Latest recall? Securing the passenger airbag disable indicator padi lamp to the instrument bezel

[SafetyGuy]

Fire Jim Farely. He's been CEO for five years and Ford has been the most recalled brand almost every one of those years. Every quarter he talks about how these issues are killing them but nothing gets done about it. A lot of the issues precede him (Ford is the most recalled brand of the past decade) but still.

Now, if I recall correctly Ford used to have a lot of quality problems many years ago. Rhe 80's and 90's possibly.

Due to this fact, they set up a quality improvement program.

Then, a number of years ago I read that they closed down the quality improvement program...either quality was good enough so "not needed anymore", or as a cost saving exercise.

My Grey matter is that this happened when all the other auto companies got their handouts while Ford didn't take one. (2009ish?)

Just putting forward old memories, maybe someone has a better grasp of the time-frame.

Where is that quality improvement program and let's get it going...PROPERLY.

Quality improvement should never stop.

ANDY

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[Carlitos_92]

Quality has been Job 1 at Ford since Farley was a college kid.

He's 62.

 

[twntyfive2life]

Now, if I recall correctly Ford used to have a lot of quality problems many years ago. Rhe 80's and 90's possibly.

Due to this fact, they set up a quality improvement program.

Then, a number of years ago I read that they closed down the quality improvement program...either quality was good enough so "not needed anymore", or as a cost saving exercise.

My Grey matter is that this happened when all the other auto companies got their handouts while Ford didn't take one. (2009ish?)

Just putting forward old memories, maybe someone has a better grasp of the time-frame.

Where is that quality improvement program and let's get it going...PROPERLY.

Quality improvement should never stop.

ANDY

Ford took a $6 billion loan from the government in 2009 and as of 2020 was still deferring payments, they just avoided bankruptcy unlike GM and Chrysler

 

[SafetyGuy]

Ford took a $6 billion loan from the government in 2009 and as of 2020 was still deferring payments, they just avoided bankruptcy unlike GM and Chrysler

Dang, I thought they dodged the hand out.

I still wonder if my quality improvement thought is correct, though.

Thanks

Andy

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

LOAN
In September 2009, the Department of Energy issued a $5.9 billion loan to the Ford Motor Company to upgrade 13 facilities in Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, and Ohio. The resulting state-of-the-art assembly and manufacturing plants have the enhanced flexibility of producing multiple-platform, fuel-efficient advanced technology vehicles in response to changing market demands and fuel efficiency standards.
That loan was fully repaid as of last year, according to the DoE
Bailout/TARP
Ford did not receive a direct TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) bailout, but it did receive government loans and benefits under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program and other related initiatives. This program, part of the Department of Energy, aimed to support the development of advanced technology vehicles and reduce US dependence on foreign oil. Ford also received grants, tax credits, and other benefits related to clean energy and vehicle manufacturing.
Ford is carrying a dept load of around 158 billion dollars.

 

[SafetyGuy]

The Ford loan, if taken in full, would be significantly larger than the total of $8 billion that has been lent under the program since it was authorized in 2007. Ford previously took out a $5.9 billion loan under the program in 2009. That loan was fully repaid as of last year, according to the DoE
Ford did not receive a direct TARP (Troubled Asset Relief Program) bailout, but it did receive government loans and benefits under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program and other related initiatives. This program, part of the Department of Energy, aimed to support the development of advanced technology vehicles and reduce US dependence on foreign oil. Ford also received grants, tax credits, and other benefits related to clean energy and vehicle manufacturing.

That sounds pretty definitive, thank you Glen.

Now, I am about to look up and see if I find when the quality improvement program I seem to remember, was in effect.

I do remember recalls increasing and Consumer Reports reporting decreasing ratings.

.just when is my query.

Andy

 

[SafetyGuy]

Okay, quick look tells me quality was awful through the 70's (yep, so far).

Early 80's via Total Quality Management started hitting home runs by and making billions again.

Maybe they shut that down by 1990's sometime and cue Ford Explorer roll overs and Bridgestone tire issue as the leaders pushing improvement were replaced by.....hmmm. profit keepers maybe?

Anyways, Six Sigma became all the rage in early 2000's.

Enough info, you can read it.

they need a system that assures Continuous Quality Improvement.

For example... an issue found, brought forward, then dealt with to eliminate and repeat with next problem while documenting all the processes of how work is done. Say what you do, do what you say and update any changes.

(Sorry any and all RCAF people who may read this, I know that is called the AF9000 Program).

Continuous improvement is the idea.

Andy

 

[23grayXLT84]

Is a fix available?

 

[Carlitos_92]

Is a fix available?

They don't typically stop selling or delivering trucks to customers when they have a fix...

 

[23grayXLT84]

When stop sale lifted ?

 

[HenryFord]

This one is a bit strange. Says the trucks affected built between Apr 11 and Apr 25th. So that is a very specific period of time. Seems like the number of vehicles should be pretty limited.

 

[MetalThunder]

Stranger yet it is April 11 2024 ?

Cheers

 

[HenryFord]

Stranger yet it is April 11 2024 ?

Cheers

Snap, didn't notice 2024... Very odd.

 

[icegradner]

Stranger yet it is April 11 2024 ?

Cheers

Ford most likely made test mules as early as April 2024, they would have to be covered by the recall. In theory test mules don't get sold, and are scrapped, but got to cover their legal rear ends.

 

[MetalThunder]

Ford most likely made test mules as early as April 2024, they would have to be covered by the recall. In theory test mules don't get sold, and are scrapped, but got to cover their legal rear ends.

But 63,706 vehicles affected ? Lots of Mules I guess
Cheers

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