streckfu's

My wife has a 2001 Mustang and everyday I'm hating this car more and more.

It started a few months when I went to change a tail light. Could not get the housing out. Needed some weird tool. Read the owners manual which informs me that it is a dealer only change (you can change the headlights but not the tail or brake lights). WTF.

Now last week, some Fu*&er steels the plastic horse from the front grill. Called the dealer and explained what I happened and they ordered a new one. Problem is they tore the plastic piece that holds it to the grill (wasn't noticed at first). In order to change both pieces, the whole front end needs come off because of the way everything bolts together. <img border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" title="" src="graemlins/cussing.gif" /> Forget just reaching behing the grill to unbolt it; You have togo at it from the bottom and the only way to fo that is to remove the bumper.

The plasic horse cost $20
Themounting piece is $84
Having to pay the dealer $300 to install 2 pieces of plastic: Fuggin priceless.

Never again will we own a Ford...

Puch1313

so sorry to hear that.... remind me to kick my own *** if i ever buy a ford.

Tremelune

That's disappointing. I've always thought American cars were easy to work on. I guess my only frame of reference is my Wranger...If something breaks, you just pull it off and keep going...

AlexE

The first mistake was posting your problem on a Porsche site......

Not to wave the ford flag but ..........

I have lost my Porsche emblem way too many times to complain about losing the horse on my wifes GT!!!

Post your taillight question on the appropriate board and it will be removed in 5 minutes.... <a href="http://www.stangnet.com" target="_blank">www.stangnet.com</a>

and here is a hint on how to get at the horse and maybe improve the look of your stang.

<a href="http://members.***.net/red9r/Installations/Mach%201%20Grill.htm" target="_blank">http://members.***.net/red9r/Installations/Mach%201%20Grill.htm</a>

Good luck.

tdatk944+S4

Hey, focus your blame at the correct problem. It's not the Ford , it's the a**hole that ripped the emblem off.
I personally have had nothing but good experances with Ford products. 7 and counting.

FWIW
Tim

Luke

our 03' mountaineer had to have seats and the steering wheel recovered at 5k miles, an alignment at 4k miles, and already at 15k miles.... there is blue smoke out the tail pipe on start up.

Our 00' mountaineer went through a tranny in the first year under waurantee.

Predator

Man, Ford trucks rule! Got 347K on my '94 F-250 and still looks and drives like new!

Tadi

I think the main problem Ford is having right now is QA issues. I have a 98 Explorer XLT and my parents have a 98 Explorer XLT. Their car has had more oxygen sensor repairs then you could imagine, each at $400 a pop. My father has now sworn he will never buy a Ford again. On the flipside, my truck has been fantastic. Not one single problem since I bought it new in 99. Granted, it only has 70k on the clicker, but thats something else. Its been in the shop to replace the tires once, and I'll be replacing the thermostat this weekend. So far a total of $15 on parts and labor in 4 years of ownership. I feel like I'm driving a honda or something...

I've never personally liked any of the Ford cars except the old mustang 2+2 fastbacks. Their trucks however, are very nice. Before anyone gets on my case for calling my SUV a truck, just let me say that I dispise SUV drivers and hate to group myself with them at all. I use my truck like a truck (hauling/moving/etc), so I call it a truck.

Red1

I wish my 951 was as reliable as my F150. They have about the same mileage.

Apples and oranges in terms of type of vehicle. Too bad that applies to their reliability as well.

Robert D

hahahaa
From the Grille upgrade tutorial, one of the required tools:
Dremel Tool (or Hacksaw)

WHY USE A HACKSAW ON A BODY PANEL OF A CAR?
<img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

rsrdan

Ford can build a truck now!! had a ranger for 8 yrs,didnt have to repair one thing to it.Now have new f150.porsche support vehiche!!

CurlyDE

The first time I revved my Mustang ('96 GT) over 4k rpms it managed to blow I nice big hole in the front of the upper intake manifold. It was fixed under warranty, but it still amazes me that it even happened. Other than the intake manifold issue, it has been a very reliable car for my daily commute.

I must admit that I have thought about replacing it with something that gets a bit better gas mileage considering that I drive 60 miles round trip each day.

BartW

I have two troublefree Fords in the driveway and the one has 127k on it (its a Probe so maybe it should be classified as a Mazda) and a Explorer with a 136k on it. I don't think Ford is a high quality car by any means but I used to work in a shop that dealt with Fords 99% of the time so I know my way around them well and I feel that they are the best choice of the domestic brands. The quality problems in recent years that Ford has had were mainly due to Nasser who has now been replaced, living in the motor city I know a lot of engineers who work for the car companies and they will all tell you that Nasser's theory was that it if it works now, cheapen it and see if we can get away with it and then find something else we can cut cost on.

Eric

Ford full-size trucks are the BEST. I should know, we run a fleet of about 20-25 F250/350. My personal truck(see sig), currently has 240K on the original engine/tranny--and those are hard miles(former work truck, towing duty, loaded to the top, with all kinds of equipment). We tried all different MFG. before settling on Fords--Dodge was a close runner-up.
The smaller platform vehicles, Ranger, Explorer are not as durable, and the automatic front hubs tend to strip out. For full-sized, Ford is the way to go. <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />

James86-951

That's the story with alot of manufacturers. I worked in a Jeep dealership during the '93 introduction of the grand cherokee and vision vehicles. The early production of the jeep had great rear-end spider gears. Jeep decided to save a $1.50 per veh and use cheaper gears. We began replacing a set every other day under warranty.