Wrong Shifter?

[hybrid47]

I recently purchased a new 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid with the 505A Hybrid Luxury package equipment group, that is supposed to have the Leather-wrapped gear shift knob. The problem is, that what I actually have installed in my vehicle, is the standard Urethane shift knob, and not the leather wrapped shift knob that I paid for in the 505A equipment package. Has any one else with the 505A equipment package experienced this problem, or is this just an isolated case of Ford installing the wrong parts in the Fusion hybrid?

 

Equipment Group 505A

The Hybrid Luxury Package includes:

• Leather-trimmed, heated front seats with three memory settings
• 10-way power driver’s seat, 2-way power passenger seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped gear shift knob
• Auto-dimming (electrochromatic) exterior mirrors with memory settings
• Fog lamps

 

 

[hybrid47]

Here is a photo showing the Urethane shift knob in my 2013 Ford Fusion hybrid with the 505A package:

 

[jeff_h]

Just walked out to the garage to take a look -- I have the same one, and I have the 505A package too. However that dark part is soft and is either leather or some type of 'genuine imitation'... you would probably have to see what a base SE shifter is like - maybe someone else here on the forum has one and can chime in.

[acdii]

You know I was wondering the exact same thing! It sure isnt like the leather wrapped ones that are in other cars.

[hybrid47]

I was not sure that is was the wrong shifter until a friend with a new 2013 Ford Fusion Titanium stopped by which also has the leather shifter and it has a much smoother finish, like the leather wrapped steering wheel, and not the strong pebble finish and mold line running down the vertical axis like mine does, and it does not have the rubbery feel that my Urethane shift knob does. Here is a photo of the true leather shifter:

 

[Ric]

I have the same one, and I have the 505A package too. Let us know what you find out.

[GrySql]

Ditto, 505A pkg, pebbly with mold seam.

The Boot looks like leather.

[hybrid47]

The following Ford Website link states that the Fusion Hybrid SE either comes standard with the Urethane shift knob, or optionally on the 505A package with a Leather wrapped shift knob, no mention is made of the shift boot:

 

http://www.ford.com/cars/fusion/trim/hybrid/interiorfeatures/

 

Comfort and Convenience Hybrid SE

Urethane shift knob Standard

Leather shift knob Optional

Edited February 9, 2013 by hybrid47

[fusionTX]

There have been a number of mistakes between what is advertised and what is delivered. From what we see here, the leather shifter may be another diffierentiator between titanium trim and other trim levels. It's too bad there are so many errors. It really makes you question the entire operation. Maybe this is a byproduct of offering so many choices, but so far I'm not impressed with quality control or communication between departments.

Edited February 10, 2013 by fusionTX

[hermans]

Mine also has the urethane shift knob. I'll be at the dealer first thing in the morning to compare against a Ti and a standard SE and S models.. My dealer is not open on Sunday - if this is the wrong shifter, I'll be standing in front of the GM's desk first thing Monday AM. They are less than a mile from my house.

[hybrid47]

Here is another picture that I took, at an off angle with a mirror, that better shows the plastic/urethane mold seam going around the front and over the top and around the back to the shift lock release button:

 

[hermans]

The Ford Fusion build site stills says leather wrapped shift knob in the 505A package.

Edited February 10, 2013 by hermans

[acdii]

I wonder what it takes to get the heated steering wheel that gets deleted on the build sheets.......

[neod192]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="acdii" data-cid="42255" data-time="1360462454"><p>

I wonder what it takes to get the heated steering wheel that gets deleted on the build sheets.......</p></blockquote>It takes an MKZ, lol.

[hybrid47]

I did some more research and found that on a 2013 Ford non-Hybrid Fusion SE, you can get the leather shifter with the 205A package, so why are we not seeing the leather shifter that is promised on, the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid SE with the 505A package? Here is a photo of the non-Hybrid Fusion SE with the 205A leather luxury package:

 

 

 

I have contacted Ford via E-mail regarding this topic and will report back once I have a reply. I must note that the last time I contacted Ford using E-mail, it took almost two weeks for them to reply back to me.

[hermans]

I went to my dealer this AM and looked at their 2013 Fusions. Out of the 204B and 505A packages only two out of 8 cars had the leather wrapped shift knob. I'll be at the dealer tomorrow AM.

 

They did have a couple of 2013 MKZs. One was a hybrid with Bordeaux Reserve just like my SE. It was pretty nice.

[brcd131]

I doubt that this was a quality issue. It sounds more like a sourcing issue - they didn't have the leather knob in stock. Don't want to hold up shipping the cars because they are short a shift knob. But a quality mfg would include a note saying they were short the knob and would forward the correct one to the dealer when available.

[acdii]

More like, hey whose gonna notice? Well...looks like someone did.

[brcd131]

More like, hey whose gonna notice? Well...looks like someone did.

When you find one part like this, it makes you wonder what else do I need to look for?

[acdii]

um.... a Toyota?

 

 

:yahoo:

[terryb]

I have the deluxe "Leatherette" finish on my plastic shift knob.

Edited February 10, 2013 by terryb

[hermans]

Went to the dealer this AM. They looked at my shift knob and compared it against a standard SE and another SE with the luxury package and decided mine did come with the wrong shifter. The correct "leather wrapped" shift knob has been ordered.

 

I pointed out to them the other cars on their lot that had the luxury package that had the wrong shifter. Their response....OMG and then a call to the factory rep. This is going to be an issue with Ford. They liked my theory that they ran out of the correct shifter knob and stuck the standard S and SE knob on cars.

 

My advice...get what you paid for.

[acdii]

Yep going to mention that too tomorrow, if I remember.

[terryb]

If anyone gets part number info. that would be handy to have.

[mmorri12]

I'll be damned. I just took delivery of my car on Thursday and didnt even notice, but now that I have verified its the incorrect shifter, I'm kind of upset. I'm already dealing with discovering a 4 inch long scratch on my windshield I didnt catch when I left the dealer after dark and noticed a few days later in the daylight.