2015 SE Hybrid Dealer vs Local Mechanic Service

[shiuraz]

Hi,

I have a 2015 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid due for its 130,000 mile service.

 

It's the first service out of its extended warranty and I'm wanting to know if there are any pros and cons specific to this model/year vehicle of a dealer service vs local mechanic on an ongoing basis. My intention is to keep the car until it doesn't work or the cost of maintenance doesn't justify it.

 

I have been taking the vehicle to the dealer since I purchased it new and the work has been good but expensive. I have a local mechanic who has done good work on my partner's 2003 year cars many times in the past. They don't work on the hybrid system.

 

I know that the dealer service will be more expensive (~ 50% more), but they use OEM parts, have specifically trained technicians and can work on the hybrid system. Are there any other considerations I need to be aware of for this year/make? Would it be good to have the minor services done at the local mechanic and the major services done at the dealer?

 

I know that I can look up the maintenance schedule for the car on https://www.ford.com/support/maintenance-schedule/. I don't know a lot about cars so I am not able to service the car myself.

 

Thanks for any knowledge you can share!

[2014FordFusionSE]

10 hours ago, shiuraz said:

Hi,

I have a 2015 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid due for its 130,000 mile service.

 

It's the first service out of its extended warranty and I'm wanting to know if there are any pros and cons specific to this model/year vehicle of a dealer service vs local mechanic on an ongoing basis. My intention is to keep the car until it doesn't work or the cost of maintenance doesn't justify it.

 

I have been taking the vehicle to the dealer since I purchased it new and the work has been good but expensive. I have a local mechanic who has done good work on my partner's 2003 year cars many times in the past. They don't work on the hybrid system.

 

I know that the dealer service will be more expensive (~ 50% more), but they use OEM parts, have specifically trained technicians and can work on the hybrid system. Are there any other considerations I need to be aware of for this year/make? Would it be good to have the minor services done at the local mechanic and the major services done at the dealer?

 

I know that I can look up the maintenance schedule for the car on https://www.ford.com/support/maintenance-schedule/. I don't know a lot about cars so I am not able to service the car myself.

 

Thanks for any knowledge you can share!

 

The gas engine for this car is almost like any other gas engine so you should be able to service it at a local mechanic.

I changed the oil myself and it was the same as other cars that I've owned.

 

Your local mechanic should have access to the Ford factory service manuals and data if needed.

[3clusterliver9]

I, too, have a 2015 SE Hybrid. I’ve chosen to do the scheduled major maintenance milestones at the dealership for the reasons you listed in your next to last paragraph. Oil changes, tire rotation and the like are done by local mechanics.

BTW, isn’t this the greatest car you’ve had in a long time? Ours has been absolutely trouble free from Day 1.

[Waldo]

There is no  regular maintenance required on the Fusion Hybrid that any good mechanic can't do.  You have to change the coolant for the hybrid system separatly than the regular coolant, but in the end, it's still just changing coolant.  I did it myself in my garage.

[Cobra348]

I'm with Waldo on this.  The big milestones are dealer, but things like oil, etc I take to my mechanic.

[Waldo]

10 hours ago, Cobra348 said:

I'm with Waldo on this.  The big milestones are dealer, but things like oil, etc I take to my mechanic.

 

What are the "big milestones"?  Oil, air filters, coolant change, even spark plugs are all things that can be handled by anybody.  I don't see any other regular maintenance that requires a dealer.  

[Cobra348]

big items ... transmission work, suspension work, <smarta$$> ashtray is full and gotta trade in <end smarta$$>

 

Basically stuff I wouldn''t/couldn't do on my own even when I was working on my own stuff.

[Waldo]

There's nothing unique about a Fusion Hybrid suspension, so a regular mechanic could do that.  I changed the rear shocks on mine myself.

I'd also point out none of those things are "milestones", as in things that should be expected or regulary scheduled.

 

Basically I think the point is there isn't too much that a regular mechanic wouldn't be able to do on a Fusion Hybrid.  Only if there are some unique error states/codes that come up would a dealer trip be required.

[Cobra348]

After seeing this, I think I should clarify my remark about suspension work going to dealer.  I would do it except I'm mid-70s and not really up to crawling around underneath a car any more (d**mit) but most of all my parking spot is unsafe - sloped toward rear AND right side when parked nose in.  Not safe.

 

[shiuraz]

Thanks for all your helpful replies! @3clusterliver9 yes I love my car. It's drives nicely, has all the bells & whistles that I need. Only bad thing has been that I've gone through a few tires due to sidewall damage. Twice my partner hit the kerb at very low speed and that killed the tire.

 

I have noticed that the fuel economy isn't as good as when it was new. To be expected I guess with the age of the battery.

[MeeLee]

I'd recommend the ecvt fluid change, with a Ford certified fluid at ~90k and ~175k miles.

 

If yours didn't have a fluid change, it's high time to do so.

 

Only my front right suspension makes a bit of a squeaky noise, but that's because of me hitting speed bumps at 15-25mph. I'm also at 130k miles.

Edited February 6 by MeeLee