Probably the mandatory safety equipment thats causing vehicle weights to skyrocket.
Auto industry complaints. Vent yours
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I've had enough with this touch screen everything, give me knobs!!!
Half-informed/half competent engineers, designers, sales and service...oh, what industry are we talking about?
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Vulcan 3.0L camshaft position sensors that fail 100% of the time just outside the warranty period.
An A/C condensor placed just above the oil filter, making a standing oil change impossible, when the previous model year routed it a few inches forward making filter changes fast and easy.
Belts, hoses, water pump, nuts and bolts hard up against the firewall or fender well wall.
Replacing a dealer-only $120 A/C valve with a $435 valve and hose assembly.
Flex/rotating A/C hose that leaks, new or old.
An engine control system that can give the engine throttle, and does so at bizarre times, like on each upshift, so a car left to coast on a level surface at 5MPH will be doing 50MPH in a minute w/o touching the pedal, and the dealer says that's perfectly normal, mine is just a little more aggressive than most.
A transmission that stays in top gear until nearly stopped, giving zero compression braking, and dealer says that's perfectly normal.
Replacing front rotors and pads every 18-24 months because of bizarre transmission and throttle behavior described above.
A front end that cannot go more than 18 months without needing at least one of: ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar end links. bushings, or other front end component.
A car with 100% failure rate of the rack and pinion steering within 150K miles, from a personal survey of a dozen friends, family and coworkers that owned the same vehicle.
A car with 100% failure rate of the A/C system within 120K miles, from a personal survey of a dozen friends, family and coworkers that owned the same vehicle.
A car where you cannot get keys or remotes made at the dealer after 10 years, because their VIN/keycode database doesn't go back that far.
A car where the first water pump lasts over 100K miles, but new pumps bought at the dealer last only 20K/2 years each.
A car where the starter must have been considered a permanent install, so the SOP for replacing it involves cutting and splicing the solenoid wire.
A car that cannot get through any 6 month period of time without $600-$1200 worth of repairs ($100-$600 DIY cost).
OK, so those are not really "Auto industry complaints" so much as '99 Ford Taurus complaints. Now ask me which brand I don't buy any more.
An A/C condensor placed just above the oil filter, making a standing oil change impossible, when the previous model year routed it a few inches forward making filter changes fast and easy.
Belts, hoses, water pump, nuts and bolts hard up against the firewall or fender well wall.
Replacing a dealer-only $120 A/C valve with a $435 valve and hose assembly.
Flex/rotating A/C hose that leaks, new or old.
An engine control system that can give the engine throttle, and does so at bizarre times, like on each upshift, so a car left to coast on a level surface at 5MPH will be doing 50MPH in a minute w/o touching the pedal, and the dealer says that's perfectly normal, mine is just a little more aggressive than most.
A transmission that stays in top gear until nearly stopped, giving zero compression braking, and dealer says that's perfectly normal.
Replacing front rotors and pads every 18-24 months because of bizarre transmission and throttle behavior described above.
A front end that cannot go more than 18 months without needing at least one of: ball joints, tie rod ends, sway bar end links. bushings, or other front end component.
A car with 100% failure rate of the rack and pinion steering within 150K miles, from a personal survey of a dozen friends, family and coworkers that owned the same vehicle.
A car with 100% failure rate of the A/C system within 120K miles, from a personal survey of a dozen friends, family and coworkers that owned the same vehicle.
A car where you cannot get keys or remotes made at the dealer after 10 years, because their VIN/keycode database doesn't go back that far.
A car where the first water pump lasts over 100K miles, but new pumps bought at the dealer last only 20K/2 years each.
A car where the starter must have been considered a permanent install, so the SOP for replacing it involves cutting and splicing the solenoid wire.
A car that cannot get through any 6 month period of time without $600-$1200 worth of repairs ($100-$600 DIY cost).
OK, so those are not really "Auto industry complaints" so much as '99 Ford Taurus complaints. Now ask me which brand I don't buy any more.
Family sedans with rear wheel drive with independent suspension.Never really liked all the mechanicals stuffed under the hood of front wheel drive vehicles.
Dishonest, and incompetent $tealership service and sales
departments.
Maufacturers using low quality hard parts..and substituting
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
departments.
Maufacturers using low quality hard parts..and substituting
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
Originally Posted By: grampi
My complaint about the auto industry is the same as it's been for years now. Instead of using today's technological advancements for improved fuel economy, auto makers would rather use that technology to make models larger, more powerful, and more packed full of electronic gizmos. I'm sick of seeing car commercials touting 30 something MPG, like that's a good figure. They're trying to use marketing to force people to believe that 30 something MPG is good fuel economy, when in reality vehicles today could easily be getting twice that mileage. I want to see auto makers producing vehicles with steadily rising fuel economy numbers, and eventually building affordable vehicles that don't use fossil fuels at all...
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
My complaint about the auto industry is the same as it's been for years now. Instead of using today's technological advancements for improved fuel economy, auto makers would rather use that technology to make models larger, more powerful, and more packed full of electronic gizmos. I'm sick of seeing car commercials touting 30 something MPG, like that's a good figure. They're trying to use marketing to force people to believe that 30 something MPG is good fuel economy, when in reality vehicles today could easily be getting twice that mileage. I want to see auto makers producing vehicles with steadily rising fuel economy numbers, and eventually building affordable vehicles that don't use fossil fuels at all...
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
How about Ford discontinuing parts only six years after they sell a new vehicle...
I'm a Bullitt owner, I know all about discontinued Ford parts...
Its not easy on the parts counter side hearing about it from customers. But in Ford's defense, it makes no sense having parts collect dust on their warehouses shelves when they could have parts that actually move and make them money. Until the parts that collect dust start to pay rent, they get purged and sold off to obsolete parts warehouses.
I have one of those close by me here in Cincinnati (Green Sales), I tend to call them first unless I need a part for a brand new Ford. Usually a good deal, too.
Originally Posted By: needsducktape
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
How about Ford discontinuing parts only six years after they sell a new vehicle...
I'm a Bullitt owner, I know all about discontinued Ford parts...
Its not easy on the parts counter side hearing about it from customers. But in Ford's defense, it makes no sense having parts collect dust on their warehouses shelves when they could have parts that actually move and make them money. Until the parts that collect dust start to pay rent, they get purged and sold off to obsolete parts warehouses.
I have one of those close by me here in Cincinnati (Green Sales), I tend to call them first unless I need a part for a brand new Ford. Usually a good deal, too.
I would also second the plastic radiators & other cooling system parts, that are usually outlasted by the rubber hoses attached to them!
Honestly I have not had a really bad car so no complaints. My newest ride is 2007 Acura is way beyond expectations except MPG is not great.
Manual transmission disappoints me and my wife moreover. The lack of wagons(not cross overs like oUtback) is disappointing too.
Manual transmission disappoints me and my wife moreover. The lack of wagons(not cross overs like oUtback) is disappointing too.
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Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
^^This!!
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
^^This!!
Making routine service items ridiculously difficult to service. Things like filters, spark plugs, brakes, fluid changes, light bulbs, belts, and hoses should not be a major undertaking.
Having parts that fail, but instead of selling you the part that fails, they can only sell you the whole assembly that it's attached to.
Making design changes so frequent that it's not enough to say you're looking for a part for a specific make, model, and year. No, you actually have to have the VIN to get the right part. Part stores can't keep up.
Ditto to what others have said about electronic gadgets. I couldn't care less whether my car has Bluetooth, or built in navigation, or if it can stream Pandora. Just give me good mechanical parts that don't disintegrate, reliable drivetrains and basic electrical systems that don't try to mimic Lucas systems on old British sports cars. One is enough for me!
Electrical systems that are more complex than they need to be. My MG's electrical system may be notoriously unreliable, but it's so simple it's easily fixed. Do we really need body control modules to control lighting and accessories?
Having parts that fail, but instead of selling you the part that fails, they can only sell you the whole assembly that it's attached to.
Making design changes so frequent that it's not enough to say you're looking for a part for a specific make, model, and year. No, you actually have to have the VIN to get the right part. Part stores can't keep up.
Ditto to what others have said about electronic gadgets. I couldn't care less whether my car has Bluetooth, or built in navigation, or if it can stream Pandora. Just give me good mechanical parts that don't disintegrate, reliable drivetrains and basic electrical systems that don't try to mimic Lucas systems on old British sports cars. One is enough for me!
Electrical systems that are more complex than they need to be. My MG's electrical system may be notoriously unreliable, but it's so simple it's easily fixed. Do we really need body control modules to control lighting and accessories?
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Originally Posted By: grampi
My complaint about the auto industry is the same as it's been for years now. Instead of using today's technological advancements for improved fuel economy, auto makers would rather use that technology to make models larger, more powerful, and more packed full of electronic gizmos. I'm sick of seeing car commercials touting 30 something MPG, like that's a good figure. They're trying to use marketing to force people to believe that 30 something MPG is good fuel economy, when in reality vehicles today could easily be getting twice that mileage. I want to see auto makers producing vehicles with steadily rising fuel economy numbers, and eventually building affordable vehicles that don't use fossil fuels at all...
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
Mine too! And it is dead simple to work on.
Originally Posted By: grampi
My complaint about the auto industry is the same as it's been for years now. Instead of using today's technological advancements for improved fuel economy, auto makers would rather use that technology to make models larger, more powerful, and more packed full of electronic gizmos. I'm sick of seeing car commercials touting 30 something MPG, like that's a good figure. They're trying to use marketing to force people to believe that 30 something MPG is good fuel economy, when in reality vehicles today could easily be getting twice that mileage. I want to see auto makers producing vehicles with steadily rising fuel economy numbers, and eventually building affordable vehicles that don't use fossil fuels at all...
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
Mine too! And it is dead simple to work on.
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
^^This!!
+2
Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
gizmos and electronic trinkets in their place and having the nerve to charge the same price for the vehicle. I'd rather have robust
suspension, engine, interior components than those stupid electronic trinkets.
^^This!!
+2
Make certain parts Standard across makes and models. Like say emission stuff, O2's, catalytic converter etc.
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Originally Posted By: cjcride
Make certain parts Standard across makes and models. Like say emission stuff, O2's, catalytic converter etc.
A lot of that is done, standard across engines though.
Make certain parts Standard across makes and models. Like say emission stuff, O2's, catalytic converter etc.
A lot of that is done, standard across engines though.
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
Uh-huh. I'd rather be driving that Chevy Tahoe hybrid than your Escort... but that's just me.
My 1995 Ford Escort gets better mileage than a lot of hybrids..
Uh-huh. I'd rather be driving that Chevy Tahoe hybrid than your Escort... but that's just me.
You should have bought an Aerostar instead.
We had no trouble at all with our '97 for the thirteen years and 175K miles that we owned it.
The dreaded camshaft position senor failure never happened, the AC blew cold without ever having any adds and the only thing I ever had to do to it not involving normal maintenance and wear items was to replace the starter, which was a piece of cake job.
Our fleet Tauruses at work have typically exceeded 200K with no major failures as well.
Maybe your's was built after a long lunch on a payday Friday?
We had no trouble at all with our '97 for the thirteen years and 175K miles that we owned it.
The dreaded camshaft position senor failure never happened, the AC blew cold without ever having any adds and the only thing I ever had to do to it not involving normal maintenance and wear items was to replace the starter, which was a piece of cake job.
Our fleet Tauruses at work have typically exceeded 200K with no major failures as well.
Maybe your's was built after a long lunch on a payday Friday?
Originally Posted By: KB1
No one has one of the great American paint jobs? Ford and Chevy cars/trucks with paint peeling all over after couple years. They refuse to fix it. I don't know why they can't figure out how to paint a vehicle. Seems like White is the worst.
Yeah, that is the one thing that really sucks about Mom's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Don't just blame it on American car makers. During the 1980s and early 1990s, numerous car makers would make a front wheel drive car, then either pack a huge V-engine in there, or a turbo 4, and heat wouldn't dissipate. As a result, the paint on the hood of the car would fade away or peel off. Every Nissan Maxima suffered from this from 1985 to 1988.
No one has one of the great American paint jobs? Ford and Chevy cars/trucks with paint peeling all over after couple years. They refuse to fix it. I don't know why they can't figure out how to paint a vehicle. Seems like White is the worst.
Yeah, that is the one thing that really sucks about Mom's 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Don't just blame it on American car makers. During the 1980s and early 1990s, numerous car makers would make a front wheel drive car, then either pack a huge V-engine in there, or a turbo 4, and heat wouldn't dissipate. As a result, the paint on the hood of the car would fade away or peel off. Every Nissan Maxima suffered from this from 1985 to 1988.
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