One month in and I’m having doubts

[Big Kahuna]

I don't like the idea of "you bought a cheap truck, what do you expecty for $20K?". (I paid $30K) and I'm sure that's not Ford's plan.

Ford wants to produce an affordable truck, not a cheap truck. As a comparsion we also have a 2012 Santa Fe GLS which was a $26K car in 2012. It came with 100K/10 year warranty. I gave it an inspection this morning as I had to take it to get the windshield replaced.

In the pictures below you can see the worst chip on the 10 year old Black Hyundai vs the worst chip on the 1 month old Alto Blue Maverick (there is another tiny chip in a different location as well).

Again - I'm not hating on the truck, I'm simply stating I have my doubts about long term how it will hold up "cosmetically". If a buddy asked me how I like the truck I'd say it's great man, I love it, but I'm a bit concerned about the quality of the paint, plastics, and fabric on the seats and not sure I'd recommend buying one until I see how this plays out.

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[OTACORB]

I have no doubt about my Maverick. I will do what I always do with new vehicles and that is to protect them as best I can. Is the paint on the Maverick more likely to chip than others. I don't have any idea, but if a rock hits the front of your vehicle it is likely going to chip. I don't particularly like bug shields, but I have one ordered. Concerning the interior I always use a protectant, but I do think the plastics in the Mav are softer than most. I have no issues with the seats or my B&O speakers. However, the non Lariat version we've heard it enough times that the speakers are terrible and can be remedied if bothersome enough.

Now on the off topic discussion of who can afford a vehicle. I think we'd all be suprised how many folks make $20,000 to $30,000 per year and are diciplined enough to be able to pay a car note. It's not like the full amout is due all at once. Stop the nonsense!

 

[stoptothink]

Real question
What person over 18 makes 20k or less outside of students as a primary income?
100% buying a vehicle that costs a years salary is a terrible idea (especially a new vehicle!)

Bro time to start working smarter not harder!

I didn't buy my first new car until I had been making 6-figures for a few years, and my wife makes 6-figures as well. There is no judgement at all in these statements, just harsh reality; nobody making ~$20k/yr should even consider buying a new car. Doesn't mean you are lazy or low-class; financial responsibility should come at every income level.

 

[Big Kahuna]

This. We view cars as appliances; although we can afford whatever we want, we were looking at prius, corolla hybrid, or maybe something a little more exciting like a Mazda 3 when we came across the maverick. It's cheaper than all of them, has a pretty proven and efficient powerplant, and has a little added utility over what else we were looking at. If I was considering spending $30k+, there's about zero chance I'd be considering a maverick.

I said this in another thread, but I think it is the people who threw $15k worth of faux leather, a very mediocre upgraded stereo, and decals on a $20k base model truck who are going to be disappointed. At $20k-$25k there is literally no competition for the Maverick, at $30k+ there is and you have a right to be disappointed because there are alternatives.

I actually agree with this for the most part except that the one thing car companies should not cheap out on is the paint. Car companies should know this by now. I had some crappy ass low end cars in my life and the key is that even if it had cheap plastics and interior you could still polish the turd on the outside

 

[MikeYork5]

As long as you're within the warranty. The dealership take care of any and all issues

Uh...as an X Ford Service Manager, not exactly. Warranty basically covers defects in materials and workmanship - if the vehicle, part, component, etc., is operating NORMALLY (as designed) - EVEN though you might have some type of issue with it the performance or operation of said vehicle, part, component, etc. - it's not warrantable (always exceptions or course). In the case of the items the OP listed:

Paint chips - not covered (happens to any vehicle)
Interior Plastic Scratches - not covered
Seat Material Loose - not covered (if the cover is installed correctly)
Poor speaker Performance - not covered

 

[ShadowChas]

I believe I read somewhere that only the hood is aluminum and the rest of the body is steel.

I thought that the body shop guy told me the fender was too? But I could be wrong and/or he was mistaken too - but my little deer accident popped the paint & slightly tear the fender - but I think it’s the aluminum hood where most people are getting the chips

 

[athertonbt]

I actually agree with this for the most part except that the one thing car companies should not cheap out on is the paint. Car companies should know this by now. I had some crappy ass low end cars in my life and the key is that even if it had cheap plastics and interior you could still polish the turd on the outside

This. We view cars as appliances; although we can afford whatever we want, we were looking at prius, corolla hybrid, or maybe something a little more exciting like a Mazda 3 when we came across the maverick. It's cheaper than all of them, has a pretty proven and efficient powerplant, and has a little added utility over what else we were looking at. If I was considering spending $30k+, there's about zero chance I'd be considering a maverick.

I said this in another thread, but I think it is the people who threw $15k worth of faux leather, a very mediocre upgraded stereo, and decals on a $20k base model truck who are going to be disappointed. At $20k-$25k there is literally no competition for the Maverick, at $30k+ there is and you have a right to be disappointed because there are alternatives.

Does anything age as poorly or feel as cheap as faux leather? Give me cloth over synthetic cow skin all day.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Found chips in paint on front fender today, as bad as any chip I had on my 14 year old Honda Element with 225K I just sold. My wife’s 10 year old car doesn’t have any chips like this.

The list of little annoyances is starting to build.

If it’s getting chips after a month I can’t imagine how crappy it’s going to look in 10 years.

Interior plastic scratches easier than any car I’ve ever owned.

Cloth seat covers not mounted to cushions as others have noted and look “loose” in places.

Speakers are junk, we’ve seen the pictures so not surprising.

Im really concerned about the longevity of these vehicles.

I really like the truck but either this is first year incompetence or they cheaped out on everything.

For a $19K truck maybe this type of thing is acceptable these days but when you add features and pay $30k or more this is ridiculous.

I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to anyone right now based on the level of quality on some of these things. Hope the mechanical parts are built better than the rest of it.

Hey there! Could you please send over a private message with your VIN and some more details on your current concerns with your Maverick? I would like to see what I can do to assist.

 

[callen4794]

Post pictures of the paint chips, OP? How bad are we talking?

 

[710-oil-614]

Uh...as an X Ford Service Manager, not exactly. Warranty basically covers defects in materials and workmanship - if the vehicle, part, component, etc., is operating NORMALLY (as designed) - EVEN though you might have some type of issue with it the performance or operation of said vehicle, part, component, etc. - it's not warrantable (always exceptions or course). In the case of the items the OP listed:

Paint chips - not covered (happens to any vehicle)
Interior Plastic Scratches - not covered
Seat Material Loose - not covered (if the cover is installed correctly)
Poor speaker Performance - not covered

Maybe with Ford but I would disagree on the paint chips. Dad bought a 35th anniversary Z28 and had paint issues covered under warranty. Repainted the entire hood under warranty.

 

[davidalexispr]

The trick with a cheap vehicle is you have to drive an even cheaper vehicle beforehand so you can ease into it. When we moved back to Tennessee from Florida and I drove a U-Haul 12 hours with teeth clenched in the deafening noise of the highway, it would have been the perfect time to push me onto a dealer lot. A Chevy Spark would have felt like a Maserati at that point.

Totally agree, I moved from a base mits Lancer to an XLT AWD with everything you can put to it and I feel like I am in a space ship in my Mav, I love it and don't find it cheap at all.

 

[Ryan_Dalion]

So lets summarize your list of complaints


If it’s getting chips after a month I can’t imagine how crappy it’s going to look in 10 years.

We have no context here. Where have you been driving? What are the source of the chips?

Interior plastic scratches easier than any car I’ve ever owned.

Its a sub $20K truck. What were you expecting? You can wrap it for a couple of $100 if you really wanted to.

Cloth seat covers not mounted to cushions as others have noted and look “loose” in places.

This sounds like a QC issue that your dealer should take care of. Did you contact them about it yet?

Speakers are junk, we’ve seen the pictures so not surprising.

Its a sub $20K truck. What were you expecting? You can replace them with better ones for under $100


So you are really unhappy? You have the option to sell it and get back what you paid. Good luck in finding ANY car that gives you the value that the Maverick has. But if those are your complaints, you should really purchase in a different price bracket.

It's not a sub 20K truck though that's the thing. The whole "what were you expecting" excuse doesn't apply when the truck costs 27-30k. Not sure what you spend your money on but to most people, you should get a quality product for 30k dollars. The consumer is voicing his complaints and trying to help others decide on whether or not they should buy this truck. Don't dismiss people when they try to give their opinion on a product that they actually purchased

 

[Big Kahuna]

Uh...as an X Ford Service Manager, not exactly. Warranty basically covers defects in materials and workmanship - if the vehicle, part, component, etc., is operating NORMALLY (as designed) - EVEN though you might have some type of issue with it the performance or operation of said vehicle, part, component, etc. - it's not warrantable (always exceptions or course). In the case of the items the OP listed:

Paint chips - not covered (happens to any vehicle)
Interior Plastic Scratches - not covered
Seat Material Loose - not covered (if the cover is installed correctly)
Poor speaker Performance - not covered

Post pictures of the paint chips, OP? How bad are we talking?

I posted a pic with a comparison to my wife’s car above.

 

[kcjayman]

I have chips all over mine as well. Hood, fenders, side door, and from tool marks from having the windsheild replaced at 600 miles due to a rock. The paint on these is SHIT in my opinion. I take care of my things and don't tailgate so any little grain of sand it seems from the road just eats it up.

 

[leap3535]

Killer vehicle for tall people…about a foot of headroom. With the seats folded up we fit a washer/dryer set in the back. Awesome boxes with terrible mpg to match lol!

I miss my element so much, it was an '04 so it was just falling apart. I replaced it with a renegade but not a fan of all the fabric. I'm hoping the mav is as close as I could get to the element today

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