2007 AWD EDGE Problem

[TimM]

Well.....hmmm, from speaking with Ford (dealership) and corporate relations....I was lead to believe that they had never heard of transmission problems in this bullet proof Edge of mine.

 

Here is my issue:

 

1. driving on a single lane smooth graded dirt hilly road at about 40 mph 150ish miles from nowhere in Mexico, I hear a highly unnatural noise from the front of the car followed near immediately by 'blueish' colored smoke. I travel slowly for 100 to 200 yards to the first place I can stop without getting creamed by another vehicle.

 

2. After inspection I find one of the hoses to/from (not certain of flow direction) 'came off' of the control box (my name for the box that a 4 hoses route through). Being stuck away from any cell or other type of service I was forced to attempt to patch it. (Before I ultimately got someone to come out and tow the vehicle ....be aware FORD DOES NOT ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM IN MEXICO....I was stranded for 4 days).

 

3. A local person assisted in a number of patching ideas just to see if we could crawl the car back safely. We did get the hoses all patched up, but the car kept wanting to default into 3 or 4 gear (that was the feeling) each time it came to the slightest hill and loose near all power (could not climb the hill). Receive a tip that if I disconnected and grounded the battery that it would reset the computer and make the trans perform correctly.....It did....until it came to the first ever so slight hill.

 

4. Soooo....2+ weeks later I have spent ~300 usd in towing, 1100 usd in parts and service at Ford dealerships, ~150 USD in part shipping, 200 plus, plus, plus in stranded fees (lodging, tips, food, etc)....all of the hoses have been replaced (a requirement given the situation we were forced to work with the car under), BUT the car continues to shift EXTREMELY HARD and loose all power as if it is trying to do everything in 3 or 4 gear.

 

5. Just got a call from the Ford dealership service manager who suggests they need to open the transmission to see what the problem is....although they have no idea what the problem is.....I do NOT believe it is the transmission as it shift and drives perfect until the first little hill.

 

6. I would call for Corporate relations for help, BUT I SWEAR TO GOD the following is true when I called them 12 days ago. After MUCH hassle, I reached the corporate office for customer relations (I had spoke to them once prior with modest success and assistance). I was IMMEDIATELY lectured on having my car in Mexico and that although they (Ford) "could not build a wall to prevent me from driving my car to Mexico, I was on my own and without any warranty or assistance". When I challenged this person to show me where in my owners manual it conveyed such a thing, I was again lectured that it was in the warranty manual, not the owners manual. Not knowing every word of the Warranty Manual like I am sure every other Edge owner does, I read it and you know what? He was full of crap! It says I may have to pay the fees and then get reimbursed...but I was offorded every benefit of my warranty. Our conversation ended with him continueing to talk out of the opposite side end from his mouth and continue to tell me that it was my problem and I should not of taken the car to Mexico (remember this is from an a person representing corporate Ford). He was zero help and even went on to suggest I must of hit something that broke the hose....pure BS....to hit something given the location of the hose would have required me to of crushed the entire front of the car.

 

 

BTW: since owning this car I have had 2 of the same issues others have reported. 1. Car rolling backward while in drive on the slightest of hills and 2. Extremely hard gear shifts not unlike the ones since the hose failure issues. Both reported to Ford. The car rolling issue was determined to be operating as designed, and you guessed it; they had never had any reports of the hard shifting and there were no bulletins and since it could not be reproduced on demand....you know the rest of the story.

 

Sooooo....Where does one go from here? I can't get any assistance from Ford USA as they only want to lecture me that it is my fault because I brought the car to Mexico. I am scheduled to go show the dealer in the morning how the battery disconnection will make the car drive 'normal' (no hard shifting....etc, etc) until the first hill. They want to tear apart the trans without a clue of what they are looking for...

Fun times...... One hates to think a lawyer is they only way I am going to get assistance....but it is starting to feel this way. I am all total around 2K into this headache and only believe it will be much more before I can drive the car home and dispose of it for a car/company that wants to support you when you need them the most.

[TimM]

Soooo. It only gets worse..... after spending the morning at the Vallarta Ford Dealership, I just spoke with them this afternoon. Their solution is that they need to "drop the transmission" to inspect it. The cost for this is estimated to be 45000 pesos (~4,500 usd) and they still do not know what the exact issue(s) are. I did some very basic math, and at a shop rate of ~25.00 usd/hour they are charging 180 hours of work time. They were clear this is just an estimate and I am certain parts come in to play someplace.

 

Currently I have told them to hold off doing anything as several things don't add up.

 

1. They can not explain in detail what the problem is (part could be language weaknesses on both of our parts)

2. Why, when the error codes are cleared, does it operate like there is no issues until the first hill.

 

I have a family member in the states trying to see what he can learn but this is a real headache on made by Ford's unwillingness to assist a long term customer.

 

 

Well.....hmmm, from speaking with Ford (dealership) and corporate relations....I was lead to believe that they had never heard of transmission problems in this bullet proof Edge of mine.

 

Here is my issue:

 

1. driving on a single lane smooth graded dirt hilly road at about 40 mph 150ish miles from nowhere in Mexico, I hear a highly unnatural noise from the front of the car followed near immediately by 'blueish' colored smoke. I travel slowly for 100 to 200 yards to the first place I can stop without getting creamed by another vehicle.

 

2. After inspection I find one of the hoses to/from (not certain of flow direction) 'came off' of the control box (my name for the box that a 4 hoses route through). Being stuck away from any cell or other type of service I was forced to attempt to patch it. (Before I ultimately got someone to come out and tow the vehicle ....be aware FORD DOES NOT ASSIST YOU IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM IN MEXICO....I was stranded for 4 days).

 

3. A local person assisted in a number of patching ideas just to see if we could crawl the car back safely. We did get the hoses all patched up, but the car kept wanting to default into 3 or 4 gear (that was the feeling) each time it came to the slightest hill and loose near all power (could not climb the hill). Receive a tip that if I disconnected and grounded the battery that it would reset the computer and make the trans perform correctly.....It did....until it came to the first ever so slight hill.

 

4. Soooo....2+ weeks later I have spent ~300 usd in towing, 1100 usd in parts and service at Ford dealerships, ~150 USD in part shipping, 200 plus, plus, plus in stranded fees (lodging, tips, food, etc)....all of the hoses have been replaced (a requirement given the situation we were forced to work with the car under), BUT the car continues to shift EXTREMELY HARD and loose all power as if it is trying to do everything in 3 or 4 gear.

 

5. Just got a call from the Ford dealership service manager who suggests they need to open the transmission to see what the problem is....although they have no idea what the problem is.....I do NOT believe it is the transmission as it shift and drives perfect until the first little hill.

 

6. I would call for Corporate relations for help, BUT I SWEAR TO GOD the following is true when I called them 12 days ago. After MUCH hassle, I reached the corporate office for customer relations (I had spoke to them once prior with modest success and assistance). I was IMMEDIATELY lectured on having my car in Mexico and that although they (Ford) "could not build a wall to prevent me from driving my car to Mexico, I was on my own and without any warranty or assistance". When I challenged this person to show me where in my owners manual it conveyed such a thing, I was again lectured that it was in the warranty manual, not the owners manual. Not knowing every word of the Warranty Manual like I am sure every other Edge owner does, I read it and you know what? He was full of crap! It says I may have to pay the fees and then get reimbursed...but I was offorded every benefit of my warranty. Our conversation ended with him continueing to talk out of the opposite side end from his mouth and continue to tell me that it was my problem and I should not of taken the car to Mexico (remember this is from an a person representing corporate Ford). He was zero help and even went on to suggest I must of hit something that broke the hose....pure BS....to hit something given the location of the hose would have required me to of crushed the entire front of the car.

 

 

BTW: since owning this car I have had 2 of the same issues others have reported. 1. Car rolling backward while in drive on the slightest of hills and 2. Extremely hard gear shifts not unlike the ones since the hose failure issues. Both reported to Ford. The car rolling issue was determined to be operating as designed, and you guessed it; they had never had any reports of the hard shifting and there were no bulletins and since it could not be reproduced on demand....you know the rest of the story.

 

Sooooo....Where does one go from here? I can't get any assistance from Ford USA as they only want to lecture me that it is my fault because I brought the car to Mexico. I am scheduled to go show the dealer in the morning how the battery disconnection will make the car drive 'normal' (no hard shifting....etc, etc) until the first hill. They want to tear apart the trans without a clue of what they are looking for...

Fun times...... One hates to think a lawyer is they only way I am going to get assistance....but it is starting to feel this way. I am all total around 2K into this headache and only believe it will be much more before I can drive the car home and dispose of it for a car/company that wants to support you when you need them the most.

[bbf2530]

Soooo. It only gets worse..... after spending the morning at the Vallarta Ford Dealership, I just spoke with them this afternoon. Their solution is that they need to "drop the transmission" to inspect it. The cost for this is estimated to be 45000 pesos (~4,500 usd) and they still do not know what the exact issue(s) are. I did some very basic math, and at a shop rate of ~25.00 usd/hour they are charging 180 hours of work time. They were clear this is just an estimate and I am certain parts come in to play someplace.

 

Currently I have told them to hold off doing anything as several things don't add up.

 

1. They can not explain in detail what the problem is (part could be language weaknesses on both of our parts)

2. Why, when the error codes are cleared, does it operate like there is no issues until the first hill.

 

I have a family member in the states trying to see what he can learn but this is a real headache on made by Ford's unwillingness to assist a long term customer.

 

 

Hi Tim. :D Sorry to hear about your problems.

 

As you already know, the bold underlined quote below is contained in your Warranty Booklet:

 

"DO WARRANTIES APPLY IN OTHER COUNTRIES?

The New Vehicle Limited Warranty and the Emissions Warranties

described in this booklet apply to your vehicle if:

* it was originally purchased through the Ford Worldwide Direct

Marketing Operations Military Sales Program; or

* it was originally sold or leased by Ford Motor Company or one of its

dealers in the United States or U.S Federalized Territories; and it was

originally registered/licensed and operated in the United States, U.S.

Federalized Territories, or Canada.

If you meet either of these two requirements, you do have warranty

coverage when you travel with this vehicle outside the United States,

U.S. Federalized Territories, or Canada. In some cases, however, you may

have to pay the servicing Ford dealer in a foreign country or U.S.

Federalized Territory for a repair that is covered under the U.S.

warranty. If this happens, be sure to save the paid repair order or

invoice. You should present this document to a U.S. Ford Motor

Company dealer for warranty refund consideration.

Refer to www.Ford.com for additional global customer assistance

reference information."

 

 

As long as your vehicle fits one of the two very broad categories described in the Warranty Booklet, you do have Warranty coverage. However, you may have to pay out of pocket up front in Mexico, then be reimbursed by Ford.

 

At this point, you need to ignore what the bozo from Corporate told you and decide on a course of action. While what he stated is incorrect, the fact is you still have no direct Warranty coverage (except through reimbursement) while in Mexico.

 

What matters is what is in writing in the Warranty Booklet. So, you have several options:

1 - Have it fixed in Mexico, then apply for reimbursement when you get home with it.

2 - Drive it home (or to the nearest U.S. located Ford Dealer) in the condition it is currently in, then have it fixed at a U.S Dealer.

3 - Drive it to the nearest U.S. border crossing, then call for "Roadside Assistance" and have it towed to the nearest U.S located Ford Dealership.

4 - Pay to have it towed home (or at least towed to the nearest U.S border crossing, then use your "Roadside Assistance Coverage" to have it towed to the nearest U.S. Ford Dealer), then fixed in the U.S..

 

Your Edge was originally/is registered in the United States, correct?

 

Is your Edge currently drivable? Can you drive it back to the U.S. in the shape it is in, then have it fixed at home?

 

Again, your other option would be to have it towed to the U.S, if that is viable (I don't know exactly where the Mexican Dealer is).

 

Unfortunately in all honesty, calling Corporate Relations will likely get you nowhere. You are in Mexico, so you either pay for it to be fixed there and get reimbursed, or get it to the U.S and have it covered under the normal Warranty.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

 

PS - If it were my vehicle, I would do all that was possible to get it back to the U.S. and fixed by a Dealership here (and therefore covered under Warranty without worry of reimbursement).

Edited May 27, 2008 by bbf2530

[druck52]

I agree with bbf, I justed wanted to add that if you do have it fixed there, make sure you get in very detailed writing what was wrong and what they did to fix it, also keep the old part so you have something to show when you try to get a refund. Hope this helps some. One more thing, if it going to cost you some much to have it looked at, can you have it towed to the US instead?

[TimM]

Thank you for the thoughts. The car was purchased and licensed in the USA (Los Angeles) and thus my warranty is definitely viable. As the car is undriveable (it can not go up even a simple small hill) I could either pay for a tow to the US or have the work completed here. Our Mexican home is a 3 long day drive from the boarder, so we would be talking a large chunk of change for any tow. I have begun (in the back of my mind) trying to figure out how I would get it across the boarder.....tow to the Mexican boarder city and then call an independent US tow company for the crossing and then Ford roadside assistance once I cross.....ohhhh, fun and $$$$$$$

 

What I wanted (want) from Ford is some personal interest in the resolution. I have never asked them to pay in advance as they would if it where in located in the USA. In speaking with Ford contacts back in the states, they tell me I could have a brand new transmission installed for less than what I am being quoted here for the repair....and they are not sure that is the problem.

 

Also in explaining the symptoms of the issues to my Ford contact in the states they too highly question why it would drive 'perfectly' until the first hill after resetting the codes IF it were a physical transmission issue.

 

Just the way the corporate person (I have his name and other details, but choose not to place it on this board) talked about Mexico, I can just see that I end up laying out 6K usd to have it resolved and then they (Ford) USA refuse to pay because they think the wrong things were done to fix it.....THIS IS WHY I have asked them to step in....in addition to knowledge they may have of such problems. The folks at this dealership are fast to admit that they have never worked on an edge other than mine.....

 

 

I agree with bbf, I justed wanted to add that if you do have it fixed there, make sure you get in very detailed writing what was wrong and what they did to fix it, also keep the old part so you have something to show when you try to get a refund. Hope this helps some. One more thing, if it going to cost you some much to have it looked at, can you have it towed to the US instead?

[bbf2530]

Thank you for the thoughts. The car was purchased and licensed in the USA (Los Angeles) and thus my warranty is definitely viable. As the car is undriveable (it can not go up even a simple small hill) I could either pay for a tow to the US or have the work completed here. Our Mexican home is a 3 long day drive from the boarder, so we would be talking a large chunk of change for any tow. I have begun (in the back of my mind) trying to figure out how I would get it across the boarder.....tow to the Mexican boarder city and then call an independent US tow company for the crossing and then Ford roadside assistance once I cross.....ohhhh, fun and $$$$$$$

 

What I wanted (want) from Ford is some personal interest in the resolution. I have never asked them to pay in advance as they would if it where in located in the USA. In speaking with Ford contacts back in the states, they tell me I could have a brand new transmission installed for less than what I am being quoted here for the repair....and they are not sure that is the problem.

 

Also in explaining the symptoms of the issues to my Ford contact in the states they too highly question why it would drive 'perfectly' until the first hill after resetting the codes IF it were a physical transmission issue.

 

Just the way the corporate person (I have his name and other details, but choose not to place it on this board) talked about Mexico, I can just see that I end up laying out 6K usd to have it resolved and then they (Ford) USA refuse to pay because they think the wrong things were done to fix it.....THIS IS WHY I have asked them to step in....in addition to knowledge they may have of such problems. The folks at this dealership are fast to admit that they have never worked on an edge other than mine.....

 

Hi Tim. :D Well, I definitely agree that it does not sound like an actual physical transmission problem. Barring a major fluid leak, it sounds more like a computer or electronic problem. So, in my completely uninformed educated guess, I have a feeling that tearing down the trans will be a waste of time (and more importantly, your money).

 

I am curious, what did the Dealer say concerning the codes when they read them? Or did they not even read the codes? Knowing what fault codes were being thrown is the first step towards fixing your Edge.

 

Again, if it were me, I would try to get it back to the U.S., if at all possible. I have a feeling it will cost you less in the long run.

 

Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

[CreamEDGE.]

SUE

Edited May 28, 2008 by CreamEDGE.

[VagabondEdge]

SUE

 

SUE WHO? Oh, I get it: Are you a lawyer looking for work? :shades:

 

I think you could buy a used flatbed truck for what the dealer wants and bring it to the border yourself!

Is the fluid level correct - some was apparently lost.

Can you pay the dealer to get the codes for you and ask a US dealer service rep what they mean?

I would not let them drop the trans - especially at the price they quoted, but mostly because it defies logic to do that.

¡Buena suerte!

[TimM]

They did get error codes, but they were of very limited use (so says my understanding or what was conveyed to me about them)....other than a transmission issue. I am sure I am at least 50% to blame associated with my less than 100% fluency. It just feels to me like going to the doctor with a stomach ache and he decides exploratory surgery is in order.....

 

The great news is a family member has used is contacts to assist me in finding someone from Ford USA to take a personal interest to determine what are the issues and the best course of action.

 

Hope not to need Sue.....but one never knows.

 

 

SUE WHO? Oh, I get it: Are you a lawyer looking for work? :shades:

 

I think you could buy a used flatbed truck for what the dealer wants and bring it to the border yourself!

Is the fluid level correct - some was apparently lost.

Can you pay the dealer to get the codes for you and ask a US dealer service rep what they mean?

I would not let them drop the trans - especially at the price they quoted, but mostly because it defies logic to do that.

¡Buena suerte!