I leased a 2014 Ford Explorer Limited in July 2014 (had 6 miles). By the end of January 2015 (had 10,620 miles) I began to experience on going problems while driving my vehicle at the speed of 40 mph and above with the RPMs at 1500-2000. The vehicle makes a hissing/air leakage/pressure release type sound coming from the driver side dashboard vicinity. The problem occurs when in automatic or manual drive, while accelerating, coasting, or braking as long as the RPMs are between 1500-2000. The noise is becoming more constant and pronounced that I'm concerned it will turn into something major. My children's safety is my top priority and it should be Ford's too.
My car has been in and out of the dealership quite a few times totaling 62 days. I've done ride-alongs with multiple technicians who all heard the same hissing sound. The technicians state that this noise is not normal and felt something could be wrong with the throttle or transmission. I was told by one of the technicians "there's a solution to your problem. It's called this button right here." He was gesturing for me to turn up my radio! Solenoids and transmission casing were replaced. This did not fix the problem. It's frustrating to pay a good amount of money per month on a vehicle I'm not able to drive just to get stuck in a loaner Town & Country Van that's worth $10-$15k less.
Ford service engineers were scheduled to come take a look at my vehicle. After test driving my vehicle they concluded the hissing noise was a "normal operating characteristic of the vehicle" and if I didn't want to hear the hissing noise I could set my AC at level 2. He was incorrect. Hissing noise is present regardless of what level I have my AC. It baffles me that Ford speaks with such high regard of their "highly trained technicians and engineers" and the solution I get for my car is "turn up your radio", "keep your ac at a level 2" , and "that's a normal operating characteristic of the vehicle". I find the engineer's and technician's response to be very unprofessional and unacceptable. The noise wasn't there during the first 6 months and it shouldn't be there now. I test drove 5 similar Ford Explorers and not one made any hissing/air leakage/ pressure release type noise. It was actually very soothing to drive a vehicle that operates as it should.
Ford Corporate denied my claim for a repurchase/replacement and closed my case. In the meantime I've contacted the BBB, BAR/Consumer Affairs, and a lemon law attorney. My husband and I have been loyal Ford owners since 1998. Ford has left a bad taste in my mouth and I now doubt the safety of their vehicles and what I thought was their number 1 priority....taking care of their customers and producing the safest vehicles. What good is a warranty if Ford doesn't make good on it?
Today my car is back in my possession. The noise is driving me up the wall to say the least. I'm waiting for the day to come when I'm driving down the road and notice my transmission dragging in the back. It will take something to that degree for Ford to act. That's too late
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I leased a 2014 Ford Explorer Limited in July 2014 (had 6 miles). By the end of January 2015 (had 10,620 miles) I began to experience on going problems while driving my vehicle at the speed of 40 mph and above with the RPMs at 1500-2000. The vehicle makes a hissing/air leakage/pressure release type sound coming from the driver side dashboard vicinity. The problem occurs when in automatic or manual drive, while accelerating, coasting, or braking as long as the RPMs are between 1500-2000. The noise is becoming more constant and pronounced that I'm concerned it will turn into something major. My children's safety is my top priority and it should be Ford's too.
My car has been in and out of the dealership quite a few times totaling 62 days. I've done ride-alongs with multiple technicians who all heard the same hissing sound. The technicians state that this noise is not normal and felt something could be wrong with the throttle or transmission. I was told by one of the technicians "there's a solution to your problem. It's called this button right here." He was gesturing for me to turn up my radio! Solenoids and transmission casing were replaced. This did not fix the problem. It's frustrating to pay a good amount of money per month on a vehicle I'm not able to drive just to get stuck in a loaner Town & Country Van that's worth $10-$15k less.
Ford service engineers were scheduled to come take a look at my vehicle. After test driving my vehicle they concluded the hissing noise was a "normal operating characteristic of the vehicle" and if I didn't want to hear the hissing noise I could set my AC at level 2. He was incorrect. Hissing noise is present regardless of what level I have my AC. It baffles me that Ford speaks with such high regard of their "highly trained technicians and engineers" and the solution I get for my car is "turn up your radio", "keep your ac at a level 2" , and "that's a normal operating characteristic of the vehicle". I find the engineer's and technician's response to be very unprofessional and unacceptable. The noise wasn't there during the first 6 months and it shouldn't be there now. I test drove 5 similar Ford Explorers and not one made any hissing/air leakage/ pressure release type noise. It was actually very soothing to drive a vehicle that operates as it should.
Ford Corporate denied my claim for a repurchase/replacement and closed my case. In the meantime I've contacted the BBB, BAR/Consumer Affairs, and a lemon law attorney. My husband and I have been loyal Ford owners since 1998. Ford has left a bad taste in my mouth and I now doubt the safety of their vehicles and what I thought was their number 1 priority....taking care of their customers and producing the safest vehicles. What good is a warranty if Ford doesn't make good on it?
Today my car is back in my possession. The noise is driving me up the wall to say the least. I'm waiting for the day to come when I'm driving down the road and notice my transmission dragging in the back. It will take something to that degree for Ford to act. That's too late
- Renee W., Fountain Valley, CA, US