Constant quality complaints in forum

[Hickesy]

Touch wood, I've had 20k trouble free miles. Long may it continue. But I feel for people who've had problems, it's a lot of money to shell out. I would feel very aggrieved if it happened to me.

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[TJC]

I get it. This is a Ranger forum. And anyone who cares enough to be a member here is most likely a bit uptight about their truck. But does EVERYFREAKINGTHING have to be a reason to start a thread with "OMG my Ranger has this!" Or "Ford should have done this!" Sorry but I believe we have some folks on here that would bitch about being given $100 bill if they had to walk across the room to get it.

For the record my Tremor has/had two manufacturing issues that I have noticed so far. Here are the issues along with my response:

1) Driver door is slightly out of alignment. Did I call the dealer for an appointment and then bitch about the backlog? Nope. Did I start a thread to bitch about Ford and/or the dealership? Nope. Did I look at it long and hard to decide what to do? Yep. Solution? Live with it. No one else has even noticed it. For me personally it's just not worth a shop visit. Door alignment is a bit less than perfect. Ok. Move on.

2) As has been mentioned in other threads, the window trim on the left rear door was not installed correctly. Call dealer? Nope. Bitch about it here? Hell no. Solution????? Ding ding ding!!! We have a winner! I pushed the trim into place! Wow, what a thought. Took some concentrated effort but then it popped right into place. Been perfect every since.

When people ask me about my truck what do I tell them? I tell them the truth.... I LOVE MY TREMOR!!!! Do I mention the defects? What defects?

I had decided that I was never going to mention these two issues here in the forum as I did not want to add to the whining. But a couple of threads I read recently just caused me to go "Really?"

Not bashing on anyone specifically. But building a vehicle is honestly a pretty amazing process. I been though Ford, Chrysler, Kenworth and Freightliner plants. (Multiple times for all but KW. Figures since KW is my favorite. ) Numerous transmission and axle plants as well. And yes, forklift (boring) factories too. Not a single time did I see any process that was not fully dedicated to building a vehicle and building it right. But it is a man-made product. Shit happens. (Yes dealers screw up too.) But at the end of the day the process is pretty amazing. Whole lot of people trying to do things right.

I guess I'm just saying that every little thing isn't a "Ford sucks!" crisis. Some of you folks would have to be put on suicide watch if you bought a new house and started nitpicking it. Just inspecting the first room would have you in the fetal position calling for your Mommy.

My rant is over.

I know this thread is getting long in tooth, But I must speak up.

I have owned my 2020 Ranger since new, and I am still correcting MAJOR problems with it, most of which are clearly Ford taking shortcuts.

In contrast, I just purchased a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and it is perfect. Design and Engineering are both sound. Fit and finish is perfect. I could not be happier.

My wife has mentioned maybe it is time to unload the 2020 Ranger.... sigh... I have sunk a boatload of $$ in this truck correcting all manner of what I personally consider serious issues. I feel like I am on the cusp of making this Ranger usable, and enjoyable to drive. And I hate to see my effort wasted. She tells me to unload it before the warranty runs out.

I own a 2005 Ranger that I have restored to new. She tells me it is a better truck, its track record is proven and it simply runs great. I may very well take her advice.

I want to like this truck, but continuous issues on too many fronts are wearing thin.

A list of mandatory changes from my perspective are:

• 1 piece Tom Woods Driveshaft - $700
• Transmission Deep Pan $300
• Transmission Fluid and Filter $150
• Transmission Dipstick $200
• Eibach Stage 2 Shocks all 4 corners- $1100
• and Alignment $100
• Auto Stop Start bypass $100
• Disabling BMS - labor only, but a massive amount of research

$2650 plus my labor to make the truck what it should have been from the factory.

And FWIW, there is nothing I need to do to the CX-5. It simply works.

Further, I trusted it over the Ranger on a recent 1500 mile trip. Still need to install the Trans Pan and Dipstick in the Ranger... during the summer I notice the transmission shifting poorly.
Winter driving is smooth, summer is jerky and funky shift patterns. So It sits more than it should.

I am hoping that after I complete these mods that the truck will be reliable, and the decision to keep it easier. But if the problems persist I will have wasted $2650 and worse the $35K+ investment of which I will recover ~$30K when I sell it. Only 18K miles on it right now and I am seriously thinking of selling it. And I typically keep my cars and trucks for 20 years!

- T

 

[rydfree]

I get it. This is a Ranger forum. And anyone who cares enough to be a member here is most likely a bit uptight about their truck. But does EVERYFREAKINGTHING have to be a reason to start a thread with "OMG my Ranger has this!" Or "Ford should have done this!" Sorry but I believe we have some folks on here that would bitch about being given $100 bill if they had to walk across the room to get it.

For the record my Tremor has/had two manufacturing issues that I have noticed so far. Here are the issues along with my response:

1) Driver door is slightly out of alignment. Did I call the dealer for an appointment and then bitch about the backlog? Nope. Did I start a thread to bitch about Ford and/or the dealership? Nope. Did I look at it long and hard to decide what to do? Yep. Solution? Live with it. No one else has even noticed it. For me personally it's just not worth a shop visit. Door alignment is a bit less than perfect. Ok. Move on.

2) As has been mentioned in other threads, the window trim on the left rear door was not installed correctly. Call dealer? Nope. Bitch about it here? Hell no. Solution????? Ding ding ding!!! We have a winner! I pushed the trim into place! Wow, what a thought. Took some concentrated effort but then it popped right into place. Been perfect every since.

When people ask me about my truck what do I tell them? I tell them the truth.... I LOVE MY TREMOR!!!! Do I mention the defects? What defects?

I had decided that I was never going to mention these two issues here in the forum as I did not want to add to the whining. But a couple of threads I read recently just caused me to go "Really?"

Not bashing on anyone specifically. But building a vehicle is honestly a pretty amazing process. I been though Ford, Chrysler, Kenworth and Freightliner plants. (Multiple times for all but KW. Figures since KW is my favorite. ) Numerous transmission and axle plants as well. And yes, forklift (boring) factories too. Not a single time did I see any process that was not fully dedicated to building a vehicle and building it right. But it is a man-made product. Shit happens. (Yes dealers screw up too.) But at the end of the day the process is pretty amazing. Whole lot of people trying to do things right.

I guess I'm just saying that every little thing isn't a "Ford sucks!" crisis. Some of you folks would have to be put on suicide watch if you bought a new house and started nitpicking it. Just inspecting the first room would have you in the fetal position calling for your Mommy.

My rant is over.

Some people just like to complain. Eventually they all wind up on the internet.

 

[AzScorpion]

Some people just like to complain. Eventually they all wind up on the internet.

Truth! So, how's the Bronco been? ?

 

[subquark]

I know this thread is getting long in tooth, But I must speak up.

I have owned my 2020 Ranger since new, and I am still correcting MAJOR problems with it, most of which are clearly Ford taking shortcuts.

In contrast, I just purchased a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and it is perfect. Design and Engineering are both sound. Fit and finish is perfect. I could not be happier.

My wife has mentioned maybe it is time to unload the 2020 Ranger.... sigh... I have sunk a boatload of $$ in this truck correcting all manner of what I personally consider serious issues. I feel like I am on the cusp of making this Ranger usable, and enjoyable to drive. And I hate to see my effort wasted. She tells me to unload it before the warranty runs out.

I own a 2005 Ranger that I have restored to new. She tells me it is a better truck, its track record is proven and it simply runs great. I may very well take her advice.

I want to like this truck, but continuous issues on too many fronts are wearing thin.

A list of mandatory changes from my perspective are:

• 1 piece Tom Woods Driveshaft - $700
• Transmission Deep Pan $300
• Transmission Fluid and Filter $150
• Transmission Dipstick $200
• Eibach Stage 2 Shocks all 4 corners- $1100
• and Alignment $100
• Auto Stop Start bypass $100
• Disabling BMS - labor only, but a massive amount of research

$2650 plus my labor to make the truck what it should have been from the factory.

And FWIW, there is nothing I need to do to the CX-5. It simply works.

Further, I trusted it over the Ranger on a recent 1500 mile trip. Still need to install the Trans Pan and Dipstick in the Ranger... during the summer I notice the transmission shifting poorly.
Winter driving is smooth, summer is jerky and funky shift patterns. So It sits more than it should.

I am hoping that after I complete these mods that the truck will be reliable, and the decision to keep it easier. But if the problems persist I will have wasted $2650 and worse the $35K+ investment of which I will recover ~$30K when I sell it. Only 18K miles on it right now and I am seriously thinking of selling it. And I typically keep my cars and trucks for 20 years!

- T

I don't have many miles on my '22, only 2800 miles and I've spent $6000 on updates. None were needed (I'd think your transmission upgrades, which are awesome, are not needed and same with ASS bypass and possibly shocks, mine's bouncy as hell but that was easy to feel in the test drive). Your driveshaft issue I can't speak to and see many here do the same.

Was all the work you did stuff that Ford wouldn't cover?

Not saying you did anything wrong - I'd like to do your transmission stuff to mine and also do the shocks, but none of that, for me, is stuff that I have to do.

And I'll definitely agree with you on the Mazda. A month after getting pretty much the most basic level Ranger, we got Kate the fully0loaded CX-5 Signature Edition. It cost $15,000 more than Soupie - so my expectations were greater.

And Mazda did not fail me - wow, the tech, capability, handling, and fit and finish are phenomenal.

And her Mazda dealer's service was impeccable and even included a video of the maintenance done. Whereas, my first Ford service ignored the one simple issue I had, my system date. Not a biggie but still ...

I'm sorry to hear your Ranger's been a PIA for you and, in the end, it's your perception and your truck that matter. Not what I say, or anyone else says.

You gotta do right by you and your family and if getting rid of your new Ranger is the answer, then do it - life's too short to deal with the aggravation. At least you have an awesome 4g, If we ever get land (I was raised on a farm in Canada and miss some space), I'd love to have a 4g as my knockabout runabout!

Good luck!

Soupie's imaginary little farm brother doing a good day's work:

 

[Synfulz]

My Dog pissed on the bathroom rug this morning …

 

[AzScorpion]

See, even the toilet seat has a damper! ?

 

[rydfree]

Truth! So, how's the Bronco been? ?

The Bronco is Awesome. I'm glad I got the 2.7. This thing breaks the 33's loose at will. If the Ranger had the 2.7 I probably would have kept it . The extra torque sure makes a difference.

 

[AzScorpion]

The Bronco is Awesome. I'm glad I got the 2.7. This thing breaks the 33's loose at will. If the Ranger had the 2.7 I probably would have kept it . The extra torque sure makes a difference.

Very nice Benny! I really like the Area 51 color too. I'm getting mine tinted today and I'm going with a 20% ceramic all around. I don't know which I'm more jealous of your Bronco or your garage.

 

[TJC]

I don't have many miles on my '22, only 2800 miles and I've spent $6000 on updates. None were needed (I'd think your transmission upgrades, which are awesome, are not needed and same with ASS bypass and possibly shocks, mine's bouncy as hell but that was easy to feel in the test drive). Your driveshaft issue I can't speak to and see many here do the same.

Was all the work you did stuff that Ford wouldn't cover?

Not saying you did anything wrong - I'd like to do your transmission stuff to mine and also do the shocks, but none of that, for me, is stuff that I have to do.

And I'll definitely agree with you on the Mazda. A month after getting pretty much the most basic level Ranger, we got Kate the fully0loaded CX-5 Signature Edition. It cost $15,000 more than Soupie - so my expectations were greater.

And Mazda did not fail me - wow, the tech, capability, handling, and fit and finish are phenomenal.

And her Mazda dealer's service was impeccable and even included a video of the maintenance done. Whereas, my first Ford service ignored the one simple issue I had, my system date. Not a biggie but still ...

I'm sorry to hear your Ranger's been a PIA for you and, in the end, it's your perception and your truck that matter. Not what I say, or anyone else says.

You gotta do right by you and your family and if getting rid of your new Ranger is the answer, then do it - life's too short to deal with the aggravation. At least you have an awesome 4g, If we ever get land (I was raised on a farm in Canada and miss some space), I'd love to have a 4g as my knockabout runabout!

Good luck!

I paid the same for both the 2023 CX-5 Turbo and the 2020 XLT 4x4 Ranger.

No need for empathy - It will all work itself out one way or the other.

My transmission is headed south unless I take action to prevent it. I've been around cars long enough to know the symptoms.

Ford would not fix anything - "working as designed". And I can not argue that point... because I believe them when they say that... It is working as designed! And therein lies the problem!

Wife got car sick each time she rode in the new Ranger. So much so she refused to get in it until I stopped the "porpoise effect" as she called it. Shocks fixed that. And yes she rode in it around the block before we purchased it.

I have never owned a vehicle with ASS and I very nearly didn't purchase the truck over it. I researched it and only when I knew I could bypass it without negative consequences did I buy the truck.

The bottom line here is that any of us could easily get by with a lot less than we purchase, and in the case of my Ranger, IMO (it's the only one that matters to me) less is beginning to look a lot like more!

Ford made some very bad business decisions on the 5G Ranger. And it is biting them in the ass. I waited patiently to replace my old 4G... even waited several years into the new 5G models to let Ford work out the wrinkles.

The 4G has none of the modern amenities, but from my perspective, it is a better executed product than the 5G (Thanks Phil, your team did a great job!). It does what it does reliably right out of the showroom floor.

That can not be said of the 5G.

Corners were cut everywhere. Single parabolic rear springs, shocks with absolutely no damping, poorly tuned transmissions, poorly designed rear driveshaft, compromised charging systems, poorly executed cooling systems with basic duct work flawed. Penny wise pound foolish engineering design decisions are rampant.

The bottom line is that I made the decision to purchase, and now I have to live with the consequences. However, I am smart enough not the make the same mistake twice. I will not be purchasing another Ford.

 

[pbethel]

I know this thread is getting long in tooth, But I must speak up.

I have owned my 2020 Ranger since new, and I am still correcting MAJOR problems with it, most of which are clearly Ford taking shortcuts.

In contrast, I just purchased a 2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo, and it is perfect. Design and Engineering are both sound. Fit and finish is perfect. I could not be happier.

My wife has mentioned maybe it is time to unload the 2020 Ranger.... sigh... I have sunk a boatload of $$ in this truck correcting all manner of what I personally consider serious issues. I feel like I am on the cusp of making this Ranger usable, and enjoyable to drive. And I hate to see my effort wasted. She tells me to unload it before the warranty runs out.

I own a 2005 Ranger that I have restored to new. She tells me it is a better truck, its track record is proven and it simply runs great. I may very well take her advice.

I want to like this truck, but continuous issues on too many fronts are wearing thin.

A list of mandatory changes from my perspective are:

• 1 piece Tom Woods Driveshaft - $700
• Transmission Deep Pan $300
• Transmission Fluid and Filter $150
• Transmission Dipstick $200
• Eibach Stage 2 Shocks all 4 corners- $1100
• and Alignment $100
• Auto Stop Start bypass $100
• Disabling BMS - labor only, but a massive amount of research

$2650 plus my labor to make the truck what it should have been from the factory.

And FWIW, there is nothing I need to do to the CX-5. It simply works.

Further, I trusted it over the Ranger on a recent 1500 mile trip. Still need to install the Trans Pan and Dipstick in the Ranger... during the summer I notice the transmission shifting poorly.
Winter driving is smooth, summer is jerky and funky shift patterns. So It sits more than it should.

I am hoping that after I complete these mods that the truck will be reliable, and the decision to keep it easier. But if the problems persist I will have wasted $2650 and worse the $35K+ investment of which I will recover ~$30K when I sell it. Only 18K miles on it right now and I am seriously thinking of selling it. And I typically keep my cars and trucks for 20 years!

- T

Ummm why didn't you buy the make and model that had all the features you deemed essential? Mandatory?

 

[subquark]

I paid the same for both the 2023 CX-5 Turbo and the 2020 XLT 4x4 Ranger.

No need for empathy - It will all work itself out one way or the other.

My transmission is headed south unless I take action to prevent it. I've been around cars long enough to know the symptoms.

Ford would not fix anything - "working as designed". And I can not argue that point... because I believe them when they say that... It is working as designed! And therein lies the problem!

Wife got car sick each time she rode in the new Ranger. So much so she refused to get in it until I stopped the "porpoise effect" as she called it. Shocks fixed that. And yes she rode in it around the block before we purchased it.

I have never owned a vehicle with ASS and I very nearly didn't purchase the truck over it. I researched it and only when I knew I could bypass it without negative consequences did I buy the truck.

The bottom line here is that any of us could easily get by with a lot less than we purchase, and in the case of my Ranger, IMO (it's the only one that matters to me) less is beginning to look a lot like more!

Ford made some very bad business decisions on the 5G Ranger. And it is biting them in the ass. I waited patiently to replace my old 4G... even waited several years into the new 5G models to let Ford work out the wrinkles.

The 4G has none of the modern amenities, but from my perspective, it is a better executed product than the 5G (Thanks Phil, your team did a great job!). It does what it does reliably right out of the showroom floor.

That can not be said of the 5G.

Corners were cut everywhere. Single parabolic rear springs, shocks with absolutely no damping, poorly tuned transmissions, poorly designed rear driveshaft, compromised charging systems, poorly executed cooling systems with basic duct work flawed. Penny wise pound foolish engineering design decisions are rampant.

The bottom line is that I made the decision to purchase, and now I have to live with the consequences. However, I am smart enough not the make the same mistake twice. I will not be purchasing another Ford.

Oh boy, if I had paid the same for my Ranger as her Mazda, I'd be pretty miffed too.

I mean Mazda has double door seals for noise mitigation.

Since my truck is so basic, my expectations were basic too (plus I was paid a whopping $50 to have ASS deletion due to the chip shortage.

For $25K I'm okay with what it is but would not be at $43K.

" Penny wise pound foolish" is a credo I live by.

 

[TJC]

Oh boy, if I had paid the same for my Ranger as her Mazda, I'd be pretty miffed too.

I mean Mazda has double door seals for noise mitigation.

Since my truck is so basic, my expectations were basic too (plus I was paid a whopping $50 to have ASS deletion due to the chip shortage.

For $25K I'm okay with what it is but would not be at $43K.

" Penny wise pound foolish" is a credo I live by.

I paid ~$35K for both... out the door. MSRP for the truck and over $3K off the MSRP for the CX-5. Mazda rewards loyalty, even as far back as 1993! My 1993 Miata LE saved me some cash +$1500 more corporate discount plus a little wheelin' and dealin'. I could have gotten another equipped identical for $1300 less, but the wife preferred the blue over the silver.

 

[TJC]

Ummm why didn't you buy the make and model that had all the features you deemed essential? Mandatory?

Yep, why didn't I?

 

[Big Blue]

Corners were cut everywhere. Single parabolic rear springs, shocks with absolutely no damping, poorly tuned transmissions, poorly designed rear driveshaft, compromised charging systems, poorly executed cooling systems with basic duct work flawed. Penny wise pound foolish engineering design decisions are rampant.

The bottom line is that I made the decision to purchase, and now I have to live with the consequences. However, I am smart enough not the make the same mistake twice. I will not be purchasing another Ford.

I do not have an issue with the number of complaints and issues that are brought up on here. Even the repeats and the seemingly trivial or minor ones. They can at least give us a heads up for some issues.

What does bother me is the constant Ford bashing that goes along with them along with the complaints that Ford should have included this on a XXX dollar truck. First, yes Ford made some questionable design decisions. I do not know why they made them and I'm sure cost figured in to them. It always does, but is not the only factor. Socond, you knew full well what was and what was not on the truck, or at least you should have. You agreed on the price before signing the contract. So stop complaining about what your truck doesn’t have. Also remember you are buying an assembly line produced comodity vehicle, not a hand built limited production vehicle. It is a complex assembly of tens of thousands of parts from many hundreds of suppliers, put together by multiple people doing the same job 8 hours a day. Not everyone is going to be perfect, fact most won't be. Hopefully the defects will be minor and correctable by the dealer. Which by the way, Ford has very little to no control over.

Now, @TJC , of the items you listed as "manditory changes from your perspective", good use of that qualifyer by the way. Only one of them, from MY perspective, even qualifies as serious. That is the drive shaft vibration issue. Thankfully mine does not have it, along with I'm sure the majority of Ranger owners. The rest are just suposed issues or annoyences for which you and many others have made corrections with the help of this forum.

I hope you continue to be very happy with your Mazda and what ever vehicle you decide to replace your ranger with.

To everyone else sorry for the long rant.

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