Subject: 
Ford's 6.0 Liter Diesel


Thu, 30 Jun 2005 23:52:58 -0700
Date:    





Ford Motor Company in my opinion has dumped the 6.0 liter diesel onto
its customers and expects those customers to stand by with loyalty
toward their product no matter what.  I felt that loyalty because I had
a 7.3 liter diesel that I could depend on that engine to get the job
done.  I rue the day that I traded that truck for a 6.0 liter diesel.  I
am aware that on occasion one vehicle may slip through the cracks and
about all you can do with it is get rid of it and knowing the
possibility of getting another lemon is a low.  I am here to tell you
that that is not the case.  I am on my second lemon and it has caused me
a great deal of stress and twice I have sought to get remedy through the
"Ford Dispute Settlement Board."
 
What a joke that turned out to be.  They sent me a letter on the 15th of
April 2005 stating that Ford Motor Company has fixed my truck and that
Ford is not bound to provide any monetary remedy and that I was free to
pursue any legal course I chose.  Prior to my meeting with the Board
(telephonically) I had met with a lawyer and at the time I said the
board had agreed to open my case and review it with me.  That stopped my
pursuit of a suit at that time.  Upon receipt of the letter I called the
lawyer again and told him I was ready to pursue my suit against Lawley
Team Ford in Sierra Vista, AZ and Ford Motor Company.  
 
Allow me to digress at this point.  I am a Environmental Engineering
Specialist and have worked at this job for 17 years.  I have traveled
extensively throughout the country to many manufacturing facilities and
environmental test laboratories to test products products for acceptance
by the U. S. Military.  At several of those facilities I have seen
automotive test samples under test in laboratory created (controlled
environments) where those samples were expected to survive.  Those
samples were for products two and three years down the line.  Believe me
when I say that those tests bring to the surface every problem
imaginable and it is the responsibility of that company's engineers to
fix them.  
 
I have had test engineers try to pull the wool over my eyes and not
relent in doing so.  All of them know that I do not have purchasing
responsibilities; however, they know that I have the ear of those who
do.  After discussions we normally come to the best solution and
engineering changes are made and the government purchases the products.
Some have opted not to do so and not only did they not get that product
accepted by the government but it cost them follow-on contracts.  
 
My point is that Ford Motor Company is no different when it comes to
thoroughly testing their product prior to releasing it to their
customers.  It seems in this case they had a great product in the 7.3
liter diesel; however, someone made a decision to go with a 6.0 liter
diesel.  The reasons and rationale I don't know and quite frankly, don't
care!  I am sure that testing was extensive and I believe that the
problems that I and many other customers have experienced were revealed
during those tests.  I believe that management at Ford Motor Company
decided that the inconvenience it would bestow on its customers was
worth the risk of going ahead with production and dump it on their
customers.  
 
In a recent cross country trip, (problems along the way are documented
elsewhere) I met numerous Ford customers who had similar problems that I
have had.  Most, like me, traded the vehicle back and got a vehicle that
did perform to their expectations.  In my case, I traded one lemon for
another.  Some I talked to just decided to get out of the Ford and go to
another manufacturer (a lot of new Dodges out there). I have on the
other hand talked to a few (very few) owners of the 6.0 liter diesel and
they have had great luck with their trucks and even brag about getting
22 miles per gallon, which like the boogieman I have never seen.  I did
see 20 miles per gallon with my 7.3 liter diesel and I had a 410 rear
end in it.  
 
There are many people like myself who conduct testing and witness
testing for the government to ensure quality and reliability of the
equipment purchased.  I can only hope that Ford have a contract they
want to sell the government and try to get them to allow something slip
by.  I only hope that honesty prevails and Ford loses a contract should
they try to deceive the inspectors.  In the past I have relied on those
quality assurance and test engineers at Ford to provide me the best
product money could buy (the quality went in before the name went on).
In contrast I see now that that trust has been betrayed and that Ford
Motor Company will no longer find its product line in my driveway once
this ordeal is over (The fraud went in before the name went on).
 
The stress caused by this ordeal has been substantial and I have been
hospitalized once with chest pains and continue to have palpitations
when thinking about that beautiful piece of crap in my driveway.  It is
a good looking truck.  The letter of 15 April was a real disappointment.
It has been contradicted by the news release of June 13th which states
that a fuel injection control module may well have been the problem with
both trucks I purchased.  I have no intention in staying the course to
find out.
 
I have made so many return trips to the dealership, which I have
documented, in the attachments I normally end up with palpitations
following each visit.  My doctor tells me I have got to reduce my stress
level.  I find the best way to do that is to give stress to those who
deserve it most.  Which I plan to have my truck at every sale event of
the local dealership with a chronology of the events I have been
through.  I know that my first truck was bought by a construction
company and it continued to give them more of the same problems I had,
the dealership tried to pull some crap on them and they now are
converting their fleet of trucks (approximately 15 to 20) to Dodge.  If
I can add another 15 customers to that list I think that will be just
and very satisfying.
 
When I think I have inflicted enough damage I sell the truck and get a
Dodge.
 
Very unhappy with Ford