clutch problems with 2011 model ford ranger

Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:30
ThreadID: 91573 Views:9514 Replies:12 FollowUps:7
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Just like to let people know about our clutch failure on our ranger.it occured backing our van onto a site. van only weighs 2.1t so well inside its limits and i was not riding the clutch. ford have told me the clutch is not covered by the warranty and they wanted to charge me $4500 to replace it. they told me the vehicle is not made to reverse such loads. what a load of rubish. i had help from a inderpendent mechanic and is puting in a heavy duty clutch for $2250. he told me he has replaced about 35 of them in the last 18months.
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Reply By: Member - peter f (VIC) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:37

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:37
if it is a 4wd model ,
why not use low range ,much easier on the drive line , won,t hirt anything
in that short distance ,
mechpete
AnswerID: 476457

Reply By: Bazooka - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:41

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:41
Since when is a clutch not covered by warranty?
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Reply By: Whirlwinder - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:44

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:44
We had the same failure with our SES Ford Ranger at 4000kms with the same cr.p response from Ford as well as vibration in the tail shaft due to miss aligned centre bearing mount (which was fixed by Ford).
That was the last Ford we buy!
AnswerID: 476459

Reply By: Notso - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:44

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 12:44
How many Ks had it done.

There are new warranty laws regarding Merchantability and "Reasonable Expectations".
AnswerID: 476460

Follow Up By: Member - G.T. - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 16:52

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 16:52
Notso -- I recon you may be on the money here. All vehicle manufacturers are very specific about friction material being not under warranty, but I think that there has to be a case for` reasonable expectations`. Regards G.T.
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Follow Up By: Bazooka - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:49

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:49
Admittedly it was a long while ago but I had no problem getting Nissan to replace the clutch under warranty on my almost new patrol. Took it to a dealer in Alice Springs (not where I bought it, was on a big trip), he calmed me down and got it replaced very quickly. Terrific service.
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FollowupID: 751583

Follow Up By: KevinE - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:42

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 08:42
Glad to hear that Bazooka, we have a current model D22 & I've been hearing horror stories about the clutches on them grenading inside 30K km's & Nissan saying it was the way they were driven & refusing warranty :( We just clicked over 28K km's, so I've been a bit nervous!
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FollowupID: 751659

Reply By: TerraFirma - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 15:22

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 15:22
What a load of rubbish. I would not be buying a Ford again after that. What make me laugh is they spend hundreds of thousands to attract customers and then treat them like that. That's a disconnect between marketing and the dealers/service centres. $4500 to replace it. Wow. There's a lot to be said about towing with an auto imo.
AnswerID: 476471

Reply By: david a4 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 16:58

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 16:58
it is a 4WD crew cab ford ranger, only done 16,000Klms, when using low range you cannot turn the vehicle you can only reverse in a straight line, something else they did not think of
AnswerID: 476481

Follow Up By: howesy - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:27

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:27
If you jump up and down and ring head office and threaten consumer organisations and television they will come to the party. I had the same issue an a vehicle where brake rotors wore to uner minimum thickness by 40,000 and it was deemed that a reasonable expectation was 80 to 100,000 so they replaced tham at a cost of $1400.
Dont take no for an answer and be forceful. take it to a tribunal and you would win definately not a reasonable expectation of service.
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FollowupID: 751581

Follow Up By: Axle - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:06

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:06
David, I'm just wondering if you have experienced some major diff wind up!, and the weakest component has let go?, I'd be asking a lot of questions

As for their pricing, Their full of it!!! Just get a break down of parts and labour, They will settle down when you start the reverse tatic.

Cheers Axle.
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Follow Up By: Muntoo - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 21:08

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 21:08
I have a BT50, and i can turn in reverse while in LOW4.

Reverse is geared too high, i agree. But i love my rig.

The high cost is because they are probably replacing the dual mass flywheel also. Get a solid mass flywheel and heavy duty clutch fitted and you will be fine.

It is covered under warranty though mate, head over to the 4wd action forum and check out the Ranger and BT50 sections. You may have to sign up, but it will be worth it. You will get the right advice over there mate in regards to the LOW 4 mod and also dealing with Ford.
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FollowupID: 751619

Reply By: Member - barry F (NSW) - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:47

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 17:47
Hi David, have a look at archived thread # 70939 which tells of our experience with clutch failure in our Mazda BT50 at about 30,000 K's.

The replacement clutch referred to in that thread lasted for 10,000 K's before it to failed. Both clutches were replaced by Mazda at no cost to us. Whilst we were not happy about having clutch problems, the response from Mazda was spot on in that it was prompt & without out us having to press the issue to get them to do something about it.

They advised that after the last failure that the replacement clutch they fitted was a heavy duty one. They were apologetic about the inconvenience caused to us & there was no cost involved to us. We have done about 25,000 K's on the present clutch, but the problem is always on my mind that it might let us down at any time.

Good luck in getting Ford to do something about it at no cost to you & it is such a disappointment to purchase a new vehicle which you have every right to expect it to perform to your satisfaction.

AnswerID: 476486

Reply By: AlbyNSW - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:21

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 19:21
Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Just wondering is this the latest/ current body shape model you are talking about?
AnswerID: 476497

Reply By: cookie1 - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 20:01

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 20:01
I just had the same thing with Nissan, 2009 GU 3L CRD Patrol 29,000 Km - no warranty on clutch apparently I don't know how to drive them. Well after 4 Patrols I am in the market for a Landcruiser, told the service clerk to let the sales person know as he had just sent me a letter asking if I am ready to update.

Put a Heavy Duty clutch in 1/2 price of original.
AnswerID: 476505

Reply By: Member - Wamuranman - Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 20:28

Tuesday, Jan 31, 2012 at 20:28
HI David,

I have a relative who has the same model (2011) runout model not the new 5 cylinder one.
The problem he says is that 1st and reverse are gear are too high.
There is a modification you can get done that allows you to access low range in 2WD mode apparently. This will assist in the future in minimising the strain on the drive train. Although you have put in a heavy duty clutch the gearbox is the next weakest link in the chain - and many have failed at low Kms.
I would look at using the low range 2WD option.
Cheers
AnswerID: 476509

Reply By: david a4 - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:28

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 09:28
thanks for the replies. it is a pk model. just doing up a letter to send to ford now.
AnswerID: 476560

Reply By: Bazooka - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 11:33

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 11:33
Must admit I'm surprised at how quickly people 'roll over' on such an expensive item. Unless you have operated outside the vehicle's specs and 'normal/expected use' (eg super heavy towing/dragging/load carrying etc, which woud be nigh on impossible for Ford/Nissan/etc to prove if the vehicle has been well looked after - log book service records are important) then you have consumer law in your favour, major motoring organisations and the ACCC to help (nothing is to be lost by contacting both and discussing the problem), national customer service mgrs and CEOs you can pen a letter to, and last - if you're lucky (should that be unlucky?) - the 'current affairs' shows.

The ACCC in particular would be very 'interested' in any manufacturer saying that the vehicle is not made for xyz when it breaks down but at the same time tellling you when you bought it that it can tow 3 tonnes, is made for hard work etc. You do need to exhaust your options with the retailer/manufacturer first (record everything they tell you) because NRMA/RAA/ACCC will ask you if you have written to senior people at Ford/Nissan/wherever and what their response was. In case you're wondering I haven't had to do this for any of my vehicles (although I did need to write to Nissan head office once when my local dealer wasn't as helpful as they should have been) but I've been down a similar path for another consumer issue.

Anyway hope you get the right result. As the cartoon suggests Don't Give Up

AnswerID: 476572

Follow Up By: Member - Wamuranman - Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:13

Wednesday, Feb 01, 2012 at 18:13
AS well as all the above a new powerful consumer tool is about to be released. On February 6 social media Facebook is releasing Shamebook. Their website states " The website aims to make businesses aware of what the issue is whilest incentivising a resolution by handing an unresolved issue back to social media for mass distribution"

Have a look at this press release:
http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/new-social-media-linked-consumer-help-website-launching-6th-february-2012

This will probably prove a very powerful tool for consumers.

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FollowupID: 751709

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