TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 FORD FLEX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE AIR CYLINDER THAT LIFTED THE THIRD ROW SEATS WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR HATCH OPENED ON ITS OWN FIVE TIMES; THE DEALER REALIGNED THE DOOR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL FAILED SO IT WAS ALSO REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FINE. THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION EXCESSIVELY SHIFTED INTO GEAR WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND SHAKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WHEN THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE MADE A POPPING NOISE WHEN HE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP. THE DOOR MOLDING AND WINDOW MOLDING SILLS BECAME WARPED. LASTLY, ONE OF THE TIRES (THE CONTACT COULD NOT RECALL WHICH ONE) BLEW AND THE SIDEWALL SEPARATED; HE REPLACED THE TIRE AT HIS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE LEFT THE MANUFACTURING PLANT, IT WAS THE DEALERSHIP RESPONSIBILITY AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,283. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,526. THE BATTERY HAD TO REPLACED. UPDATED 12/30/10*JB
2013
SEAT BELTS
ABOUT A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE, ONE OF THE INFLATABLE SEATBELT BUCKLES CRACKED AT THE BUCKLE CASING. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE SECOND SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED. I HAD BOTH BUCKLES REPLACED AND NOW I HAVE A 3RD BUCKLE CRACK. THIS MAKES THE SEATBELTS UNSAFE AND DIFFICULT TO OPERATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TOP PART OF THE SEAT BELT (WHERE THE INFLATABLE PORTION ORIGINATES) BECOMES TWISTED AND STUCK AT THE TOP, AND MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL OUT THE SEAT BELT AND USE IT. THIS INFLATABLE SEATBELT FEATURE IS IN THE SECOND ROW WHERE MY CHILDREN SIT. THEY ARE UNABLE TO USE THE SEATBELTS UNASSISTED AS THEY ARE HEAVY AND DIFFICULT TO MANIPULATE EVEN WHEN THEY ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THIS NEW FEATURE IS UNSAFE AND MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO BUCKLE EACH AND EVERY TIME THEY ARE USED. I PAID TO HAVE THESE SPECIAL SEATBELTS INCLUDED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND EVEN CHOSE THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS NEW SPECIAL FEATURE. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM REMOVED AND TO HAVE REGULAR STANDARD SEATBELTS INSTALLED. THANK YOU. *TR