Christine the Edge

My 2013 Edge (awd) had oil leaking and terrible smell in cabin, too.  This turned into visible fumes within a few days - coming from the hood (car was also lurching. I don’t understand why, but all happened simultaneously). The PTU - power transfer unit - had melted.  I’m just joining this online group for the first time and looking for answers. The PTU melted 2 more times after it was fixed the first time.  Finally, the shop also found the rear differential axle was broken.  That caused the melting?  I do not understand these mechanical parts, and now I’m trying to learn.  The car was in 3 shops over a 103 day period (third time was because then waited on back order of the axle for a month and a half).  It has been an utter nightmare to me.  

Worst. purchase. ever.

What I don’t understand is how the shops messed up so badly .  Is there not a standard procedure for failed PTU, and if the repair work does instantly fail (within 4 hours after the first fix; within 20 minutes after the 2nd), isn’t there some sort of legal obligation from Ford to guarantee their work? I called up through corporate as high as I could get (will keep trying), and basically Ford does not stand by their product. They offered $250 towards my car rentals, which totaled more than $3,800 over a 4-month period.  The woman who had been helping me and seemed to have empathy suddenly was in a different department after the holidays, and all my correspondence seemed to disappear.  The guy who took over for her emphasized that the $250 was a “goodwill gesture” and was a huge huge a-hole (I’m not giving his name out, but I have everything documented).  

*The warranty covered, yes, but I paid for that warranty, so I paid to fix all of that (btw the mechanical failure occurred in the 3rd week that i owned the car).

Sorry, I need to put all this in a forum specifically for the PTU.  But I hope to warn you... make sure they get it right, or at least in less than 100 days.

If that bad smell and oil leak are similar to mine, it sounds like the PTU. 

(The smell was so terrible on the 2nd time melting that everything in my car smelled so bad that it had to be aired out on a balcony where I was supposed to be having a lovely weekend trip.  And i had to throw away food!)

Good luck to you!!

On 2/13/2014 at 6:03 PM, Maria Marinelli Rose said:

Have read so many variations of causes and solutions of 'what might be', please somebody summarize for me what my problem is (except the fact that I purchased a 2007 Ford Edge 4 1/2 months ago). Started experiencing some slipping, then in a matter of 3 days wouldn't come out of neutral. Took it to mechanic and had to replace transmission. Vehicle has 65000 miles or so. Noticed fluid in driveway also. About a month felt some slipping and found fresh pink or red fluid in driveway, it was also making a sound I thought sounded like the brakes. Took it back to mechanic and he found nothing wrong, said the fluid in driveway was just probably overflow from what they put in. Weeks later while driving maybe 20-25 mph in traffic it would not change gears. Took right back to mechanic which I happened to be driving past and he drove it a couple of blocks and of course it was fine. He said I must have been accelerating too hard and it was slipping on ice, but there was no ice, only wet pavement. I also was in traffic and could go no faster than approx 25 mph. Now today it kept 'jerking' and found fresh pink/red fluid in driveway. I think this mechanic is in over his head with replacing the trans, now what do I do? Read so much about the 2007 Ford Edge having problems that sound like this. This mechanic is not at a dealership so I am wondering about him using or not using OEM parts but overseas crap. HELP . . . . . . . . anybody?