Liftgate Misaligned

[foghelmut]

I opened the liftgate the other day and heard a clunk. Turns out the whole thing is a misaligned from the factory. The top left corner was catching against the body, and the paint is gone now in that spot. Its not bent or crooked due to damage. This is 100% factory. The door is flush against the body the whole left side all the way down, and the gap on the right side is about double what you would expect.

 

 

 

 

 

Left panel gap

 

Right panel gap

 

 

This could explain the liftgate open warning light we got a few times. We just figured we didn't close it hard enough.

 

 

Going to the dealer today to see what can be done.

[Burrcold]

Your left to right alignment is definitely off but your horizontal alignment looks spot on (almost every one I've seen the lift gate sits a tiny bit higher than quarter panel). It could be that your spoiler just needs to be adjusted (that and have liftgate moved to the right a bit).

Edited September 26, 2016 by Burrcold

[foghelmut]

We dropped it off Monday, said we needed it back today (Thursday), they said "No problem."

 

They realigned the door. It opens and closes fine, its more even, though not 100% laser symmetrical.

 

The real problem is that they didn't paint it. They said they would touch it up, but it turns out the spoiler is pretty damaged. We are going to bring it back next week for that repair.

 

Also, they chipped the paint on the other side when they were realigning the liftgate. Oh boy.

[enigma-2]

Look on the bright side, they didn't charge you for the paint chips.

[foghelmut]

Finally got my car back yesterday.

 

The body shop is contracted by the dealer. They fixed the paint on the spoiler, but left a big run in the clear coat. The service manager sent it back.

 

They fixed that, but this time there was a thick section near the bottom edge of the spoiler. Like as if they had sprayed it on too thick to get it done quickly and it all ran down and collected there. The service manger sent it back.

 

The service manager seemed shocked, as this is the shop they use to fix new cars for sale that get damaged in transport. She really did a great job and I would recommend her.

 

We went to pick it up yesterday, a week after we had brought it there. There are a couple of drips on top of the spoiler in the clear coat. You can only see it when you angle it a certain way and the sun hits it just right. Whatever, give us the car back. I appreciate their attention to wanting it done right, but my wife is pregnant and due in two weeks, so that means it could come at any time now and we don't want to be hassling with a car.

 

She did however seem to secretly love the brand new F150 the dealer gave us as a loaner.

 

Did I mention this is the triple extra white metallic special pearl paint? We didn't order it that way, and I wouldn't spend extra on special paint colors, but it was already on the car and the whole package was a really good deal.

 

 

 

As an aside, I heard this trunk misalignment is actually a pretty big problem they are having on the Mustangs.

Edited October 11, 2016 by foghelmut

[markwilson66]

I just bought a new Edge last weekend and the lift gate is definitely misaligned. It's going in next week but I'm nervous about anybody working on my brand new car.
Hopefully they don't screw up anything else.