How long do factory builds take?

[Rob Blubaugh]

Not sure where to post this, limited experience with posting to forums except for Ford Truck Enthusiasts Club antique forum when I owned a ‘56 F-100.

Two questions: How long does it take to build a Maverick XLT Hybrid? Is the factory slow, or is it the FoMoCo tracking and communication that’s problematic? I suspect the latter, especially with the archaic process of taking and filling orders for vehicles.

My second order (an order for a ‘23 was never built) and my order for a ‘24 began on November 25. There has been no news since that date.

Second question: Why isn’t there a ‘fog light’ offering on the Maverick truck. I reside in SW Washington where fall, winter, and spring nights are long, dark, and accompanied by almost endless fog, drizzle, rain or snow. Deer, elk and other large animal encounters are frequent. It wouldn’t seem that fog lights would be a high production cost and would potentially be a high profit option. I will have the dealer install an after market set of fog lights. Yes, I could save some money with DIY, but I don’t want my own hack up job on the wiring of a new vehicle.

Waiting, still waiting . . . let’s go FoMoCo!

Sponsored

 

[ilikebike]

Two questions: How long does it take to build a Maverick XLT Hybrid? Is the factory slow, or is it the FoMoCo tracking and communication that’s problematic? I suspect the latter, especially with the archaic process of taking and filling orders for vehicles.

My second order (an order for a ‘23 was never built) and my order for a ‘24 began on November 25. There has been no news since that date.

What does the tracker show?

 

[Rob Blubaugh]

The tracker seems stuck on “In Production.” At least for the ‘24 order I received an order number and eventually a VIN. I received nothing from FoMoCo on the order for a ‘23 model. (Dealership said it was an ‘inventory’ order. - I was in New Zealand when the order ‘window’ was opened.)

The tracker page says to click a link for a window sticker for the truck. That does not work, but my local dealership (also my neighbor) was able to print one.)

 

[ilikebike]

Mine and several other member's builds have been stuck "in production" since 11/13, even though Ford says they've completed builds and any body shop work is done. Just waiting to ship. Something has clogged up the lines over there.

Unfortunately there's not much you can do but wait for things to start moving again.

 

[BradnChristine]

Same timeframe here, a few days later. 11/30 build, modules popped 12/1, Ford CS (chat) said it is done and back from the body shop and gave me an ETA of 1/3-9/24. Today I got the Ford email that it is taking longer than expected, we'll email you within 45 days, blah, blah.

This is progressing exactly as my 2023 order went last January. Exactly 7 days after the modules popped and it was returned from the body shop (1/12/23), I got an identical (except for the build week date) email from Ford. It was disconcerting to get last year. It did sit from then until being noted as "built" on 2/4/23 and finally shipped on 2/9/23 and delivered on 3/8/23.

So I expect that this year's timeline will be similar. If I'm right, my truck should be noted as "Built" around 22 days AFTER the modules are populated (that would be 12/22/23), shipped after 27 days and arriving about 56 days total (aound 1/25/24). I think their 1/3/24 estimation is way overly optimistic and I certainly am not counting on it.

 

[jeffs8269]

Modules populated???

 

[Rob Blubaugh]

Same timeframe here, a few days later. 11/30 build, modules popped 12/1, Ford CS (chat) said it is done and back from the body shop and gave me an ETA of 1/3-9/24. Today I got the Ford email that it is taking longer than expected, we'll email you within 45 days, blah, blah.

This is progressing exactly as my 2023 order went last January. Exactly 7 days after the modules popped and it was returned from the body shop (1/12/23), I got an identical (except for the build week date) email from Ford. It was disconcerting to get last year. It did sit from then until being noted as "built" on 2/4/23 and finally shipped on 2/9/23 and delivered on 3/8/23.

So I expect that this year's timeline will be similar. If I'm right, my truck should be noted as "Built" around 22 days AFTER the modules are populated (that would be 12/22/23), shipped after 27 days and arriving about 56 days total (aound 1/25/24). I think their 1/3/24 estimation is way overly optimistic and I certainly am not counting on it.

 

[Rob Blubaugh]

Please explain ‘modules populated?’ I am new to the Maverick Truck Club and to the ordering process. This is a term that is new to me. Thanks in advance for any reply you may offer.

 

[StarNut]

I was notified of my build on 11/28 (a week ahead of schedule). I was able to see my sticker on the 29th, but not from the link on the build page. My modules popped on 12/5. The interesting thing is the build page shows that the "Last Updated" date changed when the first 2 things happened. Then it changed yesterday (12/6) and just changed to 12/7 within the last 2 hours, yet nothing has changed in what I can see. I am hoping that the behind the scenes things have occurred such as the physical build is complete and maybe going to the body shop for the SIBL.

But this may be me be overly hopeful and overly obsessed by watching that page 10 times a day...

Edit: Just talked 12/7 7:20pm with Ford Chat and here is what they said - " I show the status of your 2024 MAVERICK IS IN ORDER PRODUCTION Secondary status RETURNED FROM BODY COMPANY, FORD HERMOSILLO ASSEMBLY PLANT. SO.Your estimated time of arrival JAN.14, 2024 TO JAN.20 2024" !!!

 

[BradnChristine]

Please explain ‘modules populated?’ I am new to the Maverick Truck Club and to the ordering process. This is a term that is new to me. Thanks in advance for any reply you may offer.

Sure. Once your truck is built, they turn on the various modules and record their values in Ford's computer. If you check to see what your modules are (recorded by VIN), you won't see any data there until the truck is built. Ergo, when you do see data there, that tells you it is at the end of the build process. Check above, on the top of the page, the TRACKERS tab. It explains and gives you a link to check your VIN.

 

[Ozarkbeard]

Please explain ‘modules populated?’ I am new to the Maverick Truck Club and to the ordering process. This is a term that is new to me. Thanks in advance for any reply you may offer.

ELI5: Your truck has been built.

If your truck has external accessories like mud flaps, SIBL, etc., it still may have to go to the body shop to have those installed; which can be an additional potential delay.

 

[jeffs8269]

Sure. Once your truck is built, they turn on the various modules and record their values in Ford's computer. If you check to see what your modules are (recorded by VIN), you won't see any data there until the truck is built. Ergo, when you do see data there, that tells you it is at the end of the build process. Check above, on the top of the page, the TRACKERS tab. It explains and gives you a link to check your VIN.

Where are these “modules” located?

 

[BradnChristine]

Where are these “modules” located?

IN.YOUR.TRUCK.
You have many modules that are "turned on" when the truck is built. And when that happens, the data is recorded in the big Ford Computer Machine. The data has little meaning to you, except to see:
Is there any data for yor VIN?
No= Your truck is not built and the modules are not "popped" or "Alive".
Yes= Your truck is "alive" as evidenced by the fact that your modules have "popped" or "Populated"

 

[BearyArizona]

I had the exact same issue. Showed the week of 11/20 as the scheduled build week, and "In Production" on the 24th. However, no movement or updates since then.

I reached out to the Ford chat, and turns out it's a known issue that the tracking site is lagging: mine is BUILT, secondary status built and ready to be shipped, Ford Chat gave an estimate of being delivered to the dealership between 12/12 and 12/16.

I'm in AZ so I'm closer to the shipping point obviously, but I was shocked to see it might arrive as soon as next week! I wasn't expecting this thing for another month!!

 

[Rob Blubaugh]

Thanks, everyone, especially BradnChristine, for the explanation on how to check ‘module population.’ I went to ‘Tracker’ on the main menu and tried the link that checked for that. When I submitted the VIN, I got a long, long list of hexadecimal codes, which made me think “It’s alive!” So I believe it has moved at least to the ‘blend’ phase. I already know from the window sticker that the dealership provided that it will travel from Mexico to Morton, Washington by CONVOY (semi-truck). It may yet go to the body shop for spray-in bed liner, protective film for hood and fenders, tonneau cover soft fold, and floor liners without carpeted mats, but I would guess that trailer hitch receiver and Co-Pilot360 are part of the assembly line build. Those are my options apart from the Hybrid power train.

I think I’ll go back to the generic ‘Track My Build’ and see if the window sticker link works, although I already have one from the dealership.

Happiness abounds with this progress. Our daily driver’s transmission noise is getting worse as weeks go by.

Again, thanks to all for your help and explanations.

Sponsored