Glass Joe
10-05-2004, 04:37 PM
Here is a bit of background
The car in question is a 2003 Mustang GT 5-speed Deluxe with under 4,700 miles on it. I have been having nothing but problems with it since the day I bought it. It had 165 Miles on it when I drove it off the lot of Gordie Boucher Ford in Janesville, WI.
It was purchased last year, December 19th, 2003, stored the same day, and then taken out of storage for daily use on March 19, 2004.
I dont expect this car to be absolutly perfect in every way, its just not possible, but at the same time there are far more problems with this car than their should be.
I am posting here to see if anyone can give me some valuable tips on trying to persue a buy-back. I really like the car, but its has been more of a pain than fun. Below is a list of all of the service records and some additional information that I feel is necessary.
Early January (400 Miles):
I noticed there were some pretty bad alignment issues with the hood and the rear decklid. I was able to adjust the hood, but the decklid is not adjustable from the factory.
Hood: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1951_small.jpg
Description:
Decklid Left: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1953_small.jpg
Decklid Right: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1952_small.jpg
12 June 2004 (2279 Miles):
Car was brough into the dealer after finding out the AC was not functioning. Ford verified the concern and diagnosed the car as having a leaking compressor. Compressor was replaced and the AC has been fine since.
12 June 2004 (2279 Miles):
Car was brought into the dealer due to heavy moisture in the driver's side headlight. They told me this was a normal concern, but after some complaining I managed to get a new headlight.
03 August 2004 (3423 Miles):
During idling and any sort of driving, the engine emitted a high-pitched squeeking. Problem was most aparent when the engine was cold. The porblem was rotational and increased and decreased as a function of the engine speed. The dealer could not duplicate the noise and requested to keep the car over night. After a cold start the next day, they verified the noise as being the main engine belt and replaced the belt.
11 August 2004 (3826 Miles):
This was the first of my transmission issues. The car was brought into the dealer due to a high-pitched squeel and the large clunk coming fromt he transmisson. Service tech told me the clunk was a normal concern. The chirping noise tunred out to be the pivot bracket on the gas pedal. Item was repaired and the noise was eliminated.
19 August 2004 (3956 Miles):
Car was back at the dealer for a much lounder noise than was present previously. Concern was verified and was a throw-out bearing. Transmission was removed and a new throw-out bearing was installed.
10 September 2004 (4349 Miles)
The car had been pulling hard to the right for some time now, but was far more noticable after I installed my 18" wheels. I brough the car back to the place where I had the car alinged originally after lowering it with Steeda Sport Springs. They told me there is no way to adjust the Caster, which was 3.5 on the drivers side to 2.6 on the passenger side. The mechanic also told me the car has alignment similar to a car that had been in an accident. :confused: I took the car to the dealer to voice my compliant. The dealer tried rotating the wheels/tires and that could not solve the problem. I called Steeda and they told me that the lowering springs alone will not affect the caster of the car so it must be a factory issue. Ford ended up trying to fix the problem and was able to by widening and elongating the plates atop of the shock towers. My service rep, who has been great, was even shocked to see the Caster that bad.
10 September 2004 (4349 Miles):
Car was also not shifting smoothly into 2nd or 3rd grear. I was also having problems getting it into 1st some times after coasting up to a stop light or sign. They verified the concern and ordered the TSB for the synchro repair kit. The car felt great when I drove it off the lot on Spetember 20th after the repair, and now the shifting issue has come back again and is just as bad as before.
I recently brough the car back to the dealer and they said to just drive it on for a bit and see if the problem persists. So, I just just have to see if this goes away, which I feel is unlikely.
Again, I dont expect perfection and I know some problems are going to happen, but isnt this a but much for a car that has fewer than 5000 miles on it? And as long as the transmission keeps screwing up as it has been, I think I can present a valid claim to the dispute settlement board.
This car is night and day from my older 2000 V6 Auto that I owned for just over 3 years and never had even a single issue. I was expecting the same from the GT, but have been awakened from my dream and been shocked into a harsh reality that I own a garbage car. I really love Mustangs and hope to always have one, but at this pace I dont want anything to do with my current car.
Do any of you have experience with this sort of thing? Do I stand any sort of a chance in getting Ford to issue a replacement vehicle or a buy-back?
The car in question is a 2003 Mustang GT 5-speed Deluxe with under 4,700 miles on it. I have been having nothing but problems with it since the day I bought it. It had 165 Miles on it when I drove it off the lot of Gordie Boucher Ford in Janesville, WI.
It was purchased last year, December 19th, 2003, stored the same day, and then taken out of storage for daily use on March 19, 2004.
I dont expect this car to be absolutly perfect in every way, its just not possible, but at the same time there are far more problems with this car than their should be.
I am posting here to see if anyone can give me some valuable tips on trying to persue a buy-back. I really like the car, but its has been more of a pain than fun. Below is a list of all of the service records and some additional information that I feel is necessary.
Early January (400 Miles):
I noticed there were some pretty bad alignment issues with the hood and the rear decklid. I was able to adjust the hood, but the decklid is not adjustable from the factory.
Hood: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1951_small.jpg
Description:
Decklid Left: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1953_small.jpg
Decklid Right: http://www.mustangmods.com/data/13395/dscn1952_small.jpg
12 June 2004 (2279 Miles):
Car was brough into the dealer after finding out the AC was not functioning. Ford verified the concern and diagnosed the car as having a leaking compressor. Compressor was replaced and the AC has been fine since.
12 June 2004 (2279 Miles):
Car was brought into the dealer due to heavy moisture in the driver's side headlight. They told me this was a normal concern, but after some complaining I managed to get a new headlight.
03 August 2004 (3423 Miles):
During idling and any sort of driving, the engine emitted a high-pitched squeeking. Problem was most aparent when the engine was cold. The porblem was rotational and increased and decreased as a function of the engine speed. The dealer could not duplicate the noise and requested to keep the car over night. After a cold start the next day, they verified the noise as being the main engine belt and replaced the belt.
11 August 2004 (3826 Miles):
This was the first of my transmission issues. The car was brought into the dealer due to a high-pitched squeel and the large clunk coming fromt he transmisson. Service tech told me the clunk was a normal concern. The chirping noise tunred out to be the pivot bracket on the gas pedal. Item was repaired and the noise was eliminated.
19 August 2004 (3956 Miles):
Car was back at the dealer for a much lounder noise than was present previously. Concern was verified and was a throw-out bearing. Transmission was removed and a new throw-out bearing was installed.
10 September 2004 (4349 Miles)
The car had been pulling hard to the right for some time now, but was far more noticable after I installed my 18" wheels. I brough the car back to the place where I had the car alinged originally after lowering it with Steeda Sport Springs. They told me there is no way to adjust the Caster, which was 3.5 on the drivers side to 2.6 on the passenger side. The mechanic also told me the car has alignment similar to a car that had been in an accident. :confused: I took the car to the dealer to voice my compliant. The dealer tried rotating the wheels/tires and that could not solve the problem. I called Steeda and they told me that the lowering springs alone will not affect the caster of the car so it must be a factory issue. Ford ended up trying to fix the problem and was able to by widening and elongating the plates atop of the shock towers. My service rep, who has been great, was even shocked to see the Caster that bad.
10 September 2004 (4349 Miles):
Car was also not shifting smoothly into 2nd or 3rd grear. I was also having problems getting it into 1st some times after coasting up to a stop light or sign. They verified the concern and ordered the TSB for the synchro repair kit. The car felt great when I drove it off the lot on Spetember 20th after the repair, and now the shifting issue has come back again and is just as bad as before.
I recently brough the car back to the dealer and they said to just drive it on for a bit and see if the problem persists. So, I just just have to see if this goes away, which I feel is unlikely.
Again, I dont expect perfection and I know some problems are going to happen, but isnt this a but much for a car that has fewer than 5000 miles on it? And as long as the transmission keeps screwing up as it has been, I think I can present a valid claim to the dispute settlement board.
This car is night and day from my older 2000 V6 Auto that I owned for just over 3 years and never had even a single issue. I was expecting the same from the GT, but have been awakened from my dream and been shocked into a harsh reality that I own a garbage car. I really love Mustangs and hope to always have one, but at this pace I dont want anything to do with my current car.
Do any of you have experience with this sort of thing? Do I stand any sort of a chance in getting Ford to issue a replacement vehicle or a buy-back?