plants.
Marc

 

This is a Kansas City built truck - obviously a Monday machine...

 

Hey joeeyo,

What I was trying to say when mentioning the Norfolk plant is that if we could get a screw built at the Norfolk plant, it would be better built IMO. Unfortunately, the only plant that currently builds the Screws is at Kansas City. I've had two 4x4 Scabs that were built at Norfolk and both had absolutely no flaws that I could obviously see.

Hope that clears up your question on assembly plants.

DaveMan