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Ford Mustang Convertible Top Problems

90 messages,  Last post on Apr 30, 2013 at 9:00 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Mustang, Convertible

    

Messages Page 7 of 9

#60 of 90 Re: 05 Convertible Top Problem [ltomlinson] by irtnog

Mar 15, 2011 (8:28 pm)

Replying to: ltomlinson (Aug 29, 2009 9:02 pm)
I have a 2007 Mustang convertible (bought new) which I love, all except for the leaking top. I had it into the shop 5 times in 2009 and FINALLY, on the fifth time Ford allowed the dealership to replace the top! When there was a heavy rain, I would get 1-2 inches of rain in the passenger side. The water would be sloshing around in the floor!!! The back seat had to be replaced along with the carpeting. Now exactly two years later, I sloshed back to the dealership with the same problem. It appears that Ford knows there is a problem, but doesn't give a damn. I GIVE UP! Told the dealership to find me a hardtop and I will invoke the Ohio lemon law to get rid of this nightmare. I love the Mustang but never again will I get a convertible!!!

#61 of 90 Young and Naive by kristi_1982

Mar 29, 2011 (9:05 am)

I purchased a 2005 last May and am having problems with my convertible top. I put it down recently and it didn't want to raise back up. I took it to my mechanic and he said that the stability bar (???) on the passenger side was twisted and that I'm completely missing it on the drivers side. Last summer I noticed it the passenger side was lagging a bit every time I put it up, but didn't really think much about it. A local Ford dealership is saying to order 1 side is going to be $600. My mechanic said that he could get me an entire top from another car for about $900 plus $400 labor. My question is this: Are there any other options other than those? Can't I just get the bars needed instead of replacing the whole frame?

#62 of 90 2010 Convertible Top by delraygirl

Apr 01, 2011 (6:30 am)

I owned a Sebring convertible for more than 8 years with no problems. I have had my 2010 Mustang convertible for about 16 months and at 13 months experienced a pucker and separation where the top enters the body. I was told I "probably trapped a rock" and that did the damage. Now I notice that on both sides, over the front window the rolled trim is cracking all over. I am really upset about this and have contacted my dealer and am waiting for a reply. Looking for people who have experienced similar problems with this year top. I live in Florida and garage my car and it is only driven Sept- May. This is the only problem I have with this car.

#63 of 90 Bent Frames on the 2005 Convertible Top by steveolatheks

Apr 03, 2011 (1:27 pm)

I purchased my 2005 in 2006 so it was used. I never experienced any problems with the top at all, until 3/18/2011. I did notice over the years, that when I put the top up, it didn't come all the way to the top window frame, I would use the hand hold to pull it down, and put the pins in place, which is what the dealer told me it was for, so again, didn't think anything about it - however, I've read other posts where this is actually a problem and new owners in 2005 got this repaired by their dealers.
 
On 3/17, it was the first beautiful day in KC, and I put the top down. Drove it from a shopping area in KCKS home with the top down - about 15-20 miles. Pulled right into my garage, and left it there over night. The next morning, I went to raise the top as it was much cooler than the day before. I just happened to glance in my rear view mirror as it was raising, and noticed an angle to the top - I turned around and the passenger side was not moving, but the driver side was. I immediately stopped and put it back down. I got out and inspected what I could see, and had my partner try raising the top. As I watched, I noticed that the frame was catching on the plastic covers as it was coming up, and I could not pull it out of place to get it to come up. So, at 42 degrees, I drove it up to the dealer and had them look at it. A few hours later, they called me, and told me they couldn't do anything for it, that they would have to send it out. The service tech actually advised me to come get the car, and take it to the place where they send all of their 'top' issues to, in order to get fixed, and that would save me the up-charge from the dealer.
 
I took it down to the repair shop, and the guys looked at it, and they initially could not get the top up even by hand. At first, they were unsure as to the problem themselves. Nothing really looked out of the ordinary, other than what I had already discovered, that the frame was hitting against the plastic covers on the sides. There were no holes or rips in the top.
 
They eventually popped the plastic pieces off, and once again, while I held the button, they lifted from both sides. They got it about half way up and we stopped again. After more inspection, he could feel that the frame on the passenger side was severely bent out of place. After inspecting the driver side, the frame (this is the frame within the top, and luckily had not punctured the top), was bent the other way. He then showed me gouges once the plastic pieces were lifted where over time the frame was getting worse and worse. "This did not just happen over night." was his exact words. He then shared with me that after several repairs from the dealer back in 2005 when they first came out, there was an article in a mechanics trade magazine, alerting repair shops of this issue. This guy showed the Service Manager but again, Ford would not accept it as an issue, and therefore did not issue any recall.
 
The repair is going to cost $2293.00 to get fixed - $1242.66 for the parts and 867.79 Labor. They are replacing both sides. The gentleman at the repair shop stated initially that Ford only replaced one side. They eventually went to replacing both sides, because eventually the other side would fail and was causing issues with the top, i.e., tearing and holes.
 
I contacted Ford, and they of course denied any assistance - stating there was no recall or known defect. Even though both the Service tech and the Service Manager at my local dealership acknowledged they were aware of the issues. So if a local dealer is aware, surely (and by reading the posts on here), there are others around the country, I'm sure enough that would cause Ford to make a recall.
 
I was advised to hold on to my receipts - but I was also advised that I should coordinate the repair through my dealer, otherwise, in the event a recall was made, I would not be covered by taking it to the repair shop myself - even though, it was the Service department that advised me to take it to the shop I have it at. Just another charge I would have to incur, having the dealer coordinate this.
 
So, I'm asking - if there is anyone else with a 2005 model that has had both sides of their frames repaired and/or top, please contact me - I'd like to show Ford that this is indeed an issue, and that they need to 'man' up and take care of the issue themselves.
 
Steve in Olathe KS

#64 of 90 Convertible roof on 2008 by 08tang

May 04, 2011 (8:50 am)

#65 of 90 Re: 2010 Convertible Top [delraygirl] by delraygirl

May 04, 2011 (9:10 am)

Replying to: delraygirl (Apr 01, 2011 6:30 am)
Good News-- Ford completely replaced my top, and even gave us a loaner to drive while they had my car. I am a happy camper, let's see how long this top lasts

#66 of 90 Convertible roof on 2008 Mustang by 08tang

May 04, 2011 (9:20 am)

In 2009, I purchased a 08. It was not from a dealer but the owner of the garage who in the past and done my repairs. He buys at auction and is someone I trust implicitly. This winter, I noticed cracking on the piping around the top. In January, I took it to a FORD dealer and they made arrangements to contract the job to have the roof replaced. Upon replacement, I noticed the vinyl was buckled on each corner of the back window; the right worse than, the left. It looks like it has not been attached straight. I immediately took it back to the dealer, who said it needed the warmth of the summer to tighten up the vinyl. Then I noticed some vinyl sticking out and return to the dealer. The service manager and service customer rep pushed the pieces back into place. (?) I live in the prairies in Canada and our winters get extremely cold. Last week, it was finally warm enough to put down the top. Firstly, I noticed it is extremely easy to unlatch; there is no tautness. Secondly, I noticed it is not receding far enough back into place and looks like it isn’t folding in properly. Thirdly, when it is put back up there appears to be fold and pinch marks. I called the service dept and he was to get in touch with the manager. I didn’t hear from him and called him. The car is still on warranty until the middle of this month. He told me he was not prepared to incur the cost of sending 2 men to take the car to the contractor. That basically, it was my responsibility. I emailed the owners and then today received an email from the Service Manager, stating they all agreed I should take the car myself, the contractor would let them know if he could fix it and then they would decide what to do (which more than likely, will be past the end of the warranty). Has anyone else had these problems with a replacement? Although I live in a reasonably large city, I gather there are not a lot of contractors who do this type of work.

#67 of 90 Re: 2010 Convertible Top [delraygirl] by claires HOST

May 04, 2011 (11:10 pm)

Replying to: delraygirl (May 04, 2011 9:10 am)
Congrats, delraygirl! What changed their minds after they tried to pass it off as a "trapped rock"?

#68 of 90 Ford Mustang Convertible top by 08tang

May 06, 2011 (9:14 am)

Can anyone tell me if the roof mechanism in an '08 is the same as newer and older models and when the change occurred?

#69 of 90 Re: Ford Mustang Convertible top [08tang] by browneyes2blu

May 11, 2011 (9:19 am)

Replying to: 08tang (May 06, 2011 9:14 am)
05 thru 09 should be the same.check on e-bay for parts.

Messages Page 7 of 9

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