120 years after the founding of the American automobile giant Ford still sells the car manually. The manufacturer sells cars all over the world, thanks in large part to the variety of vehicles in its arsenal. Whether it’s supercars like the GT for the one percent, tiny city cars like the Ford Ka that’s done well in Europe, or massive trucks meant for the motherland.
Either way, anyone looking for any of these vehicles would like to know what they’re getting into. If that’s you, check out the list of top Ford ownership tips and things to look out for below.
HotCars analyzed the comments and feedback from consumers about the most popular Ford models today. Common problems experienced by owners, NHTSA recalls and overall consumer satisfaction expressed on sites such as CarComplaints and RepairPal were factored into the model selections. HotCars is not responsible for any loss or damage that may occur as a result of reading this article. The items listed in the “What You Can Do” section are taken from the owner’s suggestions, but not always from a certified mechanic or repair professional. The research was conducted in November 2023.
1 Soy-based wire coating can attract rodents
Affected models
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2013 Ford Explorer
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2015 Ford F-150
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2017 Ford Fusion
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2017 Ford Fusion Energi
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2014 Ford Transit Connect
In humanity’s quest for zero emissions and a more sustainable planet, companies sometimes make small changes to their manufacturing process. One such example for Ford is their switch to soy-based wire coatings. Not only will this improve the environment by reducing plastic waste, but it will also be cost-effective. At least that was the plan, but Ford didn’t factor the force of nature into his financial calculations.
Several owners on CarComplaints are reporting damaged wires after rodents fell in love with them. Apparently they like to use it as nesting material. A Bronco owner on Reddit claims he found a whole squirrel’s nest when he took off the hood. The following models are equipped with soy-based wire, so be sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid turning the wiring into building material for rodents.
What you can do
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Avoid leaving food in the car
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Leave the hood up
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Place traps around the vehicle (see the video uploaded by the YouTube channel above
QFG Enterprises
)
2 Several models are known to have transmission issues
Affected models
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Ford Taurus 2003-2005
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Ford Explorer 2002-2006
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Ford Escape 2009-2012
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Ford F-150 2004-2018
Some Ford models have transmission problems. Several owners on CarComplaints describe the transmission in these vehicles as being prone to slippage, hard shifting or, in the worst case scenario, complete failure. The owner of a 2004 Explorer writes the following: “I bought the Explorer new in 2004. It has always suffered from heavy shifting. I changed the fluid and screen every 50,000 miles as suggested by the dealer. Now it’s getting really bad. There is a long pause. when i shift from reverse into drive and the transmission slips when shifting gears. It’s just a matter of time before it fails completely.” If you are considering purchasing one of the vehicles listed below, we recommend regular inspections and ongoing maintenance.
What you can do
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Perform a gear shift check during a test drive
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Ask the owner if they have had problems with shifting gears
3 A broken brake booster can cause heavy braking
Affected models
Many Ford Edge owners have reported problems with the brake booster. This component may cause a small tear in the diaphragm under certain conditions. When this happens, the driver is greeted with a hissing sound as the pedal unloads, and also feels spongy when pressed. If this problem is ignored, the gap will widen over time and the effort required to brake will increase. However, braking performance is affected very little. This problem can occur in any 2010-2013 model year Ford Edge. Ford acknowledged the problem offering an extended warranty on these cars.
What you can do
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Check to see if Ford has an extended brake booster warranty for the model in question
4 It is recommended to use the parking break
Affected models
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Ford Escape 2013-2019
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Ford C-Max 2013-2018
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Ford Fusion 2013-2016
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Ford Transit Connect 2013-2021
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Ford Edge 2015-2018 cars
Putting the vehicle into park mode should stop it from rolling even without using the parking brake. However, this concept can be broken in many Ford models. A damaged or missing bushing can prevent the shifter from successfully moving into a specific gear position. Even though the position of the switch may indicate that the vehicle is in park mode, this may not be the case. In this case, the vehicle will not give any warning, which may cause the vehicle to roll away if the parking brake is not applied. NHTSA has indicated that the problem could affect potentially three million Ford vehicles.
What you can do
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Ensure consistent use of parking brake for applicable models
5 Coolant Risk and EcoBoost Engines
Affected models
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Ford Escape 2013-2019
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Ford Edge 2015-2019
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Ford Fusion 2013-2020
One of the many things you don’t want an engine to do is misfire. While Ford – and most other manufacturers – usually excel in this department, there are exceptions to the rule. The fault in the 4-cylinder versions of the 1.5-, 1.6- and 2.0-liter EcoBoost engines, found in some Escape, Edge and Fusion models, is a cause for concern. Due to this defect, coolant can enter the cylinders, which will lead to corrosion, misfires, engine failure and even fire. The main cause of these malfunctions is grooves in the cylinder heads. It is recommended to be especially careful when inspecting the following vehicles:
What you can do
6 Swelling nuts are difficult to remove
Affected models
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Ford Escape 2008-2019
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Ford F-150 2009-2020
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Ford F-350 2009-2020
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Ford Flex 2009-2020
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Ford Focus 2008-2019
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Ford Fusion 2006-2020
Thermal expansion is a scientific term used to describe certain materials that expand when exposed to heat. Not every material undergoes thermal expansion in the same way. Hardened steel, for example, suffers less from this phenomenon due to certain properties that it possesses. However, aluminum is notorious for expanding when heated because it is a soft metal. The aluminum lugs found on many Ford models can therefore be a challenge to remove. If you’re in the market for one of the vehicles below, make sure you have an arsenal of tools at your disposal to move those lug nuts if needed.
What you can do
7 The PowerShift transmission and its impact on the driving experience
Affected models
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2011-2016 Fiesta
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2012-2016 Focus
The 6-speed dual-clutch PowerShift transmission found in some vehicles from the sixth-generation Ford Fiesta and third-generation Ford Focus can cause some problems for owners. This led to a major recall of 1.5 million vehicles in 2018. In 2010, Ford introduced this new technology to get the “best of both worlds,” referring to manual and automatic transmissions. PowerShift is essentially a manual transmission, but for practical purposes with electronic controls. However, the execution was not without errors. Vehicles equipped with this transmission may have difficulty shifting without slipping or jerking, which negatively affects the driving experience. Ford allegedly knew about the malfunction of the transmissions, but decided not to change the technology.
What you can do
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Please consider these models carefully before purchasing
8 Takata airbags can be dangerous
Affected models
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Ford Edge 2007-2010
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Ford Fusion 2006-2012
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2005-2006 Ford GT
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Ford Mustang 2005-2014
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Ford Ranger 2004-2012
The Takata air bag recall is the largest auto recall in United States history. The problem affected 100 million cars worldwide. A certain chemical used in Takata airbags can cause them to explode with more force than necessary. The metal canister inside the airbag can rupture and spray sharp shards everywhere, including the passengers. These Takata airbags were used by various Ford models and some owners may have missed the recall, so be sure to check the vehicles below.
What you can do
9 Aluminum hood corrosion reduces resale value
Affected models
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Ford Mustang 2002-2009
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Ford Explorer 2002-2006
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2001-2007 Ford F-150
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2001-2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
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2001-2007 Ford Expedition
Various Ford models manufactured between 2000 and 2010 suffer from hood rust. Ford was aware of the problem from the beginning but refused to intervene and sold the affected vehicles anyway. This led to a class-action lawsuit alleging that Ford tried to cover up the problem. It is noted that as a result, buyers suffered a long-term loss in the value of their vehicles. Ford recognized the claim as bogus and preferred to dismiss it, but the judge allowed the case to continue, but not before rejecting three points of the question. Owners reporting their experiences to CarComplaints say such vehicles have corrosion problems.
What you can do
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Some owners recommend using Etch Primer to mitigate the problem
10 Engine Jerking and Loss of Power in Ford F-150
Affected models
A problem with several iterations of the Ford F-150 is causing problems for many owners. The engines of these trucks can suffer from sudden jerking, sometimes with subsequent loss of power. One of these situations is mentioned in detail by one owner. “I had to hit the gas to get into heavy traffic. Suddenly the engine started to shudder and the check engine light came on. I had to pull over as we lost all power and could not continue. I took it to my dealer and they knew that sometimes turbos collect condensation and shut off under hard acceleration. Nothing was done as the problem could not be duplicated at the time.” Several owners of F-150s from the 2013 model year through the 2019 models have reported this problem.
What you can do
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CarComplaints says the average repair cost is $1,770 at 58,000 miles
Sources: RepairPal, CarComplaints