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30 Things Ford Needs To Fix Right Away

Cameron Eittreim December 16, 2019

Ford Taurus Via Motor Trend — via: Motor Trend

22: Door Bound Child Locks

Ford has always been known for interesting exterior locking mechanisms on their vehicles such as the code locking system on the doors or the child locks. The recall in 2013 with the 2013 Focus and C-Max vehicles was odd. Locks would malfunction and either lock the passengers into the car or keep the doors from opening. This recall was a wakeup call for owners of these vehicles and Ford had to redo the systems. Child locks have been a thorn in the sides of automakers and car owners for some time now.

It can be annoying when these locks malfunction, especially to rear passengers. The child safety lock debacle was only one of the recent problems with Ford sedans. The C-Max was a popular selling vehicle for the company, but the reliability issues with the technology caused a lot of frustrations with customers and service departments.

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21: Limited Powertrain Options

The switch to CVT transmissions has changed the way we drive in a lot of aspects. Drivers are also less involved with the actual practice of driving then they used to be, and as such, the manual transmission is a dying breed. You’ll notice that for a lot of the Ford lineup, the option for a stick shift has all but disappeared. This has impacted the enthusiasts who seek these transmissions out, but they are a small number. The lack of a real stick shift in the pickup trucks has also aggravated a good portion of buyers.

Current model F-150s are about as technologically advanced as you can get, and that’s both a good and bad thing. Ford is keen on offering the automatic transmissions in all of the company’s new pickup trucks, but the stick shift has become a sort of dying breed. We’d like to see Ford fix this problem in the future and add more choices in transmissions.

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20: The Cafe Loophole

Ford is a company that prides itself on being environmentally friendly, at least in the public eye. The company had one of the first mass-produced hybrids with the Ford Escape, and there are continual innovations. But the company also has a deep-rooted underbelly that has exploited a Cafe loophole since the 1970s. This loophole allows the company to produce full-size pickup trucks and SUVs without any type of regulation on the weight. Because of this loophole, Ford can exploit the standards where it comes to fuel consumption.

A company that has been priding itself on being green should be more honest with consumers. This is just one of the problems that come into play when you think about the companies operation. There are also various problems with the way that the newer cars and trucks are engineered to maximize fuel economy and profits.

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19: Transmission Glitches

When Ford began switching to fully electronic transmissions, there were a lot of glitches that came into play. First and foremost, the Fiesta was the most notable of these cars that were affected. The PowerShift system would stop working altogether and cause the vehicle to stall out. Long before these problems, Ford has also had numerous recalls which pertained to the transmission shift solenoids which were on the outside of the transmissions. The electronic technology that controls the transmission in many Ford vehicles is prone to failure.

There have been reports that the NHTSA was going to probe the problem with the Fiesta, but nothing came of it as of yet. There is nothing more frustrating than paying top dollar for a vehicle only to have the transmission fail on you. Most of these vehicles just left the dealership parking lot and there is no reason for failure.

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18: Constant Breakdowns On The F-150

The F-150 in its current generation has a serious issue with breaking down. Consumer feedback indicates that there are constant problems with acceleration and reliability. This is focused on the F-150 models as the larger F-250 and F-350 trucks seem to get reasonable ratings. It would appear that Ford has moved so far along with the technological enhancements that the F-150 has suffered. There’s no doubt that when you spend this kind of money for a full-size truck you want it to perform correctly.

Ford has denied that many of these problems exist, but a quick look online will reveal a different story. Owners are fed up with the constant issues that arise with these pickup trucks right from the factory. The worst offenders are the EcoBoost engines which seem to have a lot of new technology that hasn’t yet been perfected. Whatever the problem arises from, Ford would be smart to get it rectified.

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17: Undercarriage Rust Problems.

Ford is not alone in the fight against rust, but the automaker seems to have been hit the hardest. Ford owners report seeing undercarriage rust pretty early on in the ownership of the vehicle, and this is not something that’s generally seen until a lot later on down the line. Rusting can be a problem because it is irreversible and you can’t just paint over it. There have been reports of rust on the top of the body but the area of real concern is the undercarriage. Ford does offer a rust protection plan for this but most buyers don’t opt for it.

If you live in an area that suffers from a lot of salt, the rust problem can be detrimental to your new pickup truck. We have to wonder how Ford is going to address this problem with future models and if it will affect the resale value. Right now, Ford trucks tend to hold their value quite well whereas the cars depreciate quickly except for the Mustang.

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16: Oil Leak Problems On The Eco Boost

Another problem that owners have been reporting in droves is oil leaks, particularly with the Eco Boost engines. It seems to affect the oil pan area. It could be something as simple as faulty gaskets from the factory, or a more serious problem. Owners have reported being as much as two quarts low and the truck even not burning oil. The 2.7L, 3.0L, and 3.5L EcoBoost have all had recent complaints posted by owners. A lot of these early repairs are under warranty, but we have to wonder what happens when the truck begins to age.

Are these problems going to affect the long term reliability of the trucks? When you buy a pickup truck new you generally expect it to last for a long period. The lack of a tangible solution for consumers has created a fair amount of stress. No one wants to purchase a used pickup truck only to have it completely run out of oil prematurely.

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15. Exiting The Passenger Car Market

The year was 1986 and the Ford Motor Company was in bad shape. Consumers were just not warming up to the LTD sedan and Ford needed something new. The Taurus was a revolutionary car that showed off how car American design could go. Buyers scooped the Taurus up for the next 34 years. Sadly, Ford is exiting the passenger car market this year and this is a big mistake. There is still a market for sedans and Ford is going to lose out tremendously.

The company’s Japanese competitors already have a stronghold on the market and once Ford exits it, it will be hard to build back consumer confidence. Exiting the sedan market could end up costing Ford a large amount of money.

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14. Trying To Make The Mustang Into An SUV

Ford unveiled the Mach-E a few weeks ago and the vehicle is a unique piece of engineering. The problem is that it borrows its name from a historic nameplate that doesn’t need to be an SUV. Ford is trying to reinvent the wheel and the Mach-E should have a different name. The Mustang is a historic pony car and it has been for over 50 years. With that being said, the car doesn’t need to be something that it’s not. Ford is directing all of their energy into the crossover market.

But at this point does that mean getting rid of historic nameplates? The Mach-E should have been named something else and the Mustang should be left alone. The Mustang is one of the most storied nameplates in automotive history.

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13. The Raptor V6

When the infamous original Raptor hit the market, it boasted a 6.0L V8 engine. This was a hefty powerplant that gave the Raptor some serious power. Ford, on the other hand, has been focusing on green trends as of late and the Raptor was relegated to a turbocharged V6 engine. Raptor aficionados who want to have V8 power have to go for the Hennesey aftermarket version. Ford should offer some type of V8 power on the current generation Raptor. This would be a stellar powerplant that a good portion of buyers would opt for.

When you are paying upwards of 70k for a new pickup truck, you want to have the option for a V8. There’s nothing wrong with the turbocharged V6, but for some buyers, the V8 is the preferable engine to have.

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12. A Raptor Single Cab

Believe it or not, there was a time when automakers would sell you a fully-loaded single cab truck. Why the market deviated from this is a mystery. But there is still a portion of buyers who want a single cab truck. Think about it, a Raptor single cab would be an awesome truck to own. The short wheelbase would make the truck very similar to the Lightning. Ford has offered single cab performance trucks before and the Raptor single cab would be it. The Raptor brand has become synonymous with off-roading, not to mention the fact that the truck is selling like hotcakes.

There has been the talk among the big three automakers in the last few years about bringing single cab trucks back. There is a strong consumer appetite for a single cab truck that has some nice features in it.

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11. Canceling The Focus ST

Ford’s exit out of the passenger car market hasn’t sat well with some loyalists. The Focus ST was a hot hatch that was fun to drive. Ford built on some of its European roots and you got a good driving car for a fraction of the price. The Focus ST was a winning combination of speed and agility which you don’t see often in domestic compacts. Ford has debated bringing the Focus back as a crossover, which is what Mitsubishi did with the Eclipse. But this is probably not something that consumers will vibe with.

The Focus ST was a well-rounded and affordable sports car. We have to wonder how long Ford will realize that exiting the passenger car market was a mistake. After all, the blue oval started out making passenger cars.

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10. Bring Back The Lightning

Ford has the Raptor and the Harley Davidson edition. But both of these trucks have a specific consumer base. The Raptor is more of an off-road truck then a performance truck, and the Harley Davidson edition is more for collectors who have a love for Harley Davidsons as well. The F-150 Lightning was a fixture of truck performance. The Lightning dominated the NASCAR circuit in terms of branding and the truck was popular with enthusiasts. Ford would do their customer base well by bringing the Lightning back. A modern Ford Lightning would even give pony cars a run for their money.

The Lightning pickup truck was perhaps one of the most iconic performance cars of the 90s. A modern-day Lightning would be a popular choice for many automotive enthusiasts.

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9. Bring The V8 Back In The Ford Explorer

During the 90s, the Ford Explorer was one of the most popular mid-size SUV models to feature a V8 engine. Nowadays, the vehicle relies on a turbocharged EcoBoost powerplant. But the V8 powerplant would be a popular choice for many consumers. There are distinct advantages to the V8 engine that can benefit the SUV. A V8 powerplant in the Explorer would help the SUV to compete with the likes of the Tahoe and the Yukon, both of which still offer a V8 engine. There are distinct advantages to a V8 engine. Ford could make the Explorer more appealing.

While it might not be feasible for the companies current focus, a V8 powerplant would be a great option for the Ford Explorer that would entice future buyers.

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8. The Ranger Is Dated

Although the Ranger is new for the American market the actual model has been around in Europe for years. The interior looks like something out of a Ford Fusion or Taurus. The basic overall styling has grown old. But Ford is taking a gamble bringing the Ranger back into the market so this is a more cost-effective way. The Ranger is still more refined than the previous model, but there’s a lot that could be made better.

Ford simply imported an existing model and added some trim levels to it that would appeal to domestic buyers. The Ranger deserves a lot better than this, especially with competition on the horizon from the Ram brand.

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7. Antique Infotainment Systems

Ride in a base-level Ford vehicle and you are bound to see an analog display, something that has not been seen in cars for years now. The antique infotainment centers are relegated to the lower trim levels. This is something that Ford needs to change because the competition is becoming fierce. Most basic cars are offering notable features such as a touch-screen display and a back-up camera. The base-level Ford cars are going to need to start becoming better equipped if the company hopes to make it.

There is already a big risk leaving the passenger car market, and features are another big selling point.

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6. Supercab Is Cramped

There is no single cab model that you can get on the Ranger, and the regular cab model of the F-150 is limited to a work-truck configuration. With that being said, many buyers need some sort of an interior to work with. The current car is cramped in-terms of space, and this causes an issue in the long run. While Ford claims that the Supercab models are more than roomy enough inside, space is limited. The Supercab configuration could use a bit of tweaking to offer a comparable amount of space to the GM and Ram models.

Ford just has to get back to basics and start offering a competitive Supercab model. This will make sense for the driver and passengers.

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5. Limited Powertrain Options

Ford used to allow buyers to select from a wide range of powertrains on their vehicles. Nowadays, things have slimmed down. Ford is trying to get more out of four-cylinder engines than ever before. But this is limiting the average truck buyer who might need a more powerful option. The automaker claims that the turbocharged varients of its smaller engines are fine enough. Ford needs to offer more powertrain options to compete at a higher level.

Even in today’s day and age, not every pickup truck buyer is going to want to spring for a V6 or a four-cylinder engine.

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4. The Bronco II

In addition to talk of the big Bronco’s return, there has also been talking that Ford will try to resurrect the Bronco II. This would be a mistake because the market is already too flooded. The Bronco II wouldn’t bring anything unique to the table. The big Bronco is already going to fill a void that was left by the FJ Cruiser in the market, whereas the Bronco II would just be another crossover offering in a sea of flooded offerings. Crossovers are becoming so popular that every automaker wants to jump in, but the market is becoming saturated.

The Bronco II is going to be a mistake, so the company should just focus on the larger Bronco offering that’s coming out.

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3. Electrifying the F-150

The biggest mistake that Ford is on the verge of making is electrifying the F-150. The trademark truck of the brand just isn’t ready for an all-electric offering. Think about the prior Silverado hybrid. It was a sad offering, to say the least. The electric F-150 will be the unpopular version of the Cybertruck. F-150 buyers are not interested in saving money on fuel, the majority of these truck buyers are using these trucks for heavy work. Ford needs to go back to the drawing board and make the F-150 a more comprehensive truck instead of copying new fads.

The electric F-150 isn’t going to be a popular option for several reasons, and this is something Ford should avoid.

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2. Ford Is Exploiting a Cafe Loophole

The EPA (CAFE) standards have made it so automakers can actually make bigger cars more efficient, or so they say. This is the real reason that vehicles are getting bigger, and sedans are being phased out. In reality, Ford found this same loophole during the 90s when it marketed the original Ford Explorer. It would appear that the domestic automakers didn’t learn anything from the economic collapse of 2008. This was during a time when the SUV boom was happening the first time, and as soon as gas prices shot up, no one could afford them.

Ford is making a mistake by exploiting this loophole just to sell vehicles that have a bigger profit margin. Ford needs to work on building unique cars and trucks that people want.

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1. Getting Rid Of The Fiesta

The Ford Fiesta has been a decent-selling small car for the company. It offers a level of refinement and quality for the price. But Ford has lumped the Fiesta in with the rest of their vehicle lineup. The Fiesta will be going away after this year and Ford will have no compact cars on the market. In terms of affordability, the Fiesta is something that most first time drivers and budget-minded drivers can afford. The consumer appetite for compact fun to drive cars hasn’t deteriorated any. Ford is going to miss out on a lot of consumer market share by phasing the Fiesta out.

The Fiesta is also sold internationally and the car has proved to be very popular abroad. Ford is going to lose a good deal of loyal customers by exiting the compact car market.

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30 Things Ford Needs To Fix Right Away

22: Door Bound Child Locks

21: Limited Powertrain Options

20: The Cafe Loophole

19: Transmission Glitches

18: Constant Breakdowns On The F-150

17: Undercarriage Rust Problems.

16: Oil Leak Problems On The Eco Boost

15. Exiting The Passenger Car Market

14. Trying To Make The Mustang Into An SUV

13. The Raptor V6

12. A Raptor Single Cab

11. Canceling The Focus ST

10. Bring Back The Lightning

9. Bring The V8 Back In The Ford Explorer

8. The Ranger Is Dated

7. Antique Infotainment Systems

6. Supercab Is Cramped

5. Limited Powertrain Options

4. The Bronco II

3. Electrifying the F-150

2. Ford Is Exploiting a Cafe Loophole

1. Getting Rid Of The Fiesta

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