Clutch & Cylinder Failed at less than 900 miles. Dealer denied warranty claim

[PWillette]

Curious OP...a burning clutch has a very distinctive smell, could you smell it prior to failure?

Someone else asked how many miles on the truck when you purchased? Could be someone burned it up prior to you taking delivery.

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[Lifeliberty]

I only have 13k on my clutch. I've dropped it from 2nd to first with engine at high speed and probably messed up a bunch of shifts. Been driving manual since 16 for reference.

My clutch is fine. I'd say it's Manufacturer issue and there no way you ruined it in 900 miles. You'd basically have to be trying to ruin it, and you wouldn't do that to an engine Before breaking it in.

Not that people aren't stupid, they are, but the vibe I'm getting is you aren't.

Good luck, I hope ford takes care of you

 

[HOSSMAN]

I'll be the unpopular dealership Service Director guy here for a min. I know Ducati represents everyone well with a ton of info, help and knowledge. I try to not say much anymore but the social media comment earlier on got me.

Unfortunately Ford warranty is pretty black and white. With 900 miles on it we have to submit a GCR (assuming under 3 months old) with pix and failure to report back to Ford. Also at 900 miles there is a 99.99% chance Ford is going to call the part back and inspect it. If the part looks like the GSB that was published, Ford will charge back the dealer for the repair as non compliant and the dealer would end up eating the repair. The dealer would need to prove that part X (a covered component) failed causing part Y to fail to be covered, doesn't sound like they can do that based on the information provided.

Right or wrong, agree or disagree that is how the policy is written. You cannot fault the servicing dealer for following Ford's rules and you cannot melt a survey for that dealer based on them following the rules they are, we are, forced to uphold. Ford doesn't read the surveys quite honestly but the dealers hold the rest accountable by pay plans tied to CSI so if you like your advisor and bomb a survey, chances are you are only hurting them, definitely not the dealer or Ford.

The only thing I would have done differently is gone back to the selling dealer. I cannot tell you how many times Ford won't pay for something and if reasonable we as a dealer step up and take care of the repair within reason because they are our customer, that's just good business.

Calling 1-800 Ford for your concern and opening a case with a tier 1 agent, you have a better chance of winning the lottery, they will default to what the dealer says and what Ford warranty says unfortunately. I'd go back to the selling dealer for help and not keep posting about it.

Someone mentioned social media and melting the dealer. Stop that... I wouldn't come into your business and do that. I'd take it up with you or the upper brass, not the general keyboard warrior public. That's one of the many problems with today's society. I didn't grow up in the everyone gets a trophy era.

Good luck in your quest OP, I hope you do get some resolution.

Just my .02

 

[PWillette]

The only thing I would have done differently is gone back to the selling dealer. I cannot tell you how many times Ford won't pay for something and if reasonable we as a dealer step up and take care of the repair within reason because they are our customer, that's just good business.

 

[Beach_Bum]

Reading through a number of replies and many attest to their years of driving a manual as a testament that the failure isn't due to their driving experience. As an aside, Ford originally offered the manual transmission at the Bronco Off-Roadeo in 2021. That lasted all of 3 months as all the "experienced" manual drivers smoked the clutches causing those vehicles to be recalled/retired from the fleet. Now, only 10spAuto transmissions are available for the BOR fleets.

 

[gatorjohn]

I'll be the unpopular dealership Service Director guy here for a min. I know Ducati represents everyone well with a ton of info, help and knowledge. I try to not say much anymore but the social media comment earlier on got me.

Unfortunately Ford warranty is pretty black and white. With 900 miles on it we have to submit a GCR (assuming under 3 months old) with pix and failure to report back to Ford. Also at 900 miles there is a 99.99% chance Ford is going to call the part back and inspect it. If the part looks like the GSB that was published, Ford will charge back the dealer for the repair as non compliant and the dealer would end up eating the repair. The dealer would need to prove that part X (a covered component) failed causing part Y to fail to be covered, doesn't sound like they can do that based on the information provided.

Right or wrong, agree or disagree that is how the policy is written. You cannot fault the servicing dealer for following Ford's rules and you cannot melt a survey for that dealer based on them following the rules they are, we are, forced to uphold. Ford doesn't read the surveys quite honestly but the dealers hold the rest accountable by pay plans tied to CSI so if you like your advisor and bomb a survey, chances are you are only hurting them, definitely not the dealer or Ford.

The only thing I would have done differently is gone back to the selling dealer. I cannot tell you how many times Ford won't pay for something and if reasonable we as a dealer step up and take care of the repair within reason because they are our customer, that's just good business.

Calling 1-800 Ford for your concern and opening a case with a tier 1 agent, you have a better chance of winning the lottery, they will default to what the dealer says and what Ford warranty says unfortunately. I'd go back to the selling dealer for help and not keep posting about it.

Someone mentioned social media and melting the dealer. Stop that... I wouldn't come into your business and do that. I'd take it up with you or the upper brass, not the general keyboard warrior public. That's one of the many problems with today's society. I didn't grow up in the everyone gets a trophy era.

Good luck in your quest OP, I hope you do get some resolution.

Just my .02

I have no intentions of mentioning the dealer, service advisor, or the tech themselves. I get the spot they're put in as well.

The dealer would need to prove that part X (a covered component) failed causing part Y to fail to be covered, doesn't sound like they can do that based on the information provided.

I understand that's how it works from the Dealer / Ford corporate perspective.... but Magnuson Moss warranty laws. are the opposite: Ford has to have positive proof that it was user error.

I've asked for more positive proof other than the clutch images, (and a clutch can burn up for many reasons other than user error.... I've got nothing but essentially, 'it appears to be user error based on this bulletin image.' The tech also didn't perform some of the additional diagnostics from the bulletin such as assessing uniform finger height, etc. So now I'll have to try to escalate to Ford to hopefully have an FSE review these items, or turn to an attorney, which is always a headache.

Again, I have no intentions of mentioning the advisor/dealer, etc or melting them on a survey, but now I'm looking at probably a month or two of escalation for the dealer / Ford to comply with warranty laws, which has now really put a sour taste in my mouth with Ford.

 

[DALOLA]

OP, you seem to have the means... while you are waiting for Ford to respond, just fix it yourself, or an independent shop, and keep going. A clutch R&R is no big deal, maybe you will find something in the process. Document everything for future resolution with Ford.

You can turn this into as big of a cluster F* as you wish, which keeps your Bronco on the lift, and adds grey hair to your head. Your call.

Good luck.

 

[Brian_B]

OP, you seem to have the means... while you are waiting for Ford to respond, just fix it yourself, or an independent shop, and keep going. A clutch R&R is no big deal, maybe you will find something in the process. Document everything for future resolution with Ford.

You can turn this into as big of a cluster F* as you wish, which keeps your Bronco on the lift, and adds grey hair to your head. Your call.

Good luck.

This is a good answer

 

[davebdave]

Looking at that clutch disc the friction material was mechanically ripped from the disc on one side. To me that could only happen from a foreign object, defective part, or installation error. You can ride the clutch all day,every day, and that wouldn’t be the result in my opinion. Ford should apologize and repair this vehicle. Nevermind the clutch is not a warranty item, something seriously went wrong here.

 

[Brian_B]

The classic cases of burning up a clutch


Stuck in the mud/snow/sand/whatever - shifting back and forth from R to 1 to rock the vehicle

Trying to go up a steep incline from a stop (or starting from a stop in too high of a gear) and riding the clutch to keep from stalling out.

Hero shifting to something extreme

Riding the pedal will often kill the throw-out bearing, but that's not the same thing as this

 

[Fatfireman]

OP, you seem to have the means... while you are waiting for Ford to respond, just fix it yourself, or an independent shop, and keep going. A clutch R&R is no big deal, maybe you will find something in the process. Document everything for future resolution with Ford.

You can turn this into as big of a cluster F* as you wish, which keeps your Bronco on the lift, and adds grey hair to your head. Your call.

Good luck.

It is a good answer but man it would be the principle of it for me. I can't imagine having to fix anything outside of me getting into an accident on a vehicle with only 900 miles on it. And I certainly would have no faith that Ford is going to reimburse me for any repairs that are made out of my pocket. The whole thing is just crazy to me.

 

[merfsiu]

This right here. The clutch is damaged not burnt and the wear on one side and not the other is also a telltale sign that something was mechanically wrong. Hammer them on these points as they are inconsistent with their conclusion.

 

[GreyZ]

OP, you seem to have the means... while you are waiting for Ford to respond, just fix it yourself, or an independent shop, and keep going. A clutch R&R is no big deal, maybe you will find something in the process. Document everything for future resolution with Ford.

You can turn this into as big of a cluster F* as you wish, which keeps your Bronco on the lift, and adds grey hair to your head. Your call.

Good luck.

I tend to agree here. I have ridden with people that are "well seasoned in manual" and be amazed at how much they ride the clutch and misshift and have seen them blow a clutch in 200 miles of aggressive driving. The problem here is that even if it was not your fault, the images you showed look exactly like how a clutch looks that failed due to a driver error.

Secondly, the over rev comments are a bit misinformed. It will not show up on the engine rpm even if the engine rpm is recorded because that failure occurs without the clutch being released. An over rpm happens when you accidentally go into C intead of 3rd when downshifting with the clutch depressed. The engine never speeds up, but the clutch disk sees a HUGE overspeed and can damage the clutch disk structurally that then fails quickly in subsequent driving.

I am not placing blame, just speaking of the optics from the Ford viewpoint. I think reach out to your purchase dealer, but if I was in your shoes I would pay to get the clutch and slave replaced and then work on seeing if any reinbursment would be possible with relativly low expectations of recieving anyting.

 

[Winchite]

These posts make me nervous to drive mine off road far from serviceable areas. I picked up mine with 200 test drive miles so who knows how bad it was treated (super good price though). I can’t believe a clutch can abused enough to burn it at 900 miles. I’ve had a Nissan Frontier for 20 years and done all the “bad” things like rocking it 1-R-1 out of snow every year and frequently driving in stop go traffic and starting from stop on steep hills. Lots of other problems but the clutch is not one.

 

[DALOLA]

It is a good answer but man it would be the principle of it for me. I can't imagine having to fix anything outside of me getting into an accident on a vehicle with only 900 miles on it. And I certainly would have no faith that Ford is going to reimburse me for any repairs that are made out of my pocket. The whole thing is just crazy to me.

Yeah, I get it. Everyone gets to pick their hill.

E+R=O. Good healthy life formula.

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