Thread: Fords, Are They Really So Bad

I know a few Ford owners in Thailand, but I dont know any satisfied Ford owners.

Unreliability, poor customer service and an even poorer spare part supply situation all seem to add up to customer dissatisfaction and long downtimes for vehicles.

This post copied from ThaiVisa, reminiscent of the thread here last year about the water damaged engine block on a new ranger caught my eye this morning.

My VIN: XXXXXXXXXXXX19945

Unfortunately, I am an Expat living in Thailand for the past 18 years. I have bought many cars and of course had my share of service issues between BMX, Toyota, Honda... and up to this Monday I was a very proud owner of Ford Ranger Wild-track 3.2L.

My truck is 11 months old, has 40,000 km on the millage. When I drove my truck on Monday, during my long trip of 480 KM, after about 200KM I got a warning light (little yellow light) and I slowed down, after a few minutes I pulled over and restarted the engine to see if I could reset the warning. The second I started to drive I got the same warning with 1 more additional warning, it was the engine light.

Lucky for me I was about 30 KM from the nearest ford and it was 730am and Ford opens at 8am. I was welcomed well by the KanPhangPhet Ford dealer who took good care of me and constantly updated me. At first they thought it was a rubber exhaust or breathing tube that might has busted. After a few test rides and talking to Ford Service Center in Bangkok they were afraid it was a MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM. They continued test until 12:00 and I had my driver pick me up from there and take me to where , I too need to get my work done.

This leads me to this post, being a global player like Ford I understand the quality importance and customer satisfaction and to see an American company over here treating customers like I am about to tell you, I think this is unacceptable!!

I was told the next day they are “guessing” that is the a part called Gear Top. However this part has not started production yet and not sure when they can get 1 to test for me to see if it solves my problems. I have been having my office, drivers and even Lawyer today to work with the Ford BKK call center.

Ford told me that the part would need up to a month, I said this is not acceptable, I need my truck and I can’t wait, if that’s the case, get me a replacement until you can give me my truck back. Of course all this is falling on empty ears. I was told the Ford school may have the part and they would try to get it to me.

Last Friday, the call center called us back, they said the fastest the part will arrive in Thailand is Feb 26… and no offer of car, basically telling me to go find a wall and cry on it as this is how it is going to happen.

This is unacceptable. As of today, still the same.... they can not get their act together. Why not take it off a new car not sold. Why treat a customer like this. Japanese have offered loaners when they have these issues and BMW gave me a red plate 8 years ago. I can not believe Ford does this. I need to get this out there.

I will get my friends in the papers to print this story next week.

I am frustrated. I called the service center today and told them to rebuild my broken Ford Ranger, i will go pick it up tomorrow so my friends can help me get some press coverage next week. I am writing this is seeking desperate help for anyone that has suggestions as well as a warning for potential buyers,... you wait 8-10 months for your truck and then use it for 11 months and have to park it for another 3 months.

This is not a threat, but it is a VERY VERY VERY VERY unsatisfied customer.

Sorry if this is not one of my better posts, I am still shaking in anger from the answer Ford call center gave me. Not to mention never replying to me directly either on phone or email. I also sent an email to ford in Thailand and they never replied. Called my driver to ask if it was the same case, and once he said yes, that was that. No one called or answered my email.

This really bothers me, please have a solution for your customers and look into the treatment of your customers over here please?

While you are at it, read some of the other Thailand comments, this is 2013 and 14. You will really hurt your image. Please do something.
http://leoviotti.com...-customer-care/

Any happy Ford owners out there?

Where Fondles

https://teakdoor.com/classifieds-help...anger-xlt.html

https://teakdoor.com/motoring-in-thai...r-dilemma.html (My Ranger Dilemma.)

Makes me think of Marmite, he swore by Ford Rangers. 5555

My first car, when I was 15, was a 1954 Ford station wagon. Loved that car!

I had about 3 years of mostly minor and 1 major problems with mine before I gave up and got rid of it. Never again.

I always got the feeling that the dealership tried but hey lacked the know-how and the supply chain was shit.

It's a shame, Ford are a decent company in many areas that make good cars, but don't seem to have sorted out their Thai business yet... Honda or Toyota or Izuzu for me (boring as fuk, but work).

i remember a few years back a bangkok woman who couldnt get her honda repaired after many attempts took it back to the dealership, along with a dozen tv cameras and began to smash the car up with a hammer.

it made the news around the world and within a couple of days the president of the honda company in japan had contacted the woman offering her a new replacement car.

fords are very attractive vehicles, they are nicely designed and drive well, but their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. i have wanted to replace my toyota pick up with a smaller great driving fiesta for some time now, but due to all the stories i have heard dare not and will stick with my trouble free pick up, even though it is too big for 90% of the driving that i do.

Originally Posted by taxexile

i have wanted to replace my toyota pick up with a smaller great driving fiesta for some time now,

get an avanza

I had a Ford Ranger 2.5 diesel Turbo (circa 2002) awesome truck.

Fords are great.


They stop people from drowning.

Originally Posted by chassamui

Thailand is all about sales and marketing, and screw the aftersales service.

In Fords case I agree. Toyota, Honda, GM and a couple others spend big on aftersales quality.

Old adage in the auto biz. Sales sells the first car to a customer. Aftersales sell the rest.

Originally Posted by withnallstoke

Fords are great.


They stop people from drowning.

Yes they stop before they get to deep

The product is fine the world over, just here in Thailand the dealers and aftersales service are far far behind all the other makes, also as my wife has always said buy a ford for life because you will never sell it for a good price here, they depreciate like a lead balloon. Unless you are very lucky, as I was, had a very early 2000 2.5 4 x 4 and got 200000 in px for a new Toyota Hi Lux 4 x 4 best thing I ever did, I only paid 250000 for the car many years ago secondhand. However parts for the Ford were a complete rip off.

Originally Posted by Norton

In Fords case I agree. Toyota, Honda, GM and a couple others spend big on aftersales quality.

I was referring to Fords as it was in the OP.
Apologies for lack of clarity on my part.

Fix Or Repair Daily.

The Ford trucks you see in Thailand are essentially rebadged Mazda.

My choice for Thailand would be either Isuzu or Nissan. Toyota is overrated me thinks.
I got an old Nissan with 600k and still gets the job done.

Already suggested Nissan to the OP. Guess he decided to go Hi so Low so Toyota.

Originally Posted by taxexile

i remember a few years back a bangkok woman who couldnt get her honda repaired after many attempts took it back to the dealership, along with a dozen tv cameras and began to smash the car up with a hammer.

it made the news around the world and within a couple of days the president of the honda company in japan had contacted the woman offering her a new replacement car.

fords are very attractive vehicles, they are nicely designed and drive well, but their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. i have wanted to replace my toyota pick up with a smaller great driving fiesta for some time now, but due to all the stories i have heard dare not and will stick with my trouble free pick up, even though it is too big for 90% of the driving that i do.

I rented a Fiesta in October 2013 and drove it from California to Florida and back, it was an impressive little car that got 39 miles a gallon being driven hard. They've had a lot of trouble with that new dual clutch automatic transmission though, but that transmission is why the mileage is so good. The transmission felt mushy and never seemed to make up its mind what gear to go into and did not feel like it would last long.

Both ford and mazda had troubles with spare parts after they launched the new models.
Boggling really why they can't just get a part from the factory, guess it runs on a very tight "just in time" supply line.

My Brother bought a 2.2 Ranger. Lovely car to drive. I was very impressed with the Auto gearbox. If you get bored you can manually select all gears very smoothly.
But since new it has had an occasional problem with a flat battery. Ford keep saying there is nothing wrong.
I'm guessing a dodgy cell in the battery. Anyone any ideas?

Originally Posted by tj916

I'm guessing a dodgy cell in the battery. Anyone any ideas?

In hot climate, a battery will last only 3 years or less.
Just get a new battery.. the best one money can buy.