Loved it at first, hate it now.

[BlueMaverickBlues]

I have a 2024 Maverick, XL Hybrid, bought new (7/13/24) with just under 1 year of warranty left. A few months ago I Suddenly had start, and running problems. I see from this owners groups this is a known problem with battery issues. Mine got to the point it would hardly start, and most of the time it did start, it would then just shut off. I worried if I could drive it to the dealer to see about service, well I was scared I may loose power on the freeway, so I had it towed to the dealer I bought it from. I told them the problem. and that I had read the battery was a likely problem. My dealer, name withheld at this time, instead tried to tell me I needed a $9.000.00 wiring harness replacement due to "rodent damage" they gave me pictures to show this damage, however they were from so far away you couldn't see anything, and I do believe this was part of their scam. Anyhow there is no rodent damage to be found. I did have a bird trying to nest under the hood, and she kept dragging in straw to make her nest, but even me doing an inspection could see none of these rodent chewed wires.

Fearing a scam I had my truck towed to my personal mechanic who I do trust. He spent some time looking for "rodent damage", and all he could find was a battery that would not hold a charge, or start the truck. The battery was replaced, and viola the "rodent damage" went away. So now I am out of pocket for over $700.00 to replace a battery still under warranty, and a lot of man hours LOOKING for rodent damage that did NOT exist. The battery was used with a jumper station, and taken out and tested by them, and their battery company, and it has been found to be dead, and unable to hold a charge. I have kept the battery, and plan to allow the media to do independent testing to verify this. After talking to local news a few of them are pretty interested in a "Can you trust your car dealer" story

I spent over $29,000.00, on a truck I have not driven 5,000 miles yet, and had to buy at MY expense a new battery, because Ford puts cheap crap in their vehicles, and their representing dealers try to invent damage that isn't there, so their service department can make a big score.

I have also called the FORD complaint line, talked to a nice young Lady, who said someone would be contacting me right away about this. I can still hear the crickets chirping. A month, and no word from FORD. I can assure you, anyone that wants to hear my FORD experience is welcome to hear it, no lies just really bad service. I wouldn't suggest anyone buy a FORD product.

Wondering if this is typical?

These are pics the Ford dealer gave me of the "RODENT DAMAGE" there are several, at least you can see wiring in the 3 that I am posting here, most of them there are no wires in the shot at all. What there is are pieces of straw from the bird.

The following pics are from my mechanic, he either circled, or put an arrow to any wiring in the shot. There are several of them, and you cannot see any "rodent damage" in any of them, plus with detailed visual inspection by 2 of his best guys, they saw no damage, but after testing the battery they did find it to be dead, and it wouldn't hold a charge. New AGM battery made the rodent damage go away, amazing. Not sure what you call that where you live, but here in Ohio we call that fraud. Invented problem to sell a big money repair.

I loved this truck, then it had a problem. Had it been addressed properly, and professionally all would have been fine. After this fraud attempt I'm not real keen on the truck, even though it appears ok for now. My issue with the truck is how many $350.00 batteries do I need to buy, how often. Seems anything you may have saved in gas with the hybrid goes up in smoke with battery cost. I know one thing FORD isn't on my Christmas card list anymore, and that dealer could fall into a fiery chasm, and I would applaud.

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[Techcar]

I hate that you've had that problem and it seems to be kind of a problem no matter what make or model vehicle you have now that the battery is still not last. Too many electronics on all of the vehicles are pulling too much from the battery for them to live long anymore. I have a 2023 LX hybrid that I just put a battery in a couple months ago. I got mine at Walmart it is a 4-year warranty battery for $189 and installed it myself only took about 20 minutes. A quick Google search of battery issues and new vehicles will give you a new perspective I urge you to do that but I do understand your outrage at the dealership. I would encourage you to make that phone call Ford's hotline at least once a week until you get a resolution.

 

[Fibrepunk]

Seeing the mess:
1) A blower would clear all the stuffs for easier inspection if there is any damage or an air compressor w/ blow gun

If I can't start my car:
2) I would have tried jumping my car and if the jump goes through, it would have pointed to the battery
3) I would then check if the car is charging while running too after the jump to rule out the charging issue

Not all dealers are bad, unfortunately there are some not very competent who ruined the reputation for many other dealers.

 

[BK007]

Do you have a copy of your service estimate? Would be very interesting to see how they wrote up the work order/estimate to get $ 9,000 bucks And let us know the name of the Ford Dealer sometime so we can avoid them!

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

@BlueMaverickBlues Why are you protecting the dealer?

HRG

 

[icegradner]

@BlueMaverickBlues Why are you protecting the dealer?

HRG

Agreed, to some extent. Some people don't want to publicly list the dealer, maybe due to location? Maybe this person has had legal issues with dealerships before?

 

[Fcnrwy]

Post-N-Go

Jerry

 

[1929]

Share the service estimate. No need to share dealer or personal details.

Dealers are franchise owners, Ford has limited power in their oversight of the dealer. You have a Ford, there are many Ford dealers to choose from, go to a different dealer.

 

[Dave O]

Are you considering selling it?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Fact.
Rodent problems are an issue with soy based wires.

 

[edmc]

Name and shame. The only thing that makes dealers jump is bad reviews and publicity.

 

[Chops]

I have a 2024 Maverick, XL Hybrid, bought new (7/13/24) with just under 1 year of warranty left…

1 year of bumper to bumper warranty remains. 4 more years of power train warranty & 8 more of HVB warranty. I can understand your frustration.

Now I would never encourage warranty fraud - but dude, clean the straw & nest debris off your engine before the service visit FCOL. Take some clean engine bay pics before the visit (fraud cough).

All makes of vehicles won’t cover rodent damage if I’m not mistaken?

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Post-N-Go

Jerry

We can only hope.
Judging by his profile name. Seems to indicate he only joined to complain.
If it's that bad and he doesn't want it I'll give him $7,000 for it.

Which is better than the $2500 I'll offer any Slate owner who isn't happy

 

[BK007]

 

[Chops]

Our Maverick’s use delicious soy based wiring….

I discovered the early construction of a pack rat nest under one of my backyard prickly pears (few weeks earlier my flame coat Siamese pranced into the house with a pack rat in its jaws - I chased them both back outside). Also, the mice in my garage went next door soon after I gave my kitties full access to garage.

Anyway, I recently purchased some automotive anti-rodent tape to reinforce my harnesses etc. Still procrastinating - but if a had a Hybrid my Maverick would be smothered in this stuff. Expensive for tape - but cheap insurance!

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