Ford's Entire System is FUBAR

[KevCuRaoi]

Quick rant: Placed my Maverick order and gave a $500 deposit on Jan. 25, 2022. You can see additional details in my signature.

Basically zero communication from dealer after than unless I initiated, but I kept track of the order scheduling process through @fordvideoguy. Thank God for Tim!

As a result of Tim's videos, I asked my dealer to move me from Priority 19 to Priority 10 last summer, which he did. Miraculously, I received a VIN for my truck in late August just before scheduling was cut off for the 2022 model year. Like most people, I went through the "build week shuffle" with multiple re-schedulings until mid-November when my truck was finally built -- I think with about a week of model year 2022 production remaining -- and shipped out.

It took about 2.5 weeks to get from the factory in Mexico to the final rail depot in Wilmington, DE, where it has now been sitting for the past week. My dealer initially told me he would request a "hot tag" for my truck to expedite delivery. However, it continues to sit in Wilmington without even a scheduled ETA for arrival. Today, I checked with the dealer again and he basically told me, there is a shortage of truck drivers and it will get there when it gets there.

So, with my wait at 323 days and counting, I now have a fully built 2022 Maverick sitting in a lot in Delaware and apparently there isn't a darn thing I or anyone else can do about it. It could show up tomorrow. It could show up in mid-January, likely after thousands of others folks have taken delivery of their 2023 Mavericks.

So, bottom line, Ford's entire process -- from placing your Maverick order to finally taking delivery -- is FUBAR. If Ford hired a team of "experts" to complicate and prolong this process, I am not sure they could make the process of obtaining one of these unicorns any more cumbersome or drawn out than it already is.

Don't get me wrong; I am REALLY excited about the truck, and I sure as heck will not be walking away at this point. However, I swear I will NEVER sign up for another vehicle buying process like this again. Hands down, the worst shopping experience of my life.

We just had a couple of Mavericks (along with other vehicles) delivered that had been sitting at the ramp for 4-6 weeks. The transport driver said that the company contracted to do it doesn't have enough drivers and that his company has been called in to help out.
We really can't predict when vehicles will arrive either. Some sit around for a month or two. Others are delivered direct from the factory weeks before we expect them!

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[Micheal]

I was mostly immune to the waiting until mine got built, now that it is built I seem to be way more sensitive to the waiting as well. When I ordered I assumed delivery in June or July if I was lucky. And it didn't bother me. But now that it is on a rail car yeah, its driving me nuts just like you.

I'm just going to focus on other things with the knowledge that no matter when it gets here it will be months (or even years) before other people get their truck. So, I am considering myself lucky that's on the way.

I can sympathize with you all. The wait is long, anxiety riddled, but tolerable. Once mine said built, and then shipped, the anxiety level went through the roof. So many phone calls to Ford CS, and finally calling to see where tracker had it and was told its at dealer. I have it now, love it, but a whole new anxiety has set in. What if I have a wreck or mishap? Can I get it fixed or will I be without a truck for like ever? You will enjoy your truck when it finally gets to you, no doubt.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

We just had a couple of Mavericks (along with other vehicles) delivered that had been sitting at the ramp for 4-6 weeks. The transport driver said that the company contracted to do it doesn't have enough drivers and that his company has been called in to help out.
We really can't predict when vehicles will arrive either. Some sit around for a month or two. Others are delivered direct from the factory weeks before we expect them!

It's a bad system! It doesn't do any favors for Ford or its dealers. What good is letting me track my truck's production and shipping, only for it to get a stone's throw from my dealership and then sit there indefinitely?

I realize few on this forum (many of whom have been waiting longer than I for a truck) will have sympathy, but honestly this entire process is bound to leave a bad taste in just about every customer's mouth by the time it is all said and done.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

I can sympathize with you all. The wait is long, anxiety riddled, but tolerable. Once mine said built, and then shipped, the anxiety level went through the roof. So many phone calls to Ford CS, and finally calling to see where tracker had it and was told its at dealer. I have it now, love it, but a whole new anxiety has set in. What if I have a wreck or mishap? Can I get it fixed or will I be without a truck for like ever? You will enjoy your truck when it finally gets to you, no doubt.

Seriously, I have thought about that. I think I am going to be afraid to drive this thing when I finally get it. If I get in a crash, it may take months to get replacement parts!

 

[BuddyS]

Breath. I waited a year and a week to get mine. I suspect it would have taken the same amount of time if I just sat it out and waited (which I did) or if I got tangled in knots and bugged my salesman every 2 weeks (which I didn't do). One of the wisest things in life it to accept that there are things in the world that you can't control, so no point in getting worked up over them. And if it makes you feel any better, remember that very maverick buyer (and Tesla buyer, and Rav4 buyer, and Corvette buyer, etc.) is in essentially the same boat. Ford's doing the best it can -- they DO want to get you your truck and get paid.

 

[mtd14]

Your truck is sitting at a yard waiting for a carrier. It was built. Many are still waiting from last year to have one built. What is the problem?

The classic - just because someone has it worse doesn't mean its not a shit situation for the person you're talking to.

 

[gte105u]

I started saying a long time ago "the best thing you can do when it's raining is to let it rain". No point in getting worked up about what you can't change.

 

[mtd14]

And if it makes you feel any better, remember that very maverick buyer (and Tesla buyer, and Rav4 buyer, and Corvette buyer, etc.) is in essentially the same boat. Ford's doing the best it can -- they DO want to get you your truck and get paid.

What's interesting is my Hybrid RAV4 process felt better despite being worse in some ways. Since you can't place an exact order, I told my dealer what trim, exterior, and interior options I wanted, placed a refundable deposit, and waited. I got an update ~once a month with my waitlist position, then after 8 months got the "it's expected next month" followed eventually by a week time frame.

I think the big difference for me is the RAV4 process was completely effortless. I didn't have to join forums to keep track of when I can order, what I need to do to increase my odds of getting produced, worry about placing a second order come year change, etc. I placed my order in February 2022, knew where I was in the list, eventually came up and get a 2023 because the MY happened to change during the wait.

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

What's interesting is my Hybrid RAV4 process felt better despite being worse in some ways. Since you can't place an exact order, I told my dealer what time, exterior, and interior options I wanted, placed a refundable deposit, and waited. I got an update ~once a month with my waitlist position, then after 8 months got the "it's expected next month" followed eventually by a week time frame.

I think the big difference for me is the RAV4 process was completely effortless. I didn't have to join forums to keep track of when I can order, what I need to do to increase my odds of getting produced, worry about placing a second order come year change, etc. I placed my order in February 2022, knew where I was in the list, eventually came up and get a 2023 because the MY happened to change during the wait.

There's no doubt obtaining a Maverick (at MSRP) requires a SERIOUS investment of time and effort. You don't just stroll onto the lot and grab one of these. Sure, you can go pay $5,000 or $10,000 over sticker and do that if you have money to burn, but otherwise I have never bought anything that required me to be so educated and on top of the PROCESS.

Heck, most frequent visitors to this forum know way more about the Maverick and the order and delivery process than their salesmen or even the sales managers at the dealers. And that's sad.

 

[Taxman100]

Get used to it - we are no longer an economy based upon merit, but rather who you are, and who you represent. Results are not important, but rather how you make others employees feel, and if you help your employer meet ESG window dressing goals.

Add a heavy dose of "wokeness" to most large employers, and older employees are getting out and retiring as soon as feasible. Those replacing them just don't have the same drive to complete hard tasks, so most of our major economic systems are barely functioning.

I will cut younger employees some slack - they've seen how their parents were treated by their employees during the economic realignment of the last 30 years, and so they think why kill yourself just to be discarded at the first opportunity?

 

[scottp01]

Dude, you literally cut ahead of me in line with the priority code bullshit. Your truck will cost you thousands less than mine will, it won't have options stripped off of it and will be delivered weeks before mine even though I ordered months ahead of you.

And NOW you're saying the ordering process is fucked up because our dealer is too cheap to hire a hot-shot instead of waiting for a full car carrier?

Count your blessings that you're getting your truck for the price and interest rate Ford had when you ordered. Some of us have been waiting a lot longer and are getting a far worse shafting than you are.

 

[AltoBAP]

What's interesting is my Hybrid RAV4 process felt better despite being worse in some ways. Since you can't place an exact order, I told my dealer what trim, exterior, and interior options I wanted, placed a refundable deposit, and waited. I got an update ~once a month with my waitlist position, then after 8 months got the "it's expected next month" followed eventually by a week time frame.

I think the big difference for me is the RAV4 process was completely effortless. I didn't have to join forums to keep track of when I can order, what I need to do to increase my odds of getting produced, worry about placing a second order come year change, etc. I placed my order in February 2022, knew where I was in the list, eventually came up and get a 2023 because the MY happened to change during the wait.

Were you a member of RAV4 forums throughout this time?

If you weren't a member of this forum, and simply placed your order for a Mav, and received an e-mail from Ford every 6 weeks with an update.....it sounds no different than your experience with RAV4. Sounds more like you're dealing with an incompetent Ford dealer, which is unfortunate, but I can assure you there are incompetent Toyota dealers, as I worked at one for a year.

 

[jeffrol48197]

Seriously, I have thought about that. I think I am going to be afraid to drive this thing when I finally get it. If I get in a crash, it may take months to get replacement parts!

I worried about the same thing, then wife went out and crumpled up my pass side doors - was AMAZED they got new door and skins and other trim within a week...Lesson is, not ALL parts are hard to get, I may have just gotten lucky (not!)
P.S. Wife will NOT be driving my truck much anymore - she tried to blame the truck, said it was too dark to see (it's Alto blue) and was dark outside...LOL

 

[pa-outdoorsman]

Dude, you literally cut ahead of me in line with the priority code bullshit. Your truck will cost you thousands less than mine will, it won't have options stripped off of it and will be delivered weeks before mine even though I ordered months ahead of you.

And NOW you're saying the ordering process is fucked up because our dealer is too cheap to hire a hot-shot instead of waiting for a full car carrier?

Count your blessings that you're getting your truck for the price and interest rate Ford had when you ordered. Some of us have been waiting a lot longer and are getting a far worse shafting than you are.

Agree that many have it worse, and agree that I am better off with a 2022 with full LUX package and protected interest rates than a 2023 without.

Only thing I disagree on is that Priority Code change is BS. Really, it all boiled down to being an educated consumer. Had I not known from @fordvideoguy that dealers can make orders whatever they want between 10 and 19 (with 19 being the default) I would have never known to ask. It literally costs your dealer nothing to change your priority code, and takes them about 30 seconds on the computer to do it.

Interestingly, by the time MY23 orders began, lots of folks were educated about this and would only order from dealers who agreed to place them at PC10. I know of a local dealer who placed ALL MY23 orders at 10. They said it's the only way to be fair to everyone. Put everyone at the head of the line and let Ford build them when they can.

 

[MrCigar]

It is the wounded oyster that yields the pearl.

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