- #2 of 30
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bad service from Ford
by tdi guy
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Sep 27, 2005 (6:21 am)
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This hurts as I have been driving Fords exclusively since 1982. However, I have less than 2200 miles on my new Focus SX4 ST and the CD player has failed. I was playing MP3 files when it spit out the CD with an error code of "Bad CD." Subsequently, every CD that I try to load, even commercially available music CD's get rejected as "Bad."
It is a recurring problem as documented here and elsewhere. My dealer said that they would have to send the unit out for repair or replacement - will take three weeks. I called Ford customer service and was told that they could not help. It is a new car, I am a loyal Ford customer, and it is their premium "audiophile" unit. Am I being unreasonable to think that three weeks is too long to wait - hell, the car is barely three weeks old. I would have hoped for more from Ford. Apparently, loyalty to the company is a fool's game. If Mr. Ford is serious about turning his ailing company around, customer service and product accountability will need improvement.
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- #3 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [tdi guy]
by cmuniz
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Sep 28, 2005 (3:23 am)
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Replying to: tdi guy (Sep 27, 2005 6:21 am)
The supplier of the audio systems has had them on back-order due to the high number of defects as listed in TSB 05-10-19 that affects not only Focus, but also Fivehundreds, Freestyles, Mustangs and F-150s. I just had mine replaced in the Freestyle and it took 3 weeks to get the radio in from the supplier. Although it is in a Ford product and they have responsibility to replace it the problem lies with the manufacturer of the radio, NOT Ford. A little patience and then everything will be ok.
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- #4 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [cmuniz]
by tdi guy
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Sep 28, 2005 (5:20 am)
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Replying to: cmuniz (Sep 28, 2005 3:23 am)
Thanks for the info - much more than I got from Ford. My son has a 2003 Focus with the audiophile head and is on his second replacement after only 25,000 miles. Can I assume my replacement will be free of defects, or will I receive another unit likely to fail? I have had Ford products ranging from my current Focus to a Lincoln and have a sense of brand loyalty. Of course, it helps that my brother-in-law just retired after 33 years at Ford and my father was an engineer there. Nevertheless, it's frustrating to get the run-around when all you want is some information. Thanks for taking time to point me in the right direction.
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- #5 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [tdi guy]
by cmuniz
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Sep 30, 2005 (1:55 am)
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Replying to: tdi guy (Sep 28, 2005 5:20 am)
My new radio/CD changer seems to be working ok, but it's too early to tell since previous problems seemed random. I'll be able to tell after a long trip this weekend. My daughter and her husband both work for Ford in Dearborn and I currently drive a Freestyle and thinking about trading in a Subaru for a Focus for my wife.
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- #6 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [cmuniz]
by tdi guy
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Sep 30, 2005 (3:48 am)
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Replying to: cmuniz (Sep 30, 2005 1:55 am)
Good luck with the new unit. I took my Focus to the dealer Wednesday as there is a small paint problem that they are fixing. I suggested they leave the old radio and order a new one - swapping the two when the new one arrives. The service manager said he couldn't do it - that Ford would not allow it. I then pulled out the TSB with affected build dates and specific problems outlined. After a lot of huffying and puffying, he agreed to order a new radio - although said they may be on back order. If so, he would have to pull the unit for repair. I pick up the car this afternoon and will find out if there is a hole in my dash.
I'm not sure why this has to be such a struggle. In fairness to Ford, this has been a dealership issue. Like you, I have many family ties to Ford and am thankful for all of the A-plan purchases I have been able to make. I may be moving back to Michigan soon. If so, maybe I'll have better luck finding a reliable dealer.
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- #7 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [tdi guy]
by nycb4e
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Oct 04, 2005 (7:54 am)
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Replying to: tdi guy (Sep 27, 2005 6:21 am)
I have the same problem with my new Focus. I've been waiting over 3 weeks for a replacement. Ford customer service is a joke. They admit having a problem with the vendor yet failed to do anything about it... they can't even give me an estimated time for repair. I told them "dealing with ford is like dealing with a gov't agency.. everything is outsourced with no accountability... will never buy another ford".
BTW, after 4k miles driven only get 24mpg... not the sticked claimed 27-32
Mad as hell. Sorry I have nothing positive to offer.
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- #8 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [nycb4e]
by tdi guy
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Oct 04, 2005 (4:17 pm)
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Replying to: nycb4e (Oct 04, 2005 7:54 am)
I finally prevailed with the dealer - they have ordered a replacement while leaving my defective unit in the dash. Clearly, Ford/the dealer could have handled this better. I had to work much to0 hard to get the dealer to honor the warranty and Ford customer service seemed incapable of helping. That aside, I like the car. It is fun to drive and I am happy with the mileage. I just got 26 mpg for my last tank, and had my foot in it for much of it. On a recent extended trip, got 31.5 mpg for a tank when I had the cruise control set at 75 mph most of the way with several elevation changes. What the hell...I paid $15,500 for this thing and don't expect it to perform as a Lincoln. Other than the CD player, it has been just fine so far.
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- #9 of 30
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Re: bad service from Ford [cmuniz]
by tdi guy
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Nov 12, 2005 (2:39 pm)
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Replying to: cmuniz (Sep 30, 2005 1:55 am)
How is your new radio/cd changer workin? Six weeks after ordering a replacement, I finally went to my dealer for an update. Turns out the replacement has been sitting on a shelf - don't know how long it has been there. They were going to install it today, but discovered that they had the wrong radio. Couldn't get them to tell me if they ordered the wrong radio, or if the manufacturer was at fault. Regardless, now I'm back at the end of the line. Glad you had better luck. So far, I'm not impressed with Ford or my dealer. Otherwise, the car has been fine. Just got 33 mpg on a tank yesterday.
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- #10 of 30
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cd player
by jobot37
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Jan 05, 2006 (6:40 pm)
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I bought a 2005 Ford Focus zx4 this past August, have just now put my 3000th mile on it, and today while driving away from the bank, the cd player spit out my disc, it has since then refused to accept any discs I try to put in. The rest of the entertainment system works just fine, but I rarely use my radio, I saw several other comments along this line and I was wondereing how long it should take to get it fixed/ replaced or whatever they do? 
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