Modifications and Transmission Failure out of no where

[LC48]

Sorry @todd92 , the act covers any work and or parts you install. Manufacturers love for you to think otherwise. Bottom line is non-stock parts were installed, which is allowed under the law, the burden of proof is on the manufacturer to prove the cause/effect relationship.- period. Without that the manufacturer could deny warranty for any non-stock item installed........spun bearing in engine, "we see you have a non-stock intake, warranty denied!" Etc. Etc.

We can disagree all day long, the law is plain. Having said that, no one should believe me or you, read the law for yourselves, not some pundits interpretation, the actual act. Also do not believe the manufacturers are going to follow the law on their own accord - honor is in very short supply in many of these companies. They will use any method to avoid whatever they want to avoid.

The track time could be the killer here, even without track time on video the company can and likely will dump the data and make the case that the vehicle was abused, that seems the easier route for them to deny.

The idea that the lowered truck somehow wrecked the trans simply due to being lower than stock makes zero sense, at least here on earth where we live with the laws of physics - maybe somewhere else they are just the "friendly suggestions" of physics, but here we're kinda stuck with them.

The simple answer is always gonna be the one. Dealer has a wrecked tranny in the shop, likely a warranty deal, the company doesn't pay enough or fairly for warranty (common dealer complaint), truck is lowered, has non-stock wheels, etc. ----let the crawfishing begin.

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[Hot Runr Guy]

The simple answer is always gonna be the one. Dealer has a wrecked tranny in the shop, likely a warranty deal, the company doesn't pay enough or fairly for warranty (common dealer complaint), truck is lowered, has non-stock wheels, etc. ----let the crawfishing begin.

Time to get Steve Lehto on retainer! http://lehtoslaw.com/articles/

HRG

 

[todd92]

Sound advice from Steve....

 

[skyhawk]

As someone who has spent the past 20 years employed by over 300 lawyers who all rank among the best lawyers in their respective practice areas, and as someone who has had a front row seat to countless civil matters from small to astronomically large litigated from optimistic beginnings to the bitter ends - let me tell you and anyone else dreaming of suing Ford that you cannot afford it. Period, end of story. The total value of your Maverick would not buy you two weeks of competent legal service in a matter that could take years to resolve, and likely not resolve in your favor when the smoke clears.

The moment you substantially modified the vehicle is the moment your warranty ended. It just is what it is - take the L and move on, hopefully wiser from it. Because who in their right mind plays track-mod with a hybrid Ford unibody truck?

 

[Master Blaster]

The idea that the lowered truck somehow wrecked the trans simply due to being lower than stock makes zero sense, at least here on earth where we live with the laws of physics - maybe somewhere else they are just the "friendly suggestions" of physics, but here we're kinda stuck with them.

Huh? I don't believe that you actually understand how the driveline geometry actually works. Its just basic geometry, not physics. The halfshafts are not horizontal, and slide further into the transmission when you lower the vehicle using non-standard springs, shocks and bumpstops, and further out on the splines when you jack it up. Lowering it as far as he did was obviously far enough in that it was repeatedly bottomed out and damaged the output bearings and pushed the output gear into the side of the transmission case at full spring compression. Explain how warranty would possibly apply to that kind of abuse. Any competent lawyer (like Ford uses) is just going to laugh at the lawsuit attempt.

 

[LC48]

Hyperbole, me being a smart-ass, derp.

Yes, the shafts slide in and out during normal operation, do you seriously think this is not understood. Is it your opinion then that the half-shafts bottom out, as you stated, each time the suspension is at full compression, which this truck is not at as it sits. Are his bump stops missing or inadequate? Have you examined them?

You claim the cause is obvious, the only thing obvious is ford has half-shaft problems, they are replacing them under warranty left and right, one symptom commonly reported is excessive play longitudinally eventually resulting in loose boots and lose of lube. Factor here? Don't know, haven't examined the failed parts first hand as so many in this thread apparently have. But they do note failed boot in their write up.

No opinion expressed on whether he prevails or not. That really depends more on how badly ford wants to crawfish, none of this changes the fact that the burden of proof rests on ford to prove cause and effect. OP may have a long row to hoe due to his modifications.

A question is asked above about who in their right mind would modify a unibody hybrid truck - a car guy would be the answer, that'd be who would do that. Never met the OP, so can't speak to his being in his right mind or not. How did insulting him help make our point?

Ya'll have a great evening!

 

[Montana]

I read some of this thread and all I'm going to say is you do the mods, you risk voiding the warranty.

The end. It's not up for debate. They deemed the modifications as the likely cause of accelerated wear. Good luck wasting your time fighting it. You won't win.

 

[ndmiller]

let me tell you and anyone else dreaming of suing Ford that you cannot afford it. Period, end of story. The total value of your Maverick would not buy you two weeks of competent legal service in a matter that could take years to resolve, and likely not resolve in your favor when the smoke clears.

Experience here as well and agree you'll spend more $ and time on litigating than the truck is worth. Try and negotiate a better position than where you are (ground zero), take it and move on. Be nice, curious and humble and maybe they'll pay a portion.

 

[CK58]

I tend to side with Ford on this, given the nature of the modifications and the now-private video.

 

[Headbanger]

The part that I'm struggling with is having to get your consent to pay $1200 to have it torn apart. Isn't that all part of diagnosing a problem and wouldn't your factory warranty cover that? Am I not reading your post right??

 

[Racerx410]

The part that I'm struggling with is having to get your consent to pay $1200 to have it torn apart. Isn't that all part of diagnosing a problem and wouldn't your factory warranty cover that? Am I not reading your post right??

Their verbiage to me was that because there are visible modifications if the cause was found to be warrantable then the fee would be covered, and if not then I would be responsible for the fee for it being due to mods.

I read some of this thread and all I'm going to say is you do the mods, you risk voiding the warranty.

The end. It's not up for debate. They deemed the modifications as the likely cause of accelerated wear. Good luck wasting your time fighting it. You won't win.

Update: I won.

Experience here as well and agree you'll spend more $ and time on litigating than the truck is worth. Try and negotiate a better position than where you are (ground zero), take it and move on. Be nice, curious and humble and maybe they'll pay a portion.

This was my route the entire process with my dealership. They didnt tell me the results of the independent review from the Field Technician but the Service & Parts Director Aaron who initiallity got the F.T. for a 2nd opinoin, came to a resolution to replace the Transmission and I pay the Teardown to which I agreed. Im ecstatic and extremely blessed that they are willing to do that and earn my business because I was prepared to fight lol. They said its not warranty but they will take care of it and the teardown would be roughly $1k and not $1200 + which i was previously quoted.

I appreciate all the advice I got here, the lesson learned is to put it back to stock before sending it to the dealer lol. The most helpful peice of info I got from a Jeep forum with someone having the same issue and reccommended trying to work it out with the dealership before calling the BBB (PSM told me the same thing "not to call them"). Glad I trusted him when he said that because the Mrs. was pushing to escalate lol. I will be removing the wheel spacers and looking for wheels that fit without the spacer with a decent offset to sit flush with the fenders.


Thanks again all, I will update with a picture once I have my truck back.

 

[ndmiller]

FWIW, I think it's still important to modify vehicles to our tastes, you just got "unlucky" with your vehicle choice.

The maverick was designed to an entry level price point small pickup and for those things it's an excellent vehicle. The tolerance and durability of the components aren't that of a mid or higher end vehicle and it shows in a lot of areas. Again it is inexpensive, so expectations are set accordingly.

This is why I've added a bed mat, a tonneau cover a few inner bits and that's it. Even the wireless CarPlay I use is finicky as the USB-C ports seem off a bit.

Would I like a tuned, lifted/slammed maverick YES. Is it worth doing on a Mexico built Ford entry level truck, absolutely not.

BUT I will tell you as my first pickup experience, the Mav sold me, so I'm giving to my daughter to take to college and bought myself a Rivian (replaced another EV). Changing battery this weekend to an Odyssey (Napa 20% off Sale) though as Ford 12V batteries are not worth the trouble to keep replacing for free.

 

[Racerx410]

FWIW, I think it's still important to modify vehicles to our tastes, you just got "unlucky" with your vehicle choice.

The maverick was designed to an entry level price point small pickup and for those things it's an excellent vehicle. The tolerance and durability of the components aren't that of a mid or higher end vehicle and it shows in a lot of areas. Again it is inexpensive, so expectations are set accordingly.

This is why I've added a bed mat, a tonneau cover a few inner bits and that's it. Even the wireless CarPlay I use is finicky as the USB-C ports seem off a bit.

Would I like a tuned, lifted/slammed maverick YES. Is it worth doing on a Mexico built Ford entry level truck, absolutely not.

BUT I will tell you as my first pickup experience, the Mav sold me, so I'm giving to my daughter to take to college and bought myself a Rivian (replaced another EV). Changing battery this weekend to an Odyssey (Napa 20% off Sale) though as Ford 12V batteries are not worth the trouble to keep replacing for free.

This has not deterred me from modifying my vehicles at all. Its a right I will gladly exercise. If i have any issues again all of it will come off and the stock stuff will be back on in 90 minutes before I send it to the dealership again. Thats the part I love, it reminds me of my Honda's how easily the suspension can be installed and removed.

 

[Montana]

The part that I'm struggling with is having to get your consent to pay $1200 to have it torn apart. Isn't that all part of diagnosing a problem and wouldn't your factory warranty cover that? Am I not reading your post right??

It kinda sounds like the post was an overreaction to the dealership stating the obvious before they dug in further out of the fear of having to pay so much, and all is normal now. But if it happens again they will likely blame it on the modifications. I don't think there was ever any real issue here. Dealerships still get paid for warranty work and most are hard pressed to deny stuff now days. Especially considering they install the kits (some kits) themselves most times too.

OP, I wouldn't take it as a deterrent either. Just use this as info for the future.

When I lifted a previous Subaru I was told the same thing when the CVT started acting up, and I knew to expect it, but they worked with me as well. After the 2nd issue, I knew it was due to the lift. So I've been there done that. Never had any issues on a RAM or Tacoma, but an F150 with the notorious IWE system gave me issues with only a leveling kit (and I also learned a lot about why leveling pucks are terrible). Anyways... When modifying stance, expect the worst and hope for the best lol.

Enjoy your truck!

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