Email Questions: My 2008 Ford Edge Vista Roof motor requires replacing already (48,000 mileage) and I did not purchase the extended warrenty which I am now regretting. My vista roof was stuck in the open position, I took it to Anderson Ford in Saint Joseph, MO for resolution. It cost me $100 just to have the sunroof closed. I was told it may leak so keep it out of the rain. To seal it so no leaks was estimated at $500, to replace just the motor was $1500 and it potentially could cost $2300 to fix depending on if there were other issues. The total involved cost of repair is not able to be determined until the header is removed, etc. I have never taken the time to write a complaint before but the cost involved here blows my mind. I am a dedicated Ford owner and have been for years, my family are all Ford owners and generally we do not have issues. Being loyal to the brand is something that I'm proud of, we could go with other vehicles that are less costly but I believe in the Ford brand and always have. As such, I am requesting the sunroof issue be looked at from a recall perspective, in my research online there are multiple sites listing issues buyers have with their roofs after @ 2-3 years of ownership. This does not stand up to Ford quality we are used to. If nothing else, I am requesting a factory warrenty repair to be completed on my vehicle free of charge or at least at a more feasible cost.
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Response from Ford:
This is Phebe from Ford's Customer Relationship Center (CRC) and I had the opportunity to read your follow-up email.
I am truly sorry you're having this issue with your vehicle. Allow me to apologize on behalf of Ford Motor Company if this situation has caused you inconvenience.
I would like you to know that after reviewing my resources, I see that there are no factory warranties or programs in effect on your vehicle that would provide financial assistance for your current concern. I recommend that if you keep your repair receipts, you may be able to reimburse such in case Ford initiates a recall or Customer Satisfaction Program in the future based on customer feedback or further engineering review of similar complaints.
Still, I recommend your service be done by a Ford or Lincoln Dealership where the technicians are trained to put your vehicle back into factory specifications. They use Ford and Motorcraft branded replacement parts. These parts meet or exceed Ford Motor Company’s specifications, and we stand behind them. You can visit our website www.fordowner.com in locating the nearest Dealership in your area.
Please note that any repairs that are completed by a Ford Dealer will be provided with a service part warranty (SPW) for 12 months or 12,000 miles whichever occurs first from the repair date.
Additionally, Ford Motor Company makes every effort to maintain a high standard of quality control in our manufacturing processes. Despite these efforts, every now and then unintended malfunctions or mechanical issues may surface. Recalls are issued on items that may cause safety or emissions concerns with vehicles.
Many factors are used to determine the issuance of a recall; factors such as warranty status, vehicle history, customer contacts, Dealership comments and so forth. Ford and the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) work together to proactively identify areas of concern through investigation of consumer and Dealer feedback. Due to our rigorous safety standards and constant testing, not all issues result in recalls. Please keep in mind that the NHTSA, which is the federal agency responsible for motor vehicle safety, and is the only organization with the authority to order a recall. If a program is announced, we will notify you by mail.
Again, my sincerest apologies if my response couldn't be more favorable on your behalf. Thank you for contacting Ford.
Sincerely,
Phebe
Customer Relationship Center
Ford Motor Company
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My response back to Phebe:
Phebe,
Thank you for your response however I did take my car into another repair shop for additional estimates. He made some calls to a couple places that do the actual warranty repairs and the vista motor "kit" has been upgraded 3 different times because the glass is too heavy for the motor to support it for much more than 3 years depending on the usage. He was also told that the parts are only guaranteed for 1 year and will probably have to be replaced again.
I understand this is not a safety issue however; I paid more for a car with a working vista roof for a reason. I'm sure you can imagine how frustrating it is to be the customer and feel like the options are very limited. Paying $1500 - $2300 is a great deal of money to spend on something that may or may not last over a year or two. I am going to continue to route this complaint until there is a mutually agreeable resolution.
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So as I await yet another blow off email, I joined this forum in hopes to encourage others to band together and not be taken advantage of.
I just had the same issue with my 08 Ford Edge Limited. I was wondering who you sent your email to? I want to send a similar one in hopes that they address this problem. The service department manager at my Ford dealership said the motor issue is a result of Ford buying the initial motors for the vista roof from one company and then switching to a new company. Because of this, the motors cannot be purchased as a single unit. So even if only one motor was the issue, you have to buy both new because the new motors aren't compatible with the old ones.
Demand a Recall on Vista Sunroof
in Glass, Lenses, Lighting, Mirrors, Sunroof (BAMR), Wipers
Posted
I just had the same issue with my 08 Ford Edge Limited. I was wondering who you sent your email to? I want to send a similar one in hopes that they address this problem. The service department manager at my Ford dealership said the motor issue is a result of Ford buying the initial motors for the vista roof from one company and then switching to a new company. Because of this, the motors cannot be purchased as a single unit. So even if only one motor was the issue, you have to buy both new because the new motors aren't compatible with the old ones.