The electronics have been my beef with the Fords, too. Mine is a 2013, and so far the only thing that parked me by the side of an interstate and required a tow on a long trip (for any vehicle I’ve owned since my college days) was a failure in the smart junction box. That is a hardware systems integration interface behind the right passenger kick panel. It has to be electronically tattooed to the key to work. The connections became unreliable and the result was total loss of control over major systems. No lights, door locks, instruments, or key-level engine control. I could not lock the doors and I was afraid to stop the engine for fear it wouldn’t start again, but at least I could get it off the highway (albeit without brake lights). It was an $1100 part that only a dealer could obtain and install. Happened at 110,000 miles, 1500 miles from home but at least in an area where I had reliable old friends. Thank goodness I had the extended warranty.
The engine dropped a valve at 117,000 miles—the extended warranty covered that, too. But that gave me plenty of warning that something was amiss before things really started letting go. Ford had to buy me a new engine, which I didn’t mind at all. I sure got value out of that $2500 extended warranty.
The other problems I’ve been able to repair myself for less money than the warranty deductible, but now it’s out of warranty and has 156k miles on it.
I might replace it with a Suburban when the time comes, just to try out GM after many years, but I don’t really expect it to be better in the electronics reliability/serviceability department. Too much closed-architecture software dependency in cars these days. But I’m going to try to keep it for one more set of tires because I like it, and newer vehicles have even more software dependency.
It’s made me a right to repair advocate.
Not like an old Delta/Rockwell drill press, which is still easy to keep in a state of good repair after 50-60 years, unlike most modern Chinese-made house brands (obligatory thread content).
Rick “supports right to repair, as we all should” Denney
The engine dropped a valve at 117,000 miles—the extended warranty covered that, too. But that gave me plenty of warning that something was amiss before things really started letting go. Ford had to buy me a new engine, which I didn’t mind at all. I sure got value out of that $2500 extended warranty.
The other problems I’ve been able to repair myself for less money than the warranty deductible, but now it’s out of warranty and has 156k miles on it.
I might replace it with a Suburban when the time comes, just to try out GM after many years, but I don’t really expect it to be better in the electronics reliability/serviceability department. Too much closed-architecture software dependency in cars these days. But I’m going to try to keep it for one more set of tires because I like it, and newer vehicles have even more software dependency.
It’s made me a right to repair advocate.
Not like an old Delta/Rockwell drill press, which is still easy to keep in a state of good repair after 50-60 years, unlike most modern Chinese-made house brands (obligatory thread content).
Rick “supports right to repair, as we all should” Denney
Mike
