Most Ford truck dealers don’t work on motorhomes due to insurance limitations. We’ve always had a hard time finding a Ford truck to work on our MotorHome, both in California and in Florida.
Thank you soooo much for this video, I'm just entering this mess because there is an electrical issue going on w my E-450 ignition system on my Thor Four Winds motorhome, the house side seems to work when plugged into shore power but the alternator didn't seem to be charging up the house deep cycle batteries, replaced those & also the main disconnect switch but the E450 won't start @ all now & wires by the chassis battery r burning somewhere near the hook up, I'm sure this is a FORD E-450 ignition problem they should fix it? Camping World where i bought it recommended a place that works on motorhomes but a FORD commercial service center should as well, Thx so much for ur insights ahead of time 👍✌
YES, my local Ford dealer was less than ethical about a known flaw in F53 wiring harness (lack of grounding) in my 1999 Fleetwood RV. They immediately knew the problem, they had the wiring harness that fixes it in stock. It was fixed the next day and charged me $600 for a job that took less than an hour to fix. After paying $600, I found an official Ford service bulletin online using the harness P/N. It listed the symptom (exactly like mine) and the repair time set at .9hr. They charge $130/hr for labor. I went back to the dealer and showed them the service bulletin, then demanded half my money back. I got it. I've never been back to that dealer again, which is too bad because they actually have an RV department, with RV accessories, and welcome RV service and repair. The problem is they try to screw RVrs.
Sounds like the motorhome manufacturers need to get involved and bring some pressure on Ford. Right now this could stop me from buying a motorhome that I have been planning for over a year.
Ford has some contractual guidelines with integrators of their fleet vehicles. Ford throws them some large discounts so many of them are reluctant to push back or make the switch away. I haven't seen one as of late, but if it is anything like the others, binding arbitration is probably the only way to resolve things on the back side with Ford. In many cases that can get get really expensive. Many of the newer agreements have disparagement clauses, where if the integrator makes any remarks that are derogatory or damaging to Ford in a public fashion (including social media) Ford can fine you or remove your discount for the remainder of the agreement. All of which really punishes the integrator for Ford's problems.
If you buy a Ford RV you can't say you weren't warned when you can't get service in any Ford dealership. Can I interest you in buying a wonderful home protected by a HOA?
@@spuwho You've missed a major point, Ford supplies the majority of gasoline fueled class A motorhome chassis. I can't find any information on current Workmaster or Spartan gasoline chassis. Workmaster became part of Navistar when GM sold it off, the class A motorhome chassis was discontinued when GM stopped production of the 8.1 litre gasoline engine. I work for Winnebago Industries we use Ford class A gasoline chassis I think it's mostly because they're the only game in town. Ford and Mercedes for Class c, we used to also make a class C on a FCA chassis. Current B vans are on Mercedes or Ram chassis although we used to do one a Transit chassis. Class A diesel pusher chassis are all Freightliner but I hear Spartan also makes some.
I had a recall done by Dub Herring Ford, In Picayune, MS a couple years ago. I made an appointment, brought in and they did it while we waited. They didn't even kick us out of our motorhome (important, as we are full-timers) to complete the work. They were friendly and professional. I would use them again.
We have a Tiffin 34PA with the F53 chassis. I appreciate the fact that you kept “on” these service providers... I think any authorized FORD dealership service center should be REQUIRED to service a F53 chassis wether it is a fleet truck or RV. After all, FORD got their money when they provided the chassis to the Motorhome manufacturer. A factory warranty is provided to that chassis, so, it should be no matter what “box” is built onto that chassis. While the RV dealership may seem the folks to speak with as well, FORD really has the responsibility to cover issues that arise under the terms of the warranty. I applaud your tenacity...!!! Roll On...
I have documentation proving a Ford dealer's refusal to honor a warranty and Ford Motor Company's refusal to require it to do so. It was my last Ford!!
Only owned two Ford vehicles and service and quality have driven me off so much that I haven't looked at another Ford product in over 25 years. Now I'am looking to buy a motorhome and looks like Ford is the only choice. I guess I won't be buying a motorhome.
Glad you guys finally got reimbursed even through all the struggle. All the viewers should know that I called several dealers on Izzy and MJ’s behalf when we had found the problem at our shop and got the same treatment. Whether it’s apathy or true inability, even a professional shop doesn’t have more or less pull with the dealer to help a customer. Hope you all have a safe and happy new year from the Mast Service team!
Hey Levi, you and your team literally saved us from a huge problem. You were professional, honest and timely in your service and should be applauded for that. Anyone in the Nappanee area needs to check out Mast Service Center!! Izzy
I had the same experience. One way to help fix this problem? Making Corporate responsible for their dealerships, or franchises as Ford puts it. At least they had their motorhome fixed by a competent mechanic, which wouldn't have been the case otherwise.
@@trustme7731 It's a Ford chassis that's under warranty. Yes, it is a Ford thing. Maybe Newmar doesn't want the responsibility of working on it because it's sitting on a fragile Ford frame? It's not like they took in for a leaking toliet. Ford doesn't want the responsiblilty, so they'd rather have them take it to a third party and fight for months over warranty reimbursements? With that logic, you could be Ford's next great service manager.
We had the same problem with our Coachman Freelander Class C motorhome, which has a Chevy chassis. A warning light came on while on a trip. I called several Chevy dealerships for assistance. They all refused to help me because "my vehicle was too big to fit into one of their service bays." Out of desperation, I took it to a third-party garage who fixed the problem for just under $2,000. When I got home, I contacted the Chevy corporation warranty department. They refused to reimburse me a single cent, claiming that I should have taken it to a Chevy dealership for warranty repairs. I explain that they refused to provide service, but the warranty department held steadfast and refused to reimburse me. I think this problem is far greater than people know. Thank you for bring attention to it.
I had 2 great experiences with Ford warranty repairs on my motorhome at Auto Park Ford in Sturgis Michigan. Both repairs done quickly and no hassle. Very friendly service staff, they greeted me at the service counter and took over everything from there. Repairs were done well and had no trouble since. They are located less than 1 hour east of Elkhart Indiana. Just north of I-80. I saw other motor homes at their lot. I would give them a 10 out of 10.
Izzy, We had the same issue on our RV with less than1000 miles on it, we also called all over trying to find a dealership that would work on it. Miller Ford truck in MT. Holly NJ not only repaired the seals but fixed another issue they found also from the factory, cost to us nothing. Ford covered everything. Big shout out to Miller Ford they did an outstanding job and really care about customers. When I asked them about continuing working on RV's they said sure they're just pretty trucks. Lol
Dealerships are independently owned. They don't like any warranty work because the manufacturers don't pay them back enough to make any profit on the warranty work. They especially don't like warranty work from a vehicle they didn't sell. On top of that RV's are a specialty vehicle. I have a diesel pusher and have the same issues but I do have locally available garages that will service it. I was glad that you were able to get a refund check from Ford. Great video.
We have a TIFFIN 2017 F 53 chassis. We have had the same exact problem. We’ve been fortunate to have a great Ford service Center close to us. Tindall Ford in Gastonia North Carolina. They took care of everything for us. This is the third time I have had it in there for warranty work and they’ve always been great.
Agreed! Tindol Ford here in the Charlotte region has been great to work with. Their commercial truck service center is completely separate from their dealership. On our ‘17 Canyon Star they’ve performed warranty work, yearly routine maintenance, tire balancing, front end alignment, and NC safety inspections. The problem is that we’ll more than likely not break down in Charlotte.
LOL it will not be the last time Ford has more lawsuits against them than any car company in the world in fact it takes five other car companies to equal the amount of lawsuits for warranty problems then Ford has
I just called Tindall Ford today about a leaking differential seal. Was told it would be January before they may be able to look at it. Very frustrating while the clock is running out on your warranty.
Thanks Izzy for the heads-up on Ford RV's and saving us a lot of $$$ by not purchasing a Ford product.. KC, many shared experiences as Izzy's, warned us on Camping World (CW) RV dealers. Seemingly corporate practices/franchisee's create a lot frustrations/K$$ & I'm thankful we heard in time. We were one day from finalizing our RV purchase when we pulled out after videos and speaking directly w/owners with purchased from CW as the local dealers in NC/SC are terrible. They avoid/delay warranty work at all cost because of the low to no reimbursement received from the manufacture(s). Some dealers have been caught intentionally causing damage, charging for work not performed, & delaying/or refusing warranty repair, hoping the owner will take the Coach/Camper somewhere else. Glad to say we are enjoying our Coach with no issues thus far.
I couldn't help but be amused when while watching this video that one of the commercial breaks was a Ford ad ;) Glad you didn't give up and got reimbursed for the repair!
Thank you! This is why I love your channel. You chose to share this bad experience but in a calm, factual way. We have an F150 - not an RV - and we purchased the outrageous warranty which makes us a “valuable” customer. We have had nothing but great experiences, but, again, not an RV. RHONDA ROCKS!
Fact. That's the current attitude i. The service arena nowdays. Screw the customer The Amerikan way No wonder Amerikan Vehicles are once again in the late 70s early 80s were total POS. Warrantee; many was Many want NOT to touch. Warrantee work work
Its the new way, she will be fired and replaced with someone whose only qualification is their color or sex orientation.. not their skills and ability and motivation. Thanks Dumbocrats for helping to destroy America.
In 1998 my Ford rv with 12,000 miles had a major chassis electrical issue. I was in Florida heading back to Colorado late Friday afternoon pulled into Ford dealer in Pensacola Florida. The service center was not open in Saturday so they diagnosed the problem, determined I could not continue to Colorado. They ordered parts, plugged the RV into an outside outlet and let us stay on the dealer lot the entire weekend and gave us a free loaner car for the weekend. New alternator, wiring harness and relay systems, good to go Monday by 12:00 noon. Outstanding service beyond all expectations. Sounds like Ford customer service / warranty department needs serious help.
I have lifetime warranties on both of our vehicles. I had only used one dealership for all of the maintenance. We transferred to a different state and I made sure to collect all of the evidence (everything done-service, repairs, etc...) and place it in binders. Sure enough warranty issues came up and the new dealership doubted my claim-until I produced the evidence. They know that I keep everything and I have binders on both vehicles. The do not question any issues anymore. You have to be prepared for the worst.
Thanks for the info, we had a recall on our motorhome , after several days of calling 3 states trying to get the recall done I called ford directly, come to find out that the only ford dealer that can do recalls was 300 miles away, I also found out after making an appointment that they are the only ford dealership on the west coast to do recalls and warranty work on ford motorhomes, that dealership was awesome it’s in Portland Oregon. It’s also nice to know that through your video that ford will reimburse work done at other companies. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I was on first trip in my 2018 F450 class c motorhome. I left Austin, Texas headed northwest for extended trip. When I had gone about a 1500 miles and was pulling into Rapid City, South Dakota it died a sudden death. I called McKie Ford Lincoln. They got a tow truck and towed me in. They work on motorhomes. They have RV spots available with electric and water. Which was great because the part needed was a week getting there. I lived in there parking lot for a week at no cost. I guess I was very lucky. I think it falls back completely on the dealerships. These guys were great. Sure took that what the hell do I do now feeling away. If only all dealerships were as friendly and considerate as these guys. Five Star for sure. I enjoyed you informative video. Thanks, George Lavas
Typical Ford Dealer Service! I bought a F-250 Super Cab Camper Edition. At 18K miles the transmission ate itself! The transmission failed 90 miles from home with a truck full of relatives from overseas, we were touring New York. Stuk on the side of the road with seven people including children in JULY! WHAT A MESS, the truck had to be towed to a local Ford Dealer, the local Ford Dealer gave me the bad news two days later. I paid over $2000.00 to fix the problem! It turns out FORD put the wrong transmission in the truck that caused the failure! I only discovered this two years later when I was trying to install a 5h wheel trailer rig! Ford and the dealer I bought the truck from were totally unresponsive! TYPICAL FORD JUNK AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!
@@frankrizzo1433 Lol....7 people in a supercab??....BS...#1 $2000 for a transmission.....from a dealer??....BS....#2. Wrong transmission discovered when installing a 5th wheel hitch???.....strike 3!!! GTFO here...🤪🤪🤪
We had the same problem in 2019 with a truck fleet service center(non-ford dealership but serviced Ford Fleet chassis) in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. We had our driver side rear main seal go out and they fixed the problem under warranty, no problems. When the passenger side rear seal went out, we were informed they stopped working on motorhomes. Took a few days to find a Ford dealership the area large enough to work on the coach. We found Fuller Ford which is in downtown Cincinnati, just of the south bound 8th street exit of I-75. They did a great job, no problems. Made an appointment, dropped off RV on a Friday, my day off at work and picked it up the next Friday. Because of the placement to the highway it was easy in, easy out. Thanks for keeping corporate Ford in tune to the F-53 chassis RV owners that are out here! With the increase in RV sales during the 2020 pandemic, we have to have some place to take our investments where they are under warranty or not.
Yep, my 2017 F53 RV had the right rear wheel bearing seal fail at 40,000 miles last March. It was a rude awakening to learn how many shops don't want to work on RV's (I was in Pensacola, middle of a trip). However, here's the hot tip. Go to any commercial tire shop and they can do this work, and they can usually start the job the next day. My seals were replaced in 4hrs the day after I called them. The bill was $760 which included all parts and balancing all 6 wheels. My hunch was right, the factory tires were not balanced very well. This could have contributed to the seal failure, having too much axle vibration, but that's a hunch. My rig rode much smoother at 65mph after the balance job. Killed two birds with one repair job.
Same “runaround “ with Ford here in the Southeast (Atlanta metro area). Sad that I’m glad my Canyon Star Ford chassis is now out of warranty. I found and use a truck repair shop where customer service is valued. Of course I now have to pay for repairs but am treated right. It’s like you were asking Ford to adjust your slide or anything “house” related. It an F53 just like any other. Fix it!
Rhonda is a professional. Ford should probably promote her so that other employees can see what a good employee looks like. Or some other company should scoop her up. She sounds like a class act.
Ok, at first glance, I thought your vid was about the actual quality of the V10. I own a Winnebago, 37F, V10 6.8litre Ford Engine. Now, I learned a bunch from your story (thank you). I have a warranty so I will have to understand which dealerships do fleet vs. cars vs. preference. I hope to not have these issues but preparing to take on anything that comes our way. I believe in stellar customer service and agree with your philosophy. See you on the road!
Having had a similar experience with another vehicle and I found that they had a facebook page and a simple explanation on the page gave me immediate response.
This has been the problem with Class A Motorhomes for 50 years, it was the early 1970’s we bought our first Dodge chassis MH, we’ve had 2 others one GM and one Ford. Consequently I switched over to a Class C on a E-450 chassis. As long as the repair or service can be accomplished without a lift any competent shop ( enter than a dealership at least 95% of the time) can work on the rig as it’s just a van with a big box attached to it.
Thank you so much for spotlighting this issue. My sense is that if this is the way commercial dealers are treating ford motorhome owners, many of us are going to sell our MHs and switch over to travel trailers or fifth wheels to avoid these scenarios. Thanks again. Kudos for standing up to them!!!
As the few had documented the way how ford's commercial dealers are treating owners of the E-series cutaway chassis or the F-53 stripped chassis when a coach builder put an RV on the chassis. With the few saying the RV is the last ford product they ever buy when they unload the RV for another automaker to be used as a tow vehicle to pull a travel trailer or a fifth wheel.
Wow,sorry to hear that but I am not surprised. We have a local business here that told me years ago of there customers having problems like this. Makes me glad I have a Super C on a Freightliner chassis.
Great information. We too live in Bergen County NJ and go to the Hackensack Truck Center down on River Street and they are awesome. They take care of our 34ft Class C for the past 6 years without issue and are awesome.
Thank you Izzy and MJ. We are picking up our new Newmar Bay Star some time in April or May. Will start searching out a service department that will take care of us now! Thank you for another enlightening video. You guys are the best. My wife and I keep a low profile, but we follow you guys and love all you do. Hopefully we will bump into you at the Tampa show.
Things have changed. I had a 1990 Taurus. The transmission disintegrated on the way home from Chicago. I had it repaired by a transmission shop. Sometime after, I got a recall notice from Ford. I took the notice and my paperwork from the transmission shop into our Ford dealer and asked if what was done was covered by the recall. Service manager looked at and said that was it. I made a copy of my paperwork and filled out the claim form. A short time later I had a check!
RV dealers should be required by law to disclose that FORD fleet or commercial dealers will not service motor homes. Why would anyone spend tens of thousands off dollars on a product that they won’t stand behind. Thank you for letting us know this!
I have a Thor sitting on Ford E450 chassis running 6.8 V8. Similar to you, couldn't get a normal Ford dealer to do a oil change. They said they would, if I was in a pinch but didn't really want to work on Motorhomes. I found a commercial Ford dealer near me, they gave me no grief about motorhome as long as I had them do just basic stuff related to cutaway chassis. I watched your video on swaying and replaced my my bars with roadmaster sway bars at this Ford dealership this past fall. The second I drove off their lot, I could feel the difference so thank you for sharing your experience. I have been watching you guys since I bought my RV in May and have already put 12k miles on it (first rv). Ohh, the Ford Commercial dealership is in Elk Grove, IL (Chicago area). I will still go to them after warranty my warranty expires. They are honest and fair on price.
This problem is not unique to Ford. I've heard of similar experiences with GM dealerships and the 8100 GM gassers on the GM Workhorse Chassis. The problem in both cases, as you've seen, is that each dealer is a privately owned business franchise and most of them want nothing to do with motorhomes. As an automobile technician I can relate They are horrible to work on and none of the techs in any shop want the job. Even Cummins service centers typically put off diesel pusher motorhome work and usually charge a LOT of additional labor compared to similar repairs on a truck. You're right, Ford and GM should both require their truck service dealerships to perform maintenance and repairs on motorhomes as a condition to maintain their franchise license. Until that happens, I wouldn't expect to see anything change.
As of today, 4/13/2021, I've contacted SEVEN Ford Commercial Dealers within two hours of my home near Atlanta. NONE of them will schedule any warranty work on my 2021 Class A Gas F-53. That includes the new NHTSA RECALL for inadequate lubrication of the rear differential, which would cost thousands to fix if it fails (and maybe kills you). "Call me next month and maybe we'll have an opening," is the best response I've gotten.
I am a big Ford fan but I Truly appreciate you guys telling it like it is! Also unfortunately it is very hard to find motorhomes that are Not built on a Ford chassis; it would be nice if customers could choose but It doesn't matter what chassis your motorhome is built on I have a feeling they might be all doing the exact same thing.
Ford is not the only game in town, there are many motor home manufacturers that used the GM chassis, ,I'm not enthusiastic about the f53 chassis, ford seems to cut corners,I saw that when I worked at a ford dealership, ford has had numerous quality issues on all their products, I totally agree with Izzy,the dealership that I used to work for used to work on motor homes,and they no longer work on them,,I even sent a email to Winnebago stating how I felt,and if ford wants to put their product out in the market,there has to be a better answer for this,otherwise don't sell their chassis to RV manufacturers
@@michaelj1232GM (via Workhorse) is even worse. Workhorse hasn't been in the RV game for decades now. The Workhorse network has been absorbed and reconfigured, which makes it even harder now to get actual service.
Great video, thank you. We live in Southern California. There is a large commercial Ford dealership here, that is happy to work on warranty work. We have a 2019 Jayco Redhawk 31foot class C. When we put our RV in reverse and give a little gas to back up. There is a clunk in the drive line. The Ford commercial dealership stated. This clunk noise was a Jayco issue, because they extended the drive line. So now the RV is at the authorized Jayco dealership for warranty work on the driveline. I have not gotten an update from them yet. To hear what the problem could be. I am hopeful, it will get resolved in a timely manner. But I totally understand what you were saying in this video. I also agree. That the Ford manufacturer should make the authorized commercial dealership service the RV. Otherwise. Where are we suppose to bring our rigs to be serviced. Especially under warranty. Respectfully Mark
Unfortunately there should be a Ronda who is authorized to tell the dealer If you want to continue to be a Ford dealer, you will fix their Ford vehicle.
I own an '04 Fleetwood class A on the F-53 chassis with the V10 4-speed auto (WIsh I had the 6 speed!) and it only has 20k miles on it. However, as the second owner, the first thing I addressed after my maiden voyage, was the suspension system. Talk about unstable at any speed right out of the box! Luckily I am staying in Willcox Arizona for the Winter and I found a fantastic private mechanic/shop here that, although not equipped to handle a chassis of this length, took on the challenge of upgrading my suspension. I chose the parts (CHF, Steering stabilizer, Sumo springs, and a track bar) and I also had him check the brakes and check for any wear on the steering components and front wheel bearings. Everything checked out with the exception of chewed up rear bushings from swaying so damn much, which I had changed out. My rig handles beautifully now with no swaying issues or being bothered by a semi pushing me around the freeway when they pass me, it's rock steady and SAFE now. I HATE dealing with any Ford dealership anymore since I have been screwed multiple times by the dealers in Tucson Arizona over the years, just maintaining my Mercury Grand Marquis. So aggravating to expect good service and honesty from the Ford reps, and then be let down horribly and left to figure things out on your own. I'm sorry you had to go through this nightmare with Ford, and it's my understanding that most of the current F53 chassis' have issues with the front wheel bearings, it's a common problem, and dangerous in my opinion. Every chassis manufacturer has their own specific issues with reliability from the factory, not just Ford. Now the big issue is the new Ford Coyote engine (the new big block 7.something-liter engine) burning through plug wires that were engineered wrong and will leave you stranded. Most dealers can't get the stock replacements so your new RV just gets to sit until you replace the plug wires, which WILL fail again in short order. RV's are toys and badly assembled, expect to constantly feed them money and downtime, it's the nature of the beast. I bought an older unit because the build quality was at it's height for the year mine was built, thus, a bit more reliable. Thank you for sharing your experience with the Ford dealer network and how badly they are failing the RV community, folks spend a lot of $$$ and customer service should NOT be this bad!
Be glad you don't have the E-450 platform that I (and so many others) have. I've had all of the rear lug bolts shear off. I caught the first set when I came back from a trip; I was doing a walkaround and saw 5 of the 8 lug bolts sheared off on the driver's side rear...only 3 lugs were holding the dualies on. I replaced all of those with grade 8 bolts, and thought it was a fluke of some sort. Then a year later, I heard what sounded like a blowout, and quickly got off the road. The passenger side rear had sheared all 8 bolts and the dualies had begun walking off the hub. I estimate that within another hundred feet or so and I'd have been riding on the brake rotor. My rig at the time had right around 20k miles on it. I'm not sure if this was a "Ford thing" (incorrect grade bolts, maybe?) or if it was a result of over torquing the lugs after the chassis stretch job by the RV builder. Either way, I now carry extra grade 8 lug bolts and nuts, and a torque wrench. I check them religiously before and after trips. I can't wait to get out of this Ford black hole. My next one will be a super C built on a commercial Freightliner chassis. I think Ford either oversold the RV chassis, or bit off more than they can chew. None of the Ford dealers I've spoken with will even do TSB work or recall work on this E-450 chassis, just because there's a house on the back.
A friend of mine from about 4 years ago had a Ford RV that needed some front-end suspension work done. He could not find anyone in Birmingham, AL that was affiliated with Ford that would work on the RV. It's a pretty good signal that Ford RVs are not worth buying due to the lack of after-the-sale support.
Please tell us the names of GM, Mercedes, or Dodge dealerships that WELCOME doing warranty work on those chassis. The fact is most Stealerships are not interested in working at "warranty work prices." Factory work pays about half of their retail work.
Thank you for this video. I have been debating a gas motor home simply not sure if a diesel pusher was worth the extra cost. This was the bit of information that pushed us over the edge. Customer service means a lot to me. Thanks again and good luck
Grew up in a Ford family, had all Fords, business and personal, for years, but after an endless string of lemons, and continuous warranty battles I put the "X" on Ford 21 years ago. Never again.
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are considering switching to a motorhome from a travel trailer and all of this information is helpful with our decision. Like many have said it is poor business practice that give the rv industry such a poor reputation. The rv manufacturer is ultimately responsible for their product regardless of who manufacturers the pieces.
Wow great information, thanks !! I’m calling on Monday to see if our local Ford Commercial Service center takes care of motorhome. We haven’t had to use them yet. Thanks!!
My first car was a Ford and I haven't owned one since. In fact when I married my wife she had a Ford Explorer and I quickly convinced her to sell it an buy a Trail Blazer which she loved. The treatment you received is unacceptable and I would never buy a motorhome with a Ford chassis. It's not an issue with us anyway as we plan on purchasing a diesel pusher. I hope you all get better service in the future. Love your videos and keep 'em coming please!!
Kudos to you Izzy for not accepting that crappy customer service! I can’t stand it when companies take the stance of not giving two hoots after I spend good money on their products. I let them know that I have all the time in the world to deal with unsatisfactory customer service. Don’t get me started, just ask my wife...lol🤬 Right on brother!
As well trained police officer mentioning on so may occasions in your YT's about safety you no need professional inspection to do simple visual PreTrip Ins before and after each trip . If your wheel will come off and hit incoming vehicle killing for example mother with children who be first in the line... Thank you for your service brother ...
Thanks Izzy for the informative information; I just traded for a 2021 Jayco Precept. This is like Tiffin quality with Newmar interior. Will be adding a safety steering stabilizer. But this new 7.3 engine is amazing; cruising 65 down to the Florida keys average 7.3mpg. And is 39’ long towing a Honda Element.
HI. I'm so pleased I saw your video, all be it from 2 years ago! We're having a similar experience here in TX and NM. I'll try to cut a long story short. We had, at 60 mph really bad vibration coming from the steering and front wheels of our 2022 Bay Star with less than 4000 miles on it. We were in Waco TX and pulled off the hwy asap. Luckily there was a Good Year tire shop there. They diagnosed the probllem to be off centered front tires and wheels. We had them balance the tires as best they could because no Ford dealership would work on our RV! We called several from the list Ford provided. We made our way to El Paso where there were 2 Ford dealerships, again they told us they didnt work on RV's. By now we'd called Ford warranty 4/5 times asking them to put us in touch with a dealership. They were'nt able to! We arrived in Las Cruces, NM, the state of Enlightenment, according to the sign, we hoped this would be a good omen for us. We saw a big tire dealership with trucks and RV's in their yard so we pulled in. They are also Michellin dealers, another good sign. By this time after talking to Ford warranty 6/7 times we asked them to give us authorization to get the tires checked out at this dealership. They told me that they've done this before, when no Ford dealer would help so we're hopeful this will be the case, we'll see! This dealership is very professional, they checked everything out and yes the tires are both out of round but not the wheels. They don't think much of Good Year for telling us they were. Probably seeing two women they thought they could make some money! We're members of FMCA where we got a really good deal on the tires, more or less at cost. They had the right size tires in stock so we had them do the work. In the meantime we were waiting for someone at Ford Fleet to call us with the autorization, that took 4 days for them to get back to us. We were told they would check with the tire dealer and also check whether this repair is covered by the warranty. That'll take another 4 days! This is a brand new coach with less that 4000 miles on the tires! We're hoping they do the right thing but are prepared for it to be battle. Having Rhonda Spencers tel # from your video is extremely helpful and hopefully we wont need to contact her regarding this claim. But, I think we will contact her because of the difficulty we've had with not finding a Ford dealer anywhere, it's ridiculous that they won't work on motor homes. I'll let you know the outcome. Thanks again for all your very helpful videos :)
Great job!! I believe that you handed the situation extremely well. I would have blown up with Ford and I'm a Ford fan. THANKS SAFE TRAVELS HAPPY NEW YEAR
I am so sorry you had that problem. I fully agree with you. If Ford is selling it then they need to provide a place that will service it. We bought a Lincoln, which is owned by Ford with a Ford drivetrain. We went to a different dealership for service work and were told no. They said the repair was to costly. That we hadn't bought the car from them so they were not going to bat for us. Our RV is a class A diesel pusher with a Cummins drivetrain. Fortunately no matter where we have been Cummins has never said no or been anything less then professional. The closest we have come is one service writer who hated his job and had no interest in being there.
Another helpful vid, I am beginning to think twice about buying a motorhome. I assumed the chassis would be covered under Ford's 3/36,000 or whatever their standard truck warranty is. The plot keeps thickening, appreciate all of your vids 👍🏽
We had the same problem finding a commercial Ford place while traveling in the South. Took 4 states before we found a dealer willing to add all our suspension & chassis upgrades. Even then, I am the person who sourced all the parts, bought them and had them delivered to the dealer. We chalked it up to Covid craziness, but perhaps it is just generally poor service. Thanks for the Rhonda info, could come in handy in the future.
It is hard to buy anything today because of these things. The most common problem is when you ask a simple question to the person on the phone and you get answers like ( I M NOT SURE OR I DONT KNOW). This is the work ethic of most of this generation, besides finding someone capable of doing a major repair.
There are a lot of pretty pointless videos out there, but this is not one of them. Good job bringing up an important and surprising issue. I'm sure many people wouldn't buy a vehicle if they knew getting it serviced was going to be a problem. This is exactly the kind of thing potential buyers should know up front.
I watched this the other night, good information very respectfully comments. It’s good to know we are researching between models, gas or diesel etc. This was an eye opener for possibly swinging towards Diesel! Nice job AJ! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!
My 2nd motor home was a Forest River Georgetown 378xl (2012). It tried to kill me three times! Twice the brake lines corroded and all the fluid leaked out, resulting in absolutely NO braking ability. Grateful I was driving in a relatively flat area with little traffic and was able to stop in a safe place and wait for a tow. The first time it happened the RV was only two years old and the repair shop said it looked like the lines were made of a material not meant to be used outside in weather. No response from Ford or FR after several letters. Third time it developed a leak in the gas return line.
Found On Road Dead. I inherited a 2008 Mercury Marquis, 67,000 miles, so many problems. Heater goes out every 6 years. Starter. Sway bar bushings. Brakes. Fuel system. Wheels. Belt tensioner ×2. Water pump. Switches, etc. Extra irritation is dealer taking 2-3+ times to fix one problem.
I've had a similar problem with a Chevrolet 3500 express van class C motorhome. No local dealer will work on the motorhome chassis. Fortunately I did find a local garage that would do it. All I wanted was an oil change, generator oil change, and a front end alignment. I agree the dealers should be required to work on chassis' the company sells be it Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Mercedes.
Not mentioning names isn’t doing you or anyone else a favour. If your point is to hold people accountable and provide information to help the RV community, that’s exactly what you have to do 100%. Use the power of a social media platform for attempting to make change in the industry. Otherwise, there’s no heat on anyone to even care about the problem , never mind address it. Hitting them in the pocketbook is less than desirable for any company, loss of business is a thing. Glad it worked out but not knowing who the problem was with isn’t helpful.
I have historically been a huge Ford fan. My first car was a mustang through Bronco, Bronco 2 , Aerostar, multiple F150s up to my last one that was an F250 Platinum. This past year, we have had so much problems with getting Ford to deal with our "death wobble" problem. I know it is not an RV, but the problem is the same of no call backs, no email responses, etc. This wobble almost killed us twice. We took it to several dealerships and basically got told we were lying about it. One said the they fixed the problem and we were relieved only to have it happen to us again that same week in bumper to bumper traffic. After a year, we gave up and traded it. I can't risk my families life. We will be buying an RV in about a year and am always watching ya'lls and Matt's reviews trying to do our homework. We originally were going with the gas A or C, but have pretty much decided to bite the bullet and go super C just so it can be worked on if we need it to be. We are so sorry ya'll had problems too, but you aren't alone sadly it you look up complaints with Ford.
@@johnboyce9720 So, what you're telling me is that 40rd has contacted EVERY OWNER that could have possibly been impacted by this problem that has been going on for years? Additionally, they have fully reimbursed any and all owners that have had this issue - even if the warranty was 'out' before this 'fix' was discovered? { I will acknowledge your credibility when you answer both questions "YES"}
Yes we had a bad drag link and ac condenser issue. Same results in my area Wpb fl. I found commercial facilities that handled my problem here and they were very helpful in getting the warranty paperwork processed. I only paid a small fee for shop supplies etc.
Our previous rig was a Ford. Local Ford dealership refused to service the motorcoach after it was already sitting in their bay. They claimed that 34’ exceeded the length that their insurance would cover. Ultimately, I found a small local garage in nearby and gave them the business for the five years we owned the coach.
GREAT video. I’m sure this info will be appreciated by many F53 (and others) owners. Thank you for going the extra mile and letting others know how to handle a situation like this. Bravo Zulu. 👍🏻
Why bash Ford dealerships when they won't work on a portion of your vehicle that was sold by Ford as a frame only customizer rig? They don't even have parts for this at Ford passenger vehicle dealerships. I'm guessing your RV has an F650 frame and running gear. Only Ford commercial truck dealerships can work on these. Can you blame the commercial dealerships for not wanting to take the liability for possibly damaging the rest of your rig? Most RVs are built like crap - glue and staples. Their mechanics aren't trained to even check drive it.
@@mfuchs2004 Who would you think should work on the engine, drivetrain and suspension? I would say Ford shouldn't sell to the RV manufacturer if they don't want to service them. This is from someone who owns 4 Fords at the present time. Just my thoughts
@@bobandtams the mfg of the motorhome should work on it, and seek reimbursement as happened here. How is a Ford dealer to know things like safe lift points, COG/tip, GVW, etc? They likely don't even have equipment with the weight and clearance needed to work on them. There are motorhome shops from one side of the country to the other who work on these. That's how you got it fixed, after all. As it should have been. I run a fleet of modified shuttles. The mfg of the frame/engines won't touch them. I don't expect them to. I have to take them to a specialist in this application - even for something as simple as oil changes.
Certainly a valuable piece of information for any current RV owner as well as those considering purchasing one. When the time comes to make my purchase, this type of problem will be nailed down in writing with the RV dealer before the purchase is made. Back in the late 70's I worked one summer for a local Chevrolet dealer. Only one RV came in during the three months I was there; a GMC motorhome. Not sure if it was in or out of warranty, but the dealer provided the required service. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Government Motors, but it was a local customer and the dealership owner was a lifelong member of the community as well. That may have made the difference.
I bought a new Winnebago 6/5/2020. Drove off the lot after 20 miles or so realized dash ac was absent, turned off radio because I couldn’t hear it anyway.after 120 miles decided to turn around and take it back. At 160 miles the rear end went out . Had it towed back to Lichp
I had the same problem. Mine was a bad front brake caliper owing like a fire was under it! I'm also a trucker. I pulled into a Ford Dealer. The shop manager said " we don't do RVs while I'm looking at a nice big 6 wheeled what I would call an old military line truck with a boom on it on a ramp being repaired. It was an International. I looked back at the shop boss, pointed at that thing and said that's not even a Ford is it? Then I pointed at my Winnie Minnie and said I'm not bringing you a freaking RV but a FORD MOTOR AND CHASSIS, NOT THE RV and I expect it to be fixed just like that International commercial line vehicle or do I need to call corporate? I got a full brake repair including rotor in just a few hours! To bad Rush Repair in Denver was booked solid or they would have gotten the job! Blue skies and safe journey's
Yeah I've never been a Ford fan. I've had numerous issues with Fords I've owned in the past and will never own another Ford. Izzy, you were way too nice and patient. Glad you finally got your money back!
sorry to hear your problems. as a fleet owner we have been phasing out the gas fords we use for local delivery vehicles. nothing but headaches, both electronic and mechanical. the seal problem, we also have had, and it turned out to be clogged vents on the ring gear case.
And the big 3 struggles to understand how year after year they lose market share. After going through the process of on -line ordering a Ford F550 and Dodge 550 Ford replied back with we dont have one , but gave me a quote on a MINIVAN, I am not even joking. The Dodge dealer the factory web site sent the order to told me they are not authorized to sell commercial trucks.
No. Ford is going to stop marketing sedans, hatchbacks and coupes (except for the Mustang) in the U.S. Their consumer sales will be practically all SUVs, crossovers and pickups. This is a growing trend among all the auto manufacturers.
@@tjztyger that is my point, and one would think they would offer better service on the remaining line, the largest of which is commercial chassis which includes rv's
E-450 Chassis here-No issues with a recall and minor repair at a large Ford Dealer, but some of the smaller dealers are not set up for Motorhomes. I would recommend multi-line truck centers if there is not a Ford alternative. Mobile Repair is also an option. Some dealers have to turn away business merely because their racks, bays, parking and turnaround areas are inadequate. There are a handful of Independent RV Shops with ample capacity that have relationships with manufacturers and dealers. (San Diego County, CA). Ultimately, businesses are going to employ the business practices and model that work for them. A good business will steer you towards someone that can help. The Receptionist is not necessarily the best qualified to make a referral. When you find a good business I.E. Alignment shop, tire repair, paint, etc.. that meets RVer needs, take a handful of their business cards and make positive on-line recommendations. Finding someone that wants to help is golden and the relationship works best when it is reciprocal in satisfying needs.
I have a Thor 31W on a Ford 450 chassis. I had a recall on it and none of the Ford dealerships would do the work. I started in March trying to find a dealership to work on it. I started to work with Ford in June and went through a couple of levels of customer service. Finally got a case opened. They finally got a dealer about a hour away to agree to do the work. It took several months but everything was taken of. It was a royal pain. Once Ford got involved they kept in touch with me weekly and followed up until I told them I was satisfied. When dealing with Ford ask for a case number to be opened. It seems this brings the upper level of customer service in. When I took my RV in to be serviced the dealership was friendly and did the work right away. I thank Ford for stepping in, otherwise Portland Oregon was the closest place for me to go.
Izzy, I follow your videos because of your knowledge and professionalism. Bottom line here is all of these motorhomes seem to be rolling breakdowns that no one will service. You may have just talked me into a direction when I soon retire. Other problem seems to be all of the campgrounds are full so theres no place to park them. I don't want to retire with a neighbor 10 feet out my door, or in a Walmart parking lot. Good luck in 2021 & Thank you.
I've owned a RV for 25+ years and still have a 42' Dutch Star coach in my drive. I retired 11 years ago and when I travel I like to use my Motor home. I make reservations ahead of time and so far it works. Repair can be a problem but most camp grounds know if you can get things repaired in their area. Join a club and they will help you as well I belong to the FMCA, look them up on the internet and see if they meet your needs. Don't buy a RV unless you do the research on the manufacture and the dealer. I would by a used unit to start out with. New ones seem to be in the shop a lot. Take some one with you that knows RVs. Ray
We've been looking at new Class A gas Motorhomes... I think I'll start looking at used diesel units. This isn't right. Thanks for making the video about this!
This is one of our reasons we chose a ford pick-up truck to pull our rv trailer to be able to service it to any ford dealer or small shops during a road trip. Detach from trailer...take it for service...go back and stay and wait on our rv trailer.
Although my issue is not involving a motorhome on a Ford Chasis, my Mustang is. My problem is that Ford which owns Motorcraft parts is denying a warranty claim that I have requested twice. During routine maintenance I changed my coil packs, wires and spark plugs torqued to spec. The plugs were OEM Motorcraft plugs that come in the car from the factory. One plug was defective in that the electrode ground strap broke off inside of my engine and damaged the piston and cylinder wall. Initially I had the car towed to a NAPA Car care center when the car began making a loud tapping noise. They diagnosed the problem to the spark plug. The diagnosis cost me $270. I contacted Motorcraft and they directed me to Ford Customer Relations. Ford instructed me to have the car diagnosed at a Ford Service Center. I had the car towed to my local Ford Dealer for a diagnosis. The Ford service manager gave me the exact same diagnosis as the NAPA Car Care shop along with a bill for $235. He also recommended engine replacement. And the bill was accompanied by a "No" from Ford. No reasons for denial with a statement that they have entered my case and VIN number in to their system in case they decide to cover the cost of repairs in the future. I then reached out to Ford's social media corporate service team via Facebook. I gave them all of the information including the case number. And after a couple of days with some back and forth Q&A, they gave me the same exact denial. The cost to repair or replace the engine is nearly identical. It will be somewhere in the $10k range.
@@americanrvtraveler2446 I did mention that I changed them. But the belief that they should not warrant the plugs because of that is nonsense. They were torqued correctly. The plug itself was intact. The weld on the strap had broken off.
@@raybonecrusher4516 I unferstanf what you are saying. But what I am saying is that the spark plug itself was defective from the factory. My car does not have any warranty. The spark plug damaged my engine by falling apart inside of the cylinder.
@@djc2g724 I miss understood. A big problem with part warranties is they replace defective part only. It sounds like a legal problem. They may have a dis-claimer about further damage caused by their defective item. I would contact the BBB and issue a complaint. You can also check with your state attorney general for help. News media can be a great help if you can get their attention. Ray
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Most Ford truck dealers don’t work on motorhomes due to insurance limitations. We’ve always had a hard time finding a Ford truck to work on our MotorHome, both in California and in Florida.
@@stevenstern8764 For all RV Ford RV repairs speak to George , in Danville , VA Mobile RV mechanic 4 o 1*5 8o * o 8 nine 8
Thank you soooo much for this video, I'm just entering this mess because there is an electrical issue going on w my E-450 ignition system on my Thor Four Winds motorhome, the house side seems to work when plugged into shore power but the alternator didn't seem to be charging up the house deep cycle batteries, replaced those & also the main disconnect switch but the E450 won't start @ all now & wires by the chassis battery r burning somewhere near the hook up, I'm sure this is a FORD E-450 ignition problem they should fix it? Camping World where i bought it recommended a place that works on motorhomes but a FORD commercial service center should as well, Thx so much for ur insights ahead of time 👍✌
I live in Minnesota
YES, my local Ford dealer was less than ethical about a known flaw in F53 wiring harness (lack of grounding) in my 1999 Fleetwood RV. They immediately knew the problem, they had the wiring harness that fixes it in stock. It was fixed the next day and charged me $600 for a job that took less than an hour to fix. After paying $600, I found an official Ford service bulletin online using the harness P/N. It listed the symptom (exactly like mine) and the repair time set at .9hr. They charge $130/hr for labor. I went back to the dealer and showed them the service bulletin, then demanded half my money back. I got it. I've never been back to that dealer again, which is too bad because they actually have an RV department, with RV accessories, and welcome RV service and repair. The problem is they try to screw RVrs.
That is terrible. Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
What was the problem that the wiring harness had to be replaced
Sounds like the motorhome manufacturers need to get involved and bring some pressure on Ford. Right now this could stop me from buying a motorhome that I have been planning for over a year.
I would find out if the Ford commercial fleet dealer in your area services motorhomes. Just give them a buzz.
Thanks for watching and the comment
Izzy
Ford has some contractual guidelines with integrators of their fleet vehicles. Ford throws them some large discounts so many of them are reluctant to push back or make the switch away. I haven't seen one as of late, but if it is anything like the others, binding arbitration is probably the only way to resolve things on the back side with Ford. In many cases that can get get really expensive. Many of the newer agreements have disparagement clauses, where if the integrator makes any remarks that are derogatory or damaging to Ford in a public fashion (including social media) Ford can fine you or remove your discount for the remainder of the agreement. All of which really punishes the integrator for Ford's problems.
If you buy a Ford RV you can't say you weren't warned when you can't get service in any Ford dealership. Can I interest you in buying a wonderful home protected by a HOA?
Look at vids on motorhome manufacturers,....NONE of them are good. Only Airstream has a good reputation and they only make motorhomes.
@@spuwho You've missed a major point, Ford supplies the majority of gasoline fueled class A motorhome chassis. I can't find any information on current Workmaster or Spartan gasoline chassis. Workmaster became part of Navistar when GM sold it off, the class A motorhome chassis was discontinued when GM stopped production of the 8.1 litre gasoline engine. I work for Winnebago Industries we use Ford class A gasoline chassis I think it's mostly because they're the only game in town. Ford and Mercedes for Class c, we used to also make a class C on a FCA chassis. Current B vans are on Mercedes or Ram chassis although we used to do one a Transit chassis. Class A diesel pusher chassis are all Freightliner but I hear Spartan also makes some.
I had a recall done by Dub Herring Ford, In Picayune, MS a couple years ago. I made an appointment, brought in and they did it while we waited. They didn't even kick us out of our motorhome (important, as we are full-timers) to complete the work. They were friendly and professional. I would use them again.
Excellent, glad it worked out for you. 👍 - MJ
We have a Tiffin 34PA with the F53 chassis.
I appreciate the fact that you kept “on” these service providers... I think any authorized FORD dealership service center should be REQUIRED to service a F53 chassis wether it is a fleet truck or RV.
After all, FORD got their money when they provided the chassis to the Motorhome manufacturer. A factory warranty is provided to that chassis, so, it should be no matter what “box” is built onto that chassis.
While the RV dealership may seem the folks to speak with as well, FORD really has the responsibility to cover issues that arise under the terms of the warranty.
I applaud your tenacity...!!!
Roll On...
Thank you Stephen. We wanted to let people know not to be discouraged and continue to question until you get an answer.
Izzy
When purchasing a motorhome or semi truck, looking for dealer/repair shops accessable to you is a huge reason for going with one brand or another.
Many of the dealers we called had the capability to work on the MH. They just would not do it.
Thanks for watching and the comment.
Izzy
I have documentation proving a Ford dealer's refusal to honor a warranty and Ford Motor Company's refusal to require it to do so.
It was my last Ford!!
Jack was it a ford manufacture warranty or off brand which dealers also sell.
@@rickjobs638 It was Ford and it involved the catalytic converters on an Expedition.
A shame. Thanks for watching. - MJ
@Scott Golimowski Maybe not in Poland, but it was in Washington! A small claims court judge and the attorney's general agreed my complaint was valid??
Only owned two Ford vehicles and service and quality have driven me off so much that I haven't looked at another Ford product in over 25 years. Now I'am looking to buy a motorhome and looks like Ford is the only choice. I guess I won't be buying a motorhome.
Glad you guys finally got reimbursed even through all the struggle.
All the viewers should know that I called several dealers on Izzy and MJ’s behalf when we had found the problem at our shop and got the same treatment. Whether it’s apathy or true inability, even a professional shop doesn’t have more or less pull with the dealer to help a customer.
Hope you all have a safe and happy new year from the Mast Service team!
Hey Levi, you and your team literally saved us from a huge problem. You were professional, honest and timely in your service and should be applauded for that. Anyone in the Nappanee area needs to check out Mast Service Center!!
Izzy
I had the same experience. One way to help fix this problem? Making Corporate responsible for their dealerships, or franchises as Ford puts it. At least they had their motorhome fixed by a competent mechanic, which wouldn't have been the case otherwise.
@@trustme7731 It's a Ford chassis that's under warranty. Yes, it is a Ford thing. Maybe Newmar doesn't want the responsibility of working on it because it's sitting on a fragile Ford frame? It's not like they took in for a leaking toliet. Ford doesn't want the responsiblilty, so they'd rather have them take it to a third party and fight for months over warranty reimbursements? With that logic, you could be Ford's next great service manager.
We had the same problem with our Coachman Freelander Class C motorhome, which has a Chevy chassis. A warning light came on while on a trip. I called several Chevy dealerships for assistance. They all refused to help me because "my vehicle was too big to fit into one of their service bays." Out of desperation, I took it to a third-party garage who fixed the problem for just under $2,000. When I got home, I contacted the Chevy corporation warranty department. They refused to reimburse me a single cent, claiming that I should have taken it to a Chevy dealership for warranty repairs. I explain that they refused to provide service, but the warranty department held steadfast and refused to reimburse me. I think this problem is far greater than people know. Thank you for bring attention to it.
I admire your patience in dealing with Ford and the dealerships and your calm demeanor. I would have been climbing the walls and gotten nowhere.
Thank you Stanley for the support and for watching. 👍 - MJ
I had 2 great experiences with Ford warranty repairs on my motorhome at Auto Park Ford in Sturgis Michigan. Both repairs done quickly and no hassle. Very friendly service staff, they greeted me at the service counter and took over everything from there. Repairs were done well and had no trouble since. They are located less than 1 hour east of Elkhart Indiana. Just north of I-80. I saw other motor homes at their lot. I would give them a 10 out of 10.
Thats great to hear and thanks for sharing
Izzy
Izzy, We had the same issue on our RV with less than1000 miles on it, we also called all over trying to find a dealership that would work on it. Miller Ford truck in MT. Holly NJ not only repaired the seals but fixed another issue they found also from the factory, cost to us nothing. Ford covered everything. Big shout out to Miller Ford they did an outstanding job and really care about customers. When I asked them about continuing working on RV's they said sure they're just pretty trucks. Lol
Thanks for the info we will be sure to give them a call if we have more issues.
Dealerships are independently owned. They don't like any warranty work because the manufacturers don't pay them back enough to make any profit on the warranty work. They especially don't like warranty work from a vehicle they didn't sell. On top of that RV's are a specialty vehicle. I have a diesel pusher and have the same issues but I do have locally available garages that will service it. I was glad that you were able to get a refund check from Ford. Great video.
Thanks for watching and the comment
Izzy
We have a TIFFIN 2017 F 53 chassis. We have had the same exact problem. We’ve been fortunate to have a great Ford service Center close to us. Tindall Ford in Gastonia North Carolina. They took care of everything for us. This is the third time I have had it in there for warranty work and they’ve always been great.
Good to know Richard. Thanks for sharing that information.
Izzy
Agreed! Tindol Ford here in the Charlotte region has been great to work with. Their commercial truck service center is completely separate from their dealership. On our ‘17 Canyon Star they’ve performed warranty work, yearly routine maintenance, tire balancing, front end alignment, and NC safety inspections. The problem is that we’ll more than likely not break down in Charlotte.
LOL it will not be the last time Ford has more lawsuits against them than any car company in the world in fact it takes five other car companies to equal the amount of lawsuits for warranty problems then Ford has
I just called Tindall Ford today about a leaking differential seal. Was told it would be January before they may be able to look at it. Very frustrating while the clock is running out on your warranty.
@@AmericanSurvival001 Total BS 🙄
Help me Rhonda , help , help me Rhonda 🎼
LOL! And she sure did! Thanks for watching. - MJ
Hell try dealing with Camping World. All dealers should have a class on how to operate a answering machine.
LOL Yep. Thanks for watching KC. - MJ
Thanks Izzy for the heads-up on Ford RV's and saving us a lot of $$$ by not purchasing a Ford product.. KC, many shared experiences as Izzy's, warned us on Camping World (CW) RV dealers. Seemingly corporate practices/franchisee's create a lot frustrations/K$$ & I'm thankful we heard in time. We were one day from finalizing our RV purchase when we pulled out after videos and speaking directly w/owners with purchased from CW as the local dealers in NC/SC are terrible. They avoid/delay warranty work at all cost because of the low to no reimbursement received from the manufacture(s). Some dealers have been caught intentionally causing damage, charging for work not performed, & delaying/or refusing warranty repair, hoping the owner will take the Coach/Camper somewhere else. Glad to say we are enjoying our Coach with no issues thus far.
V
Camping World, 45 yrs of Tradition, unhampered by progress!
I couldn't help but be amused when while watching this video that one of the commercial breaks was a Ford ad ;) Glad you didn't give up and got reimbursed for the repair!
😂😂 Beautifully ironic. LOL Thanks for letting us know Dana and for watching! - MJ
Thank you! This is why I love your channel. You chose to share this bad experience but in a calm, factual way. We have an F150 - not an RV - and we purchased the outrageous warranty which makes us a “valuable” customer. We have had nothing but great experiences, but, again, not an RV.
RHONDA ROCKS!
Yes Rhonda was amazing and such a big help. People need to stand up for themselves and be their own advocate! - MJ
Rhonda sounds like a great employee. I'm bet Ford will probably fire her for her efforts.
She was so helpful and kind through the whole process. I would hope she would be rewarded for her good work. 🤞 - MJ
Fact.
That's the current attitude i. The service arena nowdays.
Screw the customer
The Amerikan way
No wonder Amerikan
Vehicles are once again in the late 70s early 80s were total POS.
Warrantee; many was
Many want NOT to touch. Warrantee work work
Its the new way, she will be fired and replaced with someone whose only qualification is their color or sex orientation.. not their skills and ability and motivation. Thanks Dumbocrats for helping to destroy America.
In 1998 my Ford rv with 12,000 miles had a major chassis electrical issue. I was in Florida heading back to Colorado late Friday afternoon pulled into Ford dealer in Pensacola Florida. The service center was not open in Saturday so they diagnosed the problem, determined I could not continue to Colorado. They ordered parts, plugged the RV into an outside outlet and let us stay on the dealer lot the entire weekend and gave us a free loaner car for the weekend.
New alternator, wiring harness and relay systems, good to go Monday by 12:00 noon.
Outstanding service beyond all expectations.
Sounds like Ford customer service / warranty department needs serious help.
I have lifetime warranties on both of our vehicles. I had only used one dealership for all of the maintenance. We transferred to a different state and I made sure to collect all of the evidence (everything done-service, repairs, etc...) and place it in binders. Sure enough warranty issues came up and the new dealership doubted my claim-until I produced the evidence. They know that I keep everything and I have binders on both vehicles. The do not question any issues anymore. You have to be prepared for the worst.
Good for you for being your own advocate. That was definitely the point of this video. Thanks for watching Bill! - MJ
Thanks for the info, we had a recall on our motorhome , after several days of calling 3 states trying to get the recall done I called ford directly, come to find out that the only ford dealer that can do recalls was 300 miles away, I also found out after making an appointment that they are the only ford dealership on the west coast to do recalls and warranty work on ford motorhomes, that dealership was awesome it’s in Portland Oregon. It’s also nice to know that through your video that ford will reimburse work done at other companies. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I always heard that was an 'advantage' of the Ford chassis, that you could have them fixed wherever you are. Sheesh.
Not so much. Depends if your local fleet service center will take in a motorhome.
Izzy
I was on first trip in my 2018 F450 class c motorhome. I left Austin, Texas headed northwest for extended trip. When I had gone about a 1500 miles and was pulling into Rapid City, South Dakota it died a sudden death. I called McKie Ford Lincoln. They got a tow truck and towed me in. They work on motorhomes. They
have RV spots available with electric and water. Which was great because the part needed was a week getting there. I lived in there parking lot for a week at no cost. I guess I was very lucky. I think it falls back
completely on the dealerships. These guys were great. Sure took that what the hell do I do now feeling away. If only all dealerships were as friendly and considerate as these guys. Five Star for sure. I enjoyed you informative video.
Thanks,
George Lavas
Wow that’s great George. Good to know thanks for sharing.
Izzy
No need to name your local dealership - it was cleverly revealed in the screen shot of your reimbursement check - "Paramus Ford" Well played!
Good detective work 😀
Izzy
@@EndlessRVing That signature screams "Oh, another effing ... I just don't care anymore."
Typical Ford Dealer Service! I bought a F-250 Super Cab Camper Edition. At 18K miles the transmission ate itself! The transmission failed 90 miles from home with a truck full of relatives from overseas, we were touring New York. Stuk on the side of the road with seven people including children in JULY! WHAT A MESS, the truck had to be towed to a local Ford Dealer, the local Ford Dealer gave me the bad news two days later. I paid over $2000.00 to fix the problem! It turns out FORD put the wrong transmission in the truck that caused the failure! I only discovered this two years later when I was trying to install a 5h wheel trailer rig! Ford and the dealer I bought the truck from were totally unresponsive! TYPICAL FORD JUNK AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!
@@frankrizzo1433
Lol....7 people in a supercab??....BS...#1
$2000 for a transmission.....from a dealer??....BS....#2.
Wrong transmission discovered when installing a 5th wheel hitch???.....strike 3!!! GTFO here...🤪🤪🤪
@@johnpeters9793 open yere ears jacka$$!
We had the same problem in 2019 with a truck fleet service center(non-ford dealership but serviced Ford Fleet chassis) in the greater Cincinnati, Ohio area. We had our driver side rear main seal go out and they fixed the problem under warranty, no problems. When the passenger side rear seal went out, we were informed they stopped working on motorhomes. Took a few days to find a Ford dealership the area large enough to work on the coach. We found Fuller Ford which is in downtown Cincinnati, just of the south bound 8th street exit of I-75. They did a great job, no problems. Made an appointment, dropped off RV on a Friday, my day off at work and picked it up the next Friday. Because of the placement to the highway it was easy in, easy out.
Thanks for keeping corporate Ford in tune to the F-53 chassis RV owners that are out here! With the increase in RV sales during the 2020 pandemic, we have to have some place to take our investments where they are under warranty or not.
Thanks for sharing your experience! - MJ
Went full timing in 1992 and quit in 2009. This has been a problem for a lot of people for as long as we have been around RVs.
Thanks for sharing
Izzy
Yep, my 2017 F53 RV had the right rear wheel bearing seal fail at 40,000 miles last March. It was a rude awakening to learn how many shops don't want to work on RV's (I was in Pensacola, middle of a trip). However, here's the hot tip. Go to any commercial tire shop and they can do this work, and they can usually start the job the next day. My seals were replaced in 4hrs the day after I called them. The bill was $760 which included all parts and balancing all 6 wheels. My hunch was right, the factory tires were not balanced very well. This could have contributed to the seal failure, having too much axle vibration, but that's a hunch. My rig rode much smoother at 65mph after the balance job. Killed two birds with one repair job.
Same “runaround “ with Ford here in the Southeast (Atlanta metro area). Sad that I’m glad my Canyon Star Ford chassis is now out of warranty. I found and use a truck repair shop where customer service is valued. Of course I now have to pay for repairs but am treated right. It’s like you were asking Ford to adjust your slide or anything “house” related. It an F53 just like any other. Fix it!
Exactly. Thanks Bill! - MJ
What a great job of getting your point across but still staying respectful to everybody involved. I tip my hat to you sir!
Always have to do things the right way. You get more bees with honey. Thanks so much Jim. - MJ
Rhonda is a professional. Ford should probably promote her so that other employees can see what a good employee looks like. Or some other company should scoop her up. She sounds like a class act.
I agree she was great. Thanks for watching and the comment.
Izzy
then there won't be anyone to help anybody
Ok, at first glance, I thought your vid was about the actual quality of the V10. I own a Winnebago, 37F, V10 6.8litre Ford Engine. Now, I learned a bunch from your story (thank you). I have a warranty so I will have to understand which dealerships do fleet vs. cars vs. preference. I hope to not have these issues but preparing to take on anything that comes our way. I believe in stellar customer service and agree with your philosophy. See you on the road!
Having had a similar experience with another vehicle and I found that they had a facebook page and a simple explanation on the page gave me immediate response.
Glad you got a quick response. 👍 - MJ
This has been the problem with Class A Motorhomes for 50 years, it was the early 1970’s we bought our first Dodge chassis MH, we’ve had 2 others one GM and one Ford. Consequently I switched over to a Class C on a E-450 chassis. As long as the repair or service can be accomplished without a lift any competent shop ( enter than a dealership at least 95% of the time) can work on the rig as it’s just a van with a big box attached to it.
Wow! I was just at the Ford Dealership and the service rep said to stay away from ford motorhomes...
Lol that’s funny thanks for sharing.
Izzy
I have a 32’ Fleetwood, GM workhorse 8.1 w/ Allison trans for sale. $15-k. 43-k miles.
@@michaelgerrard7410 Well played, sir!👍
Thank you so much for spotlighting this issue. My sense is that if this is the way commercial dealers are treating ford motorhome owners, many of us are going to sell our MHs and switch over to travel trailers or fifth wheels to avoid these scenarios. Thanks again. Kudos for standing up to them!!!
Thanks for the support. 👍 - MJ
As the few had documented the way how ford's commercial dealers are treating owners of the E-series cutaway chassis or the F-53 stripped chassis when a coach builder put an RV on the chassis. With the few saying the RV is the last ford product they ever buy when they unload the RV for another automaker to be used as a tow vehicle to pull a travel trailer or a fifth wheel.
Wow,sorry to hear that but I am not surprised. We have a local business here that told me years ago of there customers having problems like this. Makes me glad I have a Super C on a Freightliner chassis.
We did our refund but it took some time. It needed to be addressed publicly maybe Ford will see it, maybe not.
Thanks for watching Don
Great information. We too live in Bergen County NJ and go to the Hackensack Truck Center down on River Street and they are awesome. They take care of our 34ft Class C for the past 6 years without issue and are awesome.
Thank you Izzy and MJ. We are picking up our new Newmar Bay Star some time in April or May. Will start searching out a service department that will take care of us now! Thank you for another enlightening video. You guys are the best. My wife and I keep a low profile, but we follow you guys and love all you do. Hopefully we will bump into you at the Tampa show.
Thanks so much Lew for the support. Say hi if you see us in Tampa! - MJ
Things have changed. I had a 1990 Taurus. The transmission disintegrated on the way home from Chicago. I had it repaired by a transmission shop. Sometime after, I got a recall notice from Ford. I took the notice and my paperwork from the transmission shop into our Ford dealer and asked if what was done was covered by the recall. Service manager looked at and said that was it. I made a copy of my paperwork and filled out the claim form. A short time later I had a check!
RV dealers should be required by law to disclose that FORD fleet or commercial dealers will not service motor homes. Why would anyone spend tens of thousands off dollars on a product that they won’t stand behind. Thank you for letting us know this!
Happy to help. Thanks for watching! - MJ
I have a Thor sitting on Ford E450 chassis running 6.8 V8. Similar to you, couldn't get a normal Ford dealer to do a oil change. They said they would, if I was in a pinch but didn't really want to work on Motorhomes. I found a commercial Ford dealer near me, they gave me no grief about motorhome as long as I had them do just basic stuff related to cutaway chassis. I watched your video on swaying and replaced my my bars with roadmaster sway bars at this Ford dealership this past fall. The second I drove off their lot, I could feel the difference so thank you for sharing your experience. I have been watching you guys since I bought my RV in May and have already put 12k miles on it (first rv). Ohh, the Ford Commercial dealership is in Elk Grove, IL (Chicago area).
I will still go to them after warranty my warranty expires. They are honest and fair on price.
That is good to hear. Thanks for sharing and supporting the channel.
Izzy
This problem is not unique to Ford. I've heard of similar experiences with GM dealerships and the 8100 GM gassers on the GM Workhorse Chassis. The problem in both cases, as you've seen, is that each dealer is a privately owned business franchise and most of them want nothing to do with motorhomes. As an automobile technician I can relate They are horrible to work on and none of the techs in any shop want the job. Even Cummins service centers typically put off diesel pusher motorhome work and usually charge a LOT of additional labor compared to similar repairs on a truck. You're right, Ford and GM should both require their truck service dealerships to perform maintenance and repairs on motorhomes as a condition to maintain their franchise license. Until that happens, I wouldn't expect to see anything change.
As of today, 4/13/2021, I've contacted SEVEN Ford Commercial Dealers within two hours of my home near Atlanta. NONE of them will schedule any warranty work on my 2021 Class A Gas F-53. That includes the new NHTSA RECALL for inadequate lubrication of the rear differential, which would cost thousands to fix if it fails (and maybe kills you). "Call me next month and maybe we'll have an opening," is the best response I've gotten.
Such a shame, really, Sorry to hear this. Best of luck.
I am a big Ford fan but I Truly appreciate you guys telling it like it is! Also unfortunately it is very hard to find motorhomes that are Not built on a Ford chassis; it would be nice if customers could choose but It doesn't matter what chassis your motorhome is built on I have a feeling they might be all doing the exact same thing.
Ford is the only game in town offering class a gas chassis. Thanks for watching and the comment.
Izzy
Ford is not the only game in town, there are many motor home manufacturers that used the GM chassis, ,I'm not enthusiastic about the f53 chassis, ford seems to cut corners,I saw that when I worked at a ford dealership, ford has had numerous quality issues on all their products, I totally agree with Izzy,the dealership that I used to work for used to work on motor homes,and they no longer work on them,,I even sent a email to Winnebago stating how I felt,and if ford wants to put their product out in the market,there has to be a better answer for this,otherwise don't sell their chassis to RV manufacturers
@@michaelj1232GM (via Workhorse) is even worse. Workhorse hasn't been in the RV game for decades now.
The Workhorse network has been absorbed and reconfigured, which makes it even harder now to get actual service.
Great video, thank you.
We live in Southern California.
There is a large commercial Ford dealership here, that is happy to work on warranty work.
We have a 2019 Jayco Redhawk 31foot class C. When we put our RV in reverse and give a little gas to back up. There is a clunk in the drive line.
The Ford commercial dealership stated. This clunk noise was a Jayco issue, because they extended the drive line. So now the RV is at the authorized Jayco dealership for warranty work on the driveline.
I have not gotten an update from them yet. To hear what the problem could be. I am hopeful, it will get resolved in a timely manner.
But I totally understand what you were saying in this video.
I also agree. That the Ford manufacturer should make the authorized commercial dealership service the RV.
Otherwise. Where are we suppose to bring our rigs to be serviced. Especially under warranty.
Respectfully
Mark
Glad you have a good dealership near you. Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
any update mark? "I have not gotten an update from them yet"
Wow,now that’s ridiculous the run around ,I’m glad you got Rhonda to help out.
Rhonda is a real asset to Ford. She was excellent. Thanks for watching.
Izzy
Unfortunately there should be a Ronda who is authorized to tell the dealer If you want to continue to be a Ford dealer, you will fix their Ford vehicle.
I own an '04 Fleetwood class A on the F-53 chassis with the V10 4-speed auto (WIsh I had the 6 speed!) and it only has 20k miles on it. However, as the second owner, the first thing I addressed after my maiden voyage, was the suspension system. Talk about unstable at any speed right out of the box! Luckily I am staying in Willcox Arizona for the Winter and I found a fantastic private mechanic/shop here that, although not equipped to handle a chassis of this length, took on the challenge of upgrading my suspension. I chose the parts (CHF, Steering stabilizer, Sumo springs, and a track bar) and I also had him check the brakes and check for any wear on the steering components and front wheel bearings. Everything checked out with the exception of chewed up rear bushings from swaying so damn much, which I had changed out. My rig handles beautifully now with no swaying issues or being bothered by a semi pushing me around the freeway when they pass me, it's rock steady and SAFE now. I HATE dealing with any Ford dealership anymore since I have been screwed multiple times by the dealers in Tucson Arizona over the years, just maintaining my Mercury Grand Marquis. So aggravating to expect good service and honesty from the Ford reps, and then be let down horribly and left to figure things out on your own. I'm sorry you had to go through this nightmare with Ford, and it's my understanding that most of the current F53 chassis' have issues with the front wheel bearings, it's a common problem, and dangerous in my opinion. Every chassis manufacturer has their own specific issues with reliability from the factory, not just Ford. Now the big issue is the new Ford Coyote engine (the new big block 7.something-liter engine) burning through plug wires that were engineered wrong and will leave you stranded. Most dealers can't get the stock replacements so your new RV just gets to sit until you replace the plug wires, which WILL fail again in short order. RV's are toys and badly assembled, expect to constantly feed them money and downtime, it's the nature of the beast. I bought an older unit because the build quality was at it's height for the year mine was built, thus, a bit more reliable. Thank you for sharing your experience with the Ford dealer network and how badly they are failing the RV community, folks spend a lot of $$$ and customer service should NOT be this bad!
Yes suspension upgrades make a huge difference! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience. :) -MJ
As for working on motor coaches. It’s so hard. I take my engine to Cummins. My suspension is a truck shop I trust. I do my own upkeep inside /RV side.
Thanks for sharing
Izzy
Be glad you don't have the E-450 platform that I (and so many others) have. I've had all of the rear lug bolts shear off. I caught the first set when I came back from a trip; I was doing a walkaround and saw 5 of the 8 lug bolts sheared off on the driver's side rear...only 3 lugs were holding the dualies on. I replaced all of those with grade 8 bolts, and thought it was a fluke of some sort. Then a year later, I heard what sounded like a blowout, and quickly got off the road. The passenger side rear had sheared all 8 bolts and the dualies had begun walking off the hub. I estimate that within another hundred feet or so and I'd have been riding on the brake rotor. My rig at the time had right around 20k miles on it.
I'm not sure if this was a "Ford thing" (incorrect grade bolts, maybe?) or if it was a result of over torquing the lugs after the chassis stretch job by the RV builder. Either way, I now carry extra grade 8 lug bolts and nuts, and a torque wrench. I check them religiously before and after trips.
I can't wait to get out of this Ford black hole. My next one will be a super C built on a commercial Freightliner chassis. I think Ford either oversold the RV chassis, or bit off more than they can chew. None of the Ford dealers I've spoken with will even do TSB work or recall work on this E-450 chassis, just because there's a house on the back.
A friend of mine from about 4 years ago had a Ford RV that needed some front-end suspension work done. He could not find anyone in Birmingham, AL that was affiliated with Ford that would work on the RV. It's a pretty good signal that Ford RVs are not worth buying due to the lack of after-the-sale support.
Thanks for sharing Phil
Izzy
half story again, where did he buy it? buy it new? did he want warranty work done?
Also ford does not sale or make motorhomes!
@@mjcameron123 Well DUH! Nor does GM, or any other automotive manufacturer????
Please tell us the names of GM, Mercedes, or Dodge dealerships that WELCOME doing warranty work on those chassis. The fact is most Stealerships are not interested in working at "warranty work prices." Factory work pays about half of their retail work.
Thank you for this video. I have been debating a gas motor home simply not sure if a diesel pusher was worth the extra cost. This was the bit of information that pushed us over the edge. Customer service means a lot to me. Thanks again and good luck
Grew up in a Ford family, had all Fords, business and personal, for years, but after an endless string of lemons, and continuous warranty battles I put the "X" on Ford 21 years ago. Never again.
Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
I never saw the number for Rhonda.
What brand have you now chosen ??
A faulty headlight switch on a Mustang landed me in jail !
That pretty much soured me to Fords . . . . .
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are considering switching to a motorhome from a travel trailer and all of this information is helpful with our decision. Like many have said it is poor business practice that give the rv industry such a poor reputation. The rv manufacturer is ultimately responsible for their product regardless of who manufacturers the pieces.
Wow great information, thanks !! I’m calling on Monday to see if our local Ford Commercial Service center takes care of motorhome. We haven’t had to use them yet. Thanks!!
Keep us posted, Tom. Good luck! - MJ
This does even the playing field a bit between Ford and Mercedes. Ford is always held out as having more service centers available than Mercedes.
My first car was a Ford and I haven't owned one since. In fact when I married my wife she had a Ford Explorer and I quickly convinced her to sell it an buy a Trail Blazer which she loved. The treatment you received is unacceptable and I would never buy a motorhome with a Ford chassis. It's not an issue with us anyway as we plan on purchasing a diesel pusher. I hope you all get better service in the future. Love your videos and keep 'em coming please!!
Thanks for sharing Jeff. Our next coach will likely be a used DP.
Izzy
Kudos to you Izzy for not accepting that crappy customer service! I can’t stand it when companies take the stance of not giving two hoots after I spend good money on their products. I let them know that I have all the time in the world to deal with unsatisfactory customer service. Don’t get me started, just ask my wife...lol🤬 Right on brother!
:) Thanks Rick for watching and for the support! - MJ
As well trained police officer mentioning on so may occasions in your YT's about safety you no need professional inspection to do simple visual PreTrip Ins before and after each trip . If your wheel will come off and hit incoming vehicle killing for example mother with children who be first in the line... Thank you for your service brother ...
Thanks Izzy for the informative information; I just traded for a 2021 Jayco Precept. This is like Tiffin quality with Newmar interior. Will be adding a safety steering stabilizer. But this new 7.3 engine is amazing; cruising 65 down to the Florida keys average 7.3mpg. And is 39’ long towing a Honda Element.
Good luck to you. Thanks for watching! - MJ
HI. I'm so pleased I saw your video, all be it from 2 years ago! We're having a similar experience here in TX and NM. I'll try to cut a long story short. We had, at 60 mph really bad vibration coming from the steering and front wheels of our 2022 Bay Star with less than 4000 miles on it. We were in Waco TX and pulled off the hwy asap. Luckily there was a Good Year tire shop there. They diagnosed the probllem to be off centered front tires and wheels. We had them balance the tires as best they could because no Ford dealership would work on our RV! We called several from the list Ford provided. We made our way to El Paso where there were 2 Ford dealerships, again they told us they didnt work on RV's. By now we'd called Ford warranty 4/5 times asking them to put us in touch with a dealership. They were'nt able to!
We arrived in Las Cruces, NM, the state of Enlightenment, according to the sign, we hoped this would be a good omen for us. We saw a big tire dealership with trucks and RV's in their yard so we pulled in. They are also Michellin dealers, another good sign. By this time after talking to Ford warranty 6/7 times we asked them to give us authorization to get the tires checked out at this dealership. They told me that they've done this before, when no Ford dealer would help so we're hopeful this will be the case, we'll see! This dealership is very professional, they checked everything out and yes the tires are both out of round but not the wheels. They don't think much of Good Year for telling us they were. Probably seeing two women they thought they could make some money! We're members of FMCA where we got a really good deal on the tires, more or less at cost. They had the right size tires in stock so we had them do the work. In the meantime we were waiting for someone at Ford Fleet to call us with the autorization, that took 4 days for them to get back to us. We were told they would check with the tire dealer and also check whether this repair is covered by the warranty. That'll take another 4 days! This is a brand new coach with less that 4000 miles on the tires! We're hoping they do the right thing but are prepared for it to be battle. Having Rhonda Spencers tel # from your video is extremely helpful and hopefully we wont need to contact her regarding this claim. But, I think we will contact her because of the difficulty we've had with not finding a Ford dealer anywhere, it's ridiculous that they won't work on motor homes. I'll let you know the outcome. Thanks again for all your very helpful videos :)
Great job!! I believe that you handed the situation extremely well. I would have blown up with Ford and I'm a Ford fan. THANKS SAFE TRAVELS
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Thanks Ron. Happy New year! - MJ
I am so sorry you had that problem. I fully agree with you. If Ford is selling it then they need to provide a place that will service it. We bought a Lincoln, which is owned by Ford with a Ford drivetrain. We went to a different dealership for service work and were told no. They said the repair was to costly. That we hadn't bought the car from them so they were not going to bat for us. Our RV is a class A diesel pusher with a Cummins drivetrain. Fortunately no matter where we have been Cummins has never said no or been anything less then professional. The closest we have come is one service writer who hated his job and had no interest in being there.
Good information and thanks for sharing
Izzy
Another helpful vid, I am beginning to think twice about buying a motorhome. I assumed the chassis would be covered under Ford's 3/36,000 or whatever their standard truck warranty is. The plot keeps thickening, appreciate all of your vids 👍🏽
Thanks, glad they help. :) - MJ
We had the same problem finding a commercial Ford place while traveling in the South. Took 4 states before we found a dealer willing to add all our suspension & chassis upgrades. Even then, I am the person who sourced all the parts, bought them and had them delivered to the dealer. We chalked it up to Covid craziness, but perhaps it is just generally poor service. Thanks for the Rhonda info, could come in handy in the future.
Yes she was great. Sorry to hear you had similar issues. :/ - MJ
It is hard to buy anything today because of these things. The most common problem is when you ask a simple question to the person on the phone and you get answers like ( I M NOT SURE OR I DONT KNOW). This is the work ethic of most of this generation, besides finding someone capable of doing a major repair.
Absolutely agree. I see it regularly. Thanks for watching and the comment.
Izzy
There are a lot of pretty pointless videos out there, but this is not one of them. Good job bringing up an important and surprising issue. I'm sure many people wouldn't buy a vehicle if they knew getting it serviced was going to be a problem. This is exactly the kind of thing potential buyers should know up front.
Exactly the reason we felt it needed to be done. We are all about helping the consumer. Thanks for checking it out. :- MJ
I watched this the other night, good information very respectfully comments. It’s good to know we are researching between models, gas or diesel etc. This was an eye opener for possibly swinging towards Diesel!
Nice job AJ! Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!
Thanks for watching Scott
Izzy
My 2nd motor home was a Forest River Georgetown 378xl (2012). It tried to kill me three times! Twice the brake lines corroded and all the fluid leaked out, resulting in absolutely NO braking ability. Grateful I was driving in a relatively flat area with little traffic and was able to stop in a safe place and wait for a tow. The first time it happened the RV was only two years old and the repair shop said it looked like the lines were made of a material not meant to be used outside in weather. No response from Ford or FR after several letters. Third time it developed a leak in the gas return line.
Unreal. Glad your safe and thanks for sharing.
Izzy
Oh wow, what an ordeal. Good job in persistence. Very nice of you to document your contact for others.
We felt it would help others. Thanks for watching.
Izzy
Found On Road Dead. I inherited a 2008 Mercury Marquis, 67,000 miles, so many problems. Heater goes out every 6 years. Starter. Sway bar bushings. Brakes. Fuel system. Wheels. Belt tensioner ×2. Water pump. Switches, etc. Extra irritation is dealer taking 2-3+ times to fix one problem.
Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
Glad you got your money! Your persistence paid off!
It took a while but it did pay off. Thanks for watching.
Izzy
Thanks for the heads up! Looks like everyone should find a local truck/RV repair shop once 3year ford warranty expires.
Yes definitely. Thanks for watching Pete. - MJ
I've had a similar problem with a Chevrolet 3500 express van class C motorhome. No local dealer will work on the motorhome chassis. Fortunately I did find a local garage that would do it. All I wanted was an oil change, generator oil change, and a front end alignment. I agree the dealers should be required to work on chassis' the company sells be it Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or Mercedes.
Glad you were finally able to get it fixed. Thanks Paul. - MJ
Ford had a 800 number just for RV'S and they found a Medium Duty Ford truck dealership for our F-53 chassis. Fantastic service very happy.
Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
Not mentioning names isn’t doing you or anyone else a favour. If your point is to hold people accountable and provide information to help the RV community, that’s exactly what you have to do 100%. Use the power of a social media platform for attempting to make change in the industry. Otherwise, there’s no heat on anyone to even care about the problem , never mind address it. Hitting them in the pocketbook is less than desirable for any company, loss of business is a thing.
Glad it worked out but not knowing who the problem was with isn’t helpful.
Paramus Ford - that was the name on the check
Rhonda went above and beyond. Kudos to her.🙌🏼🙌🏼
She was a huge help
Thanks for watching.
Izzy
I have historically been a huge Ford fan. My first car was a mustang through Bronco, Bronco 2 , Aerostar, multiple F150s up to my last one that was an F250 Platinum. This past year, we have had so much problems with getting Ford to deal with our "death wobble" problem. I know it is not an RV, but the problem is the same of no call backs, no email responses, etc. This wobble almost killed us twice. We took it to several dealerships and basically got told we were lying about it. One said the they fixed the problem and we were relieved only to have it happen to us again that same week in bumper to bumper traffic. After a year, we gave up and traded it. I can't risk my families life. We will be buying an RV in about a year and am always watching ya'lls and Matt's reviews trying to do our homework. We originally were going with the gas A or C, but have pretty much decided to bite the bullet and go super C just so it can be worked on if we need it to be. We are so sorry ya'll had problems too, but you aren't alone sadly it you look up complaints with Ford.
Such a shame. Horrible and scary what you went through. Can't go wrong with a Super C. Best of luck to you! - MJ
@@johnboyce9720 'new from the factory' death wobble is because of worn parts? Ford is putting used parts on new vehicles? Really???
@@johnboyce9720 So, what you're telling me is that 40rd has contacted EVERY OWNER that could have possibly been impacted by this problem that has been going on for years? Additionally, they have fully reimbursed any and all owners that have had this issue - even if the warranty was 'out' before this 'fix' was discovered? { I will acknowledge your credibility when you answer both questions "YES"}
Yes we had a bad drag link and ac condenser issue. Same results in my area Wpb fl. I found commercial facilities that handled my problem here and they were very helpful in getting the warranty paperwork processed. I only paid a small fee for shop supplies etc.
Thanks for sharing Larry
Our previous rig was a Ford. Local Ford dealership refused to service the motorcoach after it was already sitting in their bay. They claimed that 34’ exceeded the length that their insurance would cover. Ultimately, I found a small local garage in nearby and gave them the business for the five years we owned the coach.
Wow what a shame. Thanks for sharing Kevin. - MJ
GREAT video. I’m sure this info will be appreciated by many F53 (and others) owners. Thank you for going the extra mile and letting others know how to handle a situation like this. Bravo Zulu. 👍🏻
Thank you David
Izzy
Very interesting that Ford acts this way...Really makes you rethink about it
As long as the public knows they can make an informed decision
Thanks for watching.
Izzy
its not just ford they all do it
Why bash Ford dealerships when they won't work on a portion of your vehicle that was sold by Ford as a frame only customizer rig? They don't even have parts for this at Ford passenger vehicle dealerships. I'm guessing your RV has an F650 frame and running gear. Only Ford commercial truck dealerships can work on these. Can you blame the commercial dealerships for not wanting to take the liability for possibly damaging the rest of your rig? Most RVs are built like crap - glue and staples. Their mechanics aren't trained to even check drive it.
@@mfuchs2004 Who would you think should work on the engine, drivetrain and suspension? I would say Ford shouldn't sell to the RV manufacturer if they don't want to service them. This is from someone who owns 4 Fords at the present time. Just my thoughts
@@bobandtams the mfg of the motorhome should work on it, and seek reimbursement as happened here. How is a Ford dealer to know things like safe lift points, COG/tip, GVW, etc? They likely don't even have equipment with the weight and clearance needed to work on them. There are motorhome shops from one side of the country to the other who work on these. That's how you got it fixed, after all. As it should have been.
I run a fleet of modified shuttles. The mfg of the frame/engines won't touch them. I don't expect them to. I have to take them to a specialist in this application - even for something as simple as oil changes.
Certainly a valuable piece of information for any current RV owner as well as those considering purchasing one. When the time comes to make my purchase, this type of problem will be nailed down in writing with the RV dealer before the purchase is made.
Back in the late 70's I worked one summer for a local Chevrolet dealer. Only one RV came in during the three months I was there; a GMC motorhome. Not sure if it was in or out of warranty, but the dealer provided the required service. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of Government Motors, but it was a local customer and the dealership owner was a lifelong member of the community as well. That may have made the difference.
Thanks for sharing Bob
Izzy
Glad you got it fixed .. shame on Ford for not honoring their warranty & not having a Dealer to get it fixed 😠
To their credit Ford did pay out the warranty cost, however getting to that point should not be so difficult. Thanks for watching.
Izzy
I bought a new Winnebago 6/5/2020. Drove off the lot after 20 miles or so realized dash ac was absent, turned off radio because I couldn’t hear it anyway.after 120 miles decided to turn around and take it back. At 160 miles the rear end went out . Had it towed back to Lichp
Sorry to hear that. Unfortunately you are not alone with Ford issues. Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
whats Lichp?
That is why we buy a Class C second hand. The dealers just don’t care. All they want is making money from you... Appreciate your experience.
Thanks for watching and the comment
Izzy
I had the same problem.
Mine was a bad front brake caliper owing like a fire was under it!
I'm also a trucker.
I pulled into a Ford Dealer.
The shop manager said " we don't do RVs while I'm looking at a nice big 6 wheeled what I would call an old military line truck with a boom on it on a ramp being repaired. It was an International.
I looked back at the shop boss, pointed at that thing and said that's not even a Ford is it?
Then I pointed at my Winnie Minnie and said I'm not bringing you a freaking RV but a FORD MOTOR AND CHASSIS, NOT THE RV and I expect it to be fixed just like that International commercial line vehicle or do I need to call corporate?
I got a full brake repair including rotor in just a few hours!
To bad Rush Repair in Denver was booked solid or they would have gotten the job!
Blue skies and safe journey's
Thanks for sharing.
Izzy
Yeah I've never been a Ford fan. I've had numerous issues with Fords I've owned in the past and will never own another Ford. Izzy, you were way too nice and patient. Glad you finally got your money back!
Thanks Jose! -MJ
sorry to hear your problems. as a fleet owner we have been phasing out the gas fords we use for local delivery vehicles. nothing but headaches, both electronic and mechanical.
the seal problem, we also have had, and it turned out to be clogged vents on the ring gear case.
There are a lot of people that have commented on Ford issues. Thanks for sharing
Izzy
And the big 3 struggles to understand how year after year they lose market share. After going through the process of on -line ordering a Ford F550 and Dodge 550 Ford replied back with we dont have one , but gave me a quote on a MINIVAN, I am not even joking. The Dodge dealer the factory web site sent the order to told me they are not authorized to sell commercial trucks.
Wow, thanks for sharing. - MJ
I have E-450 Super Duty Chassis and it's a keeper.
the amazing thing about all this is, Ford announced it will stop making cars and only rely on commercial division along with pickups.
No. Ford is going to stop marketing sedans, hatchbacks and coupes (except for the Mustang) in the U.S. Their consumer sales will be practically all SUVs, crossovers and pickups. This is a growing trend among all the auto manufacturers.
@@tjztyger that is my point, and one would think they would offer better service on the remaining line, the largest of which is commercial chassis which includes rv's
Thanks for watching. 👍
E-450 Chassis here-No issues with a recall and minor repair at a large Ford Dealer, but some of the smaller dealers are not set up for Motorhomes. I would recommend multi-line truck centers if there is not a Ford alternative. Mobile Repair is also an option. Some dealers have to turn away business merely because their racks, bays, parking and turnaround areas are inadequate. There are a handful of Independent RV Shops with ample capacity that have relationships with manufacturers and dealers. (San Diego County, CA). Ultimately, businesses are going to employ the business practices and model that work for them. A good business will steer you towards someone that can help. The Receptionist is not necessarily the best qualified to make a referral. When you find a good business I.E. Alignment shop, tire repair, paint, etc.. that meets RVer needs, take a handful of their business cards and make positive on-line recommendations. Finding someone that wants to help is golden and the relationship works best when it is reciprocal in satisfying needs.
We have a good repair facility we will go to in NNJ and just submit invoice to Ford. Thanks for watching and the comment
Izzy
Good and informative video. I never owned a Class A or C motorhome, but have several war stories about jayco, Coleman and Gulfstream...
Thanks for watching and the comment sir.
Izzy
I have a Thor 31W on a Ford 450 chassis. I had a recall on it and none of the Ford dealerships would do the work. I started in March trying to find a dealership to work on it. I started to work with Ford in June and went through a couple of levels of customer service. Finally got a case opened. They finally got a dealer about a hour away to agree to do the work. It took several months but everything was taken of. It was a royal pain. Once Ford got involved they kept in touch with me weekly and followed up until I told them I was satisfied. When dealing with Ford ask for a case number to be opened. It seems this brings the upper level of customer service in. When I took my RV in to be serviced the dealership was friendly and did the work right away. I thank Ford for stepping in, otherwise Portland Oregon was the closest place for me to go.
You really stayed on top of it good for you, glad it all worked out for you guys
Thanks so much. Yes, glad we persisted. - MJ
Izzy, I follow your videos because of your knowledge and professionalism. Bottom line here is all of these motorhomes seem to be rolling breakdowns that no one will service. You may have just talked me into a direction when I soon retire. Other problem seems to be all of the campgrounds are full so theres no place to park them. I don't want to retire with a neighbor 10 feet out my door, or in a Walmart parking lot. Good luck in 2021 & Thank you.
Thanks Randy and best of luck to you. 😃 - MJ
I've owned a RV for 25+ years and still have a 42' Dutch Star coach in my drive. I retired 11 years ago and when I travel I like to use my Motor home. I make reservations ahead of time and so far it works. Repair can be a problem but most camp grounds know if you can get things repaired in their area. Join a club and they will help you as well I belong to the FMCA, look them up on the internet and see if they meet your needs. Don't buy a RV unless you do the research on the manufacture and the dealer. I would by a used unit to start out with. New ones seem to be in the shop a lot. Take some one with you that knows RVs.
Ray
Another spot on topic useful to all, what you guy pack into 10 mins. keep on keeping on God bless you guys.
Thanks so much for all the support Donald. Much appreciated. 😃 - MJ
My 1988 Ford custom Econoline van burned up due to the recalled ignition, that is still in production in about 90% of all vehicles.
We've been looking at new Class A gas Motorhomes... I think I'll start looking at used diesel units. This isn't right. Thanks for making the video about this!
Thanks for watching.
Izzy
This is one of our reasons we chose a ford pick-up truck to pull our rv trailer to be able to service it to any ford dealer or small shops during a road trip. Detach from trailer...take it for service...go back and stay and wait on our rv trailer.
Glad it worked out for you. 👍 Thanks for watching! - MJ
Although my issue is not involving a motorhome on a Ford Chasis, my Mustang is. My problem is that Ford which owns Motorcraft parts is denying a warranty claim that I have requested twice. During routine maintenance I changed my coil packs, wires and spark plugs torqued to spec. The plugs were OEM Motorcraft plugs that come in the car from the factory. One plug was defective in that the electrode ground strap broke off inside of my engine and damaged the piston and cylinder wall. Initially I had the car towed to a NAPA Car care center when the car began making a loud tapping noise. They diagnosed the problem to the spark plug. The diagnosis cost me $270. I contacted Motorcraft and they directed me to Ford Customer Relations. Ford instructed me to have the car diagnosed at a Ford Service Center. I had the car towed to my local Ford Dealer for a diagnosis. The Ford service manager gave me the exact same diagnosis as the NAPA Car Care shop along with a bill for $235. He also recommended engine replacement. And the bill was accompanied by a "No" from Ford. No reasons for denial with a statement that they have entered my case and VIN number in to their system in case they decide to cover the cost of repairs in the future. I then reached out to Ford's social media corporate service team via Facebook. I gave them all of the information including the case number. And after a couple of days with some back and forth Q&A, they gave me the same exact denial. The cost to repair or replace the engine is nearly identical. It will be somewhere in the $10k range.
You did not mention whether you changed plugs yourself. If you did it yourself, FORD should not cover warranty.
@@americanrvtraveler2446 I did mention that I changed them. But the belief that they should not warrant the plugs because of that is nonsense. They were torqued correctly. The plug itself was intact. The weld on the strap had broken off.
When a car is under warranty you need a certified mechanic to work on it so you don't violate the warranty.
@@raybonecrusher4516 I unferstanf what you are saying. But what I am saying is that the spark plug itself was defective from the factory. My car does not have any warranty. The spark plug damaged my engine by falling apart inside of the cylinder.
@@djc2g724 I miss understood. A big problem with part warranties is they replace defective part only. It sounds like a legal problem. They may have a dis-claimer about further damage caused by their defective item. I would contact the BBB and issue a complaint. You can also check with your state attorney general for help. News media can be a great help if you can get their attention.
Ray