2013 FFH poor build quality

[hybridbear]

Has anyone else had build issues?

 

Acdii and others have noticed poor fuel economy and have traced their cars to the same week from the factory in Hermosillo.

 

Our Fusion was built the week of 11/26/12 and we've noticed a number of build issues...

• the clip for passenger visor rattles (I fixed this by switching the driver and passenger side clips)
• the whole headliner rattles in front of sunroof
• the piano black vertical panel on left rear door has about a 3 mm gap at top
• when backing up and turning there is a clunk in the the steering that can be felt in the steering wheel
• the climate control info doesn't display on the screen when turning the HVAC system on until one of the heated seat buttons is pressed, once the heated seat button is pressed then the climate info displays on the screen

I have an appointment for next Monday at the dealer where we bought the car and am hoping they can fix all the rattles...

[hermans]

My car was built on 11/17 and I have experienced none of the issues you have.

[Riggo]

That's what you get when you outsource your build to Mexico I guess.

[Fastronaut]

Well, Ford is sending the MKZ up to Michigan for QA inspections now. Maybe they will have more time now to do Hermisillo QA. Sorry to hear about the issues. Hope you get satisfaction.

[hybridbear]

Leaving work today the Check Engine Light came on...so I took it to the nearest Ford dealer and they're going to look at it tomorrow. Enterprise gave me a 2012 Ford Fusion SEL as the loaner while my car is in the shop. Kind of fun to drive the predecessor to our Fusion, but very annoying to have all these issues after only 6000 miles. Sounds like Fix Or Repair Daily...soon the car might be Found On Road Dead... :( :cry:

[acdii]

Sympathies 100% here from me. On mine, the sunglass holder was buzzing, but noticed that it no longer does, must have worn down what ever was buzzing. I have not gone over the car yet because its just too damn cold to be out there. The car listed a cargo net, but none was found in the car and had to be ordered, along with the clips for it. The right rear door made this weird flapping noise when I first got it, but has not done it since I got it back from the first visit.

 

I'm sure I will find flaws if I were to claybar and polish it, provided I still have it. I do notice that it clunks or clicks, sort of a clickclunk, from the drive train when I start to roll out from a stop on EV, as though something is releasing under motion.

[Riggo]

Sympathies 100% here from me. On mine, the sunglass holder was buzzing, but noticed that it no longer does, must have worn down what ever was buzzing. I have not gone over the car yet because its just too damn cold to be out there. The car listed a cargo net, but none was found in the car and had to be ordered, along with the clips for it. The right rear door made this weird flapping noise when I first got it, but has not done it since I got it back from the first visit.

 

I'm sure I will find flaws if I were to claybar and polish it, provided I still have it. I do notice that it clunks or clicks, sort of a clickclunk, from the drive train when I start to roll out from a stop on EV, as though something is releasing under motion.

 

I'm just wondering about the cargo net. Is it worth it? I know it's only $25 but I was just wondering if it's worth it or if I should just get it after I buy the car.

[Fastronaut]

I'm just wondering about the cargo net. Is it worth it? I know it's only $25 but I was just wondering if it's worth it or if I should just get it after I buy the car.

Haven't seen it yet, but have ordered it on the car. On my other cars, it really helps to keep small items and grocery bags from spreading all over the trunk. You can always buy one after delivery, so it's not a big deal.

Edited February 6, 2013 by Fastronaut

[jeff_h]

Haven't seen it yet, but have ordered it on the car. On my other cars, it really helps to keep small items and grocery bags from spreading all over the trunk. You can always buy one after delivery, so it's not a big deal.

 

Or look up the part on fordparts.com and see if your local dealer has it in stock, if so then drop over sometime and get a look at one in person. Then you can order it with the car or just get that one that your dealer has in stock and be good to go. If it looks like a waste of money, thank the parts guy for letting you check it out and you've lost nothing.

[terryb]

I like my compartmented trunk organizer. Keeps my groceries upright and thermally isolated too. Snug fit in the '13 FFH.

[GrySql]

Most everything on the exterior and interior apparently does what they were meant to do, no rattles, everything works - it seems tight.

I have no idea if all the clicks, buzzes and other 'bump in the night' sounds in the running gear mean anything.

This is my first hybrid, and front wheel drive, car and all this meshing of engines, electronics and gears is new to me.

The car does what I select, goes where I point it and is quiet and smooth on the road.

 

The lower trunk is such that I didn't think I wanted a trunk organizer or net, I am reconsidering.

[B25Nut]

Like GS's, mine is rock solid (which I'm reminded of every time I go over a large bump). Since I think I got one of the first sold on the retail market, the only build issue is a slight misalignment in the driver's door. Nobody else notices it, and it really doesn't bother me. This was corrected on later builds and I think was one of the major reasons for the delays in their delivery.

I have a theory, which is probably wrong, that getting one of the first builds results in fewer issues with manual labor quality problems. I would think they work extra hard those first few weeks to do things perfect. I had zero build quality issues with my Chrysler Pacifica, and it was one of the first made. 9 1/2 years later, I traded it in on the FFH and I'm confident it is making another family very happy.

Does anyone else get thoughts of wanting to find out who and where the person is that got your trade-in? It's sort of like giving a child up for adoption. I'm sure a women wouldn't agree.

[shaggy314]

That's what you get when you outsource your build to Mexico I guess.

 

No, they actually have some of the highest quality for Ford. They also assemble 1000's of cars a week there, parts are made all over the world, including here in the US.

 

http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=36284

[hybridbear]

Like GS's, mine is rock solid (which I'm reminded of every time I go over a large bump). Since I think I got one of the first sold on the retail market, the only build issue is a slight misalignment in the driver's door. Nobody else notices it, and it really doesn't bother me. This was corrected on later builds and I think was one of the major reasons for the delays in their delivery.

I have a theory, which is probably wrong, that getting one of the first builds results in fewer issues with manual labor quality problems. I would think they work extra hard those first few weeks to do things perfect. I had zero build quality issues with my Chrysler Pacifica, and it was one of the first made. 9 1/2 years later, I traded it in on the FFH and I'm confident it is making another family very happy.

Does anyone else get thoughts of wanting to find out who and where the person is that got your trade-in? It's sort of like giving a child up for adoption. I'm sure a women wouldn't agree.

 

Glad yours is solid

[acdii]

The net is worth it when you buy it with the car. It costs more if you buy it afterwards because you also have to buy the clips. The net costs more from the dealer too. Same like a tow package, if you want it, buy it with the vehicle, adding it later costs nearly 3 times as much, and is not fully integrated with the vehicle like the tow packages are.

[hybridbear]

So now that we have our car back we learned something about the fuel filler neck with its valves...watch out for that area with snow. The CEL came on because ice had formed in the fuel filler neck and was preventing one of the valves from closing tightly. My theory of how this happened is that this past Sunday coming home from the Superbowl we drove in heavy snow. I brushed the car off to leave the Superbowl party but then we drove in heavy snow going home and the car was pretty caked with snow when we got home. At home we park in a heated underground garage at our apartment so all the snow melted off during the night. Then Monday I drove to work and the car was parked outside all day. Somehow water must have gotten on the valve during the melting overnight and then frozen in there on Monday. When I left work in the middle of the day on Monday to run an errand is when the car first started telling me to check the fuel filler valves. I followed the instructions in the Vehicle Health Report to use the funnel Ford provides to make sure nothing is blocking the valves and it seemed nothing was. Then parking inside Monday night was apparently not enough to melt it away which then caused the CEL to come on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Now when I brush snow off the car I will be careful to brush all the snow away from the fuel filler door so that this hopefully doesn't happen again.

[hybridbear]

As far as the other issues, the dealer said that the gap in trim panels is "acceptable" according to Ford's standards and that half the cars on their lot have such defects. I need to post a picture of it on here so that you guys can weigh in you think that is acceptable. I don't think it is.

 

They could not determine what to fix to get rid of the rattle even though they could hear it when driving.

 

They also heard the steering clunk but could not duplicate it consistently so they did nothing about that.

[Iguttcuw]

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

 

 

My first trip to the dealer I had only 38 miles on the odo. The cheap bulbs they used for headlights

parking and foglamps were like using candles at night. I had all the front bulbs replaced at my expense

$300.00 labour.

Now I can see! anyone else had this problem?

 

After two uses at 200 miles my hood release broke.

Had to wait a month because the part was on back order.

Finally fixed.

 

A trim piece came loose on the drivers side.

Replaced ok now.

 

849 miles now. So far so good.

 

 

[Fastronaut]

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid

 

 

My first trip to the dealer I had only 38 miles on the odo. The cheap bulbs they used for headlights

parking and foglamps were like using candles at night. I had all the front bulbs replaced at my expense

$300.00 labour.

Now I can see! anyone else had this problem?

 

After two uses at 200 miles my hood release broke.

Had to wait a month because the part was on back order.

Finally fixed.

 

A trim piece came loose on the drivers side.

Replaced ok now.

 

849 miles now. So far so good.

Just curious about what explanation the dealer provided on the bulbs from the factory vs. what was installed by you at your cost. How are they different?

[acdii]

So far , the only thing I have to complain about is the poor MPG, the rest of the car is holding up well with 7000 miles on it. But wait until Spring when I get my detail kit out and go over the car inch by inch.

[shaggy314]

I plan on replacing most of mine with sets of:

2pcs 20-SMD T10 12V Light LED Replacement Bulbs + STICKER 168 194 2825 W5W - White

http://www.amazon.com/20-SMD-Light-Replacement-Bulbs-STICKER/dp/B006R34PB4/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1TILIC6IRBPZO&coliid=I1V3PES6TBT68W

Edited February 8, 2013 by shaggy314

[acdii]

Going to put HID in mine if I keep it. Should do it in the 10 too.

[coach81]

No complaints here.... loving every bit of my new car!!!

[Fastronaut]

Just got back from the MotorTrend Auto Show in Baltimore and spoke to some of the Ford reps there. Turns out that Ford has been sending both Fusions and MKZs to Flat Rock for quality inspections due to problems in Hermisillo. Evidently production scheduling was stopped for 3 or so weeks due to quality problems which have now been corrected.

[pers69]

What did he say was the anticipated timing of our HyTi's?