Ford's Navistar diesel engines appear to be a disaster looming in the near future for thousands of consumers. Navistar started supplying Ford with 6.0 liter diesel engines for its 2003 model year and now the internet is littered with engine complaints by unhappy owners and suspicious diesel mechanics. Apparently with good reason.
In fact over at forddoctorsdts.com (a forum only open to registered Ford diesel technicians) there was posted a video of a 2008 Ford Super Duty pickup truck shooting flames from its tailpipes. No one is saying where the video came from butit's pretty shocking to see a truck throwing flames while in idle and even more so when the engine is revved up.
The danger was so bad it resulted in Ford recalling 33,000 of the '08 F-250, F350, F-450 and F-550 trucks.
Early on the problems were blamed on the engine's ECU computer which controlled the engine and Ford reprogrammed it but consumer complaints didn't go away..
Fuel injectors and injector controller harness problems surfaced and replacing injectors started being talked about. Water in the fuel line started to be complained of and people wondereed about the fuel filtration system. Then it was the fuel pump and oil pump.
As miles began to pile up on the diesel Ford trucks, the consumer complaints piled up too. The worst problems seem to come between 40,000 miles and 80,000 miles. Numerous customer complaints resulted in the Auto Channel detailing the horror stories and factory excuses.
That was compounded by diesel fights between Ford and Navistar over who was to blame, resulting in an ugly lawsuit and reports that Ford had spent over a billion dollars in warranty repairs and reports that Ford had told Navistar it wouldn't buy diesel engines from them after '09.
Things got uglier with warranty chargebacks and production halts as the money fight got big. Navistar claimed Ford owed it $2 billion and that Ford was bound by contract to keep using Navistar diesel engines. Several times the fight's intensity went up and down, with claims and counter claims adding to the insults. All the while Ford's highly profitable F series of trucks was put in danger.
Then it all stopped. In fact, some of the web site pages dealing with the feud have even disappeared. Are things suddenly cozy again between the two auto giants? Not likely...
Meanwhile, thousands of diesel F series owners are driving around with the danger of flaming out like a jet, leaving me wondering if the garage burning down is next?
If I owned a 2008 Super Duty with the 6.4L Power Stroke engine, I'd be calling Ford to not only reflash the engine management system but to also inspect the injectors and turbos. Who knows what problems are coming down the pipeline...
If you've got a diesel Ford, you might want to think about getting rid of it. Or maybe increasing the insurance coverage on your garage? If you've got a Ford lemon (after all, that oval isn't always blue), call us, 888.331.6422, or email us right now, info@ohiolemonlaw.com.
No matter where you live, we can help. We're on your side, here to help you get even.
www.BurdgeLaw.com
Helping Consumers Get Rid of Flaming Fords Since 1978
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Known nationwide as a leading Lemon Law attorney, Ronald L. Burdge has represented literally thousands of consumers in "lemon" lawsuits and actively co-counsels and coaches other Consumer Law attorneys. From 2005 through 2018, attorney Ronald L. Burdge has been named as the only Lemon Law Ohio Super Lawyer by Law and Politics magazine and Thomson Reuters Corp., Professional Division. Burdge restricts his practice to Lemon Law and Consumer Law cases. The Ohio Super Lawyer results are published annually in the January issue of Cincinnati Magazine. Ronald L. Burdge was named Consumer Law Trial Lawyer of the Year 2004 by the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the nation's largest organization of consumer law private and government attorneys. "Your impact on the auto industry has been magnified many times over because of the trail you blazed for others," stated NACA's Executive Director, Will Ogburn. Burdge has represented thousands of consumers in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere since 1978 and is a frequent lecturer to national, state and local Bar Associations and Judicial organizations. Burdge is admitted to Ohio's state and federal courts, Kentucky's state courts, and Indiana's federal courts. Other court admissions are on a "pro hac" temporary, case by cases basis.