ford's OwnerConnection site
August Buerkle
this posting is in response to Ford's "owner connection" site
(www.ownerconnection.com), since nowhere on the site is there made
available an email address to respond to, with the hope that someone
from Ford might follow this newsgroup and provide the site's maintainers
some feedback.
If you haven't yet visited this site and logged on with the VIN for your
Ford yet, don't bother. I was looking for useful owner information on
Ford parts, maintenance schedules, and known problems to watch out for
with existing Ford products. What I found instead was page after page
of Ford bromides which would have turned the stomach of company's
founder. Basically, the message was "Ford and Ford dealers good, all
other replacement parts and mechanics bad." I think I got it.
The idea has a lot of promise, for owner collaboration similar to this
newsgroup, interaction with Ford engineers, and product information more
recent and detailed than that found in the owner's manual. The
potential is entirely unfulfilled now, and one wonders if Ford really
cares.
Anyone have any comments on this? Any Ford people?
Gus Buerkle
Warren Towne
I think you need to revisit the site and spend a little more time navigating it.
Most of what you say is lacking, is in fact there, perhaps some of the info may
not be as comprehensive as it could be but it is there.
There is a provision for email under Ford Talk Email and an online survey is
available. There are maintenance schedules and recall info for most models.
While I agree with you that this site has realized only a little of it's
potential I was able to find most of what I needed but then again my
expectations were not that high.
Warren Towne
To a good cat,a good rat
To reply via email
please remove your_hat_
Paul B. Kuchinski
couldn't find any type of feedback link on their site. My points were: 1)
The new Lincoln LS looks like crap with that fake wood plastered all over
it. Maybe they should consider a black out kit or black replacement parts.
(I have a 93 Mark VIII and absolutely LOVE the absence of fake wood) 2) I
think their "Build your own" site was not working correctly with regard to
their superduty trucks.
That was all I had to say. So after searching around on their web site and
failing to find any feedback link, I called customer service. At this point
my suggestion became, "I think Ford should have a feedback link." Well I
ended up getting some really patronizing woman who sounded really bothered
that I would dare call customer service and complain about such things. She
responded "There is a feedback link, you have to go into the Ford owners
section by putting in your V.I.N. yadda, yadda." My response was "What if
you don't already own a Ford? (I said this not because I don't have a Ford
but because I think having to put in a VIN to get to more ads is bogus.)" I
think this almost broke her tiny mind. She had no idea what to say. I would
think that Ford would want to try to attract NEW customers with their web
site. Apparently Ford wants new people to just shut up and buy what shit
they sell with no input and no opinions expressed. Way to go Ford,. that
should increase your market share nicely.
Well on with the story. After I told her that she got snippy and asked me if
there was any real (my interpretation of her tone and word choice) reason
for calling. I made the mistake of telling her my original two
suggestions/complaints. The web site truck thing didn't interest her at all.
However she pounced right on my opinion of the fake wood in the LS interior.
"It's a luxury car, sir", she said. And then she made some claims to the
effect of how that's what people expect in a luxury car or that's what makes
them luxury cars. Well if fake wood is what makes a luxury car then let me
run right out to Pep Boys and get some of that wood look sticker stuff and
plaster it on the sides of my Lincoln. That should surely make my car the
luxury king.
What really pissed me off is that she said this like I'm the dumbest human
being on the planet for not getting that it's the plastic made to look like
wood that is what makes the Lincoln a luxury car. I wish I coulda reached
through the phone at that point. So she takes my complaint and my name and
address and hangs up. I figure that one was going in the circular file so I
forgot about it and start thinking about going Dodge or something. Well two
weeks later I get some mail from Ford. I figure maybe it's a form letter.
You know the type "We love you, your important to us, we take your input
seriously". etc. It's not. It a stupid survey asking what I thought of their
customer care department. What a load. They scored low on everything. And
here they're asking me if I was satisfied with the answers I got. Answers?
All I got was snotty attitude. And the final insult was that EVEN their
stupid survey doesn't have any place for freeform input. They REALLY don't
give a shit what their current customers or customers to be think. Well Ford
if I'm gonna shell out money for a car built buy assholes who don't care
about their customers, why should I stick with you? I could buy any car from
any company then. Dodge is building some interesting stuff these days. And
at least they don't pretend to care. It's upfront. I can deal with that.
Matthew J. Hellman
answering the phone was probablya $6/hr telemarketer. What did you expect?
rgs...@pacbell.net
Flimsy, overpriced parts and unbelievable obstructed access cause
massive repair costs to the owner. There's virtually no job that I can
do on my Aerostar without having to go out and buy a special tool (my
Ford dealer won't even sell tools).
The Detroit auto mfrs have an entrenched top-down attitude, and lost
thea ability to listen to their customers many years ago. That's how
they lost so much market share to the imports. Remember that this is
the outfit that knowlingly brought us the exploding Pintos.
Richard
wpu...@my-dejanews.com
Ford has NO comitment to their "customer satisfaction is no 1"
statement. Certainly a foreign vehicle is in my future after my
dealings with both local dealers and customer service in Dearborn.
"Customer service? my a&*^
In article <374372...@pacbell.net>,
--== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==--
---Share what you know. Learn what you don't.---
Paul B. Kuchinski
your suggestions on" without the patronizing tone and attitude.
Steve Fleckenstein
wpu...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
> I just have to add my 2 cents in here:
> Ford has NO comitment to their "customer satisfaction is no 1"
> statement....
My impression of Ford Motor Company web site is that they want the public to
interface with their dealers and not directly with Ford Motor Company. They
don't want to hear from us unless it is first filtered by the dealer.
Steve
DaveR
the dealers chances of rectifying my situation.
I'm not sure what kind of response others get but here is what I got.
"The dealer's technicians are trained to recognize/solve all types of
problems. The fact that I am not trained or certified in this area means
that FORD is standing behind what the dealer says."
They made no attempt whatsoever to try and solve the issue. I kind of
expected to at least recieve a pacifier.
Hows that for customer satisfaction.
Steve Fleckenstein wrote in message <37453F63...@warwick.net>...
>
>
>wpu...@my-dejanews.com wrote:
>
>> I just have to add my 2 cents in here:
>> Ford has NO comitment to their "customer satisfaction is no 1"
rgs...@pacbell.net
repair access, cruel and unusual specialized break-away fasteners,
flimsy barely-good-enough assemblies, self destructing transmissions,
engines famous for blowing head gaskets... I could go on.
My Aerostar is a piece of crap.
No more Fords for this guy.
Richard
DaveR wrote:
>
> Maybe those guys at the factory do care. I gotta believe someone does.
>
> I'm sure you wouldn't get the same attitude from the Ford Customer Service
> line in Dearborn, or your dealer though if say...... your paint started
> showing signs of defects. You've hit the magic 12,000 mile mark. As far as
> the finish goes your on your own now even though its only 6 mo. old.
>
> I'm being told that my vehicle is SUPPOSED to rust........ well I don't
> want to go there, I'll just get myself all fired up again and end up typing
> a 3 page rant here.
>
> Glad you like your Mustang, I've had a couple of GT's and loved every one of
> them.
>
> Frank Walton wrote in message <3749FE48...@ptdprolog.net>...
> >I haven't had to call Ford but they called me. I own a 1999 Mustang GT
> >Convertible, that I picked up in early December. I have been called
> >by someone from the Ford Rouge plant 3 times since then, inquiring
> >about my vehicle. What do I like or dislike about the Mustang, any
> >problems, any options I would like to have added etc. Sounds to me
> >like they care about the people that buy cars from Ford. I have not
> >had s single problem with the Mustang, or Ford, in over 12,000 miles.
> >
> >--
> >
> >Frank
Frank Walton
DaveR
I'm sure you wouldn't get the same attitude from the Ford Customer Service
line in Dearborn, or your dealer though if say...... your paint started
showing signs of defects. You've hit the magic 12,000 mile mark. As far as
the finish goes your on your own now even though its only 6 mo. old.
I'm being told that my vehicle is SUPPOSED to rust........ well I don't
want to go there, I'll just get myself all fired up again and end up typing
a 3 page rant here.
Glad you like your Mustang, I've had a couple of GT's and loved every one of
them.
Frank Walton wrote in message <3749FE48...@ptdprolog.net>...
Davesnhere
>No more Fords for this guy.
>
Aerostars are crap, why buy one in the first place?
Frank Walton
repair access, cruel and unusual specialized break-away fasteners,
flimsy barely-good-enough assemblies, self destructing transmissions,
engines famous for blowing head gaskets... I could go on.
My Aerostar is a piece of crap.
No more Fords for this guy.
Richar
--------------------------------------------------------------------->
It is difficult to understand your complaint if you don't mention
if you bought the vehicle new or used, how many miles service etc.--
I have owned 58 new and used automobiles in my time. Most of them new
and most of the Ford Motor Company vehicles, even though I have a
large block of GM stock. . I probably have had at least one of
everything
domestic, Currently have five. A 1971 Pinto with 286 thousand miles
on it. I had two other Pintos that I drove over 100,000 miles and had
to tell the dealer the clock was around when I traded them. If you
maintain your equipment it will last a long time. I have a 1972 LTD
Brougham with 195 thousand a 1983 Lincoln Mark VI with 92 thousand
miles They all look like new and I can jump into any of these cars
and drive anywhere anytime. I also have a 1998 Escort with only 5,000,
(I dislike front wheel drive, dangerous little sucker It's all over
the road when its wet.) Then of course the '99 Mustang GT, which I
love. I have NEVER had a NEW vehicle with a problem except for my 1996
Honda that blew an oil seal at 7,700 miles. At least one that was
not caused by the driver by abuse or misuse. With a used vehicle
you NEVER know how it was driven or maintained.
Frank
Peter Martin
<snip>
>with existing Ford products. What I found instead was page after page
>of Ford bromides which would have turned the stomach of company's
>founder. Basically, the message was "Ford and Ford dealers good, all
>other replacement parts and mechanics bad." I think I got it.
<snip>
You got that one right.
I bought a 99 Ranger XLT XCab just before New Years. Within the first
week I logged on the OwnerConnection site, registered, etc. Their
readout said I had an XL. OK, so they misparsed my VIN.
Looking around the site, I found the link to access a copy of the
owner's manual. I pulled it up to get some specs - it looked kind of
funny. I looked further - it was the manual for a Continental. OK, so
I email them to let them know they've got a hosed link (it had pointed
to what appeared to be the correct file). I get an email back saying
that they would look into it. Almost 6 months later and they still
haven't fixed it.
Basically, there is nothing on the site but a bunch of Ford PR BS.
Some marketing dickhead probably got all kinds of kudos for getting
FoMoCo onto the 'net to give the owners warm fuzzies about what a good
deal they've got. Every topic is just a booster for their dealers.
What would you call this - Corporate Spam? I had hoped that they
might provide a port into the guys who really know what's really
happening - fat chance.
Like the vast majority of dealers, my dealer has barely got a clue.
They expect me to go to the dealer to get info? Hell, I probably know
more about my truck than they do. So far, in 7k miles I have reported
the following problems and gotten the following replies:
Poor gas mileage right out of the box. 2.5l 4, manual transmission,
got around 16 mpg vs. EPA 27mpg highway (95% of my driving).
Admittedly in winter with modified gas, enriched mixture, tight
engine. I would have expected being down to 20-21 maybe. At 7K,
sometimes break 20. And the winning answer is - "Our technician drove
it with the computer attached and it read out 27mpg..." Give me a
break. Don't try to insult my intelligence.
Extreme rear wheel/axle hop in soft snow/gravel, etc. - "Well, our
technicians who own Rangers say they have the same problem.." Well,
what have they done to fix it? Or don't they know how?
Some kind of bearing howl out of the engine room just above idle when
cold. Couldn't duplicate it. Probably not, if they pulled it into the
shop and warmed it up before the guy read the service ticket.
Squirrelly gas gauge. Would drop down to empty (even brought the
warning light on) sporadically from about 1/3 tank and below. "Tested
the gauge - works OK. Must be the sender" They replaced it, along with
the whole fuel pump assembly. Now it's erratic over the whole range.
Last tank I got approx. 100 miles on first 1/4 (counting the fill pie
too). Filled up yesterday, drove 39 miles (hiway) for the same
reading. Ford must get their gauges/senders from Mazda - my old "86
B2000 had a funky gauge too.
BTW - RANGER OWNERS - Has anybody been able to get more than 15
gallons into an XCab? Manual sez 19.5 gallon tank. Is this BS, or
what?
- PSM
Wayne & Linda Smith
Oh by the way, I also owned an '86 Mazda B2000. Traded it in after 150,000 miles and never had to turn a bolt on the engine. Great truck !
Claude Tremblay
problem fixing those. For example, his rpm was stopping working when it was
feeling like it for no reasons. They didn't find anything unusual at the
first visit. At the second visit, they replaced the rpm console. Now, the
rpm was showing half of the engine revolution...for example, the engine was
running at 300 rpm at idle. They replaced it a second time and now it work
fine. ( BTW, It took 3 month to get there) Another strange thing that they
can't fix is the open door "ding ding" and roof light that start for no
reasons when we're driving it. Strange problems!!
fxs...@my-deja.com
fe1.aol.com>,
daves...@aol.com (Davesnhere) wrote:
> >My Aerostar is a piece of crap.
> >No more Fords for this guy.
> >
>
place?
>
I bought a new Aerostar in 1993 with an extended
warranty (6yrs 60k). The warranty turned out to
be a good investment. I've had numerous problems,
most of them occurred after the 3yr 36k period.
The truck currently has 38k miles. The starter
was replaced about 23k, the cruise control
harness about 15k, the headlight switch and
harness about 29k, the MAP sensor about 32k, and
now I am having a problem with the switch on the
driver's door. The rear windows started leaking
about 2 years ago (not covered by ext warr). The
ext warr is up 11/1999. This car gets regular
service oil/lube 3-4 times a year, trans fluid at
3yrs, coolant at 3yrs, front brakes at 15k. After
this no more Fords for me. Every trip to the
dealership was prety much a nightmare. I called
the dealer and Ford to complain and I think it
only got worse. I want to get another van or SUV
(used). What does anyone recommend? Blazers (S10
or K), Astro's, Nissan, Toyota's?
Fran
Joe Clutch
that the car is not in the 'ford family' of automobiles.
Kinda chapped my butt.
August Buerkle wrote in message <3740A476...@cooper.edu>...
Wayne & Linda Smith
I read an earlier post which described the problem with the dome light coming on or not going off when the door was closed. If I remember correctly, the switch that controls this is integrated with the door latch and it gets gummed up with grease and does not work correctly. If the truck is in warranty, your friend needs to go to the dealer and tell them to clean up or replace the switch.
Maybe someone else has a better explanation.......
the-cat
click on Ford Talk there is a place to email Ford
and tell them what you like and don't like about
them, their website, their vehicles--or whatever.
There is also a link to a survey there--with
fields where you can write your own
comments--about what you like and don't like about
the website. I told them I'd like access to TSB's
on my car--and a chat or discussion board where
actual Ford people could be contacted. I don't
know if it will do any good--but at least it's a
chance to vent if you're displeased.
Brenda
Joe Clutch <j...@chitlin-switch-tex.net> wrote in
message news:7ik0ev$hgs$1...@remarQ.com...